Short Stories - Baskara Raya and Goddness Devi!

Baskara Raya and Goddness Devi!R.PonnammalIllustration; Lalitha Baskara Raya was a great devotee of Goddess Devi. He was initiated into Sri Vidya Mantra Upasana by Guru Shiva Dutta Shukla. A king of Tanjore who was Raya’s disciple, invited him to the South and gifted him a whole village which later came to be known as Bhaskararajapuram.  Here Raya learnt Tarka Shastra under his Guru Gangadhara Vajapeyi. 

Due to Baskara Raya’s proficiency in vedic scriptures, many learned scholars were jealous of him.  They invited him for a debate and asked him intricate questions about vedic scriptures.  Being adept in these, Raya answered all questions without the least hesitation. The scholars asked Bhaskararaya an impossible question - “The Lalitha sahasranama* mentions the Goddess as being served by sixty-four crores of goddesses called yoginis. Can you name each one of them, their origin and their qualities?”

Baskara Raya prayed to Goddess Devi for a few minutes. Devi said, “Accept the challenge. I will take the form of a parrot, sit on your shoulder and answer the question”. Baskara Raya thereafter accepted the challenge and requested the scholars to note down all the answers as he would not repeat them. He then answered their question non-stop and at full speed, prompting the scholars to accept defeat. They realized that it was the Goddess Devi Herself who answered their question. They apologized and requested Baskara Raya to grant them darshan of Goddess Devi. Baskara Raya obliged and Devi appeared before the scholars and blessed them. 

Once Baskara Raya borrowed money from a wealthy person of his village in order to buy jewels for Goddess Devi. But due to severe draught, he could not repay the loan on time. Raya’s wife Anandi left for Kasi to borrow money from her father to repay the loan.  It was a long journey as there was no means of any transport during those days. Raya knew that it would take minimum two to three months for his wife to return with the money. 

It was a Friday. Baskara Raya was performing pooja as usual when the person who had lent him money came to Raya’s house. “Raya, tell your Goddess that it is not proper to do pooja or have prasad without repaying the loan that one has taken”, the man said in a sarcastic tone. Raya felt belittled and prayed to Goddess. At that instant, the wife of the wealthy man came there and informed that Raya’s wife Anandi had paid the money with interest. Raya was stunned and wondered how Anandi could have returned so soon. 

The wealthy man realized his folly and prostrated before Raya. “Raya, it was none other than the Devi Herself who came in the guise of your wife and paid the money back. Please pardon me”, he begged Raya with tears in his eyes.  Raya was filled with gratitude beyond words at the blessings of Goddess Devi.

-R.Ponnammal