Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c4.3163

c4.3163

Hearing this Cola called Mudgala the priest of the Vaiṣṇavasattra, to his side and lamented "I started this sattra to spite Viṣṇudāsa and now he has gone to Vaikuṇṭha. It was due to his true devotion to God that he has attained salvation. What we have done is of no use.” So saying he crowned his nephew as King. Even while young he had become an ascetic and as such had no sons. From that time the crowning of the nephew as King became a precedent in Cola. Renouncing the kingdom Cola went to the sacrificial hall and circling the sacrificial fire stood before it and addressing Mukunda said “Oh Viṣṇu, grant me unwavering devotion to you in thought, speech and deed.” Repeating this three times the king jumped into the fire. At this Mudgala, the priest, burst into anger and tore off the lock of hair on his head. So even today the decendants of Mudgala do not have hair-locks. Viṣṇu who is always affectionate to his devotees graciously appeared from the sacrificial fire and embraced the King. The King was then taken to Vaikuṇṭha. (Chapters 110, 111, Padma Purāṇa).