Professional Documents
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MANTRALAYA GURU
SRI RAGHAVENDRA SWAMY
VAIBHAVAM
Index
Introduction
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MANTRALAYA GURU SARVABHOUMA
Sri Raghavendra
Hindus attach paramount importance to spiritual gurus. Gurus are often
equated with God and always regarded as a link between the individual and
the Immortal. The true Guru is a transmitting medium, a transporting agent
and a transparent embodiment of the divine grace and compassion. It is
said that he alone is the true teacher who is illumined by the light of true
knowledge. If both God and Guru appear at a time, to whom should we pay
obeisance first? The reply is “The Guru” for he is the one who has shown
the path to God. It is said that when God is angry, guru protects you; when
guru himself is angry, there is no protector in the world. If we surrender
ourselves absolutely without any reservation to the guru, he will save us
from all sorrow and show us the way to salvation.
There is nothing that a true Guru cannot bestow on his disciples. Through
various teachings and practices, he helps the individual to progress from the
human to the divine consciousness. Only the divine can act as such a
teacher. It is not possible for every one to get soul enlightenment. Only few
can have such capacity and they are called as Daivaamsa sambhootha the
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Divine soul. It is not possible for every one to communicate with God. The
divine message is communicated only through the voice of such divine and
noble souls who keeps taking birth on this earth now and then. Perhaps
there is no exaggeration in calling Guru Sri Raghavendra of Mantralayam,
who has all the qualities of a true Guru, as the foremost among such divine
and noble souls.
If you happen to visit any Madhva Brahmin house in South India, generally
you may observe the first sloka one recites in the morning time will be Sri
Raghavendra Sthothra, which has the seal of Sri Raghavendra Swamy
himself (Sakshi Hayasyothra hi). He is affectionately called as Rayaru and
respectfully as Guru Sarva Bhouma or Guru Rayaru. For a common man he
is Mr. Dependable, a remedy, solution and a healer. He is like a Kamadhenu
and a Kalpa Vruksha. For a Vedanthi he is also an Aparoksha Gyani. He is
approachable to all without any discrimination.
Irrespective of caste and creed people from all walks of life adore Sri
Raghavendra. He has performed many miracles when he was alive and also
after entering into Brindavana. His devotees continue to experience his
miracles even today. A well wisher of the society, Sri Raghavendra is a
Great soul (Karana Janma) destined to provide solace and succor to millions
of needy people. He is on the path to give away his punya to whoever
approaches him with sincere devotion.
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country especially from South India participating in the celebrations. Apart
from this it will be celebrated across the country at all places where Rayaru
Brindavana is established.
Blessed are those who worship and sing the glory of Sri
Raghavendra Swamy
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RAYARU
(A cursory glance of Sri Raghavendra Swamy)
(1595-1671 AD)
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Marriage: 1614 (Ananda Nama Vastara)
Wife: Saraswathi Bai
Son: Sri Lakshminarayanacharya
Direction for
Sanyasa Sweekara: From Goddess Saraswathi (Swapna)
Favourite Musical
Instrument: Veena
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LINEAGE OF SAINT
SRI RAGHAVENDRA THEERTHARU
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AVATHARA AS PRAHLADA
The legend behind this goes back to the days of Krita Yuga when Prahlada
was born to the demon king Hiranyakasipa and Vedavathi. Though he was
born to a demon king due to his lineage and poorva janma Samskara,
Prahlada became an ardent devotee of Lord SriManNarayana for whose sake
and cause the Lord Sri Hari had to take the Narasimha Avathara. In fact
while Prahlada was in his mother‟s womb itself he had learned the Narayana
Astakshari Mantra upadesa from sage Narada.
Pleased with the devotion and bhakthi of Prahlada, when Lord Sri Hari
(Narasimha) offered him to come along with him to Vaikunta, Prahlada
politely refuses and instead preferred to stay back on earth propagating the
divine culture and bhakthi of Lord Sri ManNarayana. Accordingly, Prahlada
was crowned as the emperor of the kingdom which he ruled for several
thousands of years spreading the philosophy of Lord Sri Hari.
AVATHARA AS BAHLIKA
Shankukarna took his second birth as Bahlika Raja in Dwapara Yuga and was
born in the Kuru Vamsam. He was the son of Pratipa and brother of
Shantanu (father of Bheeshma). Bahlika was a great devotee of Lord Sri
Krishna, but still had to associate with Kouravas in the Kurukshetra war
because of his alliance with Bheeshma and Dhritharastra. He was ultimately
slained in the war in the hands of Bheemasena (Hanuma, Bheema, and
Madhva).
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AVATHARA AS SRI VYASARAYARU (1447–1539 AD)
Shankukarna took his third birth in this Kaliyuga as Vyasarayaru, the great
saint and a reputed propagator of Madhva (Dvaita) philosophy. His guru
was the great saint Sri SriPadarayaru (Mulabagalu). He lived during the
historical days of Vijayanagara (Hampi) empire. He was the Raja Guru of Sri
Krishna Devaraya, the popular king of Vijayanagara dynasty. He had helped
Sri Krishna Deva Raya to pass through major crisis in his life. For a brief
period he had even ascended the throne of Vijayanagara Empire in order to
protect Sri Krishna Deva Raya from an astrological malefactor.
It is said that at one point of time Sri Vyasarayaru had conducted the
worship of Lord Sri Venkateswara at Tirumala temple for a period 12 years,
when it was hampered during the time of Vijayanagara King Saluva
Narasimha Raya. Vyasarayaru was a staunch devotee of Lord Hanuman and
he went on to install 732 Hanuman idols (icons) during his time. He lived for
more than 90 years and attained Brindavana near Anegondi on the banks of
river Thunga Bhadra. He is the one who has initiated for the Daasakoota
headed by Saint Sri Purandara Dasa.
Sri Raghavendra Theertharu, with the lineage from the above four, took
birth in the year 1595 as a gifted son of Sri Thimmana Bhatta and Smt.
Gopikamba. He was born to his parents with the Grace of Lord Sri
Venkateswara and hence was named as Venkatanatha. Sri Raghavendra in
his poorvasrama took his lessons from Saint Sri Sudheendra Theertha and
ultimately took his sanyasa deeksha and subsequently peetadhipathya from
him.
It was quite incidental that Saint Sri Vijayendra Theertharu, Guru of Sri
Sudheendra Theertharu and Parama Guru of Sri Raghavendra Theertharu
was a beloved disciple of Sri Vyasarayaru and a contemporary and fellow
student along with Saint Sri Vadi Raja Theertharu. Sri Raghavendra Sthothra
has a reference to this effect (Vijayeendra karaabjottha Sudheendra
Varaputrakah)
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There are indications in the life history of Saint Sri Raghavendra Swamy that
he was of Prahlada‟s avathara. You will find in Sri Raghavendra Swamy
temples, the utsava murti (festival deity) is not of Raghavendra, but of
Bhakta Prahlada. The main deity (Sri Raghavendra) will be a replica of his
samadhi (called Brindavana). Along with this there will be a deity, Prahlada,
who is also worshipped simultaneously along with Sri Raghavendra Swamy.
He is called as Prahlada Rayaru and some of the rituals in Sri Raghavendra
Swamy temple are done exclusively to Prahlada. Perhaps this may the only
place where Prahlada is worshipped. Apart from this we also find from the
life history of Sri Raghavendra, that he had chosen this specific spot at
Mantralayam for his entry into Brindavana, since it was the spot where
Prahlada had performed Yagna during his time.
It is said that Rayaru was well versed in many arts and skills and had
attained great divine and spiritual powers which are manifested as his
miracles. Sri Raghavendra Theertha lived during 1595 to 1671, ruled this
kingdom of Vedanta for 50 years before making Mantralayam as his
permanent abode in this life by entering the Brindavana alive. He is
popularly called as Rayaru, Guru Sarva Bhouma. During his life time and
even after Brindavana Pravesa he went on to be regarded as a great spiritual
leader, saint, philosopher, devotee of Lord Sri Hari, a great healer,
benevolent and a true Guru. Today his temples (Brindavana) are spread
across the country with millions of devotees adoring him. A religious and
spiritual institution named after him (Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt) has
come up headed by his successors with its head quarters at Mantralayam.
Spread across the country the institution is catering to religious and spiritual
needs of the society.
Probably words are not adequate to describe Rayaru and one can only feel
him, rather experience him by his worship.
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TEMPLES OF MANTRALAYAM (Part-1)
MANCHALAMMA TEMPLE
An ardent devotee of Lord Sri Venkateswara and with whose blessings and
worship Rayaru was born to his parents, Sri Rayaru installed with his own
hands the idol of Lord Venkateswara at Manchali and used to worship him
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daily before entering into Brindavana. We can find the temple of Lord
Venkateswara about one km from Manchalamma temple, near the house of
Archaka (priest) of Moola Brindavana. Daily pooja/rituals are performed at
this temple and it is open for darshan on all the days between 6 am to 12
pm and 5 pm to 8 pm.
Being an Aparoksha Gyani, Sri Rayaru had divine indications that, shortly his
avathara on the Earth was coming to conclusion. Accordingly Rayaru went
in search of an appropriate spot at Manchali for his entering into Brindavana.
On one such occasions, he had asked Diwan Venkanna (great devotee of Sri
Rayaru), to dig at a particular spot near Goddess Manchalamma temple,
where a Homakunda (sacrificial fire place) was found. Rayaru told Venkanna
that, this spot was the place where he had performed a large Yagna during
his incarnation as Prahlada (in Kritha Yuga). And also that was the spot
where Arjuna (Mahabharatha) in Dwapara Yuga, during his Jaitra Yatra for
performing Rajasuya Yaga by Dharma Raja, could not defeat the local king
Anusalva, as his chariot was standing on this pot (Homa Kunda). Of course
on Lord Sri Krishna‟s advice Arjuna could defeat him when he moved a little
away from that spot. Such was the significance and sanctity of this spot and
Rayaru could identify it with his divine powers. Accordingly Sri Rayaru chose
this spot for his Brindavana pravesa and that was the Moola Brindavana built
at Mantralayam, what we all see and have darshan today.
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Significance of the rock used for Moola Brindavana
There is also a legend behind the rock used for the Brindavana of Sri Rayaru.
When he came to know that Rayaru is entering into Brindavana, Diwan
Venkanna had got one beautiful Brindavana made for Sri Rayaru. But it was
not approved by Sri Rayaru, instead He took Venkanna to a place called
Madhavaram (near Mantralayam) and identified a rock stone on which Lord
Sri Rama sat during his search travel for Goddess Sita Devi in Treta Yuga.
Sri Rayaru wanted his Brindavana to be built with the stone of this particular
rock that was sanctified by the touch of Lord Sri Rama.
On the set date (11th August 1671 AD), Sri Rayaru went and sat on the pre
selected spot as said above and his Brindavana was built with the stone
brought from Madhavaram as per Sri Rayaru‟s directions. Inside the
Brindavana Sri Rayaru was fully covered with hundreds of Sri Vishnu
Saligramas apart from the Mrittika (soil). Thus, the Moola Brindavana of Sri
Raghavendra Swamy that got sanctified with Sri Rayaru himself sitting inside
on a sacred and celestial spot, filled with all the power of Divinity, is rightly
referred to as Mantralayam.
The place Mantralayam over a period of time has grown by heaps and
bounds into a big pilgrimage centre attracting lakhs of people visiting and
getting their mundane problems and sufferings resolved. There is a chain
of rituals/poojas that are being performed to Moola Brindavana as per Mutt‟s
schedule both in the day and evening times. There will be a daily ritual of
Rathostavam (pulling of chariot) every day in the evening with the Utsava
Murthy (Prahlada Rayaru) sitting on the chariot. Thursday is a special day in
the diary of Mantralayam Mutt, called as Guru Vara (Rayaru Vara) when
special decorations are made to the Moola Brindavana. Annual celebrations
called Rayaru Aaradhana (the day on which Sri Rayaru entered into the
Brindavana) is held every year in the month of Sravana masam (generally
August month), when thousands of pilgrims from all over the country
participate in the celebrations that are held for three days.
Being a great devotee and upasaka of Lord Hanuman, it was Sri Rayaru‟s
wish that the idol of Lord Hanuman should be erected opposite to his
Brindavana. Accordingly, opposite to the Moola Brindavana we find a temple
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of Lord Hanuman (Aanjaneya Swamy) carved on the same stone with which
Sri Rayaru Moola Brindavana was built. Outside Lord Hanuman temple on
the right side we can also find the presence of Lord Shiva in the form of
Shiva Linga. It is believed and said that this was found while excavating
the spot for Brindavana at Mantralayam and said to have been worshipped
by Prahlada Rayaru in Krita Yuga.
Adjacent and to the left of Moola Brindavana of Sri Rayaru we find another
Brindavana built in the name of Sri Vadeendra Theertharu, the fifth
descendant in the lineage of Sri Raghavendra Swamy. He belongs to the
18th century. In fact Sri Vadeendra Theertharu was the great grand son of
Sri Rayaru (in his poorvasrama) who was just two years old when Rayaru
entered into Brindavana. Sri Rayaru had a vision of this child becoming a
saint and his successor in course of time, had kept ready the Brindavana
that was originally meant for him and brought by Diwan Venkanna. Sri
Vadeendra Theertharu was a great scholar and an ardent devotee of Sri
Raghavendra swamy and had composed number of verses in praise of Sri
Rayaru. It is said that on one such occasion, when Vadeendra Theertharu
was singing his verse ('Gurugunasthavana') in front of Sri Rayaru Moola
Brindavana, the whole Brindavana nodded in appreciation of his scholarly
work. Along with Moola Brindavana, daily pooja and rituals are also held to
the Brindavana of Sri Vadeendra Theertharu. Devotees while performing
pradakshina of Sri Rayaru Moola Brindavana, simultaneously cover
pradakshina of the Brindavana of Sri Vadeendra Theertharu also.
Other Brindavanas:
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TEMPLES OF MANTRALAYAM (Part-2)
PANCHAMUKHI AANJANEYA SWAMY (Lord Hanuman)
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As per the Kshetra Mahatya this location is said to be in existence since
Treta Yuga. Lord Hanuman is believed and said to have visited this spot
during the epic days of Ramayana in the course of getting Sri Rama and
Lakshmana released from the clutches of Mahiravana. You will find rare
rocky structures in the replica of a bed and a plane (elevated rock) said to
have been used by Lord Hanuman. There is also an underground passage
near Erukalamba temple through which Lord Hanuman is said to have
reached Mahiravana and finally killed him.
Outside the main temple there is a spot where we find the foot wear (large
size) said to be of Lord Hanuman is worshipped. It is said and believed that
Lord Hanuman uses this foot wear which are replaced once in five years as
per the local customs and beliefs when they get soiled due to wear and tear.
Since the days of Rayaru the temple has come into prominence. People
visiting Mantralayam will make it a point to visit this temple to seek the
blessings of Lord Hanuman in a rare form. During festival days especially on
the new moon (Amavasya), full moon (Pournima), Tuesdays, and Saturdays
there will be rush of pilgrims to this temple.
BICHHALI (BHIKSHALAYA)
Bichhali also called as Bhikshalaya is located in Raichur district of Karnataka
state, about 20 km from Mantralayam on the banks of river Tungabhadra.
This is said to be the place where, Sri Rayaru had spent 13 years of his life
before moving over to Manchali (Mantralayam). Sanctified with the
memories of Rayaru‟s stay at this place and his association with Sri
Appanacharya, the beloved disciple and an ardent devotee of Sri
Raghavendra Swamy, the place Bichhali is one of the places to be visited on
a trip to Mantralayam. To visit this place one has to make own/hired vehicle
arrangements.
Sri Appanacharya was a great Sanskrit scholar and a teacher who was
running a Gurukula under whom number of students were getting taught.
In those days the students irrespective of their economic status will have to
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procure rice and cook their own food. Accordingly the students in that place
used to go for procurement of rice (Bhiksha) and henceforth the place came
to be known as Bhikshalaya.
Ekasila Brindavana
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Snake Bill
As per the legend, in the backyard of Sri Appanacharya‟s house there was a
snake bill where a king Cobra used to reside in it. Sri Raghavendra Swamy
during his stay in Bhikshalaya was regularly offering milk to the serpent
(Aadi Sesha) after his daily pooja/rituals and the serpent used come and
drink the milk. When Rayaru decided to move to Manchali and enter into
Brindavana he had taken a decision to dismantle the snake bill. Accordingly
when it was dismantled a statue of snake appeared in its place which is
being worshipped.
House of Sri Appanacharya: It is a 400 years old house where Sri Rayaru
lived during his stay at Bhikshalaya where memories of Sri Rayaru‟s
presence can be seen.
Idol of Lord Sri Ugra Narasimha: The idol of Lord Ugra Narasimha
installed by Saint Sri SriPadarayaru (Mulabagalu), the Guru of Sri Vyasa
Rayaru whose lineage was Sri Raghavendra Theertharu.
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MANTRALAYAM
(USEFUL INFORMATION)
Location:
By Road:
APSRTC and KSRTC are running regular buses connecting Mantralayam with
major towns and cities in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
Kurnool (NH-7) in Andhra Pradesh and Raichur in Karnataka are two
locations which are pretty well connected to Mantralayam. Apart from this
private tourist operators are also running special buses to Mantralayam from
various parts of the country.
By Rail:
Nearest railway station to Mantralayam is Mantralayam-Road
(Tungabhadra) on the Mumbai-Chennai main line which is 15 km from
Mantralayam. From there it is about 30 minutes drive by Road. All most all
trains running on this route halt at Mantralayam Road. Auto facilities are
available for pick up from railway station to Mantralayam. APSRTC/KSRTC is
also running buses to and from railway station at certain specific timings.
By Air
Nearest airport is Hyderabad which is about 250 km from Mantralayam.
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Accommodation:
Another unique feature of this temple is the Mutt organizes free food facility
(except on the notified days) within the Mutt to all the pilgrims in their
spacious dining halls. Besides Infosys foundation (a charitable organization)
has also constructed a big dining hall for the convenience of pilgrims. One
can easily find the details of accommodation from the Central Reception
office as soon as they reach Mantralayam.
Temples in Mantralayam
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conducted personally by the Pontiff of the Mutt (subject to his availability at
Mantralayam) is a special daily ritual at the temple. The Mutt also
conducts/organizes religious discourses on special occasions and events.
Every year during the days of Rayaru Aaradhana, held in the month of
Sravana (generally August month) special celebrations are conducted for
three days when thousands of devotees from all over the country
participate.
Temple Timings:
On normal days, temple will be open from 6.00 am to 2.00 pm and again
from 4.00 pm to 9.00 pm. On special occasions the timings may vary.
Generally there will be rush of pilgrims on Thursdays/week ends and on
special occasions like Rayaru Aaradhana.
Contact Details:
Fax # 91-8512-279600/279889
Web Address:
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Popular slokas of Sri Raghavendra Swamy
Poojyaaya Raghavendraya satyadharmaratayacha
Bhajataam kalpavrikshaaya namataam kamadhenave
Durvadidhvantaravaye Vaishnavendeevarendave
Sri Raghavendragurave namo Athyanthadayalave
Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu
bhargavasarma
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