Sunday, February 26, 2012

Literary works of Sri Guru Raghavendara Swamy


Mantralaya Sri RagahvendraTheertharu wrote many books ,  taught till he entered Brindavana, rescued those who are in trouble.

Unfortunately Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy's Kannada works have not been preserved and we just know only about Avataratraya Suladi and InduEngaiGovinda.

Mantralaya Sri Guru Ragahvendra Swamy's works were blessed Sri Hari and Sri Vayu Gurugalu.

Thanks to www.patwari.org for providing the details of Guru Raghavendra Swamy's litrary works.
The entire list below is from www.patwari.org



List of books written by Sri RaghavendraTheertharu.

Vedathraya Vivruthi
Mantratha Manjari
Purushasooktadi Panchasooktavyakhya
Dashopanishad Khandartha
Geethartha Sangraha
Prameyadeepika Vyakhya
Geethatatprayateeka Vivarane
Tantradeepika
Nyayamukthavali
Tattvamanjari
Tattvaprakashika Bhavadeepa
Sri ManayaSudhaParimala
Dashaprakaranateeka Vyakhya
Sri Ramacharita Manjari
Sri Krishnacharitra Manjari
Tatparyanirnaya Bhavasangraha
Vadavali Vyakhya
Chandrikaprakasha
Tarkathandava Vyakhya
Pramanapadhathi Vyakhya
Anu Madhvavijaya Vyakhya
Bhaattasangrha
Pratah Sakalpa Gadya
Sarva Samarpana Gadya
Prameya Samgraha
Naditaratamya stotra
BhagavatDhyanaPrakaranam
Sri RajaGopala Stuti
Dasahaavatara Stuti
Sri Rama Stuti
IndoEnge Govinda - Kannada Keerthana ( click here )
Vayudevara Avataratra Suladi - Kannda Suladi

[ஸ்ரீ கிருஷ்ணார்ப்பணம் ]

Guru Raghavendra Swamy's journey from Kumbakonam to Mantralayam



We all know Guru was born in TamilNadu ( though there is a debate whether it Bhuvanagiri near chidambaram or Kanchipuram ). But most of us do not know his Teertha yatra after he took Sanyasa
as a head of Vidya Mutt in Kumbhakonam. As a usual routine, whoever is the head of the Mutt and
following Sanyasa will travel during certain period of a year to spread bakthi and benefits of Vedas.
This practice is still followed even today in Sri Raghavendra Mutt in Mantralayam. The Seer will
plan his travel every year to follow the rituals.

In this post, we can find the list of major cities that Guru Sri Raghavendara Swami visited during his journey. Thanks to Sri Raghavendra Patwari ( patwari.org ) to compile this list for the benefit of devotees.


Below are the list of major cities that Guru Sri Raghavendra Swamy visited during his journey.

1.Kumbhakonam
2.Tanjore
3.Paripoornadevanagar
4.Kamalalaya
5.The place where Cauvery joins the sea
6.Champakeshwara
7.Rameshwara
8.Alagiri
9.Ananthashayana
10.Janardhana
11.Tirunelvelli
12.Madurai
13.Srirangam
14.Namakkal
15.Vellore
16.Vishnumangala
17.Subrahmanya
18.Udupi
19.Nanjangud
20.Srirangapatna
21.Ramanathapura
22.Chitradurga
23.Gadag(Kireetagiri)
24.Hubli
25.Shirasangi
26.Kittur
27.Pandharapur
29.Kolhapur
30.Bijapur
31.Manvi
32.Adoni
33.Srishyla
34.Tirupathi
35.Kancheepuram
36.Arunachala
37.Vridhachala
38.Srimushna
39.Bichali
40.Mantralaya

[ஸ்ரீ கிருஷ்ணார்ப்பணம் ]

Mrithika of Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy and miracles of Guru's Mrithika

If you have been a devotee of Guru Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy, you would have heard about Mrithika.
Few years when I do not know much about Mrithika. Infact I was under the impression Mrithika is a sand which has been presevered from Guru Raghavendra's period.

Later stage I came to know that I was wrong but did'nt get the entire details of Mrithika. Before my visit to Mantralaya in 2011, I read a post in the internet that anyone can buy Mrithika from Mantralayam. So when I went to Mantralayam, I went and asked an Archakar about this in the Mutt. He informed me that I should not be asking like this loudly to everyone as this is so precious and will not be sold for monetary benefits. But he guided me to the right person and now I have a package of Mrithika with me.

For the benefits of everyone, 

Mrithika is a mixture of sand and clay that gains sanctity when brought in the prescribed manner and spread on the Moola Brindavan. The earth of Mantralya itself is sacred since it is the place where Prahlad had lived and performed yaga, its holiness having been further enhanced by the power of Sri Raghavendra's austerities. click here to read the details on the holiness of Mantralaya.

From the garden of tulsi plaints behind the Moola Brindavan, Mrithika is brought with sanctity every year amidst playing of musical instruments and spread on the Moola Brindavan. On the Mrithika saligrams are also placed. This is called Mrithika Sangrahan. This is done annually on Ashad Purnima which usually falls on a full moon day during the month of Jul-August ( In 2012, it is on 3rd July )


The foremost procedure for installation of a Brindavan is, the Moola Mrithika from Sri Swami's Moola Brindavan at Mantralaya is brought with sanctity in order to sanctify the Brindavan to be installed. The pontiff of the Sri Math, while handing over the Mrithika to those connected with the installation of the Brindavan, blesses them and wishes them success. The Mrithika of Sri Raghavendra Swami carries His power and presence in it.



Infact the power of Mrithika has been known during the days of Guru Raghavendra Swamy. 
one of the routine work of Guru Raghavendra swamy is to teach vedas and spread bakthi. He will be group of sisyas with him to teach the vedas and travel with him. 

One day, during early morning when Guru Raghavendra swamy was taking his bath in cauvery river, one of his diciple came to Guru and informed him that he is going to get married and he needs permission to go to his village and come back. This particular diciple was a very poor and do not have his parents or relatives to help him in his marriage. He has to be on his own. During those days, 
while taking bath, Guru usually applies the sand from the river and uses river water to clean the applied sand(Mrithika). When this diciple asked for permission, Guru wiped the Mrithika from his body and gave it to his diciple and blessed him.

Diciple was not sure what to do with the Mrithika but he thought of carrying it with him since Guru might have given this for some reason. While travelling back to his village, on a night, he sat outside a house to have a sleep and start his journey next day. When he was there, he heard a coversion with a father and daughter inside the house. The daughter gave a birth to a baby very recently and they both were crying. From their conversation, the diciple came to know that there is a ghost who will come and pick up the newly born baby. This has happend to their previous babies and both daughter and father were crying and felt the same will happen to this baby as well.

However due to tiredness, the diciple went to sleep. During mid night he heard some sound and he got up and saw a ghost waiting in front of this house. He got afraid, however he firmly holded the Mrithika in the hand and started to chant Guru's name. The ghost asked him that he has something with him which is stopping the ghost to enter the house. He said it is Mrithika of Guru Raghavendra Swamy.

When the ghost tried to enter again, it was thrown back due the the power of Guru Raghavendra Swamy's Mrithika. Diciple of Guru asked the ghost to leave away, however ghost replied to him that it will have to take the baby as per law because the grand father of the baby has made so much of sins and he has to pay for it. So it asked diciple to get away from this house so that it can enter and take the baby. By this time, both the grand-father and daughter heard the conversations and came out and told the diciple that they have face this due to the sins they made in their life and requested diciple to go away. However diciple informed them that how can a ghost do this to a newly born baby and said to them that he has the blessings of Guru Raghavendra swamy and the ghost cannot do anything.

By saying this, he took a small amount of mrithika and throwed it towards the ghost. Within seconds,ghost disappeared. Diciple and others heard just the voice of the ghost which informed them that
it was in ghost form since it did not complete his life as ordered by almightly, however due the power of Guru Raghavendra Swamy's mrithika, it was able to get rid of his ghost form and thanked the diciple and informed the daughter and father that it wont trouble them again.

By hearding this, the family was so happy and gave lot of rewards to diciple which he used for his marriage and came back to Guru to continue his education.

This was not the only instance, even today, devotees of Guru who have Mrithika are seeing the miracles of it irrespective of the size of the problem ( either small or big ). 

Devotees usually take a clean bath and pray Guru. After this they take a pinch of Mrithika and mix it with water and drink it as a teertha. Mrithika has enormous power which cures and solves all the problem if we trust and believe on Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy.

Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy knows when to give and what to give to his devotees and we all know he is "Kalpakaviruksha" as rightly said by Sri Appanacharya in Sri Raghavendra Guru Stotram. 
Devotees should have trust and pray to Guru soul-heartedly and lead a life in a right way. 

As Guru stated, "Without right living, right thinking will not come ".

[ஸ்ரீ கிருஷ்ணார்ப்பணம் ]

Pancamukhi - Important place to visit near Mantralayam



Panchamukhi - Divine place where Guru did Tapasya for 12 years

The rocky hill of Gaanadhaal village a sacred vicinity. This place is currently called as Gaanadhaal Panchamukhi. Panchamukhi is around 10 Kms from Mantralayam. Devotees have to cross Tungabadra river through parisal and look for local auto / van to reach Panchamukhi from Mantralayam.

Sri PraanaDevaru who is the propagator of  HARISARVOTTAMATVA is the famous PANCHAMUKHI.  Rayaru did Tapasya there.PraanaDevaru became Pratyaksha to Rayaru and saw the five faces



PraanaDevaru - Sri Hanuman
Sri Varaahamurthy - to the right of the PraanaDevaru
Sri GarudaDevaru - to the right of the PraanaDevaru
Sri NarasimhaDevaru - to the right of the PraanaDevaru
Sri HayagreevaDwevaru - to the left of the PraanaDevaru, holding the weapons in their hands.

Sri PranaDevaru ( Sri Hanuman) towards East direction

This face removes all blemishes of sin and confers purity of mind.

Sri Narasimha Devaru towards South direction

Removes fear of enemies and confers victory. Narasimha is the Lion-Man avatar of Lord Vishnu,
who took the form to protect his devotee from evil. Hanuman may have had this face during the
burning of Lanka and fighting in the war.

Sri Garuda Devaru towards West direction

Drives away evil spells, black magic influences, negative spirits and removes all poisonous
effects in one's body. Garuda is Lord Vishnu's vehcile, this bird knows the secrets of death
and the beyond. The Garuda Purana is a Hindu text based on this knowledge.

Sri Varaha Devaru towards North direction

  Wards off the troubles caused by bad influences of the planets and confers all eight types
  prosperity (Ashta Aishwarya). Varaha is another Lord Vishnu avatar, he took this form and dug
upland, Hanuman may have had this face whilst collecting the Sanjeev mountain.

Sri Hayagriva devaru Upwards(Urdhva Mukha) face towards sky.

confers knowledge, victory, good wife and progeny.

LORD VENKATESHWARA gave darshana to our Guru Raghavendra Swamyon that rocky hill only.It is heartening to know that what an amount of intense of Bhakti Sri Rayaru is having towards SRIHARI.



As a mark of all these signs of sanctity today we can see along with Panchamukhi PraanaDevaru Lord Venkataramana and Rayara Brindavana where Rayaru sat for Tapasya.No one has carved,they are all naturally formed and famed.

There is also a history on this Panchamuka face of Pranadevaru ( Lord Hanuman )

Rama and Lakshmana are captured by the rakshasa Mahiravana (or Ahiravan), brother of Ravana, who held them captive in their palace in Patala,the netherworld. Mahiravana keeps them as offerings to his deity. Searching for them, Hanuman reaches Patala, the gates of which are guarded by a young creature called Makardhwaja (known also as Makar-Dhwaja or Magar Dhwaja), who is part reptile and part Vanara.
The story of Makardhwaja's birth is said to be that when Hanuman extinguished his burning tail in the ocean, a drop of his sweat fell into the waters, eventually becoming Makardhwaja, who perceives Hanuman as his father. When Hanuman introduces himself to Makardhwaja, the latter asks his blessings, but fights him to fulfill the task of guarding the gate. Hanuman defeats and imprisons him to gain entry.

Upon entering Patala, Hanuman discovers that to kill Mahiravana, he must simultaneously extinguish five lamps burning in different directions. Hanuman assumes the Panchamukha or five-faced form of Sri Varaha facing north, Sri Narasimha facing south, Sri Garuda facing west, Sri Hayagriva facing the sky and his own facing the east, and blows out the lamps. Hanuman then rescues Rama and Lakshmana. Afterwards, Rama asks Hanuman to crown Makardhwaja king of Patala. Hanuman then instructs Makardhwaja to rule Patala with justice and wisdom.

[ஸ்ரீ கிருஷ்ணார்ப்பணம் ]

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Sri Vadeendra Teertharu (1728-1750)

Sri Vadeendra Teertharu (1728-1750)



We all know Guru Sri Raghavendra Swamy Brindavan is located in Mantralayam. But Mantralayam has one more brindavan for another Guru Sri Vadeendra Teertharu. Brindavan of Guru Sri Vadeendra Teertharu is located just adjacent to Guru Raghavendra Swamy brindavan. Whoever visits Mantralayam should also bow in front of Sri Vadeendra Teertharu.

When I first visited Mantralayam, I was not aware much of Sri Vadeendra Teertharu and I was also not aware that his Brindavanam is located next to our Guru Raghavendra Swamy. After some research in the internet and reading few books, I was able to find more details of Sri Vadeendra Teertharu. So thought of writing this post which would be helpful for other devotees.

We all know Laksminarayanacharya is the poorvashrama son of our Guru Sri Raghavendra Swamy. Purushottamacharya was the son of Laksminarayanacharya. His son was Srinivasacharya. Due to inheritance from the family elders, he had acquired great knowledge on vedas and teached students in the Mutt. By seeing his knowledge and skills, Sri Upendratheertha decided that he was the only deserving person and named him as Vadeendra Thertharu and bestowed him to sanyasa.



During this period there were lot of political turmoil in southern india due to small and big rulers.
Due to this there were situations raised where the lands gifted to the Mutt were at risk. Sri Vadeendra Theertharu worked with adminstrative persons to restore the same in favor of Mutt.

Coming back to the original reason of this post,  Diwan Venkanna ( called as Venkannapath) was a very strong devotee of our Guru who stayed with Guru for several years. He was the one who worked with Nawab to get Mantralayam to our Guru which is very holy place. Click here to know why Guru Sri Raghavendra Swamy choosed Mantralayam. Hence Diwan Venkanna's name will live till the universe is there.

Our Guru Sri Raghavendra Swamy did the penance at Panchamukhi for almost 12 years during which he got the blessings of Lord Hari , who blessed and directed our Guru to stay in Mantralayam to bless the devotees.

After this Guru, requested a help from Diwan Venkanna to bring a rock from a near by mountain which is 20 kms from Mantralaya and he gave the exact location and details of the rock. Our Guru also informed Diwan Venkkanna that this rock should be used to build his Brindavanam. Once Venkanna heard this he was in tears. Our Guru Sri Raghavendra Swamy informed him that this is the order of Lord Hari and every one in the universe should follow the directions of Lord Hari.

Diwan Venkanna requested his people to bring the rock and started to construct the brindavanam in Mantralayam. One fine day, after finishing the work, Diwan requested our Guru Sri Raghavendra Swamy to visit the place where Brindavanam was built. When Guru Sri Raghavendra Swamy saw the place and brindavanam, he informed Diwan, that this is not the rock what he wanted and also our Guru gave more details and requested Diwan to bring the rock which he wanted for his Brindavanam.

When Diwan, heard this, he felt bad that he did not do the job rightly and asked Guru that what is special of that particular rock and his work on this bridavanam that he took so much care is of now use now.

For this, our Guru informed Venkanna that during Rama avatar in Tretya Yuga, Lord Rama came to this place in search of Sita devi and sat in this particular rock to take some rest and hence this rock is so special. Our Guru almost informed Diwan that the brindavanam that he built will not be waste and this will used by 5th Teertharu after him. This made Diwan happy and he went to bring the rock that Our Guru mentioned.

This was the brindavanam that was redied for our Guru was later dedicated to Sri Vadeendra Teertharu. Our Guru Sri Raghavendara Swamy was aware of this and hence left this brindavanam for him.


This Brindavan was installed on  the left side and very near to our Guru Sri Raghavendar Swamy's Brindavan. The very thing that his Brindavan could be located near Sri Gururaja’s Brindavan speaks volumes for Sri Vadeendra’s greatness.

Sri Vadeendra Teertharu also authored Guru Gunastavana, his magnum opus to our Sri Guru Raghavendra Swami. When Sri Vadeendra Teertharu read this Guru Gunastavana in front of Sri Raghavendra Swami's brindavanam, our Guru was so impressed which his work and showered the flowers on him by shaking his Brindavanam. This proves and speaks to the greatness of Sri Vadeendra Teertharu

Following are the works of Sri Vadeendra, that are available in book format.
1. Tattvaprakashika Tippani (Meemamsa Nayadarpana)
2. Tattvodyota Tippani
3. Bhoogola Khagola Vichara
4. Raghavendramathagatharchagathikrama
5. Gurugunastavana
6. Navyadurakthishiksha (written in poorvashrama)

I hope this post is helpful to the devotees who were not aware of Sri Vadeendra Teertharu and the reason for his brindavanam in Mantralayam on the left side of our Guru Sri Raghavendra Swamy.

 [ஸ்ரீ கிருஷ்ணார்ப்பணம்] 

Friday, February 17, 2012

Guru Raghavendra Swamy Jayanthi / Sri Guru Rayaru Vardhanti Utsava Invitation ( Feb 23rd to Feb 29th 2012 )

Guru Raghavendra Swamy Jayanthi / Birthday / Sri Guru Rayaru Vardhanti Utsava Invitation from Moola Brindavanam , Mantralayam ( Feb 23rd to Feb 29th 2012 )


Courtesy : http://raghavendramutt.org



A special invitation to you to participate in one of the most important, siginificant
and commemorative functions of our Mutt on the occasion of 
391st Pattabhisheka Mahotsava and 
417th Vardhanti Utsava of Sri Gururajaru.

SRI RAGHAVENDRA GURU BHAKTI UTSAVA
is a celebration of seven days from 
23.02.2012 to 29.02.2012 conducted with the blessings of  
His Holiness 108 Sri Sushameendra Teertha Sripadangalavaru 

and in the immediate presence of our present Peethadhipati 
His Holiness 108 Sri Suyateendra Teertha Sripadangalavaru.


Invitation is available in the raghavendramutt.org website. Kindly visit the Click here to get the details of the invitation.




Various religious and cultural programmes are arranged during this auspicious occasion. 

All are cordially invited.

By order of H.H. Sri Swamiji


Visit my other post Click here regarding Raghavendra Swamy Jayanthi / Sri Guru Rayaru Vardhanti Utsava birthday in 2012


[ஸ்ரீ கிருஷ்ணார்ப்பணம் ]

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Meaning of Guru Ragavendra Swami Stotram / Guru Stotram / Sri Poornabodha Stotram


This post has the meaning of Guru Ragavendra Swami Stotram / Guru Stotram / Sri Poornabodha Stotram
                                                    Written By Shri Appannacharya Translated by P.R.Ramachander

Guru Raghavendra Swamy stotra Sloka in English is provided the link Click here . The meaning of the stotra is provided below.

Slokas ( 1 & 2 )

The Guru with complete  intellect who makes us cross the ocean of life,
Like the water which emanates above the eye of the  killer of “God of love”,
Which by the flowing waves washes the feet of Lord Vishnu,
And which has torrential  waves worshipped by crowds of devas ,

And is the lord of life with all qualities and makes a better world,
Has the face which does not see differences between poor and rich,
Which like the group of crocodiles destroy the bad arguments
And  is  being  meditated by sages as the Guru Raghavendra,
And let his words purify us like the divine river.

Sloka 3

Sri Raghavendra who gives us everything,
To those who are filled with devotion to his feet,
Who by his  sight destroys mountains of sins,
Like Indra’s Vajrayudha destroying mountains,
And who is  king of  earth , would protect us always.

Sloka 4

Sri Raghavendra devoted to the feet of Narayana,
Who serves him with all the assets that he has,
Who is god like , who is  similar to the wish giving tree,
Would bless me with all my wishes always.

Sloka 5

He has a holy personality , who burns away sorrow and misery,
Who looks after welfare of the society and is very courageous,,
Who is capable of destroying the effects of evil planets,
And who is like the bridge built to cross the ocean of misery.

Sloka 6

He does not have any thing bad in him and appears fully praiseworthy,
Who by his firm and thoughtful words silences others in argument,
Whose greatness can be full known to only learned people,
And who has conquered others by his mastery of words.

Sloka 7

Let the Guru Raghavendra grant me, children, wealth and devotion,
Special knowledge ,  health and skills with words,
Giving us freedom from all the ills of our body,
And also destroy bad effects from all the diseases.



Sloka 8

The collection of water that washes your feet which helps us to attain all desires,
Which brings innumerable , unsurpassed , illustrious and famous blessings
Which destroys the three types of miseries, blesses with good son saluted by the world,
To the elegant one deprived of them earlier and also destroys the bad effects of planets.

Sloka 9

The sight of the devotee wearing the holy dust of his feet,
Who is drunk with the honey extracted from his lotus like feet,
And who understands and sings the praise of his lotus like feet,
Is the fast spreading fire which destroys our miseries.

Sloka 10                                      

A very independent saint who is well learned,
Who goes on propagating the principles of Madhwa,
Who is the blessed student of Saint Sudheendra,
Who was a blessing of lotus like hand of Vijayeendra,

Sloka 11

The great Saint Raghavendra.
My Guru who takes away fear,
And blesses with wisdom.
Devotion, good children, fame,
And leads to increase of blessed deeds.

Sloka 12

There is no one like Guru Raghavendra,
Who defeats all those who debate against him,
And appears to them very fearful,
And also an expert in all Vedas and arts.

Sloka 13

There is no one like Guru Raghavendra,
Who has directly seen the consort of Lakshmi,
Who has discarded all bad desires,
And who grants us all that we desire.

Sloka 14

There is no one like Guru Raghavendra,
Who is merciful, straight forward and detached,
Who adorns himself with mastery of words,
And who is capable of cursing as well as blessing.

Sloka 15                                                

With the blessings of Guru Raghavendra , ignorance,
Forgetfulness, misunderstanding , doubts , decay of sense,
Lethargy , shaking , stammering would disappear from all organs.,

Sloka 16

Chanting of the eight lettered mantra,
“Om Sri Raghavendraya nama”,
Daily and without any break,
Would lead without doubt to fulfillment of all desires.

Sloka 17

Let the great Guru who has clear understanding of Athma,
Destroy all ills of the body and also those arising out of our mind,
And also similar ills of our friends and relatives.

Sloka 18

He who does these prayers in dawn noon and dusk daily,
Would  without any doubt achieve all that he wants.

Sloka 19

In this world Sri Raghavendra existed with great fame,
And was the moon to the ocean of Philosophy of Sri Madhwa,
And we seek his blessings of this flawless Guru.

Sloka  20

I go round your Brindavana so that I get the effect f all pilgrimages,
I sprinkle on my head the water that has passed through the saint’s Brindavana,
And I get the effect of visiting and sprinkling all the sacred waters.

Sloka  21

For getting all my wishes fulfilled  I salute  you,
And singing about you gives same effect as reading Vedas and other holy books.

Sloka 22

Oh great Guru , save me from this deep , impassable ocean of misery called life,
With crocodile like blemishes which are agitated by ocean wave like desires,
With whirlpools of ignorance and perverse knowledge trying to pull me down,
And great sorrows  which are like worst poisons trying to put me down.

Sloka 23

To him who reads with devotion this prayer to Guru Raghavendra.
Would easily get rid of  diseases  like leprosy .


Sloka 24

A blind person would get sacred sight , a dumb person would gain mastery of words,
And get full term of life, also  get all types of wealth , by repeatedly chanting this stotra.

Sloka 25

He who drinks the water sanctified by recitation of this stotra,
Would get all the diseases of his stomach cured immediately.

Sloka 26


Even a lame or handicapped person approaching this Brindavana,
Chants this stotra, perambulates and salutes it,
Would by grace of the god like Guru,
Would become a great expert in walking

Sloka 27

During the eclipse of Moon or Sun  or during Pushya Star,
He with purity recites this stotra one hundred and eight times,
Will not have troubles from ghosts , ghouls and devils.

Sloka 28

If this prayer  is chanted before the Brindavana of the Guru,
And a light is lit , definitely become wise and also get a son.

Sloka 29

He would get victory over those who argue with him,
Get divine knowledge and his devotion will increase,
And he not get worried about any thing in life,
Because all this desires would be fulfilled.

Sloka 30

Trouble from king, thief , big tiger  or crocodile,
Without any doubt will not occur to him,
Because of the power of this great prayer.

Sloka 31

Those devotees who think of the twin feet of Guru Raghavendra and read,
This divine stotra  will without any doubt  not undergo any problems,


Sloka 32

But also his desired wealth will become plentiful ,
Because of the blessing of Lord Vishnu,
His fame and great prosperity will spread in all directions ,
And the truth of this is witnessed by Lord Hayagreeva himself.



Ithi sree Raghavendrarya  guru prasadatha ,
Krutham storamidham punyam srimad appanna aabhidai.

This is the Stotra composed by Sri Appanna,
Due to the grace of the great Guru Raghavendra.

"Ithi Sri Appanna virachitham
Sri Raghavendra stotram sampoornam."

Thus ends The Raghavendra Stotra written by appannacharya.

"Bharathi ramana mukhya pranathargatha Sri Krishnarpanamasthu."

This great work composed due to the blessing of Guru Raghavendra is submitted to Lord Krishna.

[ஸ்ரீ கிருஷ்ணார்ப்பணம் ]

Monday, February 13, 2012

Manchale (Now Mantralayam ) - Why Guru Raghavendra Swamy choosed Manchale for his Bridavan


Anyone who had read the life story of Guru Raghavendra Swamy, would ask why Guru had choosed Manchale ( Now called Mantralayam ) as a place to attain Brindavan and live their for next 700 years. Why this place is so special.

This question comes to everyone's mind because, Guru Raghavendra Swamy born in Bhuvanagiri, Tamilnadu ( as history says ), stayed in Kanchi ( again Tamilnadu ), got his education in Vidya Mutt at Kumbakonnam ( in Tamilnadu ) and obtained Sanyasa at Tanjore ( in Tamilnadu ).

The answer to all these questions are 'YES, there is an importance for selecting Manchale as a place for Bridavan prevesham'. As everyone who travelled to Mantralayam knows that this place is very rocky even today and can imagine how it would have been 300 years back.

Manchale ( Mantralayam ) is a very special place and it holds great history and holiness in it.
Our Guru has selected this place for this very own reason.

In those days, Manchale was under the control of Nawab of Adoni Siddi Masud Khan and governed by Diwan Venkanna ( I will share another post about Venkanna ). Venkanna returned his favor to our Guru Raghavendra Swamy by providing the place Manchale to our Guru.

One day, while going with our Guru Raghavendra Swamy, Diwan Venkanna asked our Guru " Dear  Guru, there were so many holy places that you visited during your travel and what is so special of Manchale. You could have asked several places even in my limit which are Green and wealthy where as Manchale has only rocks ? ".

For this question, our Guru did not reply right away, instead Guru took Venkanna along with him to a place and requested him to plough a particular place. Venkanna was bit confused but he just obeyed the order of our Guru. After digging few mins, by his suprise, he found a "Homakunda". ( This is exactly the same place where our Guru's lives for 700 years )

Our Guru Raghavendra Swamy, smiled at Venkanna and replied to him as follows:

"Dear Diwan Venkanna, Manchale is a very holy place and that is the reason I picked this place for my Brindavan pravesham. This homakunda has long history. During krithya yuga, in my earlier birth as Prahalad, I had done several homas in this very holy place and "Manchallamma" was our Kula Devatha."

"The powerful vedas and mantras were recited at this very holy place which makes it very special".

" Dear Diwan Venkanna, Even before I requested this place to you, I prayed to my Kula Devatha "Manchallamma" to grant me a permission to make a brindavan prevesham in this place and "Manchallamma" happily agreed to it. Hence Diwan Venkanna, who ever comes to visit my Brindavan  should definitely visit Manchallamma first before seeing me" ( This is still in practice today )


" Not only that, During Dwapara Yuga, Anusalva and Arjuna were fighting during the Aswamedha Yagam.
  Arjuna could not defeat Anusalva as his chariot was on the Homakunda.  On seeing this Lord Sri      Krishna made Arjuna to move a little backward when Anusalva's chariot too left the point and
  become vulnerable and Arjuna defeated him.  Such was the importance of the place."

"This is also the same place where Lord Rama took a rest while in search of Sita Devi "

Diwan Venkanna was so happy to hear the importance of Manchale ( Mantralayam ) and also to hear about the previous birth of our Guru Raghavendra Swamy. He was also sad since he came to know that Guru Raghavendra Swamy is going to do a Brindavan Prevesham shortly.

[ஸ்ரீ கிருஷ்ணார்ப்பணம் ]

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Miracle of Guru in Madras District Gazatte

We all know the Miracle that Guru Raghavendra Swamy has been performing in every devotees life... It is innumerable and I myself have experienced so many miracles and had the blessings to see the Guru in dreams. However one the key miracle that happened during the British Regime was the re-appearance of Guru himself from Brindavana to have a discussion with Thomas Munroe.



There is a saying that this has some history which goes back to Kriya Yuga. When Shanku Karna deva was first born in the earth as Prahalada which was the main reason of Narashima avatara. During that period Thomas Munroe was also there as a close friend to Prahalada ( earlier avatara of our Guru Raghavendra Swamy ).

Read the attached screenshot from Madras Gazatte which registered the conversation of Guru Raghavendra Swamy and Thomas Munroe.

[ஸ்ரீ கிருஷ்ணார்ப்பணம் ]

Raghavendra Vijaya - Series


Raghavendra Vijaya was written and authored by the poet Narayanacharya. He was the son of Guru Raghavendra Swamy's sister.

Narayancharya's father was a Lakshmee Narashimacharya, a well known as the master of 6 systems of Philosophy. Sri Narayanacharya got the education from his father.

The main events listed in the poems are accepted as a basic history to build Guru Raghavendra Swamy's life history. This poems explains the long chain of Pontifical line from Guru Madhavacharya to present Swamiji and development of Dvaita system of philosophy. Poet Narayanacharya had the Madhva Vijaya which was a solid contribution pioneered by Shri Madhava himself by writing Mahabarat Tatparya Nirnaya. There is a saying that Poet Narayanacharya wrote this Sri Raghavendra Vijaya and took the poems to Guru Raghavendra Swamy for his blessings and Guru took the poems in his hand and blessed it without reading it, which by itself gives the evidence that Guru himself had approved these poems which lists the life events of Guru himself.



Though I have the book, I was not able to publish this in my blog due to copywright issues. However
there is a saying that Knowledge needs to be shared with one and all and this is series will helpful to all devotees.

Sri Guru Raghavendra Vijaya - Series 1 - Click here
Sri Guru Raghavendra Vijaya - Series 2 - Click here
Sri Guru Raghavendra Vijaya - Series 3 - Click here
Sri Guru Raghavendra Vijaya - Series 4 - Click here
Sri Guru Raghavendra Vijaya - Series 5 - Click here
Sri Guru Raghavendra Vijaya - Series 6 - Click here
Sri Guru Raghavendra Vijaya - Series 7 - Click here
Sri Guru Raghavendra Vijaya - Series 8 - Click here
Sri Guru Raghavendra Vijaya - Series 9 - Click here
Sri Guru Raghavendra Vijaya - Series 10 - Click here
Sri Guru Raghavendra Vijaya - Series 11 - Click here
Sri Guru Raghavendra Vijaya - Series 12 - Click here
Sri Guru Raghavendra Vijaya - Series 13 - Click here
Sri Guru Raghavendra Vijaya - Series 14 - Click here


[ஸ்ரீ கிருஷ்ணார்ப்பணம் ]