Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Directions to reach Mantralayam ( from Chennai )


I had the blessings to land in Mantralayam in Feb 2011. This was my first visit and before this visit i was
doing lot of search and other details in the web on how to reach Mantralayam and what needs to be done over there.

I thought of writting this blog to help others who are making / planing their first visit to the greatest holy places in the world.

Since I was in US, the ticket arrangements were made in India. We also planned to visit both Mantralayam and Shridi.

Best way to go to Mantralayam from Chennai is through Train. The Bombay Mail goes everyday night at 10.20 PM ( pls. check the timings as these changes every now and then ). This training reaches Mantralayam rail road next day around 11 or 12 PM based on the schedule & delays. The train stops there for 10 to 15 mins as this is the place where water will also be refilled.

I do not consider road as a best option because of the distance and not sure whether any buses go directly from Chennai to Mantralayam. Nearest airport is Hydrabad from which we need to travel via road for about 250 KMs. Once you get out of the station, we can see lot of share autos and travel cars who does the trip to Mantralayam Rail road to Mantralayam temple. It is about 12 Kms. Usually shared auto is Rs 50 / head ( in 2011 ) but it will be fully cramped.

I went through a Jeep where they charged me Rs 300 for a 12 KM drive. But it was more private and no one were there other than my family members. It took like 20 to 25 mins to reach the Mantralayam area. On the way you can also see Goshala where the cows are maintained.

There is a arch that welcomes us which indicates that we are in Mantralayam. This is very small area and it is crowded as usual. You can see lot of private lodges there which are very near and close to the temples. We never made any reservation in the hotels. Since we went in Feb which was a off season, we were able to get the hotels right away. You can also find AC hotels where they charge Rs 1000 / day ( in 2011 ). We stayed in the hotel just outside the temple.

If you plan to perform any seva, please make sure to visit the office to get the Seva receipt. All donations are also made in the office which are open most of the time. Office is situated just outside the temple it is on a newly renovated building after the 2009 floods. Most the roads and buildings around the temple are renovated after the floods.

Also if you prayed to do a seva, please make sure to purchase the cocunut which is full ( it should similar to the one that we use in marriages, only the outer hard layer has to be removed , rest should be as it is ) and also a plastic cup to have a water for Seva.

As always, whenever you enter Brindavana , visit to Manchallamma temple. This is mandatory and follow the same. Once you enter brindavana you have 3 different ways. One is regular queue which will be slightly far away from Guru's brindavana. In this queue, you can go with pant and shirt. Other one is vip entrance which is little close to Brindavana. There is no charge to it, however if you have bought recipts to perform Seva you can get in this queue. Other one is the main entrance though which we can just go as much close as we can to Guru's brindavana. I had a privilage to get an entry through this and I was asked to perform Aarthi to Guru Baghavan Raghavendra Swamy which is once a life time event for a common man like me. I stayed there for 10 - 15 mins. I have not by hearted Guru Stotra , however if I hear the audio version, I can recite it back. Luckily for me there was another devotee who came through this entrance and he was reciting Guru stotra
loudly which I was able to hear and I recited it back. It was a true miracle which I never imagined.

In the temple you can get Parimala Prasadam for Rs 20. Other holy places that needs to be visited or Panchamuki temple where Guru stayed for 12 years and then Bichali where Guru stayed with Appanacharya. To go to these places we need to cross river Tungabadra. When I went, there was not much water but there were parisals which helped us to cross the river. They charged Rs 40 / per person for a round trip.
On the other side of the river, there were autos who were waiting for a drop and pick-up. Again they were very expensive and we cannot blame them because there were no proper roads and the way was a mud road with ups and down. For old people it will be a difficult travel. Again if you prefer to have a private trip with your family members for both Panchamuki and Bichali they charged Rs 800.

There is also a perumal temple close to Mantralaya. The idol in this temple was installed by Guru. I just visited the temple from outside and did not get into the temple. Planning to do it in my next visit.

If you just visted Mantralaya you can return back next day. If you visiting Mantralaya to seva, then you may need to stay there for 3 days to complete the seva. You can return back to Chennai through same Bombay mail which comes around 3 PM in the evening to Mantralayam Rail Road. You will reach chennai next day by 5 AM in the morning.

Hope these information are helpful and do plan to visit Mantralayam to get the blessings of Guru Baghavan Sri Raghavendra Swami.

[ஸ்ரீ கிருஷ்ணார்ப்பணம் ]

Transformation that Guru Raghavendra Swamy brought in me


I have been thinking about writting this blog since yesterday. While thinking about this, it also showed the kind of transformation that has happened in my life since I started to follow and pray to our Guru.

As I mentioned in my earlier blog, I started to workship our Guru Baghavan Raghavendra Swamy since Feb 2009.  It was one of the toughest year ( 2008 and early 2009) in my life where everything and whatever I do goes the other way both in personal and professional life. Lot of things changed since I started praying to our Guru, learned and spent more time to know his life and miracles he had performed towards his devotees & followers.

There were 2 things that happend after I started praying to our Guru. One is most of the bad phases of my life went away from me and this is exactly why everyone goes to temple and prays to GOD. But the 2nd thing and most important thing that I felt was the transformation that has happend in me as a person and as a human being.

Before being a devotee to our Guru, I was more of normal human being. I do not have any bad habits ( like smoking or drinking) but then I did had a normal human nature of being selfish, only thinking about me,
not a truly honest person , survival of the fittest, jelous on others, going behind monetary benfits and materialistic things.

I was never a very serious spiritual person. But after these 3 years when I sit and think about me, there has been so much of transformation in me which has happened without my knowledge and only because of our Guru who wanted me to change.

The changes that I noticed in me was

- I was never a selfish person like before. Whatever I get, even a small thing I usually take it with me even though it was not useful to me. At those days, my thinking will be that though it is not useful now, this will be useful in future like more stocking up of things. Now whatever I have, without knowingly I try to share with everyone and only take the left over with me if is really needed to me.

- I have never known me to be such a honest person in my life. In early days even if I say something people around me will not trust me until I make a promise. Within me, even if I make a promise it does not warrant me to follow it. But now, I am not making so many promises that I did early and also people around me trust me on what I say because of me sticking to it these days. I also reduced the promises that I make and If I make any promises I really make sure to follow it by any means. But still I do tell lies to avoid issues.  This is something I wanted to change and will definitely change in due course

- I have became so spirtual person and I receite Guru's name and stotra most of the time when I am idle. Even though I perform other activities but my mind has been reciting Guru's name and stotras.

- Important change that I released in me was jelous on others. usually if something best happens to others that
will really affect me in the past and my mind will be thinking of it. But now, my mind has been so clear and changed, I feel happy for good things happening for others. This is the best transformation that has happened in my life and  I really know how good and difficult to change this habit / thinking.

- The second best transformation that has happened in my life was not being distracted by any external pressures. Even if good thing or bad thing happens, I not getting too exicted or worried. I do  get excited and worried but earlier stages the phases of excitement and worry was a prolonged one, but now it is more of a small in nature and I take it to the lotus feet of our Guru.

- Materialistic things had attracted a lot ( money, entertainment etc). But this has changed a lot in me as a person and my mind is pretty much occupied by spiritual thoughts.

When I sit and think about the changes in me, the list keeps on growing like I have drastically reduced my emotions, doing more of a self realization etc.

These are all possible only because of Guru Baghavan Raghavendra Swami. He has done all this to me and helped me to be a better person in life. Whatever I am today is because of our Guru and each and every moment of my life is arpanam to our beloved Guru Baghavan Raghavendra Swami.

[ஸ்ரீ கிருஷ்ணார்ப்பணம் ]

Nanjangud - Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt which is called Preteeka Sanidhi


Sri Sujanendra Teertharu was the pontiff of Raghavendra Mutt during the period between 1836 - 1861 for 25 years. Sri Sujanendra Teertharu usually stayed in Nanjangud area and had a brief travel and will return back to Nanjangud.Being a strong devotee of our Guru Raghavendra Swamy, Sri Sujanendra Teertharu had a strong desire to spend his last days in Mantralaya and stay close to Rayaru's Brindavana. In order to accomplish this, Sri Sujanendra Teertharu went to Mantralaya. One fine day our Guru came to his dream and asked him to return back to Nanjangud and indicated him that he will come there and stay with him.

As per the direction of our Guru Sri Sujanendra Teertharu returned back to Nanjangud. In order to come to Nanjangud, our beloved Guru came in the dreams of 3 people at the same time. 1st person was a washerman whose job is to wash clothes at the river banks of Cauvery in Srirangam. He usually washes clothes in a rock every day and do his job with utmost respect. One fine day when he was beating the clothes in the rock, he heard a divine sound coming from the rock every time when he beat the clothes. He was bit scared and moved to a different rock. On that night, our Guru appeared in his dream and requested him to handover the rock to a brahmin who will come and see him next day and told him that he is there in a idol form beneath the rock.

On the same night, our Guru came in the dream of a brahmin who is in Srirangam and requested him to meet the washerman who will give him the rock and indicated him that 'he himself is there beneath the rock'. Guru requested the brahmin to carry idol in the head by foot to Nanjangud which will be received by the Maharaja over there.



On the same night, our Guru came in the dream of Krishnaraja Wodeyar III who was the King of Mysore. The king is very strong devotee of our Guru and he had his own mrithika in his palace where he does seva with utmost respect and bakthi. In his dream our Guru requested him to provide all necessary help Sri Sujanendra Teertharu to install the idol in Nanjangud and disappeared.

As per the dream, brahmin met the washerman and collected the idol with utmost respect and bakthi. He carried it on his head towards nanjangud where Sri Sujanendra  Teertharu received the idol from the brahmin and the king helped to install the idol in Nanjangud on a auspicious day.

On the day after uttara aradhana of our Guru Baghavan Raghavendra Swamy, Sri Sujanendra Teertharu attained the Lotus feed of Sri Hari. His poorva aradhana coincides with uttara aradhana of our Guru Rayaru. Since Rayaru knew this, he came to Nanjangud as promised and stayed there as per the wish of Sri Sujanendra Teertharu

This is the only place where our Guru Baghavan Raghavendra Swami will be in a idol form rather than vrindavana. Hence this place is also called as Preteeka Sanidhi.

[ஸ்ரீ கிருஷ்ணார்ப்பணம் ]

Monday, January 23, 2012

List of Ekadesi Vrata days - April 2012 - Dec 2012

April 2012 Ekadasi Calendar

3rd April 2012 – Kamda Ekadasi – Kamada Ekadashi
16th April 2012 - Varuthini Ekadashi

Ekadasi Dates in May 2012

2nd May 2012 – Mohini Ekadasi 
16th May 2012 – Apara Ekadashi 
31st May 2012 – Bhim Ekadasi – Bhima Nirjala Ekadasi 

Ekadashi Dates in June 2012

15th June 2012 – Yogini Ekadashi
30th June 2012 - Devshayani Ekadashi – Sayana Ekadasi - Ashadi Ekadasi

July 2012 Ekadashi Dates

14th July 2012 – Kamika Ekadasi
29th July 2012 - Pavitra Ekadasi – Putrada Ekadashi 

August 2012 Ekadasi Calendar

13th August 2012 – Aja Ekadasi – Annada Ekadashi
27th August 2012 - Padmini Ekadasi - Adika Masa Ekadasi

September 2012 Ekadashi Dates

12th September 2012 – Kamla Ekadasi - Adika Masa Ekadasi
26th September 2012 – Parivartini Ekadashi – Parsava Ekadasi 

Ekadasi Dates in October 2012

11th October 2012 – Indira Ekadasi
25th October 2012 - Pasankusa Ekadashi

November 2012 Ekadashi Dates

10th November 2012 – Rama Ekadasi
24th November 2012 - Prabodini Ekadasi – Uttahana Ekadashi

December 2012 Ekadasi Calendar

9th December 2012 – Uttpatti Ekadashi (Smarta)
10th December 2012 - Uttpatti Ekadasi (Bhagavat)
23rd December 2012 - Vaikunta Ekadasi or Mokshada Ekadasi
24th December 2012 - Mokshada Ekadasi (Bhagavat only for some communities)


[ஸ்ரீ கிருஷ்ணார்ப்பணம் ]

Jagadguru Srimanmadhvacharya Moola Maha Samsthana, Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt - Lineage of Saints

Courtesy : www.srsmutt.org

Below is the lineage of Saints. Please visit www.srsmutt.org to get more details about Guru's.

Sri Hamsanamaka Paramatma
Sri Chaturmukha Brahma
Sri Sanaka Teertharu
Sri Sanandana Teertharu
Sri Sanatkumara Teertharu
Sri Sanatana Teertharu
Sri Doorvasa Teertharu
Sri Jnananidhi Teertharu
Sri Garuda vahana Teertharu
Sri Kaivalya Teertharu
Sri Jnanesha Teertharu
Sri ParaTeertharu
Sri Satyaprajna Teertharu
Sri Prajna Teertharu.
Sri Achyutaprekshacaryaru.
Sri Madhwacharyaru
Sri Padmanabha Teertharu
Sri Narahari Teertharu
Sri Madhava Teertharu
Sri Akshobhya Teertharu
Sri Jayateertharu
Shri Vidyadhiraja Teertharu
Shri Kaveendra Teertharu
Shri Vaageesha Teertharu
Shri Ramachandra Teertharu
Shri Vibhudeendra Teertharu
Shri Jitamitra Teertharu
Shri Raghunandana Teertharu
Shri Surendra Teertharu
Shri Vijayeendra Teertharu
Sri Sudheendra Teertharu
Sri Raghavendra Teertharu
Sri Yogeendra Teertharu
Sri Sooreendra Teertharu
Sri Sumateendra Teertharu
Sri Upendra Teeertharu
Sri Vadeendra Teertharu
Sri Vasudendra Teertharu
Sri Varadendra Teertharu
Sri Dheerendra Teertharu
Sri Bhuvanendra Teertharu
Sri Subodhendra Teertharu
Sri Sujanendra Teertaru
Sri Sujnanendra Teertharu
Sri Sudharmendra Teertharu
Sri Sugunendra Teertharu
Sri Suprajnendra Teertharu
Sri Sukrutheendra Teertharu
Sri Susheelendra Teertharu
Sri Suvrateendra Teertharu
Sri Suyameendra Teertharu
Sri Sujayeendra Teertharu
Sri Sushameendra Teertharu
Shri Suyateendra Teertharu - Present Pontiff

[ஸ்ரீ கிருஷ்ணார்ப்பணம் ]

Guru Ragavendra Swami Stotram / Guru Stotram / Sri Poornabodha Stotram - Audio file link


Recently when was viewing my blog, most of the visits to my blog was on Guru Stotra.
Though I have given the stotra in english, I know it would be really hard to pronounce it properly in Sanskrit.
Though our Guru likes pure bakthi than pronouncing it rightly, i was thinking to give the below audio link
which would be helpful for all the devotees.

http://patwari.org/GuruStotra/RayaraStotra.mp3

I have this audio file in my phone so that I repeat by hearing this. In few weeks you automatically pronounce it rightly and also have a flexibility to hear the stotra anytime and anywhere.

Also I have not been able to write posts frequently for some reasons. I wish and Pray to Guru that I keep writing about him all my lifetime.

[ஸ்ரீ கிருஷ்ணார்ப்பணம் ]

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Mantralayam - Sarba abhaya Prarthana


A unique service from vidwan and archak
Parimalacharya Mantralaya
Every Thursday, a group Prarthana (prayer) on behalf of devotees is
performed in Mantralayam and offered to Sri.Raghavendra Swamy
(Sri.Gururajaru). The main purpose of this activity is only to pray
• for better living of the devotees
for betterment of man kind & the society
for peace and harmony among the human community
and also, if any specific reason as indicated by devotees, the Prarthana
program would be carried out specifying the same.
( Devotees would communicate such information over telephone)
08512-279446- Archak Parimalacharya
1. Your gotra
2. Nakshtra
3. what is your problem
4. Name of the person
Please take minimum time

____________________________________________________________________________

I have personally tried this for one of my friend. Group prayers are very effective.

[ஸ்ரீ கிருஷ்ணார்ப்பணம் ]