Mantralayam (Guru Ragavendra)

Slogam:

Pujaya ragavendraya satyadharmarataya chabhajatam kalpavrixaya


namatam kamadhenavedurvadi.

By the grace of Lord venkateswara, Sri "Ragavendra alias Venkatanatha" was born in 1595 A.D at Bhuvanagiri in Tamilnadu to Sri Thimanna Bhatta and Smt.Gopikamba as a third child. God Ragavendra had a two sibling of Gururaja and Venkatama.Later Venkatama married Sri Lakshminarasimhacharya's and she settled in madurai.Gururaja also married and he took care of his upbringing God Ragavendra after his father demise.
God Ragavendra had proved his excellence to be a brilliant scolar at early age in vedas,venna etc..He had his initial portion of education at madurai under his brother-in-law Lakshminarasimhacharya's guidance in Madurai.After return back from madurai along with his brother accepted invitation of Sri.Sudhendra Theertha to stay in the matt.Sri.Sudhendra Theertha glad with the sincere devotion and cleverness of God Ragavendra.He said to himself that he is going to be a great person in life.
Days rolled on, God Ragavendra grew up and he went to Kumbakonam along with his guru Sri.Sudheendra Theertha.God Ragavendra had finished the study of Amara Kosha.God Ragavendra daily gave himself to meditation of god and his character also changed.He also wished to perform worship of god with all the miscellaneous articles as the swami did in the matt.He also decided to perform as same as his guru.He was devoted to Mula Rama (The Moola Rama and Sita idols where believed to be of the incarnation of Lakshmi and Vishnu due to meditation of Bramha. These idols where latter worshipped many sages and also worshiped by Hanuman, Bhimasena and also Madhava).He came to know the story of Madheva and beleived in the uncommon efficacy of the idol.
God Ragavendra had very well versed in bhashyas and debated various peoples who had more powerful in that area.He also skilled musician and played the veena which he had learnt from his father in childhood.

Marraige Life:

After become well versed in vedas Ragavendra return back to hometown from kumbakonam and he was married Smt.Saraswathi Bai. For some time, Venkanna was happy living in the village with his wife, but found himself in a financial stringency at a latter stage in life. Venkanna after his marriage had two-fold anxiety. He has to pull on and also take care of his beloved wife. He had an ambition to become an extraordinary learned man quite well versed in Vedas and was very eager to popularize the teachings of Madhava. He keenly meditated himself on god but was mercilessly nipped by the killing cares and worries of life of poverty. Days and months rolled on. He thought of going to his brother-in-law's house, but found his wife to be a heavy burden and therefore left the idea.

Smt.Saraswathi had a loved person of Ragavendra.She knews like and dislikes of ragavendra.She thanked god for giving such a nice husband.She spent her life to see the needs of her husband and cater to them.Both of them highly sensitive.Ragavendra suffered from poverty and family too.In that time sarawathi had conceived and both of them gave birth to child called Lakshminarayana. Poverty life continued and baby boy starved too.Ragavendra used to teach children Sanskrit and the ancient Vedic texts. He never demanded any money for his services and he had to endure a life of poverty. Many a times, he, his wife and child had to go without food several times a week. But this never deterred the faith he had in the Lord.

Saraswathi had an idea, she told him to meet his Guru and take his trouble. They went to Kumbakonam. Venkathanatha and his family were welcomed in the mutt at Kumbakonam. Venkathanatha mastered all lessons at the Mutt. Swamiji took him to the debates against Adwaita school of philosophy at various King's courts (Chola, Pandian etc.). Venkathanatha began to write commentary in all three Vedas following Acharya's Rig Bhasaya, which was his ambition. But the circumstances did not favor his fulfillment. Venkathanatha was the apple of Shri Sudheendra Swami's eye. He was thought quite well worthy to succeed the Swamiji, who was waiting for an opportunity to tell his disciple of his intentions. Just by the time a disciple named Yadavendra sought the blessings of Swamiji, as he was disgusted in worldly life. Swamiji named him "Yadavendra Theerta " and he started on the religious tour. This idea made them end to marrige life but world get a god in kali yuga.

Sannyasi Life:

Shri Sudheendra Swami was a genius of extraordinary and a soul of high spiritual efficacy. One day, he dreamt that Shri Mula Rama ordered that Ragavendra alone could fit to rule the Mutt. One day he called Ragavendra and after preliminary discussion of worldly interest, Swamiji began to reveal his intentions. Swamiji started with telling Ragavendra that god was pleased with him and he deserves a post as the head of the Mutt. Ragavendra could not understand the intentions of Swamiji and requested Swamiji to be clear of his intentions. Swamiji began to explain that there are many boats to ferry us across the ocean. But to all these our blessings are the sails which move the boats with great force and speed. Now why tarry on the shore? What fear is there to cross the Ocean? Ragavendra could not understand. Shree Sudheendra Theertha knew that Ragavendra loved his wife. When he explained clearly of his intentions, Ragavendra expressed his inability and for renunciation, detachment was essential. So Ragavendra explained about his wife, son and his shoulders were still young to take up the administration and responsibility of the mutt. So he was not inclined to take holy orders and take up Sanyasa. But was ready to submit himself to the mutt and Swamiji.

Time came now for Ragavendra to succeed his Guru as the next Swamiji of the Mutt. Ragavendra had a blessing of Sharada Devi, the goddess of Learning and that led him to realization of self and he narrated his experience of Sharada Devi to Swamiji and decided to do Upanayana to his son and accept sanyasa. He took sanyasa and Guru named him Guru Raghavendra theertha. Saraswathi was shocked to hear the news and she fell into the well. She came as a ghost in front of Guru guru Raghavendra during his poja. He sprinkled holy water from kamandalu on the ghost and it attained Moksha by purification.
After become "PITHADIPATHI" of the mutt Guru guru Raghavendra went to several places.Throughout his life he went to many centres of learning and religion eventhough he had difficulties in transportation,political problems(In olden days kings some are muslims,hostile to hinduism).He travelled in palanquins to vast area.Some of the places he visited are Rameshvaram, Madurai, Srirangam, Vishnumangala (where Trivikrama PanditAchArya had debated MadhvAchArya for fifteen days), Subramanya, Udupi, Bidarahalli, Pandarapur, Kohlapur, Bijapur, Malkhed, Tirupati, Srisailam, Kumbakonam, and Kanchi.
Wherever he went, his soul was simple – spreading the message of shrImadAchArya, defeating scholars of opposing doctrines, converting deserving people to dvaita, continuing to write commentaries and notes, teaching shastras to enthusiastic students, and encouraging local scholars. Examples of such events are provided.
He visited Rameshvaram and Madurai. Madurai was the seat of learning in those days, and one of the experts there was Neelakanta Dikshit. After seeing the lucid yet powerful style with which ragavendra debated, he was convinced that his master was really purnaprajna. When Neelakanta tried testing him on various sutras, ragavendra showed him the work he had just finished-Bhatta Sangraha. Neelakanta was so thrilled by the depth of this work and how well it propounded shrimaacharya's philosophy, that he had it placed on an elephant and taken on a ceremonial procession.
At Bidarahalli he met ShrinivasAchArya who was a unique householder. The glosses that he had written were already well known. Ragavendra examined his works and was filled with admiration for ShrInivasAchArya, who, though being a householder, dedicated himself completely to the spreading of knowledge and learning. ragavendra bestowed upon him the name shrInivAsa tIrtha, as a mark of his high learning.

Miracles:

1) He was visiting the house of a village.Hundreds of people had assembled for the occasion. As part of the food served to the guests, a thick form of mango juice was being prepared in a huge vessel. Unfortunately, when nobody was watching him, the Desai’s son fell into this vessel and drowned. When the Desai and his wife came to know about it, they were totally devastated. However, they wanted to hide the news because they did not want to inconvenience everybody who had assembled there. Anyway ragavendra know the tragedy and asked the grief stricken couple to bring the dead boy before him. When this was done, he sprinkled water from his kamanDala and revived the boy. The joy of the ecstatic parents knew no bounds.
2) Venkanna was a brahmin boy in a small village after visiting he became sovereignty of the Nawab of Adoni. Due to family problems, he was not tutored or taught any useful skills. He was assigned to the task of tending the family’s herd of cows, and thus used to spend his entire days in the countryside watching over the cows. He had heard of the greatness of Guru Ragavendra and was eager to meet him and seek his blessings. His prayers were heard because one day the group of peoples and ragavendra passed close by. He immediately ran to the palanquin that ragavendra was travelling in and prostrated before it. Ragavendra looked at him and inquired about his antecedents. Venkanna explained his plight and stood with outstretched palms. Ragavendra took pity on the boy and gave him some (mantrAkshate) consecrated rice and told him “When you are in real distress and need my help, put this on your head and think of me”. The palanquin moved on. Venkanna tied the precious rice into a bundle and always carried it with him.
One day, Venkanna was relaxing under the shade of a tree when he saw a noble man get down from a horse and rest under the shade of another tree close by. Curious, he watched him closely and immediately realized that the noble man was none other than the Nawab himself! Even as this realization dawned on him, he saw another man on horseback approaching the Nawab. The new person got down from the horse, prostrated in front of the Nawab and handed him a written scroll. Now, both the Nawab and the rider were illiterate and needed somebody to help them. When the Nawab looked around, he saw Venkanna. He also saw Venkanna’s tuft and his sacred thread and concluded that this was a brahmin. Since brahmins are usually literate, he felt that his problem was solved. He beckoned Venkanna and handing him the scroll, commanded him to read. Poor Venkanna was in a dilemma since he was also illiterate. He could not refuse a direct order of the Nawab since that would mean immediate death, nor could he tell the truth that he was illiterate because the Nawab would not believe him and would think that Venkanna was trying fool him. Caught in this deadly trap, he suddenly remembered the kind guru who had promised to help him in his hour of need. He took the consecrated rice and put it on his head. With this mind full of devotion towards rAyaru and his lips secretly muttering “rAghavEndra, rAghavEndra”, he boldly opened the scroll. Lo behold, the characters on the scroll began to make sense and he could read! It was actually a piece of good news, informing the Nawab that his wife had delivered a baby boy, thus making him a father, something that he was passionately yearning for. When he heard the news, he was overjoyed and immediately took out a pearl necklace from his neck and gave it to Venkanna. However, rAyaru sitting in Venkanna’s mind did not allow him to be satisfied with this. He boldly prostrated before the Nawab and told him “If your Highness is really happy with me, then please give me a good job in your administration. I will serve you faithfully and honestly to the best of my ability”. The Nawab was pleased with this answer and accordingly gave him a good job. Through hard work and diligence, Venkanna worked his way up the ranks and in a short time became the Nawab’s trusted divan. Thus a chance encounter with ragavendra transformed Venkanna’s entire life into a bed of roses!

3) When ragavendra travelled in palanquin on his way from pilgrimage.He like to had a rest in the shade of a tree at krishnapuram(near Hubli).He saw king Nawab walking towards him.The king knew about ragavendra miracles.He told to ragavendra that his son was bitten by poisonous snake and been buried in near by tomb.After hearing this,Ragavendra thing about it and he asked king Nawab to bring his son.Later ragavendra sprinkled holy water from kamadala and prayed to his ArAdhya mUrthy (favorite form of the Lord). Lo behold, the young boy woke up as though he was getting up from sleep. The Nawab was beside himself with joy.

I mentioned some of the miracles, it is very difficult to tell everything here.

King Nawab test Guru Ragavendra:

One day Guru Ragavendra went to adoni upon invitation from venkanna.Venkanna went to king Nawab and he told arrival of Guru Ragavendra to his place and he asked king to pay his respects.But king nawab had been skeptical about ragavendra and did not accept other than muslim and his devoties.King Nawab secretly ordered three silver plates full of meat covered by silk cloth. These plates had been placed along with offering brought by venkanna for “Mula Rama” naivedya. Guru Ragavendra saw this guile and he sprinkled water from kama kunda. Later he asked to open the silk cloth the king was astounded because 3 plates of meat had been changed to fruits & flowers.Afterwords king released his fault then he begged Guru Ragavendra for his forgiveness. The kind hearted ragavendra forgave him gladly. However, the Nawab was not satisfied, he begged ragavendra to accept some offerings from him. Intially he refused to accept his offer but the Nawab kept on begging him finally he had to agree. He asked for the Nawab to give him the village of manchAle on the banks of the tungabhadra. The Nawab was surprised since that was barren land, yielding no crops or revenue. He tried to talk ragavendra into accepting more fertile land, but ragavendra would not accept anything other than manchAle. The Nawab immediately gifted that village to ragavendra.

Enter into Brindavana:

Guru Ragavendra meet his closest disciples and venkanna that his intention to enter a brindavana live. The devotees ruin but they could change his decision since it was divine will. They asked ragavendra when they would do so, he told that they would find at the appropriate time.
One day ragavendra conducting Shastrapatha under a tree for his disciples. He suddenly stood up, looked up at the sky and folded his hands in reverence. The disciples had been surprised and they also stood like ragavendra.With in moment fragrant tulsi garland fell around rayaru neck. When they pressed for explanation he told them “I just saw Krishna Dvaipayana going in a heavenly chariot to vaikunTha. I asked him when my turn would come and he held up his Index and middle finger three times. He finally bleesed me wit htulsi garland and everbody want to know the significance of 2-2-2. He told that entering into brindavana has been 2 years,2 months 2 days from now.So everyone calculated the date and concluded that it would be Virodhikruth Samvatsara, Shravana krishna paksha dwitiya (second day in the dark half of the moon, in the Hindu year Virodhikruth).

Reason for selection of manchale as brindavana:

Guru ragavendra told to his disciples that his choice of brindavana is manchale.The y want to know the reason of that spot, Guru Ragavendra explained the spiritual significance of manchAle as follows:
In one of his earlier incarnation(goodness), ragavendra as prahlAda had performed a large yagna in that spot, sanctifying it forever. When arjuna was on his victorious journey in connection with the rAjasUya yAga being conducted by dharmarAja he fought with a local king at this spot. Since the king’s chariot was positioned over that spot, he was invincible. In panic, Arjuna prayed to Krishna for guidance. Krishna appeared before him and told him to move his chariot a little backwards. The local king also foolishly moved his chariot forward and lost the battle immediately. Such was the power of the spot on which prahlAda had performed his yAga.
Venkanna had a beautiful brindAvana be built for ragavendra. But ragavendra did not want to use that and asked him to reserve it for a future personality. He then took Venkanna to a remote spot and showed a black rock. He wanted his brindAvana to be built using the rock. When venkanna wanted to know what was special about that rock, ragavendra explained “While searching for sIta, Lord rama came here. He rested on this rock for a while. Since it has been sanctified by His touch, this rock is the one I want”. The brindAvana built under Venkanna’s guidance was used for shrI vAdIndara tIrtha at a later date.

Guru Ragavendra seeks permission from manchalamma:

Before entering into Brindavana.Guru ragavendra wish to take permission from manchalaamma.He went to her temple and prayed for her.She appeared before him and she encouraged him to ask his request.He wish to had a brindavana in manchala then devi replied that once brindavana is established here millons of peoples will visit to seek your blessings. I will be totally forgotten and nobody will associate this place with me. My temple will be fall destitute without anybody care for it.Guru Ragavendra replied that I promise that it will not happen at any cause. If anybody need my grace they should first visit your temple. When manchAlamma heard this, she was pleased and immediately granted him permission to enter the brindAvAna in manchAle.

Guru Ragavendra enters Brindavana:

In the year 1671A.D the day choosen by Guru Ragavendra (Virodhikruth Samvatsara Shravana krishna paksha dwitiya) thousand of people standing on mid-day. He gave theertha & bleesed everyone. He called venkanna iam going to enter Brindavana as yogic posture. It was very short time Guru Ragavendra went to deep meditation and his face looks shining with brilliance. At one time Guru Ragavandra Japamalai had been stopping counting. Venkanna and other disciples relealised that it is the time to put slab over around him.According to Guru Ragavendra instruction they put slab around him upto head level after that they placed a copper box containing one thousand two hundred LakshmInArAyaNa shaligramas that had been specially brought from Gandaki river. Then they placed the covering slab over it and filled it with earth. They poured twelve thousand varahas (abhisheka) over the brindavan that they had built. A grand feast was hosted to commemorate this glorious event. Still, Guru Ragavendra live in atma form in the brindavan for next 700 years.

Note: Coming Auguest 7th to 10th Guru Ragavendra 338th brindavan anniversary.

In My Life/Family:

Since 1996 our family worshiping Guru Ragavendra. With blessing of “Guru Ragavendra our family lives with peace of mind and well established economically also. Last year Guru Ragavendra had give chance to visit mantralayam. Myself and more than thirty members in my family visited mantralayam.

It’s quite nice memories in my life(Mantralaym/Tungabhadra). We also visited Pitchalaya( one of miruthika brindavanam) & Panchamugi Aanjuneyer which is located near to mantralayam.

I herewith attached some of the links and books to know about God Guru Ragavendra histories and guidance for going to mantralayam.
1) http://www.gururaghavendra1.org/histragh.htm
2) http://www.gururaghavendra.in/lifestory.htm
Author: Mr. Amman Sathyanathan (Address : 16/116 T.P Kovil Street, Thirumala Plats , Opposite to Guru Ragavendra Mud, Thiruvelikani, Chennai -600005) he is doing very good job upto now he had been released more than “Seven Parts” in the name of “Guru Ragavendra Miracles”

***** Guru Ragavendra Namaha *****

My Part-time College Life

I have been in the position to crawl my own blogs because of my friend motivation during last couple of months.At last full stop going to end as a continuous mark. I bit confused to select my first title finally i decided to start from my part-time college life(As a Student)..

I never think that i will be back to my college life after my bachelor degree.Gods gift + my fate after 2.5 years working period i had been started my first semester with my friends Arun,Ajay & Sethu in last January 2008 on NTU (Singapore)..

If not mistaken,first time i went to NTU on Jan 5th 2008 to attend my introduction section class to collect my identity card and to knew the rules and regulation of my college/course.In that time i met above friends along with my senior student pradeep..After our secession pradeep brought us to our class room,library,canteen etc in college.The same evening i went back to my home with delightful memories of bachelor degree life..I herewith attached some of college photos and with my friends.

LIBRARY Auditorium

Our classes started on Jan 7th of 2008.Due to my working pressure in new company(Second in singapore) & new to overseas college life, i took 2 subjects in first semester...The teaching/atmosphere in university had been totally different from our home town College..Like india here also we had test before final semester exam and i wrote test moderately..13 weeks gone final exam arrived i worked hard along with my friends in night at canteen-B upto 2am and back to sleep again rushed to office at 7am.This make me deep distress but after my exam result it ended with blossom of smile in my face.
Semester holiday started! 3 month full stop to my studies and again come back to work with full fledge..Time move like light travel ..Finally 3 months gone ..

Next we started our second semester with one more part-time student vellian.This time also i took 2 subject plus ISM..We found little bit easily due to our past semester way of approach in our studies..As usual,we worked hard to get same blossom of smile..

Unfortunately,the things happened to me had opposite.Due to my training programme in my head office and home town trip to india..I lost my track in studies due to my work as well my family members arrival to singapore to celebrate Diwali-2008 along with me.I enjoyed/sweet memories lot during their 3 months stay in singapore.I bucked too many classes however with my friends help at last moment before exams i had been completed my 2nd semester with average marks.

Semester holidays started but this time its too-short 2 weeks.My full time friends completed their degree and went back to their employment.This seperation made us(part-time)trouble in our studies but we take it as in a positive approach and we decided to slogging out more that what we did in last 2 semesters.This january as usual with my part-time friends i have started my 3rd semester and i took 2 subjects to hope up my marks.After 13 weeks duration exam come.I write my exam well with god blessing we people get good marks in our exams..

Now, we are in holidays upto Auguest 10th and looking forward towards my 4th semester with charming approach on my subjects..

Thanks to god for sharing my part-time college life experience with you peoples.