Appanacharya was a direct disciple of Guru Raghavendra Swamigal and he was born in Bichali village in the Raichur district of Karnataka. Bichali is situated on the banks of Tungabhadra. Bichali is also known as Bhikshalaya. He studied vedas and other devotional scriptures at his younger age itself, and had got the opportunity of serving the Great Madhwa Saint Sree Raghavendra Swamigal. He also helped his guru towards performing moola rama puja and also helped in other daily related devotional activities. He had written stotras on Raghavendra Swamigal. It is also known as Sri Guru stotra. The Sanskrit verse, comprising 32 slokas, is recited till today by the followers of Raghavendra Swami and by his devotees.
IMPORTANCE
He lived during the period of Sri Raghavendra Swami and served him till his maha samadhi. He was famous among the madhwas and kannadigas. He took care of his guru and served him properly and meditated him day and night. Through the blessings of his guru, he had got great spiritual powers. It is believed that he had crossed the flooded River Thungabadra easily by reciting the stotra of Raghavendra to have a glimpse of his guru Raghavendra before his maha Samadhi stage. He had got such a great guru bhakti. The following stotra developed by him is still chanted by millions of raghavendra followers:
Pujyaya Raghavendraya Sathya Dharma Rathayacha
Bajatham Kalpa Vrukshaya Namatham Kamadehnave
He will used to take his food only after performing puja and after offering it to his guru. He had also got married and took care of family properly, along with his routine devotional works. By worshipping him with pure bhakti and chanting the name of Sree Appanacharya along with Sree Raghavendra we would get great prospects in our life.
Let us worship the great saint and be blessed.
“OM SREE RAGHAVENDRAYA NAMAHA”
“OM SREE APPANACHARYARE NAMAHA”
“OM SREE MOOLARAMA DEVARE NAMAHA”
WRITTEN BY
R.HARISHANKAR