Introduction
Shri Raghavendra (Sree Raghavendra Theertha) (c.1595–c.1671) was a Hindu scholar and saint. He was also known as Sudha Parimalacharya. He served as the pontiff of the Madhvacharya Mutt at Kumbakonam from 1624 to 1671. Raghavendra was also an accomplished player of the Veena and he composed several songs under the name of Venu Gopala. His shrine at Mantralayam attracts thousands of visitors every year and be blessed by him.
Birth of Raghavendra Swamy
Raghavendra was born as Venkatanatha in the town of Bhuvanagiri, Tamil Nadu into a family of musicians and scholars. His great-grandfather Krishnabhattar was a tutor to Vijayanagara king Krishnadeva Raya and his father Timmanacharya was an accomplished scholar and musician. After the fall of Vijayanagara empire, Timmanacharya migrated to Kanchi with his wife Gopikamba. Venkatanatha had two siblings: Gururaja and Venkatamba. Venkatanatha’s education was undertaken by his brother-in-law Lakshminarasimhacharya, after the early demise of his father and he was subsequently married.
Raghavendra as the Pontiff of Mantralaya
According to Raghavendra Vijaya, his triumph in debates at Thanjavur attracted the attention of Sudhindra Tirtha, the erstwhile pontiff of Kumbakonam mutt. Though initially uncertain about the prospect of renunciation, Venkatanatha relented to Sudhindra’s demands and was ordained as a monk in 1621. After the death of Sudhindra Tirtha in 1623, Venkatanatha succeeded him as the pontiff the mutt and took on the name Raghavendra Tirtha. He undertook a pilgrimage visiting places including Udupi, Kolhapur and Bijapur. He received grants from Dodda Kempadevaraja and settled down in the village of Mantralayam, which was presented to him by the Governor of Adoni.
Sir.Thomas Munro and Raghavendra Swamy
When Sir Thomas Munro was the Collector of Bellary in 1800, the Madras Government ordered him to procure the entire income from the Math and Manthralaya village. When the Revenue officials were unable to comply with this order, Sir Thomas Munro visited the Math for investigation. He removed his hat and shoes and entered the sacred precincts. Sri Raghavendraswamy emerged from the Vrindavan and conversed with him for some time, about the resumption of endowment. The Saint was visible and audible only to Munro, who received Mantraskata (God’s blessing). The Collector went back and wrote an order in favour of the Math and the village. This notification was published in the Madras Government Gazette in Chapter XI, page 213, with the caption “Manchali Adoni Taluka”. This order is still preserved in Fort St. George and Mantralayam.
Raghavendra Swamy’s various Books
His Tantradipika is an interpretation of the Brahma Sutra from the standpoint of Dvaita incorporating elements from Jayatirtha’s Nyaya Sudha, Vyasatirtha’sTatparya Chandrika and the glosses by Vijayendra Tirtha. Bhavadipa is a commentary on Jayatirtha’s Tattva Prakasika which, apart from elucidating the concepts of the source text, criticises the allegations against Madhva raised by Appaya Dikshita and grammarian Bhattoji Dikshita. Raghavendra’s expertise in Purva Mimamsa and Vyakarana is evident from his works on Vyasatirtha’s Tatparya Chandrika, which runs up to 18,000 stanzas. He wrote a commentary on Nyaya Sudha titled Nyaya Sudha Parimala. Apart from these works, he has authored commentaries on the Upanishads, first three chapters of Rig Veda (called Mantramanjari) and Bhagvad Gita. As an independent treatise, he has authored a commentary on Jaimini Sutras called Bhatta Sangraha which seeks to interpret the Purva Mimamsa doctrines from a Dvaita perspective.
Miracles of Sri Raghavendra Theertha
After ascending the peetha, Sri Raghavendra embarked on a series of pilgrimages. Wherever he went, he spread the message of Shrimadacharya, defeating scholars of opposing doctrines, writing commentaries and notes, teaching the shastras to enthusiastic students, and encouraging local scholars. He continued to bless and cure his devotees of ailments and afflictions wherever he went. It once happened that a prince was bitten by a poisonous snake and died immediately; when Rayaru heard of this, he summoned the same snake which had bitten the prince and revived him by removing the venom of the snake from his body. In another miracle, while his devotees were arranging a special puja (offering ritual) in his house, a child who was playing in the kitchen fell into a huge cauldron of juice and drowned. Guru Raghavendra revived the dead child by sprinkling holy water from the kamandalu on to the child. The Badshah of Bijapur, who had great reverence for Ragahvendra, presented him with a rare gem-studded necklace. Rayaru (familiar name for Sri Raghavendraswami) offered it into the homa-kundam (sacrificial fire), but the King was annoyed by this and asked for his necklace to be returned to him. Raghavendra put his hand in the fire and retrieved the necklace for the King.
Testing of Guru Raghavendra’s Super natural powers
Stories of the miraculous healing powers of Sri Raghavendra Swami spread far and wide. Once, some mischievous boys wanted to test Rayaru. On his pilgrimage route, one of them lay down pretending to be dead, fully covered by a white cloth. The understanding was that the boy should not get up when Rayaru sprinkled water and asked him to rise, but would get up when the command was given to him by his friends. When Rayaru passed by the place, the drama was enacted as planned by the boys. One of them asked the Guru to revive the boy who was lying on the ground. But the guru simply replied that the lifespan of the boy was over, and he could not do anything to help the boy. His friends, intending to mock Sri Raghavendra Swami, asked the boy lying on the ground to get up, but to their shock, they realized that he was really dead.
In Sirasangi, another gentleman, intending to test Guru Raghavendra, gave him a dry wooden pestle and asked him to make it sprout new leaves. After Rayaru sprinkled water from his kamandalu, the dead wood started sprouting. In another incident,
Raghavendra Swamy and Venkanna
Sri Guru Rayaru was proceeding to Adoni. Venkanna, a boy cow-herd, prostrated himself before Rayaru and sought his blessing, upon which Rayaru blessed him and advised the cow-herd to pray to him at times of difficulty. After a few days, the Nawab of Adoni, who was passing by, stopped and asked Venkanna to read a written message, as he was not literate himself. The illiterate cowherd could not comply, and the Nawab became infuriated. Venkanna earnestly prayed to Sri Guru Rayaru to save him. Suddenly, the illiterate cow-herd was able to read the entire text, which contained very good news, as a result of which the king made him the Diwan of Adoni. The Nawab decided to test the Guru’s powers, and brought a plate of meat (meat was an offensive offering) covered with a cloth and offered it to Rayaru. Rayaru sprinkled some water on the plate and when the cloth was removed, the meat had turned into fresh fruits. The Nawab fell at the Guru’s feet begging for pardon, and he requested the Swami to ask for any favor or gift that he wished. Guru Rayaru asked for the village of Manchala, which later came to be known as Manthralaya. It is said that at this holy place Bhakta Prahlada performed a great yaga and Guru Raghavendra was the incarnation of Bhakta Prahalada.
Guru Raghavendra is in Physical body and doing miracles even now
Guru Raghavendra is still existing in Physical body and doing Moolarama Pooja even today in the early morning hours at Mantralayam. Even now, after entering the Samadhi, several years before, he is performing lot of miracles in the life of his devotees. Due to his grace, I have passed M.Com and working as an Accountant in a Private Firm. Like that he has performed several miracles. Due to his divine grace, Iam doing this sort of devotional writing work. Several health related issues were cured by him and he is safeguarding our life and our belongings till today. He can be praised as Kaliyuga Kalpavruksha and Kamadhenu (Meaning:- Giver of all sorts of needs to his devotees).
Universal Saint of Mantralaya
Raghavendra swamy, is not limited to a particular community alone. He is a Universal Saint. He is giving Anugraha to all types of his devotees, without seeing any caste, creed or religion. His Mrithigai(Sacred Soil) will cure all types of diseases and will even relieve people suffering from black magic. He is a devotee of Lord Rama and Lord Hanuman.
Guru Raghavendra’s yearly Aradhana Festival
He is in Yoga Nithrai(Meditation) and chants Lord Rama’s name repeatedly without any gap. His Anniversary(The day he attained Mahasamadhi) is celebrated at the end of August every year in Mantralayam as well as in all branches of Raghavendra Mutt. One has to visit Mantralayam atleast once in his life time to attain the divine blessings of Guru Raghavendra Swamy.
WRITTEN BY
R.HARISHANKAR
