Mantralaya-1058
(Sri Guru Rayara compassion towards Mantralaya Archakas )
Date Oct 3, 2023
Background
Dear Devotees : Namaskara.
| Sri MannMoolaRamastu Mannmathe Moolamahasamsthhaana Mantralaya Sri Rayaramathe||
|| OM SRI RAGHAVENDRAAYA NAMAHA||
SATYAMEVA JAYATI NA ANRUTA
Sri Guru Rayara compassion towards Mantralaya Archakas is described in Mantralaya(1058)
Meaning
Sri YogindraTeertharu described Sri RaghavendraTeertharu as
|| Sri Raghavendra Guruve
Namo Atyanta Dayaluve ||.
Highlighting
extraordinary compassion and kindness of Sri RaghavendraTeertharu. Sri
YogindraTeertharu has seen and served Sri Rayaru and the above lines of
Sholkas came out of his own experience
In this series, let's
embark on a journey to explore the remarkable compassion of Rayaru and
delve into the identity and roles of the Mantralaya Archakas, shedding
light on their significance
During the spiritual journey
of Rayaru, Sri Raghavendra Teertharu arrived at HariHar Kshetra,
nestled along the serene banks of the Tungabhadra River. This revered
place, renowned for its sanctity. Villagers greeted Rayaru with
boundless joy and jubilation.Each day, the villagers felt as if they
were transported to a heavenly realm. They eagerly gathered to listen
to Rayaru's profound teachings and were privileged to partake in the
sacred Moola Rama Devara Pooja, a source of spiritual nourishment that
enriched their lives.
One memorable day, following Sri Rayaru’s
enlightening teachings, Sri Rayaru wore a gentle smile as Rayaru
summoned the head cook. With warmth and anticipation, Rayaru instructed
the cook to prepare a generous amount of Jalebi and Laddu, destined for
the divine offering to Lord Sri Moola Rama devara, the Naividya, for
today.
Shortly thereafter, a Mutt official arrived, escorting
three Brahmins to meet Sri Rayaru. Among them, one Brahmin seemed to
radiate an extraordinary, almost divine glow. In the presence of
Rayaru, their hearts brimmed with reverence as they bowed deeply,
expressing their earnest desire to seek Rayaru's blessings, Mudra, and
Phala Mantrakshate.Rayaru, adorned with his benevolent smile,
graciously replied, "Why not, of course, you are most welcome." Rayaru
then lovingly advised the Brahmins to first complete their daily
rituals by the tranquil Tungabhadra River before joining the sacred Sri
Moola Rama Devar Pooja.
As all three Brahmins made their way
toward the tranquil Tungabhadra River, one of them couldn't resist the
temptation to test Rayaru's greatness. He shared with his companions,
"Everyone speaks of Rayaru's greatness, but let me put it to the test.
I have a deep fondness for Jalebi, and if Rayaru can read my thoughts
and arrange Jalebi for my lunch today, I will wholeheartedly accept his
greatness." The second Brahmin chimed in, saying, "I too harbor a
strong desire for Laddu. Let's see if Rayaru can fulfill my wish and
offer Laddu for today's lunch." However, the third Brahmin, the one who
radiated a divine glow, offered a different perspective. He cautioned
them, "Both of you are making a mistake. Testing a revered Guru like
Rayaru is not the path we should tread. Our purpose here should be to
satiate our minds with devotion, not indulge our culinary cravings."
With these thoughts in mind, they continued their journey, arriving at
the sacred Tungabhadra River.
While the three Brahmins were by
the river, a disciple of Rayaru, responsible for washing Sri Rayaru's
Kaashaya Vastra (the reddish-brown cloth worn on top), unexpectedly
joined them. He held Rayaru's sacred garment and gazed at the Brahmins,
exclaiming, "Oh, you lovers of fine food! Your favorite dishes will be
ready soon. Hurry, take your baths and return."The Brahmins were taken
aback by this proclamation and approached the washerman for
clarification. However, by the time they reached him, he had dipped
Rayaru's Kaashaya Vastra into the holy river and placed it beside a
large rock. When questioned, the washerman denied having said anything
unusual and asked them who they were.Perplexed and somewhat puzzled,
the Brahmins decided to continue on their way, thinking that the man
might be mentally unstable. But as they walked away, the washerman,
holding Rayaru's Kaashaya Vastra, shouted once more, "I simply said to
come quickly; your favorite food is ready!"
Now thoroughly
confused, the Brahmins couldn't comprehend what was happening. It
became evident that the power of Sri Raghavendra Swamy's Kaashaya
Vastra was at play. When the washerman held the garment, he was granted
cosmic vision, but when the garment was out of his hands, he appeared
to be a regular person. This miraculous occurrence showcased the divine
potency of Sri Rayaru's presence. The Brahmins with the divine glow
scolded the others, admonishing them for attempting to test such divine
powers.
The three Brahmins eventually reached the Mutt, where
Sri Raghavendra Teertharu performed the sacred Lord Sri Moola Rama
Devara Pooja. Following this divine ritual, Rayaru offered Naivedya,
the sacred food, to the Lord, and the ceremony was concluded with the
grand Maha Mangalaruti.
Afterwards, Rayaru instructed the cook
to arrange a special feast for the three Brahmins right in front of the
adorned Alankara Brahmins. The sumptuous meal was lovingly served on
fresh, green banana leaves. As Sri Raghavendra Teertharu approached, he
gently advised everyone to eat slowly and joyfully, chanting the name
of Lord Sri Hari.
Then, as Rayaru neared the three Brahmins, he
called the cook over with a radiant smile and said, "For this Brahmin,
serve plenty of Jalebi, and for this one, offer a multitude of
Laddus.To their astonishment, their wishes were granted instantly, as
if by divine magic. They looked at each other in disbelief. It was at
that moment that the magnitude of Sri Rayaru's grace and divinity
became crystal clear to them. A profound sense of remorse washed over
them as they realized the folly of their earlier attempt to test him.
With
hearts full of humility and gratitude, they patiently awaited the
completion of their extraordinary lunch. Among them, the Brahmin who
had radiated a divine glow, whose name was Timanna Bhattru, had tears
streaming down his face, moved by the sheer magnificence of the moment.
After
the sumptuous lunch, Timanna Bhattru, along with the other two
Brahmins, hurriedly made their way to Sri Rayaru. With profound
reverence, they prostrated themselves before him, their hearts heavy
with remorse. They earnestly begged for his forgiveness.Rayaru, with
his ever-compassionate smile, reassured them, saying that all was
forgiven. Rayaru expressed his joy in having been able to fulfill the
wishes of the two Brahmins.However, the third Brahmin, Timanna Bhattru,
remained steadfast at the feet of Rayaru, unwilling to leave his divine
presence. Sensing Timanna Bhattru's unwavering devotion, Sri Rayaru
gently spoke, "Timanna Bhattru, rise. You have a significant duty
awaiting you in the future. You will serve me daily at Mantralaya, and
rest assured, my blessings will always be with you."
In the
years that followed, Timanna Bhattru's life took a profound turn. He
became the revered Purohit of the illustrious Diwan Venkanna's
household. As the Purohit, his duties encompassed performing
significant daily rituals and serving as a spiritual guide for the
family.
The turning point came when Sri Raghavendra Teertharu, the
divine saint, entered his eternal abode, the Brindavana, while still
alive. At this momentous occasion, Diwan Venkanna approached Timanna
Bhattru with a heartfelt request. He implored Timanna Bhattru to take
on the sacred responsibility of performing the divine pooja to Sri
Raghavendra Teertharu.Sri Yogiendra Teertharu, recognizing Timanna
Bhattru's unwavering devotion and the blessing bestowed upon him by Sri
Rayaru, appointed him as the Archaka, the chief priest, of Sri
Raghavendra Teertharu's shrine in Mantralaya.
Timanna Bhattru
was deeply moved, recalling the words of Sri Rayaru, who had foreseen
his destiny: "You will serve me daily." He considered himself the most
fortunate soul to be entrusted with this sacred duty.
As the
years passed, the legacy of devotion and service continued through
Timanna Bhattru's descendants. Three families of Timanna Bhattru's
lineage have upheld the revered position of Archakas in Mantralaya,
ensuring the enduring presence of Sri Rayaru's blessings and the
sanctity of the divine abode. Their unwavering commitment to service
has kept the flame of devotion burning brightly for generations.
Sri
RaghavendraTeertharu, the epitome of compassion, resides in his divine
abode, the Brindavana, where he continues to bless devotees with
boundless grace. Alongside Rayaru are the divine presences of all the
Gods, together bestowing the fruits of good karma upon individuals like
us. This profound truth is beautifully captured in the words of Sri
Yogindra Teertharu when he described Sri Raghavendra Teertharu as:
|| Sri Raghavendra Guruve |
Namo Atyanta Dayaluve ||.
The devotion towards Sri Raghavendrateertharu is the
ultimate truth and is the most simple and effective way to reach Sri
Hari - "NAMBI KETTAVARILLAVO EE GURUGALA"! “Those who have
complete faith in this Guru will never be disappointed.”
|| BICHALI JAPADAKATTI SRI APPANACHARYA PRIYA MANTRALAYA
SRI RAGHAVENDRATEERTHA GURUBHYO NAMAHA||