Bhagyavan

By Sri Chiraan 2009/02/28

Ninth lord exalted in the kendra aspected by Jupiter, man acquires everything in his life by luck and grace of the Guru. 

Once there was a simple, poor, average Bramhin. [Not very brilliant or charismatic]. But he had immense faith and devotion in Shri Raghavendra Swamiji. He was serving Swamiji with single minded reverence. After many years of worship and service, he decided to visit his native place and his parents. To take the leave of the Guru he waited patiently at the gates of the abode of his Holiness Shri Raghavendra Swamiji. Swamiji had just finished his daily chores was out from the toilet, and was washing the hands with the soil in the garden.

The disciple wished the guru, and insisted on giving him some momento to carry home from the Guruji. Guru picked up the mrittika [soil] from the earth and gave him. He happily [and piously] tied it into his angavastra [mufler cloth], and set out for the village. All the while thoughts criss-crossed his mind, that he had served the teacher for so long, Swamiji was known to change people’s life, but nothing actually did happen in his case. Perhaps [he thought to himself ], I was not very bright student and thus did not deserve any special attention. Or may be I had not impressed him by my service. Well just accepting the fate, the lad set out towards the goal.

Night fell on; thus he had to take shelter in the nearby village. It so happened he slept in the verandah of a noted rich noble family of the village. Now this family had history of miscarriages and birth of dead child from many years. There was no male issued to the lady of the house except for a grown up daughter. For past ten years every child born was dying under mysterious conditions. Today also the lady was about to give the birth.

In the midnight a huge Rakshas appeared at the door of the noble man. But this day Rakshasa was not able to enter the house, as a fire was emanating from the doorstep. It so happened that our hero [disciple] was sleeping with the angavastra, [the one which contained the soil from the Swamiji] under his head near the doorstep in the verandah. Rakshasa woke him up, somehow the lad was not afraid a bit at the sight of a gigantic huge demon. Instead sleepily he rebooked him, Rakshas said, his prey was about to take birth and he was unable to enter the house. What was it he was carrying in the mufler. Feeling insecure the disciple hid his mufler and shyed away from the demon. Not to part with it as it was a momento of the Swamiji. A tussle arose between the two, angered disciple hit the demon with the mufler. Demon died on the spot.

Day broke out, and people were surprised to see the huge demon dead at the doorstep of the noblemen, and inside the lady had delivered a baby boy, ha;e and healthy. Now understanding the mystery behind their misfortune, they thanked the Bramhin.

Thinking the disciple to be very blessed personality and also being indebted to him, the noble chief offered his daughter to him, and also his half wealth. He called upon his parents and with a great pomp and show, married the couples off, gifting them all the amenities of house utensils, ornaments, clothes, and chieftainship of village as livelihood, and many more gifts. The couple and family lived happily by the grace of Shri Raghavendra swamiji. So much for a average man’s selfless service.

Pujyaya Raghavendraya Satyadharma ratayacha !Bhajatam kalpavrukshaya namatam kamdhenave!!

Krishnarpanamastu

Arishta Bhanga - [Avoidance of Unfortunate Yoga]

By Sri Chiraan 2009/02/27

There are many arishta yogas in Astrology. These bring misfortunes, or even death to the native and his prospects. But a single strong benefic in the kendra destroys all the evils. If malefic causing arishta yoga is hemmed between the benefics then the maleficence will cease and only benefic results will flow. 

Once Shri Raghavendra Swamy was on a pilgrimage towards south India. On his way he stopped along with his entourage at a village. A village is headed by the Desai. Desai accorded a welcome to the entire Swami’s disciple at his house, and requested for the MoolRama's pooja to be held in his house that day. The whole village and nearby people had gathered in his house.

[All the Swamiji’s carry some Idol of divine presence with them given their respective gurus. They must perform daily pooja in a detailed manner as prescribed to Sanyasi’s to this idol, and saligrama etc. The lapse in this routine causes the Sanyasi to lose his post and authority. Shri Raghavendra Swamy had Shri MoolRama idol with him. This Idol was handed down from Bramha to Sanatkumar to Durvasa, and others on to the earth. Even Lord Shri Rama prayed this Idol himself . Thus Shri MOOLRAMA idol and its pooja is held in high esteem even to this date].

Desai arranged for the prasad [grand lunch] to all the participants in his house. The whole atmosphere got festive as Shri Raghavendra swamiji performed pooja to Lord Rama. The atmosphere resembled that of Bramha’s abode resplendent with all the devatas as the pooja commenced [primarily because Devatas themselves come everyday to witness this grand pooja].

Delicious sweets were being prepared in the large kitchen. A vessel full of KHEER was also prepared. Desai had a son of eight years age. He merrily went into kitchen at the smell of sweets . Everyone was busy in the prayer hall attending to guests and witnessing pooja. Boy accidentally slipped into the vessel and died. The parents having noticed this went into untold grief. But laying aside the grief and their son in another room, they hid their emotions and also the news of their son’s death, lest it would put an end to the celebration in the house, and guests would return without partaking food.

Thus with a heavy heart they ordered the neighbour to carry on with the serving of food to the guests and completion of the ritual. Shri Raghavendra swamiji enquired about the hosts Desai, and his family, and their well being. But the relatives refused to divulge the details. Swamiji ordered to bring the family before him. The couple appeared with heavy heart. Swamiji also ordered their son to be brought out in the open.

The whole atmosphere was grief ridden as the body of the infant was brought before the Swamiji.  Shri Raghavendra swamiji sprinkled the holy teertha of shri Moolrama on the body of the boy and chanted the mantra. The boy’s life was restored. The boy got up as usual and went to his mother playfully unaware of the details. The entire family was moved to tears with gratitude towards the great saint. Everyone had a hearty meal all the while wondering the greatness of the MoolRama teertha and Swamiji’s mantra shakti and his merciful act.

Aapadi mouli paryatam gurunam akrutim smaret! ten vignaha pranashyanti sidhyanti cha manorathaha!!

Krishnarpanamastu

Mantropadesha - Guruanugraha

By Sri Chiraan 2009/02/26

When there are benefics in 3rd and 9th house and Ninth lord is in gopuramsa, one will have upadesha of secret mantra and blessings of a Guru. 

In 17th century there was a Bramhin boy by name Venkanna. He had no parents and was living in his uncle’s house. Though being a Bramhin he did not have opportunity to study the shastras. Also his guardians were not interested in spending on boy’s education. They had set upon him the task of grazing cattle. The boy was very sad but had resigned to his fate.

One day a Great seer by name Shri Raghavendra Swamy [peethadhipati of Madhvacharya’s Mool samsthan, and author’s ishta guru, beacon light of Madhva school of Vedanta, Kalpavruksha to many devotees in the country] came to the village. Everyone rushed to take the blessings of the seer. Shri Raghavendra was known to grant all the wishes of his devotee. He was known for his magnanimity, merciful and quick to grant boons.

Venkanna too went to the Acharya and after a sashtanga namaskaar, and expressing his desire to study, gazed at the guru for some heartening words. But his holiness called the boy and uttered a upadesha in his ears, and guided the boy to “remember him in the time of distress and chant the mantra”.

Venkanna keeping faith in the Guru went about grazing cattle as usual. Many days passed by, the boy had grown adult but yet was uneducated. One day Nawab of Adoni was passing by on a war trail. His troops were tired and reluctant. A terrible battle was anticipated. Just then a messenger came by with a written message in Sanskrit. Unfortunately none in the camp were educated. All the troops were unable to decode the message. Nawab happened to see the Bramhin boy grazing cattle in the ground nearby .

Now it was foregone conclusion that Bramhins were adept at Sanskrit. Thus he ordered the boy to be brought before him. As the soldiers presented the Venkanna before the Nawab. Nawab requested him to read out the message for him. Venkanna as illiterate he was, pleaded he did not know to read and write. This angered Nawab, he excalimed "Bamman ka bachcha aur padhna nahi ata, Bewakoof banata hai". He threatened to kill him if he does not read out the message.

Venkanna closed his eyes remembered Guru Shri Raghavendra and chanted the mantra to save himself. Alas !!!!

He instantly became the scholar of seven languages, he decoded the message that there was no need to go for war, as friendly neighbourhood had intercepted the army, and enemies had retreated looking at the friendly armies encircling from all sides. In fact the attack was planned thinking that Nawab was deprived of friends, but as he amassed strength from neighbourhood they dropped their plan. At the same time Nawab was also blessed with a son. [All this was translated into pharsi for the nawab by Venkanna].

Nawab was overwhelmed, seeing the good omen in the Bramhin, he made him his Diwaan. Venkanna’s life changed in a moment, not only was his desire of studying fulfilled, but also he achieved the notable post to serve his people and the GURU.

Venkanna having witnessed Guruanugraha in his life, continued with faith and worship in MoolRama of Shri Raghavendra swami.

Many years later Swamiji came to Adoni, Venkanna was overwhelmed and decided to give royal welcome to the Guru. He took permission from Nawab, and as a routine expressed the mystique that is Guru Raghavendra. He obliged, but at the same time decided to test the Swamiji .

Diwaan was anxious and nervous at the prospect of possible insult that would come Guru’s way. But there was no solution to his dilemma. He remembered Guru and chanted the mantra. Something in him assured that everything would be alight.

Next day Swamiji was accorded Royal welcome. Nawab himself came to pay his respect, but Nawab had a plate full of non-veg covered, and presented it to the Swamiji to accept it to be offered to Lord Ram that he prays. Swamy Raghavendra took water from his kamandalu and sprinkled it on the plate to purify it as ritual before offering to the Lord Rama.

Lo!!!! when plate was uncovered it was full of fruits and flowers !!!!!!!!

Nawab was taken aback, he was quiet ashamed and at the same time was afraid that if Swamiji is outraged, then he may very well turn his kingdom into null. Petrified he offered to donate land and riches to the Saint. He offered many well nurtured lands with plantation and agricultures and mines. But Shri Raghavendra swami refused to take them, but as a token gift he requested him to donate the barren lands of Manchala village. Nawab donated it along with lots of riches and arrangements to establish the mutt there at Manchala.

This is the modern Mantralaya on the banks of Tungabhadra river in Adoni taluk, Kurnool District Andhra  pradesh. Swamiji took jeeva asampragyat samadhi in this place is still present in the Brundavan at Mantralayam blessing his devotees .

Mukopi yat prasadena mukund shayanayate! RajRajayate rikto Raghavendram Tamashraye!!

Krishnarpanamastu