Kaliyuga Kamadhenu Sri Raghavendra Teertha

The word KamaDhenu in sanskrit means the one that fulfills the wishes. It is a celestial cow that fulfills people's desire. This very nature  of Kamadhenu is what our Raghavendra Teertharu is identified with.

Sri Raghavendra teertharu was the 16th pontiff of the mutt, which was in direct lineage from Sri Madhwacharya. The mutt was known as Vibhudendra Teerthara mutt or at times as Kumbhakonam mutt.

Timanna Bhatta and his wife Gopikamba  were disciples of Sri Vijayendra Teertharu of the Kumbakonam mutt and were staying in Bhuvanagiri in Tamil Nadu. They had  a son and a daughter. They had a desire to have a child who will be a great devotee of Sri Hari  and hence visited Tirupati, performed seva. The couple had a dream where Srinivasa blessed them saying great devotee Prahalad will be reborn to them as child.

After few days a baby boy was born. He was named Venkatanatha.This news reached to the mutt and Sri Vijayeendra teertha swamiji asked the couple to visit the mutt. Looking at the baby and his charm, he was very  happy and said His guru was reborn. The guru was none other than Sri Vyasateertha who was the vidyaguru of Sri Vijayeendra Teertharu.

As a very young boy, Venkatanatha showed all signs of a great saint. He always liked to perform pooja like swamiji does. He was a great devotee of Sri Hari. His father performed the upananyana ceremony and passed away soon after. Venkatanatha was shattered at this. He was  good in playing Veena and had inherited the art of veena from his father.

Venkatanatha was sent to Madurai at his elder sister's house for education  . His brother-in law Sri Lakshmi Narasimhachar was a very learned and respected man. The couple were married for long time and had no children. As he was learning vedas,shastras and  Dwaita philosophy from his brother in law, once his sister came home from a function saying she was not allowed inside the function since she was childless  and will not be having it in future also. Venkatanatha said she will definitely have a child since its Sri Hari's will. After few days a baby boy was born to them. He was named Narayanachar, who later writes the biography of Sri  Raghavendra Teertharu. 

Venkatanatha develops a strong devotion towards God and a very strong faith in Sri Madhwacharya and his philosophy. He starts visiting different places and takes part  in debates on the philosophy. Venkatanatha writes a commentary for Anu Madhwavijaya - which is summary of Sumadhwavijaya. This commentry is so beautiful that Sri Vadeendra Teertha, who later heads the Rayar mutt, explains in Guruguna sthavana that Madhwacharya might have been so  happy seeing this commentry that He directly offered his own seat of vedanta smarajya. Venkatanatha's fame reached the mutt and by then Sri vijayeendra teertharu was no more and Sri Sudheendra Teertharu was pontiff of the mutt. Swamiji meets Venkatanatha and becomes mesmerised by his knowledge. 

After few days Venkatanatha is married to smt Saraswati bai. The couple shared a very loving relationship.  Both of them couldn't live without each other even for a day. Venkatanatha used to take care of a piece of land given by mutt and also used to train students on Madhwa Philosophy. Few days passed by. A baby boy was born to them. He was named as Lakshmi Narayana. At this stage, one day a lady came to Venkatanatha's house and said she was ALakshmi and had come there to bring his misfortune.  Venkatanatha thought if this is Sri Hari's will, then would not object.  He allowed her to enter his home. Soon, he lost his mother. There was a draught and nothing could grow in his land. The revenue stopped. He was unable  to feed his family and also the students who used to study at his house. Slowly all the students left his house. Venkatanatha was so much devoted to Lord Vishnu that he did not loose faith in God even in bad times. He used to continue his daily pooja and never asked for anything with anybody. Its mentioned in Raghavendra Vijaya that, Venkatanatha, to avoid questions on his poverty, he used to apply dark anagara and akshanti on his forehead, so that people will not come to know that he did not have lunch for days together. He also tookup a oath, to not to take help from anybody. As days passed, the condition became very critical. There was not even milk to feed his young son. Probably even Alakshmi felt bad about this. Saraswati Bai,not bearing this anymore requested to go to Sudheendra Teertha swamiji and seek His help.
As they were on their way, there was a feast being organized in a brahmin's house. Venkatanatha and His family were asked to prepared the sandalwood paste, thinking that they had come there for lunch.  Venkatanatha unknowingly recited Narasimha Stotra while preparing the sandalwood paste. When this paste was offered to the brahmins , their body felt burning sensation. When this was brought to the notice of Venkatanatha , he felt sorry for that and recited the Varuna sookta. This healed the brahmins from the burning sensation. Such was the love of Lord in Venkatanatha that He could not tolerated the insult to Venkatanatha.

At the Sudheendra Teertha's ashrama, Venkatanatha's family got great relief. Their lives were back on track. Venkatanatha started teaching to children at the mutt and also travelled with swamiji. He participated in various debates and defeated many great scholars of different philosophies. Swamiji was filled with joy to have Venkatanatha with Him. One fine day, Lord Moola Rama appeared in swamiji's dream and ordered him to appoint Venkatanatha as his successor. Next day, swamiji invited Venkatanatha and offered him the peetha. Venkatanatha refused it and went back home with lot of confusion and stress. He was not ready to leave his wife and son. That night, Godess Saraswati appeared in his dream and explained his life's goal to ascend the Paramahamsa Peetha, Offer service to Moola Rama, help people in distress and above all write books that will take Madwacharya's teachings to each and eveyone. Soon his confusion was cleared. Next day, he left his family and took up sanyasa as Sri Raghavendra Teertha on Phalguna shudda dwiteeya, which is now  celebrated as pattabhisheka day. The raja of Tanjore along with all other pundits of dwaita philosophy were present at the event. As this was being celebrated, Saraswati bai, feeling difficult to live without her husband, left this world. 

A few days later Sri Sudheendra Teertharu while on travel fell ill and entered Brindavana at Anegondi.  Sri Raghavendra Teertharu was now about to become peethadipathi.  A incident happens here, which can be an example of humbleness and sacrifice to those who are power hungry.  Long back Sri Sudheendra Teertharu ordained a great soul and an expert in  dwaita philosophy, into sanyasa amd named him Sri Yadavendra Teertha. After the brindavan pravesha of his guru, Sri Yadavendra Teertharu came to Kumbakonam mutt. The news of his arrival spread among the masses and were worried od he would ask for the peethadipathi position.  Sri Raghavendra Teertharu welcomed Sri Yadavendra Teertharu and offered the peethadipathi as the former was senior amd has right for peetha.  As people were guessing He would accept it, Sri Yadavendra Teertharu humbly declined it and said His Guru has appointed right person to the peetha.  He had come there just  to see the pooja of  Moola Rama. sri Raghavendra Teertharu 

Offered the senior swamiji to perform pooja for few days.  Sri Yadavendra teertha then left for tour. He is always remembered as mahatapaswi and an epitome of sacrifice. Here  Sri Raghavendra Teertha's respect for his senior and his detachment for materialistic positions ia clearly visible. 

As days passed by, Sri Raghavendra Teertha's devotion towards Lord Sri Rama became famous. He was now being regarded as a person who could heal others problems due to his tapas shakti.  One day as he was performing pooja to Lord Moola Rama, he saw  a spirit (preta) of woman.  She was indeed Saraswati bai,  who was wandering as preta as she committed suicide.  Looking at her fate,He sprinkled the shankodaka. This freed her from the preta yoni. Sri Raghavendra ordered that henceforth people from Gautama gothra should offer bagina in her name on any big occasions at their house,  in remembering her sacrifice 

Contributions to Dwaita Philosophy :

Sri Raghavendra Teertha was an expert in madhwa philosophy and a treasure of sanskrit grammar.  The Raghavendra mangalashtaka written by Appanacharya

declares Him as the master of Alankara,  kavya(poetry) , nataka(drama) and vyakarna(grammar). 

He has written nearly 40 books on various aspects of Dwaita philosophy.  Bhaata sanghraha, Geeta Avriti, Paratah Sankalpa Gadhya and commentary on Sri Jayateertha's Nyaya Sudha called PARIMALA are amomg his famous works. Of all Parimala is very famous. His beautiful and simple commentry has helped future generations of Dwaita pundits to easily follow the philosophy. Sri Vadeendra Teertharu describes in Gurugunasthavana that Godess Saraswati was so pleased with Sri Raghavendra Teertha's knowledge  that She danced in happiness and the flowers which she was wearing fell down and the fragrance(Parimala)  of these flowers came down as Parimala grantha. He is regarded as one of the most important contributor to Dwaita Philosophy. A true devotee would always remember Raghavendra Teertharu through his works and the path he showed to reach God

Savior of Mankind:

Sri Raghavendra under took tours across the country in different phases of his tenure as peethadipathi. During these tours, inspite of busy schedule, He never hesitated to attend the people in distress,irrespective of caste and religious affiliation. As he was on a tour to Savanur, which was ruled by muslim nawab, He helped the Nawab's son to gain back life, by praying to Lord Sri  Rama.  He met chatrapati Shivaji maharaj in kolhapur and reminded him of his duty to establish Hindavi swaraj and blessed him. 

At a place near Adoni, an illiterate brahmin met Him.  Looking at his fate,  He blessed him by asking him to recite the name of Lord Sri Rama(Raghavendra) when in trouble. Adoni Nawab was returning back from a war got a message from his mahal in sanskrit. Unable decipher the message he saw this illiterate man on the way and ordered to read.  He didnot accept that a brahmin can be illiterate and said will punish him of he doesn't read the message.  Recalling Raghavendra's advice he recited Rama nama and read the message about the nawab's wife delivering a baby boy.  Nawab knowing this was very happy and offered him the position of Deewan.  Thus an illiterate man became Deewan Venkanna by Sri Raghavendra Teertha's blessings.  By now Sri Raghavendra Teertha was being called as Rayaru. 

A shishya of Rayaru was intending to get married and wanted to go back home . when he took permission from Guru, Rayaru gave him the mrittika. The shishya took it with utmost devotion and while on travel stayed at door steps of a house in a village one night. The owner of the house had a problem of death of his babies soon after the birth. On that fateful day, his wife was undergoing labor and gave birth to a healthy baby without any issues.  There was a evil spirit that used to kill the baby everytime.  But,  due to shishya carrying the mrittika, and sleeping at steps,  the spirit could npt do any harm.  Thus rayaru through his shishya saved the baby. 

Back in home at Tanjore,  he helped resolve differences between the nayaks of Madurai and Tanjore, avoiding a possible war. 

There are many of such instances which cannot be fit into this blog. 

Final Days:

In his final tour of his life, he came to Adoni, where he was invited by Deewan Venkanna to the palace of nawab. To test Rayaru, nawab offered a platefull of meat.  Rayaru accepted it by invoking Moola Rama's name and converting it to fruit. Stunned  by this the Nawab surrendered in devotion and requested to take anything he wished.  Rayaru asked for manchali village on the banks of river Tungabhadra, which was nothing less than a ghost village with no rains for several  years. Nawab not willing to give such a useless land, had to oblige Guru's ask. 

Rayaru visited the Manachali village and took permission from Manchalamma(who is an incarnation of Durga devi), to make this village, his resting place.

During his last chaturmasa at Manvi, near Raichur, a person from a lower class, in order to have darshana of Rayaru, visited the temple where Swamiji was staying. While he had nothing to offer to Moola Rama, the person just got some handfull of mustard seeds. He was stopped by the mutt staff at the temple, as Rayaru was performing smasthana pooja. Rayaru, sensing his arrival, asked the staff to let him in. He then spoke with lot of affection and asked him as to what he was hiding in his hand. The person gave the mustard seeds he had brought. Rayaru ordered to include these seeds in the  food that would be offered to Moola Rama. Since , mustard is forbidden in chaturmasa, the staff objected to it and few pundits left the mutt without having the food.But swamiji insisted on offering it as naivedhya without caring for the caste of the person who had brought this.  He later declared that the person was none other than the great Kanaka Dasaru in his last life. 

After few months,  Rayaru instructed Deewan Venkanna to start the process of constructing a brindavana for him. Every one was left in shock as this meant He will disappear from this materialistic world. A brindavana was made ready, however Rayaru said this will be used by another great saint who will come in his lineage and ordered to make a new one out of the rock where Sri Rama took rest on the banks of tungabhadra river at Madhwaram.  A new brindavana was constructed. The brindavana built earlier was used by Vadeendra Teertharu and is next to Rayaru in Mantralayam today. 

In the year 1671, on an auspicious day of Shravanamasa, krishnapaksha Dwiteeya, Rayaru addressed a huge  gathering of people including the Nawab of Adoni, Deewan Venkanna,  sri Yogeendra teertharu,that never ever doubt on Sri Hari. Trust him to the last breath of life. He said, he would remain in the brindavana for 700years and would pray to Lord Sri Hari on the behalf of the devotees to fulfill their requests.  He entered the brindavana alive. This day is celebrated as his Aradhana day. 

This was not the end,  but the begining of an ever lasting relationship between the devotees and the Guru.  Rayaru is one of the most popular yati among all the Madhwa saints and is followed by all sections of society. 

A number of mrittikabrindavanas are installed in all major cities across India and even in many foreign countries. 

Mantralayam is nothing less than any teertha kshetra. 

Many Hari dasaru including Sri Vijayadasaru, Sri Jagannatha dasaru, Sri Gopala dasaru have praised Rayaru in their songs.  Guru Shreesha dasaru has described the importance of Mantralayam in his song Nodele Manave Kondadu Gurugala Paada. A mere simple seva at this place relieves devotee of his pain. 

Sri Raghavendra Stotra by Appanacharya explains the importance of Sri Rayaru's paadodaka and darshana. 

Its a practice to recite Raghavendra stotra as ashtottara. 

As i started writing this article on His aradhana day on 10 August 2017,its been 346 years since he entered brindavana, but His teachings, his presence is still felt today. 

Iam fortunate that, the completion day of this article happens to be his birth anniversary(phalguna shukla saptami, this year being on 22 Feb 2018).

Lets us all follow atleast few things from his life-

1. Unquestionable faith in Lord Sri Hari

2. Have patience in life

3. Be committed to the cause of dharma

4. Detach yourself from the bindings of power and  wealth

5. Serve people in need

Sri Krishnarpana mastu