Entry into Brindavana !!!

Not all students knew about Gurugalu's Brindavana entry. The one who knew this event went to their homes hoping to come back on the day of entry. All the arrangements were going on well. Tomorrow is Vidiya. People from different places thronged Manchala. Tungabhadra was crowded. Except Sri Appana Charyaru, all other students who went to their homes returned back to Manchala.  

Sacred hymns were chanted. A pedestal was built using the stone on which Lord Sri Rama sat for 7 minutes. Sri Moola Rama Swamy puja was performed by Gurugalu for the last time. The idols were decorated with flower garlands and lamps were lit all around. Maha Mangala Haarathi(A grand offering of lighted camphor) was offered to Sri Moola Rama Swamy amidst bells and gongs. Thousands of people along with Sri Yogindra Theertharu observed the puja with utmost devotion.   With the support of one of the students Gurugalu sat on the pedestal and started meditation. They visualised all the deities - Lord Sri Rama, Lord Sri Krishna, Sri Narasimha Swamy, Sri Hayagreeva Devaru, Five faced Lord Hanuman, Sri Madhva Charyaru, Sri Veda Vyasaru, Sri Bheema Senaru... 

Gurugalu praised the Lord by singing the song - "Indu Enege Govinda". After this Gurugalu were lost in deep meditation. While on the other side, some devotees were singing songs, some others were dancing, some were performing sacrifices and mass prayers. The place echoed with sacred hymns and prayers. Gurugalu reached the highest point in meditation. Their countenance glowed with a sheen that surpassed the Sun. At one stage the Japamaala in Gurugalu's hand became still. Venkanna and other disciples who understood this sign started arranging slabs.  

Amidst sacred chanting of the hymns, the first layer of slab was laid around the pedestal. Sacred conches containing Ganges waters and 700 Lakshmi Narayana Saaligraamas were placed inside. Second layer of slab was laid which covered the pedestal on which Gurugalu sat. Soon all the slabs were laid. As tears rolled down the cheeks of Sri Yadavendra Theertharu, they recited the last sloka - 

"Durwadi dhwaantaravaye Vaishnavendi varendave

Sri Raghavendra Guruve Namo atyanta dayaaluve !!!"

and prostrated before the Lord.

     

Venkanna remembered how Gurugalu's grace changed his life from a shepherd to a Diwan. His heart wept. He paid his obeisance by prostrating before the Brindavana. All the other students became emotional and could not control their tears. 

Appana Charyaru, the beloved disciple of Gurugalu, could not make it for the event as they had been to inform about Gurugalu's Brindavana entry to other disciples living far. By the time they started to return back to Manchala, it was already late. They ran towards Manchala, composing the famous Sri Raghavendra Stotra - "Sri Poorna Bodha Guru Tirtha payobdhi paara...." When they reached the Tungabhadra, the river was in full spate. But Appana Charyaru was desperate to reach Manchala and rushed headlong. The power of their devotion was immense that the river parted for them and they could reach Manchala quickly. But still Appana Charyaru could not make it. By the time they reached the Brindavana, the last slab was laid and they could not see their beloved Guru for the last time. Tears started to gush from their eyes and voice choked. And the stotra too reached the last stanza - 

"Kintvistaartha samruddhi reva kamalaa naatha prasaadodayat

Kirtir digvidita vibhutiratula..." 

and could not continue further. Suddenly everyone heard a voice from the Brindavana - 

"Saakshi Haya Syotra Hi " (which means - Lord Hayagriva is the witness to this Stotra by Sri Appana Charyaru and that Gurugalu would make them all come true). 

Every single devotee prostrated before Gurugalu's Brindavana. Manchala attained sanctity by the presence of Gurugalu's Brindavana. 

Poojyaya Raghavendraya Satya Dharma Ratayacha |

Bhajataam KalpaVrikshaya Namataam Kamadhenave || 

Sri Raghavendraya Namaha | Sri Raghavendraya Namaha | Sri Raghavendraya Namaha |

                

At the shores of Tungabhadra !

Manchala was favourable for Gurugalu's meditation and prayers. Some times people from Kumbhakonam and Tanjore visited Manchala, for Gurugalu's blessings. These days Gurugalu were not delivering any spiritual discourses. They were spending most of the time in meditation, singing songs, playing veena, teaching students and performing Sri Moola Rama puja. Devotees visiting the place found an extraordinary aura of peace and bliss. 

Gurugalu descibed about Goddess Manchalamma to who ever vistited the place. The daily prayers went on very well. Venkanna Charya, the son of Gururaja Charya who was Gurugalu's brother in the Poorvashramam, was a student of Gurugalu. Also, the great poet and Gurugalu's nephew, Sri Narayana was also a student of Gurugalu. Among these students was yet another great scholar, Sri Raghava Charya. It was difficult to decide who was best among the students of Gurugalu. Each one were excellent in their own way. Gurugalu taught them great scriptures and compiled few books for their future reference. 

Poeple of all races, sects, status etc visted Gurugalu for their blessings. Sometimes King Vijaya Raghava Raya himself came to Manchala for the darshanam of Gurugalu. The Nawab of Adoni too visited quite often. From a pauper to a King, every one visited Gurugalu at Manchala, for their blessings. And all were equally blessed by Gurugalu. 

Once, from Kerala, three great astrologers too came to Gurugalu, to take their blessings. Gurugalu, with a smile, asked them to analyse their horoscope. Those astrologers analysed the horoscope of Gurugalu separately and concluded about Gurugalu's age. Each one concluded that Gurugalu's life span would be 76 years, 300 years and 700 years respectively. Students present there did not understand and rejected their analysis. But Gurugalu praised the three astrologers and blessed them. Gurugalu explained to their students that all the three were correct predictions. Gurugalu said that they would live in this world for 76 years, their works and teachings would have prominence for 300 years and they would save the needy and bless their devotees for 700 years. 

Days rolled on. Dewan Venkanna visited almost every alternate day. Once when Venkanna visited, Gurugalu told him that they would enter Brindavana in Manchala itself. And asked Venkanna to get a stone from Madhavaram, where Lord Sri Rama during their exile in forest had sat on that stone for 7 minutes. Gurugalu then explained Venkanna about the features of the stone and wished that their Brindavana be built using that stone. Venkanna followed Gurugalu's orders.

One day Gurugalu were teaching their students. Suddenly their concentration deviated and they looked into the sky. They paid obeisance by saluting to someone. Some lucky students who looked into the sky saw an elderly man speaking to Gurugalu silently with a smile. That elderly man was waving their hands and showing 2 fingers at Gurugalu. The students who observed this were stunned. After sometime, Gurugalu back in this world, explained their students about this incident. That elderly man was Sri Veda Vyasa. Gurugalu asked them their life span in this world, for which Sri Veda Vyasa replied back saying "2 years, 2 months and 2 weeks" more. After that, Gurugalu revealed to their students that they would enter the Brindavana alive. 

As time passed by, Venkanna Charya(nephew of Gurugalu) assumed Sanyasa from Gurugalu. And they were named as Sri Yogindra Theertha. Gurugalu declared that Sri Yogindra Theertharu would be ascending the throne of Sarvagna Peetam next. 

Shalivahana Shakam, 1593, Virodhikruth Nama Samvatsaram, Sravana Masam, Krishna Paksham, Vidiya - another day to go ! As per Gurugalu's decree, Diwan Venkanna was arranging to build the Brindavana. 700 best Lakshmi Narayana Saaligraamas were brought to place in the Brindavana. The stone from Madhavaram was also brought and was used in the built. 

It was dawn and Gurugalu along with one of their students walked to the shores of Tungabhadra to bathe. The river, the trees, every single sand particle knew that it was the last day they would be viewing their Lord. The atmosphere was serene. Sri Raghavendra Gurugalu, after bathing, have performed their Sandhyavandane and other prayers on the shores...

Sri Raghavendraya Namaha !!! 

A Forest - A Holy Place - Manchala

Manchala was once a dense forest. The path Gurugalu and the crew were travelling was not clear. Moreover it was pitch dark. Tungabhadra river was flowing pleasantly. Some of the crew did not understand why Gurugalu have claimed this place from the Nawab. But some others, who had spiritual powers, felt the pleasantness and a spiritual aura that surrounded that place. 

Gurugalu were more happier than usual. With a smile, Gurugalu said - "King Prahlada performed several sacrifices on this holy land. This place had then seen great sages, sacred sacrificial fires, sacred hymns from the Vedas etc. King Prahlada performed these sacrifices for the welfare of his country." (If you remember, Gurugalu themselves were King Prahlada in their previous birth !)

Though it was now a dense forest, Godess Renukamba, the principle deity of King Prahlada should still be existing on this sacred land. Gurugalu started meditating the Divine Mother silently. Later, Gurugalu along with their students cleaned the forest area. It turned to an even surface.

River Tungabhadra was flowing downwards amidst hills. Early in the morning, when Gurugalu walked towards the river Tungabhadra for bathing, the river reduced its speed and roar with reverence. Every sand particle was blessed to have been touched by the Lord. The trees that stood tall on the other side of the bank, swayed down as an obeisance to Gurugalu.

Sri Raghavendraya Namaha !!!