Mantralaya-2063
(Guruvendrare Manchali Raghappa - Nawab of Savanur’s son )
Date : Oct 9, 2025
Dear Devotees : Namaskara.
| Sri MannMoolaRamastu Mannmathe Moolamahasamsthhaana Mantralaya Sri Rayaramathe||
|| OM SRI RAGHAVENDRAAYA NAMAHA||
Background
Why
do we call Sri Rayaru Guruvendrare Manchali Raghappa? The divine
miracle of how Sri Raghavendra Swamy brought the Nawab of Savanur’s son
back from death is beautifully described in Mantralaya (2063).
Meaning
In Kannada, there is a famous saying “Devarendare Tirupati Timmappa, Guruvendrare Manchali Raghappa.”
The meaning is beautiful and profound
“If you speak of the supreme among the Gods, it is Lord Venkateshwara of Tirupati.
If you speak of the greatest among Gurus, it is Sri Raghavendra Swamy of Mantralaya.”
Why
is this so true? In every Yuga, the Lord descends to Earth to protect
those who follow Dharma. Along with Him, He sends His chosen disciples,
the Gurus, to guide humanity and lead souls toward Him.
In Satya
Yuga, the Age of Truth, Sri Hari appeared as Matsya, Kurma, Varaha,
Narasimha, Hayagriva and other divine forms.In Treta Yuga, the Age of
Sacrifice, He came as Vamana, Rama, and other incarnations to uphold
righteousness.In Dvapara Yuga, the Age of Rituals, He appeared as Veda
Vyasa and Sri Krishna, teaching the eternal wisdom of the Vedas and the
Bhagavad Gita.In Kali Yuga, the Age of Darkness, He manifested as Lord
Venkateshwara, showing us the path of Dharma even in these turbulent
times. Alongside Him, from Vaikunta, He sent His devoted disciple
Shanku Karna, born as Sri Raghavendra Swamy, who continues to bless
humanity for seven hundred years, guiding us to fight the darkness of
this age.At the very end of Kali Yuga, Sri Hari will appear as Kali,
but that is a long time away.
To truly understand the
compassion, power and divine grace of Sri Raghavendra Swamy, a grace
bestowed directly by Sri Hari, we must return to a remarkable moment in
history, the time when Sri Rayaru brought the dead son of the Nawab of
Savanur back to life.
As we have seen in one of Mantralaya
articles that during Sri Raghavendra Swamy visit to north Karnataka Sri
Rayaru brought Venkata Girideshaiah’s son back from untimely death. The
fame of Sri Raghavendra Swamy spread across the land like the fragrance
of sandalwood carried by the wind.. To the sorrowful, Rayaru became a
living embodiment of divine mercy , a saint whose blessings cured not
only the diseases of the body but the despair of the soul. His very
presence was like the Sanjeevini herb, reviving hope where grief had
taken root. Wherever he went, suffering eased, faith blossomed, and
peace returned to weary hearts. Yet in every miracle, Rayaru saw not
his own greatness, but only the infinite compassion of Lord Sri Hari,
whose will he served with unbroken devotion.
From Kiritagiri,
Sri Raghavendra Swamy journeyed toward Hubballi, his heart overflowing
with kindness for all beings. The people welcomed him with garlands,
music, and joy. Men, women, and children of every faith came seeking
his darshan. A single glimpse of the serene Guru or a few words of his
wisdom made their lives feel fulfilled.
One scorching afternoon,
after visiting a devotee’s home in a nearby village, Sri Rayaru was
returning in his mena (palanquin). The sun blazed mercilessly and the
bearers, weary from the heat, stopped beneath a small cluster of trees
near a newly built platform to rest. As they set the palanquin down, a
cowherd boy grazing his cattle nearby came running, shouting in alarm,
“Swamiji! Please, do not rest here! This spot… this is the grave of the
Nawab of Savanur’s son! He died of a snakebite only yesterday. If the
Nawab’s men see this, there could be terrible trouble. Please move the
palanquin!”
Before the bearers could act, four horsemen arrived
at full gallop. Seeing the palanquin on the grave, they shouted angrily
and threatened the attendants. Unmoved by their fury, Sri Raghavendra
Swamy gently lifted the curtain of the mena. His face shone with divine
calm as he said, “Your Nawab’s son is not dead. Life still lingers
within him. If you open the grave and bring the body before sunset, by
the grace of God, he can yet be revived. After sunset, even divine
power cannot restore him. Go quickly, bring your Nawab here.”
The
horsemen, struck by the saint’s serene authority, felt their anger
dissolve into awe. One of them rode swiftly to deliver the message. The
palanquin was moved aside, and everyone waited in breathless silence.
Within an hour, the Nawab of Savanur arrived, surrounded by his guards
and officers. The moment his eyes fell upon Rayaru, reverence surged
within him. Though a Muslim ruler, his heart recognized divine
greatness beyond all boundaries of faith. Dismounting, he bowed deeply
three times in his own way and stood humbly before the saint.
Rayaru
looked upon him with compassion. “Nawab-saab,” he said softly, “your
son’s soul has not yet departed. Have the grave opened and bring the
body here. With the grace of the Almighty Sri Hari, we shall attempt to
bring him back to life but it must be done before sunset.” Without
hesitation, the Nawab ordered the grave opened. Soon, the boy’s body
was brought forth, wrapped in white cloth, and laid before the saint.
The child, barely eight years old, lay still , his skin bluish from the
venom, yet his face carried an angelic peace.
Sri Rayaru’s eyes
glowed with compassion. “This child shall live again,” Sri Rayaru
declared. Sri Rayaru washed his hands and feet, sat upon a krishnajina
, performed achamana, and addressed the gathering: “Until I open my
eyes, none shall move or speak. Trust in God’s will. If you do so, your
son shall rise again.”
Sri Rayaru closed his eyes and entered
deep meditation. His consciousness merged with the divine as he
silently invoked the Akarsana mantra, the Garuda mantra, and the Sri
Krishna mantra. Moments passed. Then a wondrous sight unfolded. From
the nearby bushes, a snake slithered swiftly toward the boy’s body. It
rested its hood upon the mark of the old bite. The crowd gasped in
horror but remembered the saint’s words and remained still. The serpent
drew out the poison, hissed in pain, and slipped away. At that very
instant, a Garuda bird swooped down from the sky, seized the snake in
its beak and soared heavenward.
As the people watched this
divine scene in silent awe, Sri Rayaru slowly opened his eyes. Taking a
few drops of sanctified water from his kamandalu, he chanted mantras
and sprinkled the water upon the boy’s face. A miracle occurred. The
bluish hue faded. The boy’s lips quivered. His chest rose with breath.
Slowly, he opened his eyes and sat up.
A cry of amazement swept
through the gathering: “Jaya Guru Raghavendra! A miracle! The saint has
conquered death itself!” The prince looked around, saw his father, and
cried, “Abbajaan!” rushing into his embrace. The Nawab wept tears of
gratitude, exclaiming, “Mera beta! My son, my life has returned!”
Rayaru
smiled gently. The Nawab and his son bowed to him with folded hands.
“Saint of God,” said the Nawab, “you have brought my child back from
the gates of death. Please, come to my town and bless my home. Let this
servant serve you.” Rayaru replied humbly, “Nawab-saab, it is not I who
revived your son , it is God’s compassion that worked through me.
Still, I accept your devotion as His blessing.”
True to his
word, Sri Raghavendra Swamy later visited Savanur. The Nawab welcomed
him with music, flowers, and great joy, hosting him in a beautiful
mansion. Every day, worship and pada-puja were performed with devotion.
When the rituals ended, the Nawab said reverently, “Gurumaharaj, please
accept a village and some lands from me as a token of my gratitude.”
Rayaru smiled gently and asked, “Nawab ji, what inspires such generosity in your heart?”
The
Nawab bowed his head with humility. “Revered Guru,” he said softly,
“last night I had a divine vision. A radiant child appeared before me,
about eight years old, adorned with shining jewels and holding a golden
flute in his hands. His brilliance was so dazzling that I could barely
look at him. With a gentle smile, he said, ‘Offer to the Guru who saved
your son a village and land in My name. You will be blessed.’ Then he
disappeared. Gurudeva, who was that divine child?”
Sri Rayaru’s eyes glowed with divine joy. “Nawabji,” he asked gently, “in your kingdom, is there a village called Krishnapura?”
“Yes, revered Guru,” the Nawab replied softly. “There is indeed such a village.”
Rayaru
smiled with deep meaning and said, “Then you are truly blessed. The
radiant child you saw in your vision was none other than Lord Krishna
Himself. The village already bears His sacred name. Offer it as He has
wished, and His blessings will forever remain upon you.”
With
tears of faith and gratitude, the Nawab humbly donated Krishnapura and
its surrounding lands to Sri Rayaru. The miracle of Savanur soon became
a legend that transcended every barrier of religion, caste, and creed.
Sri Raghavendra Swamy’s compassion embraced all, Hindu or Muslim, rich
or poor, man or woman. His humility before God and his divine power to
restore life revealed to the world the infinite mercy of Sanatana
Dharma, which recognizes the same divinity in every living being. Even
today, the story of Savanur shines like a timeless beacon, reminding us
that where true compassion resides, even death must bow its head.
This
is the boundless power and compassion of Sri Raghavendra Swamy. That is
why devotees lovingly call him Guruvendrare Manchale Raghappa , the
supreme Guru of Mantralaya, the embodiment of divine mercy. His grace
knows no limits, reaching the hearts of kings and commoners alike,
saints and sinners, believers of every faith.
Sri Rayaru’s
compassion is not just an act of kindness; it is a reflection of the
infinite love of Sri Hari himself, who works through his dearest
devotee to uplift the world. His blessings heal the afflicted, guide
the lost, and grant peace to those burdened by the trials of Kali Yuga.
Sri
YogindraTeertharu, one of his devoted disciples, beautifully captures
this essence when he describes Rayaru as Namo Atayanta Dayaluve
“Salutations to the one who is supremely compassionate.” Indeed, this
single phrase holds the very soul of Rayaru’s mission on earth is to
protect, to bless and to guide every seeker toward light, faith and
liberation.
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||