Mantralaya-241

( Sri Benakappa)

Date : Jun 20 2008

Background

Sri Sripadarajaru entered Brindavana on Jyeshtha Shukla Chaturdashi. Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday i.e. 17th,18th and 19th the Aradhana of Sri Sripadarajaru of Mulabagilu, the great Guru of our great Sri Vyasarajaru  is observed Jyeshtha Shukla Chaturdashi, Pournima and Jyeshtha Bahula pratipada for three days.
 
During this punyakara occasion  it is my great privilege and fortune to introduce Sri Benakappa the resident of Lachamari, a great devotee of Mantralaya Rayaru to our devotees.Lachamari is  about 10-12 kilometers from Mantralaya and  five  kilometers from Madhavaram situated in taluka Adoni district Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh(India).

Before proceeding to the description of Sanchara of our Yatiraat  Sri Raghavendrateertharu, I wish to share the kind concern  of Rayaru towards Bichali Sri Appanacharyaru and the unforgettable  incident of  a great devotee by name Sri Benakappa of Lachamari,  (avatara of Appanacharya)near to Mantralaya, about five kilometers from Adoni are described in Mantralaya(241).
 

Meaning

Today the world devotees have given their hearts to Navarundavana for its profound immense silence, sacred and holy panorama amidst the abundant gift of nature will simply impart Siddhi and attain the blessings of Sri Hari Vayu Guru. This has been described in the saptama skandha of Bhaagavata that too in the fifteenth chapter. It is so great that each and every thing at this sanctum have got their own historic and epic value. Taradevi the wife of Bruhaspati performed Tapasya on the mountain facing to Navavrundavana, owing to that the mountain got the name and fame to Anegundi and the sacred Navavrundavana as Taraparvata. During Samudra Manthana the Gods and  the devils(Rakshasas) held a competition. There came the poison Kaalakoota. Lord Mahadeva - Rudradeva - Shiva - Parameshwara drank that poison. So the throat of Shiva became blue, so Shiva is called as Neelakantha. Kaalakoota is in the middle of this island - Navavrundavana. On this Kaalakootadri Shiva stayed for a while and the whole poison was digested. Mahadeva became extremely happy. Today Anegundi - Navarundavana - Hampi are all the most siddhi places to the devotees of the world.

Taking a holy dip in the punyakotiteertha  even we perform a little act of punya that is equal to hundred crores and even more, such a siddhi place is our Navavrundavana.

KichidatraKrutam Punyam Shatakoti Gunam Bhavet

When we take the holy dip in the Virajaateertha and do some charity we will easily acquire Sadgati. We will attain good things in life and also in the other Loka. As our Bichali Sri Appanacharya has said in Sri Raghavendra Gurustotra:

Iti KaalaTrayae Nityam Praarthanaam Yaha Karoti Saha
IhamUttaraaptaSarveshtoModatae Naatra Samshayaha.

AtraSnaanenaDaanenaNaraayamYaantiParaamGatim

The two tributaries of the sacred Tungabhadra river encircling and flowing Kaalakootadri have attained two different names and famous as Teerthas and enhanced the fame and the punya. Now we have no words to describe the great punya of the Tungabhdra  river .Hampi Yantroddhaaraka Sri Hanumathadevaru, Anegundi Navavrundavana are the most holy places for the Madhwas.Right from the days of  Ramayana we find that the whole Vara Kapi Kula stayed here and performed the Seva of Sri Ramachandradevaru acquired the blessings and became victorious. For this act KapivaraKulas are too affectionate to Sri Hari and their life is really meaningful - Saarthaka.

This sacred land, the river, the rich natural gift has specially attracted the devotees, siddhas,sadhus,santas. The foreign pilgrims have simply stunned to see the beauty of Hampi and gave their hearts to this sanctum. It seems that the profound immense silence of Anegundi Navavrundavana is meant for Tapa,Dhyana,Mouna and Anushthana.Bichali Sri Appanacharyaru a staunch and a great  devotee of Mntralaya Sri Raghavendra Gurusarvabhoumaru has said in Sri Raghavendra Gurustotra Purascharanavidhi:

GoshthaeVrundavaneAshwathaePurascharanameeritam
GoshthaeDashagunamVindyaatShatamVrundavaeTathaa
AshwathaeTrishatamProktamParvatgretuPanchakam
NadeeTeeraeSwayutamhiPunyakshetretuLakshakam

To attain the siddhi of Japa and Tapa there should be Goshaala,the thick shadow of Ashwathavruksha, the bank of the river,  the mountain All this will yield punya more than ten thousand times. With all this where Vrundavanas are nine will impart more than lakhs and lakhs of punya.It is very difficult  to get all these things in one place. We are fortunate to have all this in Anegundi - Navavrundavana. Standing at this sanctum if we see round as far as to the reach of our eyesight, we see the series of never ending mountains and the pure panorama.

Our Anegundi - Navavrundavana is situated at the  NorthEast direction of Hampi i.e.Pampakshetra.It is one sacred kshetra  among the sixteen kshetras of our India. We are fortunate and proud of this sanctum.Our Yatis Acharya Parampara Yatis who are residing in the Brindavana are the stalwarts of knowledge ,wisdom, kind heareted , Bhagavadanugrha  and Aparokshagnyana. Our Sri Jagannathadasaru who was Saahlada the brother of Prahlada, theauthor of Sri Harikathamrutasaara hassaid that   these Yatis are nothing but Gods. To make our life more meaningful we have to visit and take the darshana  with devotion of Hampi Virupaksha, Vijayavithala, Yantroddhaaraka Sri Marutiraya- Hanumanthadevaru and Anegundi Navavrundavana without fail. The devotees of Mantralaya Rayaru must and should visit Acharya Parampara Yatis Navavrundavana. The flow of sacred Tungabhadra is from here to Bhikshaalaya Bichali and Mantralaya Manchali. We have to pay homage and surrender to our punyakara yatis.

Thus conclude the series of Hampi and proceed to Kumbhakonam where our Rayaru is much concerned to Sri Sudheendrateertharu who attained chira shanti at the Anegundi Navavrundavana.
 
 

Poem

Jyeshtha Shukla Chaturdashi
Mulabagilu Sri Sripadarajara Aradhane
Ee Punyakara SamayadaliRayara Parama Bhakta
Lachamari Benakappananu Vishwada
Bhaktarige Parichayipe
 

Mantralaya Sri Raghavendra Guruvarya
Hampi Anegundi Navavrundavanadi 
Valavina Guru Sri Sudheendrateertharu
Brindavanadali Nelesalu Marali
Kumbhakonege Baralu Gurugala Nenapu
Dukhkha Duguda Mounavanaantu Kulitiralu
Sri Mathada Sibbandi Gurugalali Binnavisi
Bedidaru  Guru Sri Sudheendrateerthara
Abhimatadi Kaaryonmukharaagi Rakshisi Yendu
Praarthisalu Kaaryatatpararaadaru!
Ada Varnisuva Munna Sri Rayara Mahimeyanu
Vishwada Bhaktarige Aruhuvenu Vinayadali
Mantralaya Yatiraat Sri Raghavendrateertharige
Apaara Valavina Shishya Bhaktara Padedu
Joteyagi Preetiya Seveyanu Sweekarisi
Manu Dharma Manu Kulada Reetiyanella
Adarisi Himalayadettarada Vistaara Punya
Sri Hari Vayudevara Samasta Yativarara
Anugraha Heraladi Padedaroo Tamagaagi
Rayaru Yenanoo Balasade
Yeppattaraneya Vayasinali Sashareera
Brindavana Praveshavanu Gaidaru
Shraavana Bahula Dwiteeya
VirodhikrutnaamaSamvatsara 1593 neya
Shaalivaahana Shake Shukravaara
August 11 -1671 Neya Isavi Yogadali
Sri Hariya Japadalli Nirataru
Yelunooru Varushagala Varege!
 

Aapta Diwan Venkanna Sri Muttada
Sakala Hitaisheevalaya Bandhu Bandhavarella
Kumbhakone Madhurai Bhuvanagiriyavarella
Nerediralu Atyanta Priya Shishya 
Achchumechchina Bichali Appanacharyaru
Brindavana Praveshada Samayadali Iddilla
Madhwa Sancharake Rayaru Taave Kalisidaru
Brindavana Pravesha Nodalu Appanarindaagadu
Antaranga Tilida Bhakta Saluge Preeti Apaara
Appanaru Iralu Addipadisuvarendu Appanarige 
Darushana Kodalillavemba Koragu Rayaranu
Kaadutalittu ! Gururaya Tungeyangaladalli 
Mantralayadalli Neela Brindavanadali Nelegondaru
Kaalachakradali Bichali Appanacharya
Maru Janma Padedaru Madhavarada Baliya
Lachamari Halliyali Mantralayake 10-12 Kilometer
Antara
Madhavarake 5 Kilometer.
Brahmana Janma Hesaru Benakappa
Poorvajanmantarada Vaasana Visheshavu
Yella Vattagi Mantralaya Rayarali
Vishesha Bhakti Dina Kaledante
Yettaradi Beledu Rayaru Benakappananu 
Harasidaru Bahuvaagi
Saaladu Yembante Benakappa
Nenesalu Kareyalu Rayaru Darushana
Neediuvadu Kelidanu Pooraisivadu Jarugitu
Benakappana Lachamarige Jana Jaatre
 

Shridavithalaru Heliharu
 

Kundade Vara Mantralayadalliruva
Karedallige Baruva
Raghavendra Guru Rayara Sevisiro
Neev Soukhyadi Jeevisiro
 

Yendu Heliddu Satya Nitya!
Ee Vishaya Rayara Mathada Aagina
Peethadhipati Namma Acharya Parampareya
25 Neya Yativarya Sri Dheerendrateertharu
Keli Beragaagi Karesidaru Benakappananu
Namagoo Ishtu Rayara Darshana Maadisu Benakappa
Yenalu Benakappa Tatkshana Rayarige Kelida
Naale Belagina 3.40 ra Samayakke Snaana Aahneeka
Saluvaagi Tungabhadrege Brindavanadi
Hora Baruve Aavaaga Nodiri
Adarondu Sharattu Benakappa 
Neenu Maataadakoodadu Aadidare
Shaswatadi Nilisuve Darushanava
Aayetu Yenda Benakappa!
Aadarondu Sharattu Vidhisidaru
Benakappa Neenaaga Maatadakoodadu
Vappida Benakappa
Dheerendrateerthara  Joteyalli Kulitaru
Neela Brindavanada Munde Kaalu Gante
Munche. Hogi Kulitaro Illo Shruvayetu Nidde
Adoo Gorake Yathha Prakara Helida Samaykke
3.40 Kke Rayaru Brindavanadi Horabandu
Benakappana Nodi Nakku Horatru Nadige
Dheerendrateertharanu Yechcharisalaagadu
Rayara Vappanda Summane Rayaru Marali
Baruva Samayavanu Kaayutta Kulita Benakappa
 

Matte Snaana Aahneeka Pooraisi
4.40 Ra Belaginali Rayaru Tungabhadreyinda
Marali Benakappana Nodi Nakku
Praveshisidaru Brindavana
A Hottinali Maatilla Ateeva Kaataradi
Dheerendrateerthara Mola Kai Tiviyalu
Kanteredu Nodalu Brindavana Praveshisuva
Rayara Benna Melina Shaati Kaanisitu
Hiri Hiri Higgi Dheerendrateertharu
Benakappananu Bigidappi Nee Dhanya Nee Dhanya
Yendu Paravashadi Nudidaru
Ee VVVishaya Sri Mathada Sakalarige
Nereda Bhaktarige  Tilidu Higgi Gurugalanu
Kondaadidarandu.
Aaga Rayaru Benakappa Nee Bere Yaroo Alla
Bichali Appanacharya Lachamariyali Maru Huttu
Padediruve Brindavana Praveshada Samayadali 
Ninnannu Madhwa Sancharake Kaliside Darushana
Tappiside Adakaagi Eega Nee Kelidaaga Bandu
Darushana Kodutaliruve!
 

Ida Keli Benakappa Dangaada
Rayarainda Poorva Janma Sangati Tilidu
Benakappa Ee Modalu Bichalige Yeshto Sala
Hogiddaroo Dhaavisi Banda Bichalige
Tungabhadreyali Ilidu Shuddha Snaana Maadi
Japadakatteya Rayara Ek Shila Brindavanake 
Saashtangaveragi Bichali Sri Appanacharyara
Sri Raghavendra Gurustotravanu Bhaktiyali
Pathisi Mai Maretu Paravashanaadaaga 
Japadakatteyale GururayaPratyaksha
Benakappana Sammukhavae Nudidaru:
 

Benakappa Bichali Appanacharya
Nanna Antarangada Bhakta!
Appanara Mane Maaru
Ee Tungabhadra Dada Japadakatteya
Punya Parisaravella Nanage
Balu Preeti! Ee Paavanada Japadakatte
Sri Sripadarajaru Kulita Siddhiya Taana
Nanoo Appanacharya Illiyae Kulitu
Maatadutiddevu! Tappade Jyoti Roopadi
Nanna Sanchara Anugraha Saagide Satata!
Idella Sri Moola Ramadevara Abhimatavu
Yendu Rayaru Heli Harasidaru 
Lachamari Benakappananu
Aaga Appanacharyara Mane Nodi
Bhakti Paravashateyali Deergha Danda Namanava
Bhaktiyali Gaidu Mai Maretu Kanneru Surisutta
Lachamari Talupida Bhakta Benakappa.
Lachamariyalindu Benakappana Gudiyuntu
Pooje Aaradhane Nadedihudu
Bhaktaru Ndedukolluvarella
Illi Vandu Amshavu Spastha:
Rayara Bhaktara Yogyateye Heegiralu
Innu Rayara Hirime Mahimeyanu
Kalpanegoo Meeriddu.