Mantralaya-251

Background

Meaning

Sri Hari sarvottama
Sri Vayujeevottama
            And
The Mahima of Sri ManNarayana

Sri Hari made Shankukarna to take birth in the womb of Kayaadhu as Prahlada. Devotees are already fully aware that Sri Mantralaya Sri Raghavendrateertharu is the avataara of Prahlada -Bahleeka - Vyasaraja, took the Prahlada avataara to Hirannyakashyapu and Kayaadhu as per the sankalpa of Sri Hari and  the blessings Sri Hari - SriManNarayana. Prahalada was a born devotee of Sri Hari.

Daityakula Hirannyakashyapu hated Sri Hari and looked that no body should worship, nor to take the name of Sri Hari. Stopped all the Sri Hari kathha, Haripooja, Harinaama Sankeertana in his kingdom and warned the young Prahlada not to take the name of Sri Hari even in the dream. Called the teacher of Gurukula and strictly warned him that Prahlada should be brought up,advised and inculcated in such a way, that Prahlada should not take the name of Sri Hari and completely forget about Narayana. But as the days passed on Prahlada became an ardent devotee as he was a born Sri Narayana bhakta was always in the realm of divine power of Sri Hari, immersed in bhakti, worshipped lonely, Ekanta bhakta. Though the teacher tried to teach the other things he learnt only Sri Hari paaramya  - Sri Harisarvottama. One day Hirannyakashyapu called his son Prahlada, with all affection  loved,  took him on his  lap and slowly asked his son. What you have learnt  in all these days? Dad I learnt Sri Hari bhakti,Narayana is the omniscient and omnipotent, sarvatantra swatantra, all in all. Without Sri Hari there is nothing in this world. Hirannyakashyapu frowned at Prahlada with anger and immediately dropped him on the floor from his lap. Called his cruel servants and ordered that put him in a dungeon where poisonous serpents are there. By hearing this Prahlada was not all afraid, he made up in his mind that when Sri Hari is there to protect, Why he  should afraid? So with smile he followed with Sri Hari Sankeertana. The cruel servants pushed him in the dungeon and closed the door and went away. Mother Kayaadhu was in grief. She believed that the venomous serpents will kill her Prahlada. There Prahlada comfortably sat on padmaasana and forgot himself in the japa of Sri Hari. The hungry  serpents were highly venomous, though they moved towards Prahlada but did not bite nor caused any uneasiness to Prahalada. After  four hours Hirannyakshyapu asked his servants to bring the body of Prahlada for cremation. They opened the door and were surprised to see Prahlada. Prahlada was in chanting Sri Hari Om and was quite comfortable.

Now as our Sri Hari  Dasas have said:

Hari Smarane Maado Nirantara.

Prahlada continued his prayer even in dungeon, though the death was very near in the form of deadly poisonous serpents. Without any fear constantly remembered and praised Sri Hari. The safe arrival of Prahlada made Kayaadhu happy and cheerful, that her son is not an ordinary man, the kaalasarpas have done nothing to him. She embraced her son Prahlada with affection and proud.
 

Dear world devotees even after several years and Janmas Sri Rayaru had not forgotten the good act of serpents in that dungeon. That day the serpents did not bite, protected. Sri Raghavendrateertharu   remembered that historic incident. While staying in Bichali in the house of Sri Appanacharya before entering Brindavana, daily called Sheshadevaru with devotion after the pooja of Sri MoolaRamadevaru and offered milk in the golden harivaana(big round plate with border). Sheshadevaru daily came, drank and went away in the snake bill which was in the back yard of Appanacharya's house. This continued for several years. Rayaru satisfied by offering milk to sheshadevaru. We are really amazed to see the gratitude of Mantralaya Rayaru. During Prahlada avataara the act of serpents in the dungeon is always remembered and expressed gratitude in this form. As a mark of this historic incident  today though the serpents are abundant in Bichali at the  Japadakatti,they never appear and frighten the devotees. Devotees come here to  perform Naagapratishthaapana and also Deepa, chanting:
 

DeepaSamyojanaatgnyanamputralaabhobhavetdhruvam

Mantralaya Rayaru has given a unique place to our :

Sri Sheshadevaru
Sri Garudadevaru
Sri Rudradevaru.

Let us chant happily the line of Sri Appanacharya's stotra:

TavaSankeertanamVedaShasthaarthaGnyanaSiddhayae.

We will attain all the knowledge of Vedas and Shastras by the Sankeertana of our kind Gururayaru.
 
 

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