Mantralaya-261

Background

DeepaSamyoJaanaatGnyanamPutraLaabhoBhavetDhruvam
ParaVaadiJayoDivyaGnyana Bhaktaadi Vardhanam

By keeping Deepa before the sacred Brindavana of Rayaru, we will acquire knowledge, Santaana Bhaagya. In dbate Vaada we will be victorious and our Divya Gnyana Bhakti will increase enormously by the Blessings of Mantralaya Rayaru.So in Mantralaya and Bichali this Deepotsava has got its own sanctity and importance.
 

As  we say to our Sri Vijayadasaru :

AgnyanaTimiraChechedam Buddhi Sampat Pradaayakam
Vignyam Vimalam Shantam Vijayakhya Gurum Bhaje
 

When we take the name of Sri Vijayadasaru and  pray to Sri Vijayadasru the darkness of illiteracy, ignorance will simply be cut down and we will acquire good knowledge, special knowledge, purity and peace. In the same way, the jyoti of Deepavali Deepotsava   will destroy poverty, infuse prosperity, wealth,peace and happiness.
 

Sri Raghavendrateertharu's kind concern to the famine affected people of Tanjore and the measures taken by the divine pontiff are described in detail in Mantralaya(261).
 

Meaning

As our Bichali Sri Appanacharyaru has said at the concluding:

Poojyaaya Raghavendraya Satya Dharma Rataayacha
Bhajataam Kalpavrukshaaya Namataam Kamadhenuve

Rayaru a very able and noble personality always respected and worshipped by the satvikas, as Rayaru is always indulged in Satya and Dharma. Very dear to Sri Hari decided to complete the Yaaga as per the Vedokta in five ways.So large number of satvikas gathered to witness the sacred yagnya in the palace of the Tanjore.Mantralaya Sri Yatiraat took the lead of this great task praying to Sri Hari.Sri Narahari,Rama  Krishna,Sri Vedavyas,Sri Vayudevaru and all the divine yatis.

As already said Yaaga by five phases to please the omniscient and omnipotent Sri Rayaru:
(1) JAPA
(2) HOMA
(3) TARPANA
(4) MAARJAN
(5) BHOJANA
 

This is the actual proceedure of Yaaga.JAPA to chant the Mantras , Naamochchaarana of Sri Hari,Tatvabhimani gods as per  the prescribed specifications and norms.  HOMA through Agni Yaaga we have to chant one tenth of Mantras and offer the JAPA through ,rice, til,havissu,Darbhaa, Tulasi Kaashtha, Ashwath Kaashtha. TARPANA the meaning is offering of water with affection to God to accept our offerings. MAARJANA the holy water filled and placed at the time of Punyaahavaachana is to sprinkled to all to purify and attain sanctity.Then BHOJANA, after the Naivedya of Sri Hari, Vayshwadeva and Hastodaka to the divine yatis.

Yati Hastae Jalam Dadyaat Dadyaat Sarvawsa Bhunjatae
Yatra Yati Bhunjatae Harihi Tatra Bhunjatae

What ever we offer with affection to Yatis holding the glass of water in our hand and pouring through the tips with the five fingers, Yatis accept gladly. The acceptance of Yatis will make Sri Hari to accept the entire offerings of Naivedya. So devotees there is a great importance and value for Hastodaka. Then we  have to take the meals  after Naivedya and Hastodaka along with all the staff involved in Yaaga and also the satvikas and the astvikas. This is BHOJANA. When it is performed like this we are sure of acquiring punya siddhi and purnaphala.

In this manner in Tanjore continuosly for a period of one month Sri Raghavendrateertharu performed with great devotion.Today we feel that those who witnessed that holy Yaaga they were really punyavantaru. All the Gods were pleased with great satisfaction, the Tatvabhimani Gods, Panchabhoota became extremely happy including our Saptarshi and Ashwini Devatas. The joy of Sri Varuna deva knew no bonds! Timely incessant pleasing rains showered in Tanjore. Mother Earth was too thirsty. She was contented and all the wells, tanks were filled. Streams and rivers flowed fully. Kaveri flowed completely touching both the banks. Agriculturists, farmers happily went to their fields and engaged in their agriculture. Crops yielded in the best desired manner. Timely abundant crops resulted in Samruddhi  Vruddhi and the Siddhi of our divine pontiff the seventeenth pontiff of our Sri Mahwacharya peetha of Vidya Mutt - Rayara Mutt through the bhakti and the efforts of Rayaru. Rayaru magnanimously distributed punya of Sri Hari Vaydevaru to the entire people of Tanjore.

All the rituals followed by Sri Raghavendrateertharu during Japa,Homa,Tarpana,Maarjana and Bhojana.Sri Annapurneshwari, Ashtalaksmi highly pleased and Blessed Tanjore,expressed satisfaction towards the divine act undertaken by Rayaru. So we call Rayaru as Kodugai Daani.Kalpavruksha and Kamadhenu. The whole kingdom of Tanjore bent with gratitude in praise of Gururayaru, said nothing but God in the form of Sri Raghavendrateertharu from Kumbhakonam.

So our Bichali Sri Appanacharyaru has rightly said in the world famous Sri Raghavendra Gurustotra:

AparoksheeKrutaShreeshahaSamupakshitaBhaavajaha
ApekshitaPradaataanyo Raghavendraan Na Vidyatae

Aparokshagnyani Gururayaru has attained the complete Anugraha of Sri Hari and Rayaru is second to none to bestow the desired things to the devotees of the world.Satvika,kindhearted Sri Raghavendrateertharu is a great Boon to Manukula.
 
 
 

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