Mantralaya-271

Background

Meaning

BhaktyavaktiSusampadamShubhapadamDeerghaayurarogyakam
KeertimPutraKalatraBaandhavaSuhrunmurtyihiPrayaatiDhruvamMangalam.

After the uddhara of a Brahmin in Tirunelliveli by Shankhodaka  and delighted by the Darshana of Sri Vibudhendrateerthara Brindavana, the eleventh pontiff of Sri SriMadacharya peetha and the pioneer of Rayara Mutt, Rayaru decided to go to Madhurai, the temple town which is situated on the bank of the  sacred river of Krutamaalika. The way in which Rayaru  was welcomed with pomp and grandeur  by the king Tirumalaraja are described here to the devotees of the world. The poorvashrama nephew of our Sri Raghavendrateertharu  and the author of Sri RaghavendraVijaya, Sri Pandita Narayanacharyaru has described all this we feel while reading as though the whole thing is taking place  now before our eyes.  We are lucky and fortunate to have the book SRI RAGHAVENDRA VIJAYA.

For our Mantralaya series the main source is only that book of all times. In those days in Madhurai Shaiva Neelakantha Dixit was very powerful. He was the grandson of the world famous Pandit,philosopher,vedanti,poet and poetics Sri AppayyaDixit. Once this great scholar desired to have debate and discussion with Sri Vijayeendrateertharu in  Kumbhakonam regarding Dwaita and Adwaita. During the debate though AppayyaDixit was defeated, Sri Vijayeendrateertharu praised whole heartedly for the style and the various quotations he quoted. Called AppayyaDixit and embraced with love and affection. Though defeated presented the valuable  gift hampers, shawls etc. and honored in the  most decent manner with warm affection.

This was the cordial relationship between Sri Vijayeendrateertharu and Sri AppayyaDixitaru and became near and dear to our Parama Guru Sri Vijayeendrateertharu. NeelakanthaDixit Aaraadhaka of Sri Saraswati knew all this and was highly concerned and regarded Sri Vijayeendra -  Sri Sudheendra -  Sri Raghavendra. Our Bichali Sri Appanacharyaru has said in Sri Raghavendra Gurustotra:

SarvaSwatantroSouSri MadhwaMataVardhanaha
VijayeendraKaraabjothaSudheendraVaraPutrakaha

When such a great divine chetana is arriving to Madhurai the people thought that their punya will be increased by leaps and bounds, they were fully aware how Gururaya did a Miracle in Tanjore and Blessed Samruddhi. So Tirumalaraja, citizens, pandits,satvikas, astikas and the devotees were eagerly awaiting to receive Sri Raghavendrateertharu. Where Rayaru stepped welcomed with honour and regard with all pomp and grandeur.Arranged big processions.

As per the schedule Sri Raghavendrateertharu arrived Madhurai the temple town along with the paraphernalia of the SriMutt.The joy and the happiness of the king Tirumalaraja knew no bonds.  Took the lead in welcoming the divine saint  with  his entire staff,the pandits,scholars, the sajjanas welcomed Rayaru  with  POORNAKUMBHA - VEDAGHOSHA - VAADYAMELA - BHAKTIGEETA. Thus the king enhanced his punya at the time of welcoming Sri RaghavendraGurusarvabhouma We are really amazed to know that Sri Neelakantha Dixit was highly impressed to see the  divine personality of Rayaru. Simply gave his heart  and regarded a lot.

It is quite heartening to know that during Sri Prahladarajara Avatara Rayaru was fortunate to have the Saakshaat Darshana of Sri Narahari - Narasimhadevaru - Sri Hari and highly enlightened and Blessed by Narayana. The greatness of Rayaru is very clear that though Rayaru is in Yati Janma Yati Vesha even then  got  the grandeur of RAJAVAIBHAVA.

During the days of Mahabharata Rayaru was Baahleekarajaru. A great Sri Krishna Bhakta, but circumstances made him to join the Kouravas and fight against Pandavas. At that time desired the end of his life by Sri Bheemasenadevaru. At that time Baahleekaraja  requested the Lord Krishna to sit in the golden chariot - Bangaara Ratha and made a big procession of Sri Hari. Sri Hari was  highly pleased for the politeness and bhakti. Sri Hari now today every day has arranged Suvarna Rathotsava to Sri Raghavendrateertharu in Mantralaya situated o the sacred bank of Tungabhadra.We are fortunate to witness Suvarna Rathotsava and the Bangaara Ratha Yoga of Mantralaya Rayaru. Whatever the devotees offer to Rayaru, Rayaru immediately offers the whole thing to Sri Hari. We have no words to describe the magnanimity and the gratitude of Rayaru. We can say that  with all these divine qualities Rayaru is second none in the whole universe .

King Tirumalaraja welcomed Rayaru with great devotion and made all the elaborate  arrangements in the SARASWATIMANDIR in Madhurai. Squatted before Rayaru. A great bliss, a great power shined in Madhurai owing to the arrival of Sri Raghavendraru. The whole public was simply floating in the divine panorama.Rayaru SUHRUNMURTY   grasped the whole thing immediately and Blessed Madhurai.

Our Bichali Sri Appanacharyaru has said in the phalastuti of Sri Raghavendra  Mangalashtaka:
 

Bhaktyaavakti Susampadam Shubhapadam
DeerghaayuraarogyakamKeertimPutraKalatra
BaandhavaSuhrunMurtyihiPrayaatiDhruvam.

MANGALAM.
 
 

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