Pilgrimage to
Manthralayam
PRESENT-today
i , along with my wife and sister,
with the blessings of LORD RAGAHVENDRA visited MANTHRALAYM on 17th
and 18th of last month. First credits and thanks to my colleague Mr
NATARAJAN AND HIS WIFE REVATHY NATARJAN, who literally ensured the smooth pilgrimage by referring us to a right person
to accompany us.
It was a trip which we were planning
for quite some time and which materialized only now.LAST time we made the trip, DURING Mach 2010 when my son and daughter
accompanied us.
Since then quite a few important
events had taken place and it was as a
mark of respect and thanks giving and more particularly to fulfill the wishes
of my sister (whom we could not take along with us in our last trip due to havoc created by the fury of flood at
River Thungabadra which necessitated a long circuitous strainful route ) .
MANTHRALAYAM it self was badly affected then due to one of the worst floods
in recent history and we could literally see the extent of damage .The positive
fall out then was that River Thunga badra
was a sight to be seen to be believed with its fresh stream of water
running in a smooth manner making one to wonder where all ITS fury had gone .Compared
to our last visit when i had the fortune of completing my 48 day POOJA with a holy dip in river Tungabhadra, this
time the river bed was dry and lots of
sand dunes were there indicating the possible impact of summer in few months to come. But the temple and its
adjoining areas had all been reconstructed to give the same old divine look and Lord Raghavendra thru his disciples
had ensured that the town is back to its holy origin and surroundings.
ON GURU
RAGHAVENDRA
Śrī Rāghavēndra Svami (1595–1671
CE), born Venkanna Bhatta, was a renowned Hindu saint, philosopher and proponent of Dvaita philosophy proposed by Sri Madhvacharya. He served as the head of the matha in Kumbakonam from 1624 to 1636. His Brindavan in Mantralayam in the present-day Andhra Pradesh is an important place of pilgrimage. The numerous miracles he
performed have led to him being worshipped even today as a Guru and he is believed to be the saviour for those who placed faith
in him. He is the avathar of Prahlada, who is famous as one of the best bhaktas of Lord Narayana.
Past -YESTERDAY
Time runs fast and the description of yesterday today and
tomorrow becomes really difficult and
confusing. To me yesterday appeared to be
the day when my wife gave birth to a male baby who was later christened
as Raghvendar alias Prasanna alias SRINIVAS.(Official name).
To me yester day appears to be the day(in the year 1987-88) when
my son took his first step to walk (after all most 3 years when we were all
praying for him to walk like any other children of his age )on the pavement of
Shrines of lord Raghavendra’s abode in Manthralayam notwithstanding the blazing sun’s rays which
made the pavement to look like an oven
Today every time when he walks he walks as if he is to win a marathon!!
To me yesterday appears to be the day when I went to visit a
unit at KURNOOL from Hyderabad from
went I took a momentous decision to go and have the glimpse of Guru Raghavendra
in 2007.
To me yesterday appears to be the day in Jan 2008 when me and my
wife along with a collegue of mine and his wife visited the abode of Sri
Ragahvendra to participate in Margazhi pooja.
To me yesterday appears to be the day (in Oct 2008 ) when we went to RAICHUR to witness our
daughter dawning the role of customer
relationship manager in ICICI making us to enjoy her professionalism as a
banker, from where we proceeded to MANTHRALAYAM to pay our tributes to lord. .
To me yesterday appears to be the day when we went last in MARCH
2010 thru roads that had been devasted by floods showing a grim picture of
poverty, and nature’s fury. Still we enjoyed the trip as we were all together
after all most 3 years and every minute spent was priceless despite the strain,
dust, heat and other difficulties encountered in reaching our destination. We
prayed then for good to all, affection and love to remain for ever and a great
physical/mental frame to go forward in our respective pursuits.
Between yesterday and
today ,in the span of three years Sri Ragahavendra blessed my son with his first Phd from FIL Hyderabad , paved him the way
to his next PhD from Hongkong Baptist University, KOWLOON TONG,(which is about
to culminate in reality in few months from now with HIS blessings and my son’s
hard efforts )blessed my daughter with a marriage to her like and a son as
energetic as a sun, blessed me with a second innings career of my choice and
passion , brought the sufferings of my elder brother to an end by taking him to HIS abode,
.enabled me to successfully resolve some long pending issues on property front
and by and large enabled a smooth transition across all walks of life bringing
health and harmony in the process to my Home maker, my beloved wife too.
Today
We reached by Mumbai mail at 11.30 am on 17/2/2014( after some
initial hiccups w.r.t reservations which got confirmed only at the last minute
just providing us basic comfort that an RAC can offer ).Sri PADMANABHAN who was
introduced to us by MR PSN /Mrs PSN took care from the first time we met each
other in platform no 1 at central.So unassuming that he was that we were
surprised to see his influence and reach at MANTHRALAYM later where he was
identified by all and sundry and was respected and regarded by one and all. This
enabled me to just describe him what I wanted, where I wanted to go and what
dharshan I wanted to attend with out fail and then enabled me to relax at
peace keeping my entire attention and energy inside focused on Guru
Raghavendra,
Our rooms have been booked in the new spacious premises that had
sprung up just behind the Manthralyam temple to which we reached thru a van at
about 12 noon. After having a quick bath we rushed in time to have the dharshan
of GURU at half past twelve .We moved from there to have a great prasdam served
as an wonderful lunch.We returned after lunch at 2.30 pm and after a nap of
half an hour again got ready to visit the Pancha mugha anjaneyar .We returned
from there at about 6 pm and after having a good cup of coffee/tea (for my wife
and sister) rushed for the second dharshan of Lord .I had requested for special
seva of Lord on the golden chariot and lord in Oonjal which followed one after
another and we were fortunate and privileged to participate in those sevas. All
thru our prayers centered around all those who were experiencing various
problems and difficulties in their various pursuits and we prayed for Guru’s
blessings to steer them thru .It also so happened that my son’s birth star was
falling due and we performed the sangalpam for all with his name taking
priority over the rest.
By the time seva ended it was already 9 pm and the cool breeze
from the still left out remains of the waters from Thungabadra and the beautiful moon shining thru a clear sky gave
the right back ground to walk thru to a near by hotel to satisfy our appetite
which had started surging up after hat great dharshan.
We retired to bed at about 10pm and rose early next morning to
participate in the Abhishekam of lord
Raghavendra and Lord Anjaneya which took place simultaneously. We went on a
shopping spree with an eye on items which would be appealing to my grand sonand
came back at 11 to travel back to MANTHRALYAM ROAD .Here we visited the ancient
abode of Guru raghavendra where we had
fortune of participating in ucchi kala poja followed by another Luncheon
prsadam.
We reached station at quarter to three boarded the train which
all most came in time and reached Chennai in the early hours on 19th.and
reached home at 6 am.
A journey fulfilling a long awaited prayer to all our
satisfaction!
TOMORROW ; 
Yesterday the seed was sown.today the tree had grown.Tomorrow
the fruits will be borne!
.HIS blessings continue throughout our journey and HE knows when
to bless us with what and the prayers for tomorrow is to see my son coming back
in glory after completing his PhD from HK BAPTIST UNIVERSITY , SEE HIM SETTLED
IN EMPLOYMENT AND in LIFE AND TO SEE MY DAUGHTER’S ASPIRATIONS IN LIFE BE
FULFILLED.
Prayers for all friends and relatives to sail thru in their life
smoothly.
SARVO JANA SUGINO BAHVANTHU –WORDS WHICH MY SON UTTERED WHEN HE
TOOK PART IN HIS FIRST SCHOOL COMPETITION WHEN HE WAS HARDLY 4 YEARS OLD:And
this post marks the birth day of my son (9th march) and all
blessings of Lord Raghavendra , OUR OWN PRAYERS AND BLESSINGS and those of our
ancestors be showered on him i
In abundance!!
In abundance!!
