Day 248 of Indian places making you smile – The holy place of Saint Raghavendra – Mantralaya
Probably 40 years ago, as a child I remember my grandfather praying loudly to Shri Raghavendra Swamiji. The picture of the Saint in the Gods room and the loud chanting of him chanting the following mantra still rings in my ears:-
Poojyaya Raaghavendraya
Satya Dharma Prachodaya,
Bhajatam Kalpavrikshaya,
Namatam Kamadhenuve.
Though I did not know much about this Madhava Saint, in 1975, as a child I was excited to actually visit the place where this famous saint Sri Raghavendra actually lived- Mantralaya. We came by train from Mumbai and got down at a station called Mantralaya road. From there in the hot afternoon heat we came by a crowded local bus to Mantralaya and managed to get what now reminds me of a very mediocre room.
Our first stop was to wash ourselves in the Thungabhadra river. This was a thrilling experience for a child – to actually bathe in a river. We first went to the Machalamma temple who is the presiding diety of the village. But the main attraction was to visit the main Shri Raaghavendra Swamy Mutt where the Swamiji is said to be residing for 700 years. We went around his Samadhi with faith and humility. Lakhs of devotees come to this Vrindavan and I was amazed at the intense devotion visible in the place. Devotees were rolling on the floor around the temple, or taking baby steps around, or prostrating after every step as they went around the temple in complete faith in the Swamij. He is said to fulfill the wishes of his numerous devotees, my uncle even named his son Raghavendra after being blessed with a baby boy!
We sat on the floor to get the free lunch organized by the Mutt Officials. As a small 12 year child, this seemed quite an ordeal for me giving the unhygienic conditions and the profusely sweating servers. The intense heat of the summer tired us even more and we kids were waiting to get back to the comfort of our rooms. And dad suddenly realized that someone had stolen his new slippers. As it was impossible to walk barefoot on the scorching road, he asked for Gods forgiveness as he also ‘borrowed’ someone else’s slippers to walk back to the hotel room. And guess what – when we returned for the night ‘aarathi’, Dad found his own old slippers outside the temple doors.
All was well that ends well. With the blessings of Swamiji, there are many more miracles that will happen in everybody’s life and Mantralaya is the place to visit to get a taste of this spiritual energy.
So which Indian place made you smile today?
Please share your experience of Indian places that made you smile
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