Rayaru at Tirumala

He then proceeds to digvijaya yatre. He halts in a place called Aalooru. That night he is busy writing sacred books and completes '" THATVA  PRAKASHIKA  BHAVA DEEPIKA. Late in the night one of the sishyas tells Him that it is past midnight and should rest for the day as they have to go a long way next morning. He says He is not tired and sleepy while scripting the books praising the Lord. However to enable the sishyas to rest He agrees to call it a day.( Sishyas do not go to bed unless Guru retires.) That night SRI TEEKACHARYARU ( JAYATHIRTHARU ), comes in his dream and tells Him that he has to script lot more books and has no time to rest. Sri Teekacharyaru is known for his articles explaining most of the books by Srimad Acharyaru. One book of Acharyaru, he has not written the teeke and  left it for Sri Raghvendra is ANU BHASHYA. He tells him that he has to script this, which Rayaru writes. He completes and calls it ANUBHASHYA TEEKE. He also writes THATHVAMANJARI. ( in total He has written 42 books )

He then proceeds to Sri Shaila and then to Thirupathi. At Thirupathi he does pooja to Lord Venkateshwara. The archakas in that temple says that they have experienced a rare glamour when He performed pooja which they had naver seen before. They say Lord is pleased to accept the pooja from Rayaru and requests Him to continue pooja for some more days as per Dwaitha rituals. One day after pooja Rayaru plays veena in the Gharba gudi. To every ones surprise all of a sudden the flower garland on Lord Venkateshwara is found on Rayaru. He says Lord has accepted His pooja and offered him with the garland.

From there he proceeds to Kumbakonam. 

For general information, Sri Madwacharyaru has written 37 books. They are called SARVAMOOLA GRANTHAGALU.

Plight of Kumbakonam

On the other side, the rulers of states sorrounding kubakonam are getting ready to attack the ruler of kubakonam since the prince of kubakonam is not oerforming his duties to the people of that state. His mother and the minister are followers of Gurugalu. They approach Him to save the state of Kumbakonam from being attacked. Gururaja appears in the dream of the rulers and tells them not to attack kumbakonam and that the minister will approach them for peace. Likewise the minister approaches the kings next morning. This surprises all the kings.

Story of the Greedy Priest

Another story: The wife of a priest is greedy about a gold chain on the deity. She somehow wants this. She steals this one night and later on suffers to her misdeeds and looses her speech, husband loses his job and son is severely sick. Ultimately she rushes to Gurugalu who saves her and her family. 

One brhamana (visihtadvaitha) by name Ranganatha and his wife are living happily in their village. One night Lord Vishnu comes in his dream and tells him to donate to the people of the village lberally. From that day onwards he starts donating whatever he had to the locals. His wife also co operates with him. Once when all things are exhausted and has nothing to donate, they decide to leave the village early next morning before anybody approaches them for rheir needs. That night Lord once again comes i his dream and tells him to continue to donate. Since he has no more left with him he is told by Lord that next day morning a bikshuka will come to their house. Hold his hand and take him inside your house and then he will have enough cash to start donating.

As told by Lord in his dream a sanyasi comes to his house in the morning. He holds the sanyasees hand and he immedaitely vanishes leaving behind heaps of gold and silver coins. Once they are rich with the coins, they change their mind. Instead of donating they decide to retain the wealth to their needs and refuses to people who come to them. To teach them a lesson, Lord sees to it that the riches are stolen from them that night. When they get up next morning and comes to know that it is missing, they decide to leave the village in search of some food and shelter. They keep walking but are unable to find food and shelter. Ranganatha is exhausted and collapses. Wife is desperate and helpless. She cant even find some water to feed him. At this point of time Gurugalu is on his way to Bijapur comes across this couple. By his Divyadarshan he can see what all had happened to this couple and the reason for the misery.

Rayaru explains to the wife the reason. They did not obey Lords orders to continue giving arms to the needy and that they were greedy to have all the wealth to themselves. However for the daana they had already given, Lord will pardon them due to their prayaschitha. The wife then agrees to lead a life akin to brahman, to live and let live and would continue to donate to the needy. 

He then asks for water but his followers say that the water is exhausted and there is no water nearby. He chants a sloka and from the rocks comes a fountain of water. Sprinkling of this water Ranganatha wakes up, and comes to know that none other than Sri Raghavendra Swamigalu gave him a rebirth. He then decides to go back to his house and lead a good life and requests Rayaru to go to his house for his seva. That night after every one is asleep the stolen coins are back into the same place and seeing that the wealth is back Rayaru and his team leaves the place without informing  Ranganatha and his wife. The couple is surprised in the morning seeing the coins but repents they could not do any seva to Gurugalu.

Later Swamigalu enters Bijapur then ruled by Shivaji. He comes to know about this. Shivaji performs Pada pooja to yathigalu and takes a vow that he will gaurd the Mysore state and that all religions live in harmony.

Miracles Galore

Next Sudhindra Thirtharu asks Rayaru to go to Ramachandrapura for a visit. On his way he is approached by parents of a young boy who is no more. They pleads Rayaru to bring him back to life. From his doora drushti Rayaru comes to know that the boy has lost his life since he steps on to a lemon thrown on a road. He sprinkles holy water and the boy wakes up.

On their way again to Ramachndrapura, they come across a village. A farmer ploughing the field, asks the troop to have tender coconut in his field and asks them to go over to his farm house. The two Yathis tells the team members to accept the invitation of the farmer. When they go a few steps the farmer turns around and abuses the team. Says "who asked you to follow me. cant afford to feed you all. go back" So the team goes back. Farmer follows and when he comes near a particular place he again requests the team to go with him. This repeats for some time and the members refuse to go and tells Gurugalu that he is a mad fellow. To this Sri Sudheendra thirtharu tells that he is not mad but the sthala mahime. He asks his followers to dig out the spot where he was speaking kindly to them. On digging they find  a stone carving of HANUMANTHA VIGRAHA. Gurugalu says it is the work of Sri Vyasarajaru and decides to install it in the same place. 

In the same village there is a guy who does not believe in God and bothers all those who perform poojas and homas. All the brhamins in the village are afraid of him. This guys comes to know that one saint has come to this village and that he intends to install the Hanumantha Vigraha and build a temple. To this he objects to and one night goes to the place where the idol was kept. He is fully drunk and abuses the idol and tries to drop a huge boulder on the vigraha. As he is about to drop the boulder he is hit on his back heavily, but is unable to see any one. He repeats this over and over again but in the end ends up in getting beaten up. Next day he goes to meet the Saint and starts arguing with him. But in the end he admits his misdeeds and becomes a follower of Raghvendra Swamigalu.

One more incident takes place enroute His visit to Ramachandrapura. Padmanabha achar, who was forcing that young woman to jump into the funeral pyre of her aged husband, to gulp the huge assets of the old man, is now suffering from leprosy and other incurable diceases. Gurugalu comes across him and tells him that he has to suffer this ailment till he comes across that lady and she will have to excuse him. Meanwhile he sprinkles holy water so that he will not suffer from pain .Gurugalu then proceed to Ramachandrapura.

Sudheendra Thirtharu sees Sri Moola Ramachandra in his sleep, one night and has a conversation with Him.

Rayaru's wife dies

Unable to bear the news that her hubby became a saint, V's wife falls into a well and commits suicide. Her tormented soul though still lingers with Gurugalu. He blesses it and it finally reaches its logical end.


The three oldies including that madi hengasu were struggling in their old age at V's forefather's hermitage, due to disrespect they gave to venkatanatha and his father. However on humanity grounds Gurugalu gives them mukthi by sprikling holy water, and later all three dies. This is another pavada He made. Because of this the other fake achar tries to defame Gurugalu by Kuthanthras.

That fake achar,took to vamachara and goes to a thantrik to take revenge on Rayaru. He takes help of the thanthrik to create a demon to suck Rayarus blood and thereby finish him off. That lady demon is after Rayaru but cannot even come near Rayaru. Makes lot off efforts but fails. It then turns to this fake achar and goes after him to suck his blood. Finally he rushes to Rayaru and requests him to ward off this devil, for which Rayaru agrees to save him. Pashchathapa saves him and the lady devil goes back to the thanthrik. Thar fake achar realises his mistake and becomes Rayaru's disciple.

Venkatanaatha Becomes Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy

When V visits ST, ST informs that DL's visit was to make him reject Life and it's desires. His (V) true purpose is to become a sanyasi (saint). With that in mind, V is made to perform funeral rites by dipping in Tungabhadra river for his own self and transform into Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy.

Venkatanatha taking a dip in Thungabadra river after performing his own funeral rights. Removal of yagnopavithra, discarding his clothes and changing over to Sanyasins dress and taking the Danda from senior gurugalu. Sri Sudheendratheertharu gave deeksha by pronouncing the upadesha manthra after performing pooja to Sri Madwaru. Sprinkling of Gagodhaka from Shanka. Sri Sudheendratheertharu also performs abhisheka with gurugalu holding a plateover his head in which is placed Moola Rama vigraha chanting vedic mantras and advising him to bring fame to Yahi varendaru of Sri Rayar Mutt and pronounces him as next Peethadhipathi and hold dignity of the parampare. 

Daridra Lakshmi Leaves

Disaster after disaster continues in V's house. Fresh flowers turn pale. Cows start to disappear. Land becomes barren. Very soon, there is no food in the house. Despite this, when farmers from neighboring districts come, V gives the stocked up savings away. Servants and maids in V's house go away for greener pastures. V, his wife and his son all suffer from hunger.

DL had informed V that she will go away when his wife goes to ST for help. Despite knowing this, he forbids his wife to go to ST although she suggests this. More sufferings.



Looks like finally V's wife went to ST to seek help anyways. DL would have left V alone then. 

Daridra Lakshmi Visits Venkatanaatha

‘Daridra Lakshmi’ (poor version of Goddess Lakshmi) visits Gopala (Lord Krishna playing about Earth as a boy) and asks what her next task is. Krishna asks her to go to V’s house. He also advises Her to seek permission from V and his Guru before going about Her task.

So when V is sleeping, DL aka Alakshmi visits V and asks his permission to go about Her task. V is mildly shocked and asks why she had to spray her doings in his house where all good deeds were going on. DL informs that she is just doing Her duty and that she was asked by the Lord Himself. Apparently making V poor and destroying his life will lead to a future good (Loka Kalyana). V says why permission but DL informs that since he is so strong in his chants and prayers and his good deeds that DL will not be able to survive without actually seeking V’s permission. So She needs his help to stay and make him poor, plainly because it is now his turn and that the Lord Himself desires so. V gives her permission.

Up in Lord’s Abode, Padmavathi is shocked to see DL visiting V and complains to Lord Venkateshwara about it but Lord informs that it is all part of pre-planned plot. He says that it is necessary for V to get rid of ‘Me’ and ‘Mine’ (naanu and nannadhu in Kannada) and for this to happen, DL had to visit V. Only then can V come out of the vicious cycle of Life and Death and Livelihood (samsaara in Kannada).

DL also visits ST. ST is shocked to see DL and asks what the visit is attributed for? DL says that she wishes to visit one of ST’s disciples. ST asks in what way can he stop Her from visiting for She has more powers than him. But She informs that although DL is an instance of Goddess Lakshmi who stays near Lord Vishnu, seers like ST are an instance of Lord Vishnu Himself and hence ST does have more power than her, and hence it is necessaray for Her to take permission from him. But why my disciple, asks ST. DL informs again that it is for the greater future good that she has to visit V. ST is sad that V has to suffer but his hands are tied. Specifically, DL informs that ST should act as if nothing is wrong and should not grace V with any helping aid during the ensuing days of V’s distress. ST agrees subdued.

Next day, in V’s house, as Mangalamma is carrying a pail of water, she collides with her hubby who is hitching a plot to steal the silver plate, and the pail of water spills all over the floor. V looks at the invisible DL and resigns to his Fate.

What an honor that the Goddess Herself has to take permission to cause trouble to one of her own creation!!

Sudheendra Theertha's Nephew Asks For Sanyaasathva

Much is happening at ST’s ashram. The new comer Mukundacharya (same person who had taken the gandha from V and given to the appliers) (who joined ashram after the miracle that V performed) and the ill-minded Achyuthacharya are at loggerheads. M teaches A a few lessons and soon shows that A is not so well versed that A thinks he is. Meanwhile, ST’s nephew continues to ask for sanyaasathva but ST denies him although the nephew knows all.

Venkatanaatha's generosity

V’s relatives try to dissuade V to stop running the vidya peeta but V pursues. V’s brother-in-law gets Srinivasacharya and his wife to assist V in day to day tasks. Mangalamma thinks her presence is no longer required but V and his wife say no but that they need additional help.

Once on the way, V and his wife and son sit in the same tree where V had taught the three ghosts a lesson. It all comes back to him about what he had told the ghosts (God had entered his soul then) but he thinks it is a dream.

V’s neighbour falls ill.The neighbour has a number of children and they are in poverty. So V’s wife gives milk to them all. Similarly, a few farmers from neighbouring village come to V’s house because of extreme hunger. V gives them all food and grains. V’s generosity is present for one and all.

Gopika Dies

V begets a son. No one trusts Mangalamma who is now taking care of the children in the absence of V’s wife who has gone to her mom’s house for giving birth to her son. Son is named Lakshmi Narayana. ST asks VT to see ‘The Great Person’ which VT had hinted will come to ST. V’s mom is becoming old. Her sole joy is to be with her grandson Lakshmi Narayana. So V’s wife comes home but finally V’s mom dies. However, just before she dies, she sees the past lives of Venkatanaatha – Shanku Karna, Prahallad, Bahalik King, Vyaasaraja Swamy. She is shocked when she sees his past lives and then she breathes last. There is much grief all around.

Happenings...

Meanwhile AT tries to steal ST’s nephew’s works but gets caught and is ashamed. ST’s nephew forgives him.
Meanwhile Thanjavur king honors ST and sings a song to him. It is borne upon the king that his neighbours are planning a war against him. So he asks army to get ready.
Meanwhile V saves a kid which has fallen own inside a well in a haunted house.

Mangalamma Tries To Poison The Children

Meanwhile, V’s wife becomes pregnant and there is happiness everywhere except Mangala (neighbour) who is jealous. She tries to convince everyone around her that V’s family is bad but is unsuccessful. She wishes harm to V’s family and hence poisons their milk hoping it will be given to the vidyapeeta children thus causing death and wholesome grief. But V’s wife accidentally slips the milk and it pours onto the floor except leaving only a few drops which she gives to Mangala who had asked for it earlier. Mangala unsuspecting that this milk is the same milk she had poisoned, drinks and suffers. V realizes that it is poison and saves her somehow. Mangala is ashamed and repents her action. Although she transforms herself, no one believes her.

Lord Krishna visits Venkatanaatha

Meanwhile the vidya peeta at Kaveripatnam grows and more and more children in surrounding towns start joining the vidya peeta. Venkatanaatha’s house becomes small for all the children flowing in. One day V gets a dream from Lord Krishna that LK will come as a disciple and V has to teach him too. V is shocked. LK says he might come as anyone – perhaps a lower caste student too. V agrees. After that incident, V sees Krishna in every new entrant! One fine day, a non Brahmin kid enters the house. Other Brahmin kids shoo him away but V sees that it is Lord Krishna Himself and runs after him but is unable to locate him.

Sudheendra Theertha's Nephew

Seer Sudheendra Theertha’s nephew returns to Seer ST after extended stay outdoors. He comes back (he would have undergone training and tutelage under ST earlier) resolved in thought that he wants to become sanyaasi. ST discusses with him in more detail. Achyutha Theertha wants to question the knowledge of ST’s nephew but loses big time. AT justs boasts whereas ST’s nephew knows all.

Meanwhile a learned traveler visits ST’s place and boasts of his knowledge. In the debate that ensues between the traveler, AT and ST’s nephew, the latter wins hands down. The traveler resumes his traveling having apologized for his ego. AT still does not accept that he is better than ST’s nephew.

Raghunatha Bhopala

Meanwhile, the King of Thanjavur Raghunath Bhopala visits Seer Sudheendra Theertha. Apparently when RB was still a small kid, his father the then King of Thanjavur asked the then seer Vijayandra Theertha to give all knowledge to Raghunath Bhopala. VT appointed ST for tutelage. ST, together with V’s father Thimmanna Bhat, taught RB accordingly. Even as a kid RB composed a grammatically very sound poem called Parijatha Harana which ST appreciated a lot. Now a king, RB gifts SR with gifts for making him a gifted and talented person. RB uses his education to make his kingdom one of the finest and makes more citizens literates. Also RB appreciates VT’s efforts in enhancing the education system in and around Thanjavur due to which Thanjavur has now progressed. RB prays in front of VT’s brindavan at Kumbakonam for a few minutes.

Money for Vidya Peeta

They head to their home in Kaveripatnam and finally reach. People there are pessimistic about him opening up vidya peeta. As his grandfather was unsuccessful, people think he too will be unsuccessful. V meditates for VT and asks if it will be successful. VT says yes. So gururaja and V, in need of money, think about asking money from farmers who are using the Mutt’s land for their gain since so many years. All farmers turn hostile towards V and Gururaja and refuse to give land’s profits to them. Gururaja tries to make them understand but when farmers say that they themselves are poor, V convinces Gururaja to let go of farmers. With whatever money he has, V starts the vidya peeta.

However soon after all the sackfuls of grain in every farmers’ house turns into mud. All farmers are shocked. They realize that this is because they turned down the request to give money to Mutt. Repenting their action, they finally yield and give their profits to Mutt as the land belongs to Mutt. Soon Vidya peeta functions smoothly.

Venkatanaatha chanting power miracle

Meanwhile next day morning, on their way again, V and his wife are confronted by fellow clan to attend a ceremony in the nearby town. They agree after hesitation. In the pooja ceremony, V is asked to help out in churning the gandha (sandalwood) to be served for Brahmins during lunch. V sets out in his task but while doing so, he chants the Agni sloka just so to be occupied during this monotonous task.

When the gandha is served to Brahmins during lunch, they get skin irritation and ‘fire’ kind of feeling. V is immediately suspected of putting masala powder. He comes to the scene and understands what has caused this issue. He immediately chants the Rain god sloka to bring in warmth and coolness. This too happens and all sufferers are relieved from burning pain. They are all shocked about what V has achieved – that of invoking God through sloka. They all bow to him. Those who had humiliated him after suspecting his mischief also ask for forgiveness. He is then honored by the host of the pooja ceremony. However, what he gets as honor he donates right then and there for another Brahmin. All are much pleased about this. He informs that his power of sloka is not meant for earning money.

Achyutha Theertha tries to steal from Venkatanaatha

V then visits VT’s Brindavan in Kumbakonam. He can feel VT wishing him well. ST then asks him to better the Vidya Peeta in Kaveripatnam and gives him some money. This is seen by Achyutha Theertha and this makes him jealous. To degrade V, AT thinks of stealing the money from V on V’s journey back to Kaveripatnam when they halt at night. When AT sends his followers to steal money, they are unable to do so. The money bag keeps distancing itself from them. Thus, AT’s followers drop the idea and admit defeat to AT who slaps them.

The story of Rajeshwari

Meanwhile, there is a spate of robberies going on in the town where V is staying, including his own house. Usual suspects are V’s neighbors (Mangala) and her hubby as they are known to be petty thieves and loud mouths but actually they aren’t. The actual thief is Mangala’s sister who is now dead but moving around as a devil. The devil is getting into Mangala’s hubby’s body at night and stealing jewelry in and around the locality. Finally, after months of thievery, Mangala’s hubby gets caught by the townsmen. When enquired, he feigns ignorance and says he doesn’t know anything although he is dressed in a saree. Finally, when he is being taken to the King’s palace to be hung, V comes to the rescue.

He asks townsmen to give a few minutes of their time and shows how the devil has gotten into Mangala’s hubby’s body. He separates the body from the devilish soul and asks what the story is all about. Story is thus:

Long ago when the devil aka Rajeshwari aka Raji was happily married to a priest, Mangala and her hubby had visited their house. Their house had Temple jewelry that day but when Mangala left the house, the jewelry went missing. Raji knows Mangala stole it but latter denies. King finally hangs raji’s hubby but Mangala never admits the robbery. Hearing the fate of her hubby, Raji commits suicide but her soul is not satisfied because revenge is not yet taken on her sister Mangala. So in the devilish form, she has entered Mangala’s hubby’s body and committed the crime so as to get him to die too and make Mangala commit suicide. Finally V talks her out of it and alls well that ends well.

Vijayendra Theertha passes away

V and his wife enjoy the life of a newly wed. So much so that they both are not able to concentrate on God during prayers. V’s mom notices it and is happy.

Meanwhile Vijayandra Theertha realizes his time has come to an end. He informs so to Sudheendra Theertha who is shocked. People in the Mutt too are shocked. Some old-timers (who had initially given pains to Kanakachala Bhat (V’s granddad)) are also suffering from old age and want to die but VT says that the pontiff who will be appointed next only can give them the grants to die. People wonder who the next pontiff is going to be. In his last minutes, VT informs all to be good and do well and mesmerize in the Lord’s thoughts. He finally lies down to sleep and passes out of this world. He had by then authored 108 books of high significance. His contribution to the Dwaitha Philosophy is extreme.

News of VT’s death comes to V through his dream. In the dream, VT informs V that all is going as per plan but there is still lots to do and V should do so accordingly. Dwaitha Philosophy’s future depends on V, is what VT says to V in his dreams and then passes away (dies). V suddenly wakes up and thinks it was just a nightmare only to hear the actual news next day morning. He is shell shocked and feels he is orphaned. The house is filled with gloom.