Sri Jagannathadasa was the one who had pleased SriGururaja with his intellect. He was the incarnation of Sahlad, the brother of Prahladaraja. Sri Jagannathadasa did not waste even a moment out of the 40 years that he had received as a gift from his guru, and has presented the noble…
Singing praises of the greatness of SriSwami in the vrindavana, composing stotras and continuing that tradition further was SriGopaladasa. He had proved his great charitable nature and detachment by giving away 40 years out of his life to SriJagannathadas upon the orders of his guru SriVijayadasa.
We have mentioned of several devotees having had a conversation with SriSwami in the following days. Amojig those was the famous SriVijayadasa, a great devotee of Hari and among the closest of devotees of SriSwami. Bom in a poor family and brought up in stark poverty, Sri Vijayadasa, who was…
Close to SriRaghavendraswamr s vrindavana we see another beautiful vrindavana. It belongs to SriVadindratirtha who happened to be the great-grandson of Sri Swami in his earlier ashrama. SriSwami had decided about this location for him much earlier. When Sri Swami entered the vrindavana, SriVadindra was a mere toddler of two’…
On the banks of river Tunga-Bhadra is a village by name Bichhale. Earlier it was famous as Bhikshalaya. SriGururaja’s favourite disciple Appannacharya used to live there conducting classes and discourses. He heard the news that SriSwami would be entering vrindavana. He started for Mantralaya with an intention to see Swami…
After SriSwami entered the vrindavana, devotees have been offering sevas to SriSwami all through the year unmindful of Ashadha, Bhadrapada, Shunyamasa etc. and have been rewarded with success. SriSwami is there inside the vrindavana even today but he is not visible to our physical eyes. Yet if we pray with…
SriSwami felt a desire to spend his last days in Mantralaya. He constructed a temple dedicated to Sri Venkateshwara his family deity at Manchale. Diwan Venkanna also used to come in on and off to enquire about the good health of SriSwami. When SriSwami told him that the days of…
The ever compassionate SriGururaja pacified the Nawab and said, ‘What will I, a sanyasin, do with your wealth and fiefdom?’ But the Nawab insisted that he desired to express his gratitude by gifting at least one village and consulted Diwan Venkanna on the matter. Venkanna explained the Nawab’s feelings to…
Venkanna told his Nawab Siddi Masoodkhan of the greatness of SriSwami. Although he had heard of these great powers from several sources, the Nawab with his inherent cunning came forward to test them. He placed some meat and wine in a plate, covered it with cloth and kept it in…
SriSwami came to Kandanati while on his journey. There he was served devotedly by a bright young orphan boy by name Venakanna. SriSwami left the illiterate boy with a blessing, ‘Remember me when in trouble’, and continued on his journey. Eventually, that boy came across a great danger. In those…
SriSwami’s greatness knows no limits. He ventured towards Pandharpur. On the way. the pregnant wife of one of the assistants went into labour pain. There was neither water nor a single tree where they could use the shade. So SriSwami through his mantra powers spread his own shati for shade…
SriSwami was due to visit the village of Shirasangi. But the Desai there was a Veerashaiva follower who hated Brahmins. He was a staunch follower of Shiva and was extremely annoyed by Vaishnavas. He used to proclaim that Vedas and mantras are all falsehood and would snatch away the properties…
SriSwami on his journey came towards Gadag and went to Kiritgiri for the darshana of Veeranarayana. At the invitation of the Desai there, he stayed at their residence. It was peak of summer. Mangoes were everywhere in abundance. Desai brought in thousands of mangoes out of devotion. Mango juice was…
While SriSwami was at Kumbhakonam, three Brahmanas who had learnt about his greatness came from their village and were bathing in the Kaveri river. A worker was dipping SriSwami’s clothes in water on the river bank. He called out to the Brahmanas and said, ‘soon tasty food will be awaiting…
A handsome youth used to serve SriGururaja with great devotion. A desire to get married arose in him. When he went to seek Guru’s blessings, the SriSwami was performing ablutions with mud. SriSwami picked up and gifted the youth a handful of mud,und sent him off saying, ‘Go! You will…
For many years a devotee by name Venkanna used to help out SriSwami in his pujas by filling in water etc. with great devotion. Pleased with his devotion SriSwami asked him, ‘What do you want?’ To this Venkanna replied instantly, ‘I want mukti.’ SriSwami asked him to return after finishing…
While some time passed thus, a situation of anarchy developed in the Cholamandalam region and strife among the local chieftains led to unhappiness among the citizens and disregard towards religious activity. Moreover, due to failure of monsoon and poor agricultural production, people had to suffer the rigours of a famine….
Awakening to the pleasant singing of the devotee Vandimagadha, he would first complete his suprabhata to the Parameshwar, then give an audience to the abject devotees eagerly awaiting him, before proceeding to the Kaveri river for his ablutions, duly applying mrittika etc. while chanting ashtakshara, shadakshara, dwadashakshara mantras. Later he…
“Ramabhadra iva bhadrabhajanam” so saying Sri Sudhindratirtha had blessed Raghavendraswami. ‘Ragha- vendra’ means the same as ‘SriRamachandra’ the seion of Raghukula and hence like. SriRamachandradeva he too is avowed to work for the welfare of the world. Raghavendraswami, the term itself means the one who “absolves the sins and grants…
It was not desirable to step into sanyasa in the presence of wife. So that her love does not come in the way of sanysashrama, SriSudhindratirtha decided to move the venue of sanyasa diksha, from Kumbakonam to Thanjavur, to the court of Maharaja SriRaghunatha Bhupal. Once this news spread like…
Soon SriSudhindratirtha grew old. As he was contemplating on handing over the charge, one night his aradhya daivata SriMoolaramachandra appeared in his dreams and told him to ordain the eligible Sri Venkatabhattacharya into sanyas and to make him the Pithadhipati. When the Guru related this dream sequence to Venkatanatha, he…
Even when Venkatabhatta, who used to live in penury and would eat one day and would be without food on another day, Saraswatidevi would maintain her appearance as if all was normal and always remain smiling. This is the sign of a divine human. Those who did not realise this…
As years went by, the young Venkatanatha who had completed his studies, was married to Saraswati, a girl from a matching family of Kashyapa Gotra by his elder brother Gururajacharya. Intent upon avoiding being a burden upon elder brother Gururajacharya, the couple left under the pretext of Venkatanatha wanting to…
Thus after completing the primary learning with his brother-in-law, Venkatanatha came back to the Kumbhakonam Matha to continue further studies with the Kulaguru SriSudhindratirtha. His colleagues used to envy the special attention which Venkatanatha got from SriSudhindratirtha, impressed with his sharp intellect. The timetable of his study has been thus…
The baby’s beautiful appearance had the power to attract and hold any onlooker’s sight and draw them close. The boy who was born by the blessings of sarvottama Lord Venkatesha was named Venkatanatha by his father. The wise ones were seen discussing among themselves that the boy must have been…
By the grace of Sri Venkatesha, Gopikamba came into the family way. Thimmanna Bhatta family’s joys knew no bounds. Since the baby in the womb was the blessing of SriHari, Gopikamba developed some uncommon wishes in that period. Despite there being hot tasty delicacies prepared at home, she would love…
In our historical Bharata’s southern parts, kingdoms like Kadambas, Chalukyas, Hoysalas, Cholas etc. were famous. Since they were followers of the Vedic faith, there was special recognition of Brahmins. They used to be invited into the royal courts and felicitated with high titles. The kings of Vijayanagar who had covered…
Sri Raghavendraswami is the incarnation of the Karmaja demi-god, Shankukama. Collecting Tulsi leaves and flowers for the four-faced Brahmadeva’s pujas etc. was the daily duty of Shankukarna. One day while collecting flowers for the Puja, he was witness to a very strange scene. Can Brahmadeva’s puja itself be something ordinary…
This enormous world, created by the Paramatma who induces the noble souls to incessantly work for attaining liberation, is the truth. Doing, not doing, doing against, supporting etc. are all the marvels of the omniscient omnipotent Parameshwar. He is always, in all states, the most powerful of all. This knowledge…
Sri Raghavendra Swami has entered alive the magnificent vrindavana at Mantralaya for the benefit of the entire mankind and even today, is the kalpavriksha- kamadhenu-chintamani for the devotees. He is most compassionate, fulfilling all the wishes and yearnings of the devotees and granting them their desired boons. He has attained…
Hampi belongs to Hospet taluk of Bellary District. Tourists must come to Hospet and then go to Hampi. There are buses to Hospet from all comers of Karnataka. Some trains connect Hospet to Hubli, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Timpati and Miraj. There are good lodges in Hospet and Hampi. Hampi is about…
After the death of Achyutaraya, his son Sadasivaraya succeeded him to the throne. Since he was a boy his uncle Sakalarasa imprisoned him. Ramaraya came to Sadasiva’s rescue and waged war against Sakalarasa who died after four battles. Sadasivaraya ruled from 1543 to 1571. He was only a nominal king….
After Krishnadevaraya his step-brother Achyutaraya came to the throne. He wore the crown first at tirupati and then at Kalahasti in 1534. After the death of Ismail the dispute that had started between Mallu and Ibrahim helped Achyutaraya to comquer Raichur. During his rule the chieftains of Madurai, Tanjore and…
He ascended the throne on 8th August 1509, on the eve of Krishnashtami. At the time of coronation he was just twentyfive. Though there were marks of small pox on his face he was handsome. He was hospitable to foreigners. He was an embodiment of politeness. He was a just…
VIRANARASIMHARAYA : He was the first king of Tulu Dynasty. His father was a famous chieftain of saluwas. He had to contend with many rebellions. In 1509 he died accidentally. There was nothing noteworthy in his short rule of four years.
NARASIMHARAYA : By 1447 the kingdom had grown weak owing to the inefficiency of king Virupaxa as well as the invasions of the Bahmani rulers. Saluwa Narasimharaya was a general known for his valour. He had become popular in the kingdom. By 1447 he had become the ruler of the…
HARi HARA 1 ; He ruled from 1336 to 1356. During his reign his brothers, who were loyal to him, looked after various regions. Kempanna governed Andhra, Bukka governed the central region, Marappa took care of western region, and Muddappa managed the coastal area. Harihara’s regime was a model one.
It is situated on the southern bank of the river Tungabhadra and is surrounded by rocky mountains. Earlier, Anegundi, the nearby ancient city, was the Capital. Later the capital was shifted to Hampi from Anegundi. According to mythology this area was Pampa Sarovar and the capital of vali mentioned in…
Within a few years after the arrival of Alla Udin-Khilji in the kingdom of Yadavagiri in the year 1296, entire Southern India was ravaged by the invaders. Indian culture and religion were endangered by this foreign invasion. At this juncture people united to protect themselves, their religion and culture. It…
The sculpture of this form of Ganapati is found on the outer side of the south half of die front wall of the mantapa. This small and unpretentious temple is of great importance for the history of Tiruchanur. It is a fine example of early Chola architecture and is of…
Standing with the right leg slightly bent, this deity has four hands. The upper right hand feeds a dog standing at the right bottom and the upper left holds the Kankaladanda on the shoulder. The two lower hands hold objects. Anaga emerges to the right from his body and another…
There is a seated Ganapati in the extreme right. Next to him is Siva, seated with the left leg folded and resting on the seat and the right hanging. He holds parasu in the upper right hand and mriga in the upper left. The lower right is in abhaya and…
Standing with his trunk turned to the right, this god is accompanied by two women, one beating the drum and the other beating the cymbals.
Accompanied by two women with their hands in anjali standing behind her, Parvati holds an object in her left hand and with her right hand catches the out-stretched right hand of Siva. Siva, standing in samabhanga and holding ankusa in the upper right hand and mriga in the upper left,…
This mantapa is situated to the east of the Nandimantapa. It contains four pillars in the front, four at the back and four in the centre. Its adhishtana has a row of makaras at the top. These pillars are in the early Vijayanagara style. There is a square in shatkona…
This small mantapa is immediately beyond the eastern wall of the prakara. It consists of an Adhishtana with four pillars on it supporting the roof. These pillars bear typical Chola capitals as do the pillars in the temple. It is of the same age as the temple.
These are located, as already stated, on a low platform in the northern part of the Mukhamantapa. They are said to have been installed very recently.
This image is placed to the left of the entrance of the Antarala l and is a representation of the famous sage, Suka. He has a beard and keeps the right hand with akshamala on the right side of his ; chest and the left hand hanging. His hair is…
This Devi is the consort of Parasaresvara and is installed in a; small shrine which forms an extension of the northprakara wall.; She stands in samabbanga and holds ankusa in the upper right hand and pasa in the upper left. The lower hands are in abhaya and varada.
This image is located to the left of the entrance of the above shrine. Standing in samabbanga, this deity keeps the right hand in | abhaya and die left in Katihasta. He is adorned with Yajnopavita, \ Udarbandha, Graiveyakas, a girdle with a kirtimukha buckle j and a garland reaching…