Travelling to Thanjavur

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. Under these circumstances when the King of Thanjavur surrendered totally to SriRaghavendraswami, the compassionate Swami wrote the bijakshara of Srimoolarama on the King’s granary and made all the grain there inexhaustible. He stayed on there for twelve long years and turned the famished region into a region of abundance. Not knowing how to express his gratitude, the King one fine morning offered a beautiful gem-studded necklace
to SriRaghavendraswami while he was conducting his daily homa. Being a detached ascetic, he offered the necklace to Agnideva and dropped it into the homa fire. What could be a bigger detachment? Seeing the King being aghast at this act and feeling pained at the loss, Swami prayed to Parashuramadeva in the fire and got the necklace back from the homa. Astounded at the miracle of pulling out a doubly resplendent necklace from the fire, through which SriRaghavendraswami had graced him, the King did not know how to react and placing all his riches at the feet of Swami, accepted his servitude forever. The charters made out by the King then are even today in the custody of SriMatha. Sriswami then returned to Kumbhakonam. The greatness of SriSwami who had divine blessings, is immeasurable.
Dharmic treatises decree that an ascetic can stay only for one night in one village, “Gramaikaratrivasah”. Accordingly, Srimadacharya has ordered that while moving about propagating the principles propounded as SriHarisarvottama, sanyasis should undertake works of social welfare such as informing a sadhaka what is essential to reach the Paramatma.
SriSwami too, while observing his own Ashrama Dharma, began a tour towards the east. While on the tour he would observe his daily rituals without fail and extend his benevolence to his disciples through teachings and discourses. Great scholars in several big cities used to come to SriSwami and prove the superiority of their own knowledge by going through various discussions with him. SriSwami used to honour those scholars by giving them dakshina etc. suitable to their status. Sri Swami moved around places like Paripurnanagar, Kamalalaya, Ardhanarishwar and the point where river Kaveri flows into the ocean. He also took a dip in the ocean at Rameshwar, Dhanushkoti and other places. Dhanushkoti is that tip of our land from where SriRama had built the bridge that took him to Lanka for destroying the demon Ravana. It is said that SriRamachandra consecrated a Shivalinga here to get over the sin of having killed a Brahmana. How can there be a Brahmahatya problem for SriRama who is the creator of that all happens in this world? Yet, having been born as a human,
SriRama set an ideal conduct for others tg follow and established the Shivalinga. “A person who takes a dip at the location of this bridge and visits the temple of Rameshwaram, is absolved of the sins of Brahmahatya etc.” so decrees the Dharmashastra. Thereafter traversing across Darbhashayana and Anantashayana he came to the banks of the river Tamrapami. There he cleansed an ostracised Brahmana sprinkling water from a conch- shelf purified by the chant of mantra. Some mischievous Brahmins took objection to this process challenging how merely sprinkling of water from a conch-shell can complete the purification process. To this SriSwami replied by picking up a piece of cloth dipped in oil and cleansing it the very same way. The cloth came out cleaner than before. The Brahmins had to accept their mistake, repented and went away seeking pardon.
While travelling SriSwami next reached Madurai. There is a very big temple dedicated to Sundareshwar- Meenkashidevi. It was then a major education centre. The chieftain there was Thirumalanayaka and Neela- kantha Dikshit, the grandson of Appayya Dikshit a contemporary of Sri Vijayindratirtha, was his Minister. Dikshit was also a leading Pundit in Mimamsashastra. SriSwami had specially studied Bhattamimamsa and composed an excellent treatise named Bhattasangraha. Dikshit, who was aware of this deep knowledge of SriSwami in Mimamsashastra, arranged for a copy of Bhattasangraha to be taken in a procession on an elephant in honour of SriSwami’s visit. He also got the King to specially felicitate and honour SriSwami and was himself jubilant by singing praises of SriSwami’s brilliance in so many ways. From there SriSwami came to SriRanga for SriRanganatha’s darshana At ibis point SriSwami turned northwards and continued bis journey.
Journey towards Chellur
SriSwami reached Namakalli, where alter bowing before Narasimhadeva he moved on to C’bcllur. That place was being managed by Chieftains under the reign of Vijayanagar kingdom. In their patronage were two victorious pundits professing the Advaila principle, by name Veerabhadra and Bhairavabhatta. SriSwami left them speechless in a dialogue and raised the Hag of Dwaita principle. The Chieftain, who was greatly impressed with the brilliance of SriSwami, expressed his gratitude-by offering him several pieces of land as gifts.
Journey towards Udupi
SriSwami continued his journey and reached Udupi. On the way he visited Vishnumangal, Subrahmanya etc. At Udupi he stayed at the same place acquired by the supreme guru SriVijayindratirtha. There is a most eyepleasing idol of Balakrishna with a thread in one hand and a churner in the other, consecrated by SriMadhwa- charya. SriSwami sang and composed several kirtanas there, to his satisfaction with the Dhiravenugopal in- scriber. Residing for several days at Udupi, SriSwami composed an elaborate commentary called Prakasha for the composition Chandrika which had been composed by himself in the earlier birth as SriVyasatirtha. Further, he also composed Nyayamuktavali and Tantradipika. He himself created an idol of SriKrishna in gold while at Udupi and offered prayers to it, keeping it next to the SriKrishna idol there. Even to this day the sanyasins who come in the tradition of SriMatha offer pujas to that golden idol of SriKrishna and with the powers of those prayers grace the devotees with boons of children, yantras etc.
Journey to Mysore
While journeying towards Mysore, SriSwami settled for the chaturmas vrata at Srirangapattana which is encircled by the Kaveri river. Doddadevaraja Wodeyar was the king there. The King, who knew the greatness of SriSwami, honoured him by gifting the villages of Vallur-Devarajapur. After the completion of that chaturmas, SriSwami proceeded towards Chitradurga.

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