Lineage of Saint Sri Raghavendra Theertharu (Mantralayam)

Mantralaya Guru Saarvabhouma Saint Sri Raaghavendra Theertharu was an Aparoksha Jnani and Daivamsa Sambhootha. His lineage started from Shankukarna down the line Prahlada, Bahlika, Vyasa Rayaru and finally as Sri Raghavendra Theertharu.

Shankukarna(Moola Roopa)

Shankukarna (Karmaja Devatha) was assisting Lord Chaturmukha Brahma in his daily rituals. One day he was cursed by Lord Brahma to be born on Earth, due to the delay he made in making arrangements for his daily rituals. It was only a Divine sankalpa and the curse became a blessing in disguise as in every birth he (Shankukarna) would be an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu and spread the divine culture and Bhakthi of Lord Sri Hari.

Avathara as Prahlada...

The legend behind this goes back to the days of Krita Yuga when Prahlada was born to the demon king Hiranyakasipa and Vedavathi. Though he was born to a demon king due to his lineage and poorva janma samskara, Prahlada became an ardent devotee of Lord SriManNarayana for whose sake and cause Lord Sri Hari had to take the unique Narasimha Avathara. In fact while Prahlada was in his mother’s womb itself he had learnt Narayana Astakshari Mantra upadesa from sage Narada.

As Prahlada started growing, he learnt the Narayana Tattva and started influencing his friends and others with his preaching and in the process had to confront with his demon father on several occasions. On one such occasion on the issue of Lord Sri Hari's omnipresence, Hiranyakasipa emotionally asks his son Prahlada to show Lord Sri Hari in a pillar in his palace and hits the pillar with his mace. All pervading supreme Lord SriManNarayana in order to prove truth in his devotee’s words instantly appears and comes out of the pillar in a rare and ferocious form as Naarasimha and kills Hiranyakasipa.

Pleased with the bhakthi (devotion) of Prahlada; when Lord Sri Hari (Narasimha) offered him to come along with him to his abode Vaikunta, Prahlada politely refused and instead preferred to stay back on earth propagating the divine culture and bhakthi of Lord Vishnu. Accordingly, Prahlada was crowned as emperor of the kingdom which he ruled for several thousands of years spreading the philosophy of Lord Sri Hari.

Avathara as Bahlika...

Shankukarna took his second birth as Bahlika Raja in Dwapara Yuga and was born in Kuru Vamsam. He was the son of Pratipa and brother of Shantanu (father of Bheeshma). Bahlika was a great devotee of Lord Sri Krishna, but still had to associate with Kouravas in the Kurukshetra war because of his alliance with Bheeshma and Dhritharastra. He was ultimately slained in the war in the hands of Bheemasena (Hanuma, Bheema, and Madhva).

Avathara as Sri Vyasarayaru(1447 – 1539 AD)

Shankukarna took his third birth in this Kaliyuga as Sri Vyasarayaru a great saint and a reputed propagator of Madhva (Dvaita) philosophy. His guru was another great saint Sri SriPadarayaru (Mulabagalu). He lived during the historical days of Vijayanagara (Hampi) empire. He was Raja Guru of Sri Krishna Devaraya the popular king of Vijayanagara dynasty. He had helped Sri Krishna Deva Raya to pass through major crisis in his life. For a brief period he had even ascended the throne of Vijayanagara Empire in order to protect Sri Krishna Deva Raya from an astrological malefactor. That's why he is also known as Sri Vyaasaraajaru.

At one point of time Sri Vyasarayaru had even conducted the worship of Lord Sri Venkateswara at Tirumala temple for a period 12 years when it was hampered during the time of Vijayanagara King Saluva Narasimha Raya.  Sri Vyasarayaru was a staunch devotee of Lord Hanuman and he went on to install 732 Hanuman idols (icons) during his time. He lived for more than 90 years and attained Brindavana near Anegondi on the banks of the holy river Thunga Bhadra. He is the one who has initiated for the Daasakoota headed by Saint Sri Purandara Dasa.

Avathara as Sri Raghavendra (1595–1671 AD)

Sri Raghavendra Theertharu with lineage from the above four great personalities took birth in the year 1595 as a gifted son of Sri Thimmana Bhatta and Smt. Gopikamba. He was born to his parents with the Grace of Lord Sri Venkateswara and hence was named as Venkatanatha. Sri Raghavendra Theertharu in his poorvasrama took his lessons from Saint Sri Sudheendra Theertharu and ultimately took his sanyasa deeksha and subsequently peetadhipathya from him. Vijayeendra karaabjottha Sudheendra Varaputrakah (Sri Raghavendra Stothra); it was quite incidental that Saint Sri Vijayendra Theertharu, Guru of Sri Sudheendra Theertharu and Parama Guru of Sri Raghavendra Theertharu was a beloved disciple of Sri Vyasarayaru (previous incarnation of Sri Raghavendra Theertharu) and a contemporary of Saint Sri Vadi Raja Theertharu.  

There were indications in the life history of Saint Sri Raghavendra Swamy that he was of Prahlada’s avathara. We find in Sri Raghavendra Swamy temples, utsava murti (festival deity) is not that of Sri Raghavendra, but of Bhakta Prahlada. The main deity (Sri Raghavendra) will be a replica of his samadhi (called Brindavana) and there will be Prahlada also who is worshiped simultaneously along with Sri Raghavendra Swamy. He is called as Prahlada Rayaru and some of the rituals in Sri Raghavendra Swamy temple are done exclusively to Prahlada Rayaru. Perhaps this may the only place where Prahlada is worshiped. Apart from this we also find from the life history of Sri Raghavendra, that he had chosen this specific spot at Mantralayam for his entry into Brindavana since it was the spot where Prahlada had performed Yagna during his time in Kritha Yuga.

It is said that Sri Rayaru was well versed in many arts and skills and had attained great divine and spiritual powers which are manifested as his miracles. Sri Raghavendra Theertharu lived during 1595 to 1671; ruled the kingdom of Vedanta for 50 years before making Mantralayam as his permanent abode in this life by entering the Brindavana alive. He is popularly called as Raayaru, Guru Sarva Bhouma. During his life time and even after Brindavana Pravesa he went on to be regarded as a great spiritual leader, saint, philosopher, devotee of Lord Sri Hari, a great healer, benevolent and a true Guru. Today his temples (Brindavana) are spread across the country with millions of devotees adoring him. A religious and spiritual institution named after him (Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt) has come up headed by his successors with its head quarters at Mantralayam. Spread across the country the institution is catering to the religious and spiritual needs of the society.

Perhaps my words are not adequate to describe Sri Raayaru and one can only feel him rather experience him by his worship.

Om! Sri Raaghavendraaya! Namah

Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu

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