Bichhali (Bhikshalaya) - Kshethra Darshana

Bhikshalaya currently known as Bichhali is located in the Raichur district of Karnataka state about 20 km from Mantralayam on the banks of the holy river Tungabhadra. This is said and believed to be the place where Sri Rayaru had spent 13 years of his life before moving over to Manchali (Mantralayam). Sanctified with the memories of Sri Rayaru’s stay at this place and his association with Sri Appanacharya the beloved disciple and an ardent devotee of Sri Raghavendra Swamy, the place Bichhali also known as Bhikshalaya is one of the places to be visited on a pilgrimage to Mantralayam. To visit this place one has to make own/hired vehicle arrangements.

Sri Appanacharya was a great Sanskrit scholar and a teacher who was running a Gurukula under whom number of students were getting taught. In those days the students irrespective of their economic status will have to procure rice and cook their own food. Accordingly they used to go daily for procurement of rice (Bhiksha) and thenceforth the place came to be known as Bhikshalaya.

Notable locations (sites) at Bichhali…

Japada Katti…

It is an elevated platform under a Banyan tree (Aswatta Vruksha) where Sri Appanacharya used to conduct lessons for his students. Later on, after Sri Rayaru came to that place, both of them used to sit together at this spot and discuss on various spiritual topics. We find number of Naga shilas (idols) installed around this spot. It is believed and said that people who perform the ritual of Naga Devatha Pratishta at this spot are blessed with progeny as a remedy for Naga Dosha.

Ekasila Brindavana

It is a Brindavana of Sri Rayaru at Bichhali that was installed by his beloved disciple Sri Appanacharya as per the directions of Sri Rayaru himself. It is said that Sri Rayaru used to give daily darshan to Sri Appanacharya from this Brindavana in the form of a Jyothi.  It is called Ekasila Brindavana since it was incidental that it was built with the same stones used for Sri Rayaru Moola Brindavana at Mantralayam. It was installed on Japadakatti adjacent to the holy river Tungabhadra where Sri Rayaru used to sit and discuss with Sri Appanacharya. 

Uniqueness of this Brindavana is that, it is not covered by any roof and it is in open air. It is the only Brindavana of Sri Raghavendra Swamy in the open sky without any roof.  Unlike other Mruttika Brundavans, here Sri Rayaru entered the Brindavana in the form of a Jyothi. Daily Pooja and rituals are held for this Brindavana by the descendants of Sri Appanacharya.

Snake Bill

As per legend, in the backyard of Sri Appanacharya’s house there was a snake bill where a king Cobra used to reside in it.  Sri Raghavendra Swamy during his stay at Bhikshalaya was regularly offering milk to the serpent (Aadi Sesha) after his daily pooja/rituals and the serpent used come and drink the milk. When Sri Rayaru decided to move to Manchali he had taken a decision to dismantle the snake bill. Accordingly when it was dismantled an idol of snake appeared in its place which is being worshiped currently.

House of Sri Appanacharya

It is more than 400 years old house where Sri Rayaru used to live along with Sri Appanacharya during his stay at Bhikshalaya where memories of Sri Rayaru’s presence can be seen.  But, this historic house has collapsed during 2009 Tungabhadra floods. Only a part of the wall inside the house with the idols of Lord Hanuman installed by Sri Appanacharya and the idol of Naga Devatha manifested from the Snake Bill during Sri Raayaru’s time have remained intact standing as a testimonial to the glory of this sacred house.

Idol of Lord Sri Ugra Narasimha

This idol of Lord Ugra Narasimha was installed by Saint Sri Sripadarayaru (Mulabagalu) Guru of Sri Vyasa Rayaru whose lineage was Sri Raghavendra Theertharu.

Idol of Lord Hanuman

This idol was installed by Sri Vyasarayaru a great devotee of Lord Hanuman and immediate predecessor in the lineage of Sri Rayaru. Rarity of this idol is the presence of clearly visible marks of Shanku-Chakra in the front and Raajamudrika (symbol) of Vijayanagara Empire carved on back of the idol. It suggests that the Hanuman idol was sculpted during the historical days of Vijayanagara Empire for which Sri Vyaasaraajaru was Raaja Guru who had even ascended the throne of Vijayanagara Empire for a brief period during Sri Krishna Devaraaya’s time. 

Apart from this one can also have darshan of Lord Hanuman installed by SriRaghavendra Swamy himself.

The sight of Ekasila Brundavana in the open air, presence of Lord Hanuman installed by Sri Vyasarajaru, idol of Lord Hanuman installed by Sri Raghavendra Theertharu, idol of Lord Ugra Narasimha installed by Sri Sripaadarajaru and the Naaga Shilas all within the same vicinity right on the banks of holy Tungabhadra river gives an electrifying and thrilling experience which is difficult to explain.

Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu

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http://bhargavasarma.blogspot.com/2009/08/temples-of-mantralayam-part-ii.html