The Fifth Delight
Shri Raghavendra Gurusarvabhauma
124. The Blessed Vision of Mantralayāmbikē
In the Śaka year 1593 of the Śrī Śālivāhana era, the year Virodhikṛt - ವಿರೋಧಿಕೃತ್ began. Śrī Rāghavendra Swamiji, along with his beloved disciple Śrī Yōgīndra Tīrtha Śrīpādāṅgalavaru, undertook the Chāturmāsya Vrata (four-month vow) in the presence of Śrī Vēṅkaṭēśvara, and with special enthusiasm, engaged in the dissemination of knowledge and the upliftment of the virtuous.
One day, after sunrise, completing his rituals such as bath, daily duties, japa, and penance, Śrī Guru Rāja, accompanied by a doorkeeper, arrived near the Prahālada Yajña Kuṇḍa. He instructed the doorkeeper to stand guard at a distance, then bowed to the yajña vedikā and began to worship—alone and with deep devotion—Śrī Durgā Devi, the kuladevatā of Prahlāda and the presiding deity of the sacred place, who was present within the yajña kuṇḍa. This was none other than Śrī Mantralayāmbikē herself.
He began to praise her with deep devotional intensity:
"namōstu varadē kṛṣṇa kaumāri brahmacāriṇi |
bālārkasadṛśākāyē pūrṇacandra nibhānanē ||
bhāsi dēvi yathā padmā nārāyaṇa parigrahā |
svarūpē brahmacaryaṃ ca viśadaṃ tava khēcarī ||
kaumāraṃ vratamāsthāya tridivaṃ pāvitaṃ tvayā |
tēna tvaṃ sūyasē dēvi tridaśyaḥ pūjyasē'pi ca ||
trailōkara kṣaṇārthāya mahiṣāsura nāśini |
prasannā mē suraśrēṣṭhē dayāṃ kuru śivā bhava ||
praṇamanti ca yē tvāṃ hi prabhātē tu narā bhuvi |
na tēṣāṃ durlabhaṃ kiṃcit putratō dhanatō'pi vā ||
durgāttārayasē durgē taṃ durgā smṛtā budhaiḥ |
tvaṃ kīrtiḥ śrīr dhṛtiḥ siddhir hṛr vidyā santatir matiḥ ||
saṃdhyā rātri prabhā nidrā jyōtsnā kāntiḥ kṣamā dayā |
praṇataś ca tathā mūrdhni tava dēvi surēśvari ||
tā hi māṃ padmapatrākṣi satyāsatyā bhavast naḥ |
śaraṇaṃ bhava mē durgē śaraṇya bhaktavatsalē ||"
"mahālakṣmī ca vidyā hi viṣṇu patnī ca dhīmahi |
tannō lakṣmīḥ pracōdayāt ||"
"tām agnivarṇāṃ tapasā jvalantīṃ vairōcanīṃ karma-phalēṣu juṣṭām |
durgāṃ dēvīṃ śaraṇam ahaṃ prapadē sutarasitārasē namaḥ ||"
"kātyāyanāya vidmahē kanyakumāri dhīmahi |
tannō durgī pracōdayāt ||"
Salutations to You, O Granter of Boons, O Krishna-complexioned One, O Eternal Virgin, O Brahmacharini,
Your form is radiant like the rising sun and your face glows like the full moon.
O Goddess, you shine like the lotus, forever in union with Nārāyaṇa;
Your very nature is pure celibacy and clarity—O One who moves through the skies.
Having embraced the vow of maidenhood, you sanctified the three worlds,
Therefore, O Devi, you are renowned and worshipped by the gods themselves.
To protect the three worlds, O Slayer of Mahishasura,
O Supreme among Devas, be pleased with me—Shiva-like in your grace, grant me your compassion.
Those mortals who bow to you at dawn upon the earth—
For them, nothing is ever unattainable, be it children or wealth.
You rescue from dangers, O Durga, and hence are remembered as 'Durga' by the wise.
You are fame, prosperity, fortitude, success, sacred knowledge, continuity, and intellect.
You are twilight, night, radiance, sleep, moonlight, beauty, forbearance, and compassion.
And those who bow to you are blessed by your grace, O Queen of the Gods.
O Lotus-eyed Goddess, whether truth or untruth befall us,
Be our refuge, O Durga—protector of the surrendered, beloved of the devoted.
We meditate upon Mahalakshmi, the embodiment of wisdom, the consort of Vishnu.
May that Lakshmi inspire and guide us!
We surrender to the Goddess Durga, who glows like fire, blazing with austerity,
Born of the Virocana line, ever pleased with the fruits of karma—salutations to her swift power!
We contemplate upon Kātyāyana, we meditate on the Virgin Goddess,
May that Durga awaken and inspire our thoughts!
As the uninterrupted Śrī Durgā Stotra flowed forth from the lotus-like mouth of Śrī Swāmigalavaru—who was filled with devotion and reverence—the Goddess, pleased with the intense devotion of Śrī Guru Rāja (the very incarnation of Prahlāda, foremost among devotees), manifested before him.
With a glow like the tender rays of the rising sun, the entire area radiated divine brilliance. Adorned with all celestial ornaments, riding a lion, she shone with a blooming jasmine-like smile on her face. From her gaze beamed the moonlight of motherly affection and compassion. With her hands bearing the signs of protection and blessings (abhaya and varada mudras), she appeared as the very embodiment of auspiciousness and gently addressed him:
"My child! Has the memory of your mother come back after such a long time?
Why have you called me, dear one? My beloved! You’ve broken your silence to summon me.
Tell me, son—what do you desire from me? I’ve come rushing, without delay, to stay by your side,
to rejoice and protect you—what could you possibly seek from me?"
These tender, sweet words emerged as she lovingly inquired.
Seeing the Jagat-Māta (Mother of the Universe) standing before him, having descended in a form full of grace and readiness to bless, Śrī Guru Rāja, overcome with devotional ecstasy, shed tears of bliss. With a voice choked by emotion, he humbly praised her:
"Salutations, salutations to you, O Mother of the Universe!
Enchantress of Nārāyaṇa’s heart, Mother of the four-faced Brahmā, Destroyer of demons,
Crusher of entire clans of evil, Auspicious one for the world, Wish-fulfilling gem for your devotees,
Delighter of surrendered hearts, Resider in the lotus, O Kamalā, O Kamalē!
Protector of my lineage—O Mother! I am blessed by your vision.
Playfulness with your child—what else could delight the consort of Viṣṇu?
Is there any place in these fourteen worlds where you are not present?
O Mother! Did you not promise to never leave my side?
You, who are eternally united with my Lord and never separated from Him—
You, whom the Vedas declare as the supremely glorious one—how could I not recognize you?"
He then recited:
"Yam kāmayē tam tam ugrām kṛmi
Tam brahmāṇam tam ṛṣiṃ tam sumēdhām"
"Whomever I desire, I make him mighty—
Whether it be Brahmā, or a seer, or one of great wisdom."
“You, O Mother, from whom all of creation has arisen, are glorified by the Vedas as the very origin of the universe.
You are the lotus feet worshipped by Brahmā, Rudra, Indra, and all the hosts of divine beings!
What more can be said, O Mother? Even at the time of cosmic dissolution, when nothing remained,
You assumed the form of a delicate fig leaf (āladeleya rūpa), and with great nobility, you ceaselessly served the Supreme Being, Śrī Hari, who lay there as an infant on your lap.
This truth—I have understood!”
“O Vaiṣṇavī! In accordance with the divine will of your Lord,
I seek to remain within this yajña vedikā for seven hundred years,
Dwelling in Brindāvana, devotedly performing penance to bring joy to the Lord of the Universe, my Master.
O Devī, grant me permission to reside here.
And for the multitude of devotees who will come seeking refuge in me,
May you lovingly bestow, through me, the immense wealth of the fourfold aims of life (chaturvidha puruṣārthas):
Dharma (righteousness), Artha (wealth), Kāma (desire), and Mokṣa (liberation).
Whenever I pray to you, O Goddess dear to wealth, may you be fully pleased,
And through me, may you bless the entire community of devotees
With prosperity, auspiciousness, and the fulfillment of all their cherished wishes.
Mother, grant me this boon, out of your boundless compassion.”
Having said this, Śrī Guru Rāja prostrated fully (sāṣṭāṅga namaskāra) before the Goddess.
She—Indirā, radiant with a gentle smile like a blooming lotus,
Beloved consort of Govinda, the delight of the Nanda clan—
Came forward, placed her nectar-filled hand upon the noble head
Of her beloved devotee Śrī Rāghavendra, and said:
“Kumāra! Tathāstu! (So be it)”
—and joyfully granted the boon.
Afterward, the Goddess, now highly pleased with Śrī Rāya, spoke:
“Isn’t it natural for a mother to show affection toward her son, dear child?
In your earlier birth, I was your family deity, and you worshipped me with great devotion.
Even now, make me your family deity once again.
My son, I shall stand as your constant protector and guide in all your undertakings.”
“In the future, there will come a time when Dharma (righteousness) will face total decline.
At that time, by the command of Śrī Hari, I shall incarnate again to re-establish Dharma.
Until then, the responsibility of protecting Dharma lies with you!
Child, your work and mine are one and the same.
With Śrī Hari’s special grace, my compassion, and the full support of Vāyu Deva,
you are empowered to accomplish great deeds that others cannot.
To manifest your greatness to the world, I shall reside in front of your temple.
As a sign of my presence, install these ram’s heads (meṣa mastakas) on the inner side of your temple’s mahādvāra (main gateway).
I will suppress all evil forces and protect you and the countless devotees who come to you.
From now on, your sacred seat shall be known as the 'Mantra Siddhi Kṣetra'—
a beacon of spiritual grandeur in Bhārata’s heritage,
a famous place of pilgrimage for the devout across the world.
Through you, the people of Kali Yuga shall be uplifted and blessed without interruption.
O King of Ascetics! You shall be known as the Guru of the Universe (Viśvaguru),
celebrated eternally, working for the welfare of all beings.
Because of you, for thousands of years in Bhārata,
the Vedic and Vaiṣṇava traditions and Dharma shall flourish.
Blessings upon you, dear child.”
Saying this, the Goddess walked toward the place where today stands the temple of Mantralayāmbikē,
blessed Śrī Guru Rāja once again,
and then assumed her form in stone, standing still.
From that day onward, the Mother of the Universe—Mantralayāmbikē—
became renowned by that name,
venerated and adored by multitudes of devotees.
Having received a divine and extraordinary darśana (vision) of the Goddess,
Śrī Rāghavendra Guru Sārvabhauma, filled with supreme bliss,
on the first Friday of the month of Śrāvaṇa,
which also happened to be the day of the Vara Mahālakṣmī Vratam,
performed a grand and special celebration for Mantralayāmbikē,
who had graciously granted him her presence and blessings.
With his own hands, he offered pañcāmṛta abhiṣeka, kuṅkuma arcana, floral offerings,
naivēdya (sacred food), and a majestic mahāmaṅgalārati,
feeling completely fulfilled and blessed.
By this time, Śrī Guru Sārvabhauma had already appointed his successor—
having performed the coronation (sāmrājya abhiṣēka)
under the name Śrī Yōgīndra Tīrtha.
The news that Śrī Guru Rāja would enter the Brindāvana alive on Śrāvaṇa Bīdige (second day)
spread across the land. It was an unprecedented, historic event witnessed by all.
Devotees, disciples, scholars, and Dharma-loving followers
—eager to see the divine one, serve him, and receive his blessings—
began arriving in thousands at Mantralaya.
The Brindāvana entry of Śrī Guru Rāja was becoming a grand and sacred festival.
Footnote 466: Even today, devotees can see the ram’s heads (meṣa mastakas) established by Śrī Rāya on the inside of the brass mahādvāra (main gateway) of his temple in Mantralaya, just as the Goddess instructed.
Footnote 467: The Mantralayāmbikē who appeared to Śrī Rāya, later appeared in a dream to Śrī SuYamīndra Tīrtha, a disciple beloved to Śrī Rāya, and said:
“O King of Ascetics! I appeared to my dear devotee Guru Rāja and granted him permission to reside here.
You, being the devoted servant of my beloved devotee, are also dear to me.
I now grant you a place here.
Ensure that my special worship is performed here forever.”
Following her command, Śrī SuYamīndra arranged for special worship during Navarātri, Durgāṣṭamī, Fridays, Tuesdays, and the month of Śrāvaṇa,
and built a beautiful temple for her.
He also established a sacred tradition:
Before performing the evening worship (Sāyandīpa Ārati) for Śrī Rāya,
priests must first offer darśana, worship, and ārati to the Goddess.
Since then, this tradition has continued, and thousands of devotees are blessed daily by serving the Goddess Mantralayāmbikē before approaching Śrī Rāghavendra’s Brindāvana.