Kaliyugada Kalpataru

Appendix

Glories after entering the Brindavana

The greatness of Śrī Rāghavendra Swamiji has now spread across the world and has become a household name in the country. Millions of people, regardless of caste, religion, sect, nationality, or language, have become devotees and servants of that revered Yati. By his blessings, they have been relieved of all their physical and mental afflictions and have attained their heartfelt desires, leading to their happiness.

What was once the humble village of Mantralaya has now shone like a celestial abode, attracting people from all over the world, establishing itself as one of the most renowned pilgrimage centers in India, and radiating its divine power.

At the end of the second century after Rāyaru entered Brindavana, in the sacred lineage of Rāyaru’s pre-ascetic household, by the strength of the blessings of Guru Rāja, a radiant sun of divine glory rose in Nanjangud, who, through his miracles, displayed extraordinary spiritual progress—thus began the life of the one who propagated Śrī Rāyaru’s glory.

As the one who spread the divine fame of Śrī Guru Rāja, this noble soul enabled lakhs of people to receive the blessings of the Guru. Because his life itself is an extension of Rāyaru’s glory, it is appropriate to describe it here.

After Śrī Sujñānendra - ಸುಜ್ಞಾನೇಂದ್ರ, in the Śrīmadācārya Mahāsaṁsthāna, came Śrī Sudharmendra ಸುದರ್ಮೇಂದ್ರ Tīrtha (1861–1872), who was an embodiment of the sage Dūrvasā and of great eminence. After him, the second son of Śrī Sujñānendra’s - ಸುಜ್ಞಾನೇಂದ್ರ pre-ascetic life, Śrī Sugunendra - ಸುಗುಣೇಂದ್ರ Tīrtha (1872–1884), who appeared in the land of the great Lord Maheśvara during the Kāmakāla - ಕಾಮಕಾಲ period, spent the wealth of the mutt to protect thousands for two years. He reminded the world of Śrī Rāyaru’s past miracles and ruled the all-knowing throne with glory.

After him, Śrī Gururājācārya, a scholar and the second son of Rāja Rājagopālācārya—the eldest son from Śrī Sujñānendra’s - ಸುಜ್ಞಾನೇಂದ್ರ pre-ascetic life—shone as the head of the Śrīmadācārya Mahāsaṁsthāna under the name Śrī Suprajendra - ಸುಪ್ರಜೇಂದ್ರ Tīrtha (1884–1903).

It was during this time that the incarnation of the one who would spread the glory of Śrī Rāyaru appeared.

Śrī Suprajendra - ಸುಪ್ರಜೇಂದ್ರ Tīrtha was well-versed in all the scriptures.

Dozens of disciples studied śāstras like Nyāya and Vedānta under him and became scholars. His family deities were Śrīnivāsa, Vāyudeva, and Śrī Gururāja. He was a well-wisher of all beings and showed great compassion toward the poor and downtrodden. Among his dependents, his blessings were extraordinary. Being partial to the learned, he was a noble soul who generously helped hundreds of families to live sustainably. By the grace of the Lord, he was endowed with the power of vāk siddhi (speech becoming reality). People believed that his blessings always bore fruit.

Śrī Suprajendra’s - ಸುಪ್ರಜೇಂದ್ರ elder brother Rājā Vēṅkaṭarāghavendrācārya had three sons:

Rājā Vēṇugōpālācārya (later became Śrī Sukṛtīndra - ಸುಕೃತೀಂದ್ರ Tīrtha),

Rājā Kṛṣṇācārya (later became Śrī Suśīlēndra - ಸುಶೀಲೇಂದ್ರ Tīrtha),

Rājā Sujñānendrācārya - ಸುಜ್ಞಾನೇಂದ್ರಾಚಾರ್ಯ (father of the current peetādhipati Śrī Sujayīndra - ಸುಜಯೀಂದ್ರ Tīrtha).

Among them, the eldest, Vēṇugōpālācārya, was the chief scholar and administrator of the mutt. His wife was Gangābāyī - ಗಂಗಾಬಾಯಿ, and the couple had a daughter named Sītābāyī - ಸೀತಾಬಾಯಿ. However, for many years after, they did not have any children.

As per the instructions of Śrī Suprajendra - ಸುಪ್ರಜೇಂದ್ರ, the couple—like Śrī Gururāja’s parents Timmannācārya and Gopikāmbādevī in the past—worshipped their family deity Śrīnivāsa and surrendered themselves to Śrī Rāyaru. They went to Mantralaya and served Rāyaru with unwavering devotion through observances like vows, fasts, and diligent recitation of sacred scriptures.

Ācārya (Vēṇugōpālācārya) did not merely wish for a son to continue the lineage. He prayed for a son who would be an unbroken, unwavering devotee of Rāyaru, who would serve Rāyaru in a way never done before, who would transform Mantralaya into a celestial abode as proclaimed by the Dāsas, who would spread the glory of Gururāja far and wide, and who would make the people of the world into devotees of Rāyaru, serve him, and thereby attain ultimate well-being.

Desiring such a virtuous son, endowed with unparalleled qualities, they continued to serve and pray to Śrī Rāyaru with deep devotion.

For forty-eight days, the service of the Ācārya couple continued smoothly.

That night, Rāyaru appeared to the couple in a dream, showing his hand in the gesture of protection (abhaya mudra), smiling radiantly. He said:

“Dear ones, we are greatly pleased with your service. Your heartfelt desire will be fulfilled. Behold, we are granting you a boon.

You will have a noble son—one who is deeply blessed by us, an inner-core devotee, endowed with divine and sattvic virtues, and one who will glorify our lineage and our great institution. May auspiciousness be yours.”

So blessing them, Rāyaru gave the couple an idol of Śrī Rāma, a garland of flowers, sacred sandalwood, fruits, and mantra-infused akṣate (sacred rice grains), and then disappeared!

At dawn, the Ācārya couple awoke and shared the dream with each other, overwhelmed with joy, feeling that Rāyaru’s grace had indeed touched them. That day, they offered hastodaka (ceremonial offering of food and water) to Guru Rāja, received his divine permission, and returned to Nanjangud.

Vēṇugōpālācārya narrated the dream and the blessings of Rāyaru to Śrī Suprajendra - ಸುಪ್ರಜೇಂದ್ರ Tīrtha. Delighted, the revered Swamiji smiled and said:

“Vēṇu, you are truly fortunate! How profound is your destiny in propagating the glory of Śrī Rāyaru, the savior of the world!

Guru Rāja blessed you with an idol of Śrī Rāma and a garland of flowers, did he not? Do you understand the meaning of that?

It signifies that you will receive a son blessed to worship Śrī Mūlarāma—the embodiment of auspiciousness—and that he will ascend to become the future head of our great Peetha (monastic seat)!

As you wished, your son will spread the glory of Rāyaru as easily and gracefully as lifting a garland of flowers. Such a virtuous son you will be blessed with. You are indeed blessed!”

What more could one seek after such grace from the Sovereign Guru?

In a few days, Śrīmatī Gangābāyī conceived. On an auspicious day in the year 1896 CE, during the Śālīvāhana Śaka 1818, in the Durmukha year, on the full moon day (Pūrṇimā) of the bright fortnight (Śukla Pakṣa) of the month of Mārgaśīrṣa, by the divine grace of Rāyaru, Gangābāyī gave birth to a noble son.

Thus rose the radiant sun who would one day spread the glory of Śrī Guru Rāja!

As per the instructions of Śrī Suprajendra - ಸುಪ್ರಜೇಂದ್ರ Tīrtha, Śrī Vēṇugōpālācārya, in accordance with the Vedic rituals, conducted the ceremonies of jātakarma (birth rites) and nāmakaraṇa (naming ceremony) with grandeur. The child was named "Śrīnivāsa Nanjunda Rāghavendra"—combining the names of their family deity Śrī Veṅkaṭēśvara, their chosen deity Śrī Kaṇṭheśvara of Nanjangud, and the revered ancestor Śrī Rāghavendra Swāmigal.

This child, born from the grace of Śrī Guru Rāja, later grew up as Rājā Śrīnivāsamūrtyācārya - ಶ್ರೀನಿವಾಸಮೂರ್ತ್ಯಾಚಾರ್ಯ, and in 1933 CE, became the vara-kumāra (chosen successor) of Śrī Suvratīndra - ಸುವ್ರತೀಂದ್ರ Tīrtha. Taking the monastic name Śrī Suyamīndra - ಸುಯಮೀಂದ್ರ Tīrtha Śrīpādangalavaru, he ascended to lead the great Mahāsaṁsthāna.

For 33 years, he adorned the peetha; for 25 of those years, he personally served Rāyaru with his own hands, offering hastodaka, and comprehensively developed Mantralaya. He spread the glory of Rāyaru across India and the world, becoming widely revered as:

“The dearest child of Rāyaru’s grace” and

“The master architect of Mantralaya.”