Who is Guru Raghavendra?

Guru Raghavendra (1595-1671), is a great Indian saint whose followers number in the millions. The saint, an exponent of the Dwaita School, is particularly revered by the Madhwa sect of Brahmins... More

Photo by : Raghavendra Vishnu on SRI RAGHAVENDRA SWAMY JAYANTY March 12, 2011

About Mantralayam

Mantralyam is a Hindu religious place where the Moola Bridavanam of Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy is located. Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy, (1601-1671), was an influential saint in Hinduism. He advocated Vaishnavism (i.e. worship of Vishnu as the supreme God.) and Dvaita philosophy advocated by Sri Madhwacharya. He is considered to be a reincarnation of Prahallada, the devotee who was saved by Vishnu, in his avatar of Narasimha. Shri Raghavendra Swamy is said to have performed many miracles during his lifetime and is believed to continue to bless his devotees to this day and will continue to do so.

The town is located in Karnataka border of Andhra Pradesh on the southern bank of Tungabhadra river. Majority of people here are conversant with both Telugu and Kannada languages. You can also find people speaking Tamil.

How to Visit Mantralayam ?

Mantralayam is around 250 km from Hyderabad, the journey from Hyderabad takes about 6-8 hours by road. It takes about 10 Hours by road from Bangalore.

If you are driving from Hyderabad, you need to take the NH7 - the highway to Bangalore and take a diversion at Jadcherla. Various state roads will take you to Mahboobnagar and Raichur in Karnataka.

Mantralayam is around 600 km from Chennai. It can be reached through the route of Chittor. It is around 650 km from Mangalore. By road, one can take private buses from Mangalore to Bellary and from Bellary one can get ample number of KSRTC buses to Mantralayam. The journey takes almost 15 hours.

The nearest rail head is Mantralayam Road. It lies on the Mumbai-Bangalore, Delhi-Bangalore and the Mumbai-Chennai train routes. Regular rail service is available for this route. Apparently, many trains like Karnataka Express, Rajdhani, etc. stop at Mantralayam Road to refill water, even though the station is not on their official list of stops. Mantralayam is a techical stop for all long distance trains going through the the Mumbai-chennai, Mumbai-chennai, and all towards the down south routes . Trains stop there to fill up water, since The station is jst near the tungabhadra river, This is the only source of fresh drinking water on the entire 900km route. Even if the train doesnt have a scheduled passenger stop, but it has to stop for refilling there water for passenger compartments. It a reliable source.

There is one train that goes from Hyderabad Deccan station to Mantralayam Road en route Tirupati. Mantralayam Road is about 16 km away from Mantralayam. You can travel to Mantralayam from Mantralayam Road station by private Jeeps, taxis, autorickshaws or public bus. Approximate cost of travel per person is Rs.50 for private transport and Rs.10 for Public Bus.

The place is small enough to be covered on foot. If you drive into the temple complex, there is a charge of Rs. 15 for parking. The collection of parking charges is inconsistenly done, however. Rickshaws are available all over the place.

Sri Raghavendra Swamy Temple

Raghavendra Swamy temple, 6 AM-8AM, 10AM-2PM, 4PM-8PM. The temple and "Mutt" complex is the main attraction here, but most people here are believers, not sightseers. If you go in the evening on special occasions ( of course it is a regular event around 8.00 PM) , you can see chariots carrying the deity being drawn around the temple and the temple elephants paying obeisance to the deity. It is quite a spectacular sight. There are three chariots, one plated in gold, the other in silver and the third in sandalwood. Behind the temple the Tungabhadra river flows, which is also worth seeing.

It is a must to wear dhoti for gents and indian attire like sari, salwar kameez for ladies to enter the sanctum if you want to go near to the Brindavan or do aarthi on your own.

Before entering the sanctum sanctorium of mutt, you are advised to take a bath (or atleast wash your feet) on the banks of Tungabhadra river (or at the tap in front of the mutt). Have the darshan of Manchalamma, the godess who blessed the place for Shri Raghavendra Swamy's Vrindavanam. Then, you need to enter the sanctum of mutt through the queue complex in front of mutt. If you are lucky enough and there's no rush for the darshan, you can enter the sanctum directly (ofcourse, you have to bear with queue of smaller length). After the darshan, you can quietly move around the sanctum chanting the stotras of Sri Raghavendra Swamy or simply chant OM Sri Raghavendraya Namaha.

If you are offering sevas exceeding Rs. 50/-, you are required to assemble in the seva hall on the right side of the sanctum before 8.00 am. Hence you are required to purchase the seva tickets the previous day. Please note that the seva timings might vary or sevas might be cancelled on auspicious days like Rama Navami, Madhva Navami, Aradhana days and on the days of eclipse. Parimala prasadams are unique kind of prasadams prepared and offered to deity in Mantralayam only which are available in the counters outside the sanctum.

Mass feeding of meals takes place in a large dining hall on the left side of the sanctum during afternoons. During nights you can purchase food items like puliogare, pongal from Annadaata counter in front of the mutt by paying a small amount.

A new scheme is introduced with the offerings from one of the devotees. During night(sometime after 8PM), ouside the temple, they provide two differnet rice items(rice bath, curd rice) which each plate of rice costs @ Rs2/- only. The quantity as well as the taste is also good. Two plates will be sufficient for one member.

Eating Places in Mantralayam

Good food is available easily and at affordable places. Please take care, as the cleanliness is missing on various eating places.

• Hotel Pannaga, +91-8512- 279460.

• MTR. MTR Fast Food Opposite to Temple (front view) is good. especially for Breakfast & Dinner

• Sri Udipi Krishna Hotel on the main road.

Lodges & Hotels in Mantralayam

Lodges & Hotels are available in Mantralayam easily but it is always better to book in advance especially if visiting during weekends, Thursday and public holidays. Devasthanam (Temple authorities) is providing Cottages ( Rs: 200 to 750) those who are performing special sevas or it can be booked in advance.

• Sri Guru Sarva Bhouma Lodge, Mantralayam Office - 08512-279898

• Hare Sreenivasa Lodge, +91 8512 279446,+91-9440591707.

• Holiday Home . A decent lodge

• Hotel Rajeswari lodge  +91-(0)8512-255461 AC and non-AC deluxe rooms

• Pankaja Lodge A/C and Non-A/C rooms available at reasonable rates. +91 8512 280077 , +91-9885247362, +91- 9885247216

• Pavamana Udupi Residency for AC and non-AC deluxe rooms call us at +91-(0)8512-280062.

• Prasuna Lodge, +91 8512 279594.

• Sri Upendra Theertha Nilayam - Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt +91 8512 280071, 09440591611, For Ac rooms for Rs: 750 +.

Also visit Panchamukha

Twenty kilometers away across the state line in Raichur is a temple called Panchamukha that commemorates the spot where Raghavendra is said to have meditated for twelve years before Sri Anjaneya.

Its a must visit place near mantralaya.

News : Lawrence built Raghavendra temple on 7 acres of land.

Choreographer-Director- Actor lawrence raghavendra is a true devotee of Lord Raghavendra. Many in film industry don’t spare time to praise their trusted god after reaching the success mark. Contrary to all of them, lawrence raghavendra has built a wonderful temple for Lord Raghavendra on outskirts of Chennai on an area of 7 acres of land. Speaking about this temple, lawrence raghavendra said that, it was his dream to build a temple for Raghavendra Swamy and it is fulfilled now. Temple is opened on 1st January 2010 and lawrence raghavendra has taken care that he hasn’t invited any cinema related personalities to this temple opening ceremony as it would divert the attention of the devotees. Photos