• Know about the life, teachings and impact of Guru Raghavendra Swami. Pranams. 

The moment I see Guru Raghavendra Swami, the words of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar come to mind, “Guru is Knowledge, Guru is Love, Guru is Light. There is no difference between Guru, God and the Soul.” 

Guru Raghavendra Swami is one of the most popular Guru from South India. Thousands of men and women, including many eminent scholars, politicians, and philanthropists consider Raghavendra Swami as their Guru. Thousands of folks from Bengaluru to Boston and Atlanta to Sydney adore Guru Raghavendra Swami. Every second, powerful mantra Om Sri Raghavendraya Namaha is chanted across the world. 

Guru Raghavendra Swami is called as Kaliyuga Kalpavriksha Kamadhenumeaning that Guru Raghavendra Swami is like fulfilling Kalpavriksha (divine tree) and fulfilling Kamadhenu (divine cow).   Guru Raghavendra Swami is affectionately called as Rayaru by devotees globally.

The number of devotees of Rayaru is increasing every day because Rayaru fulfills the material desires of his devotees, and magically miracles happen! Greatest devotee of the Lord, Rayaru fulfills material desires, and slowly ignites spiritual knowledge in the devotees. A few years ago, I saw Rayaru in my dream for the first time, and was overwhelmed with joy to find an iconic spiritual Guru! Today, thousands of folks including me are enriched and empowered by Rayaru. 

Rayaru protects and guides us and our loved ones every moment. Rayaru shows us amazing visions in dreams, we encounter uplifting spiritual experiences that inspire and motivate us to mediate, and follow the path of Righteousness in all circumstances. 

Rayaru, was born by the blessings of Lord Venkateshwara in 1595 in Bhuvanagiri, near present day Chidambaram to Sri Thimanna Bhatta and Gopikambha Bhatta. As a child, Rayaru was known as Venkanna Bhatta. Venkanna Bhatta grew up in religious family, and gained enormous knowledge in Vedas and Sanskrit in just few years. Rayaru married Saraswathi Bai, and they had a son named Lakshmi Narayana.

Rayaru was always busy in teaching and giving talks on Vedas, Sanskrit to his numerous disciples, without any financial rewards. Rayaru and his loved ones endured lot of hardship and poverty. Rayaru always made sure that all folks in his community had food to eat every day, and Rayaru went without food for many days. Rayaru was so focused on God, and was always spreading the Divine light – Bhakti (devotion) and Jnana (spiritual knowledge).

Every day Rayaru slept just for two hours. He was involved in teaching Vedas or writing commentaries on text written by Guru Madhwacharya. Scholars proclaim Rayaru has written the divine commentaries in easy to understand beautiful language. Rayaru has written Veda Traya Vivruti (commentaries on three Vedas), Upanishads, Geetha Vivruthi (on Bhagvad Gita), Rama Chartirya Manjari, Mahabharatha Tatparya Nirnaya Bhava Sangraha (Essence of each chapter in one verse). Parimala Grantha is an outstanding literature by Rayaru, which expounds the countless attributes of the supreme Lord.

According to Puranas, Raghavendra Swami is a celestial known as Shankukarna, who used to assist Lord Chaturmukh Bhrama. Once Shankukarna got delayed in getting flowers for pooja rituals, and Bhrama cursed Shankukarna to be born on Earth! Great devotee Raghavendra Swami is the incarnation of Bhaktha Prahalada in Satya Yuga.

In Dwapara Yuga, Bahalika Raja is the incarnation of Raghavendra Swamy. Even though, Bahalika Raja was a great devotee of Lord Krishna, circumstances led Bahalika Raja to be on Kauravas side during the Mahabharatha war. In Kaliyuga Vyasatirth, the Raja Guru of Vijayanagara Empire is also an incarnation of Raghavendra Swamy.

The number of devotional songs composed and books written on Rayaru are numerous, and even today so many scholars are composing and writing books on all the breath-taking miracles and compassion shown by Rayaru. Thanks to Youtube, I can listen to so many amazing songs on my Guru, and my heart is filled with love and gratitude to Rayaru. 

In South India, almost all the cities and towns have Rayara Matha. The Divine essence in the form of "Mrittike" from Moola Brundavana in Mantralaya is present in all the Rayara Mathas across the world.

Every day, thousands of devotees visit Mantralaya, to get Darshan of Guru Raghavendra Brundavana. Mantralaya is on the banks of river Tungabhadra in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. To get the Divine grace of Rayaru, devotees perform various austerities such as reciting Bhagvad Gita in front of Brundavana, eating just one meal in a day, or chanting Om Sri Raghavendraya Namaha 108 times for one or many days.  Rayaru devotees proclaim that enemies of the Mind - anger, numerous desires, greed, ego, jealousy will disappear, and magically mind will be purified brimming with noble virtues when one has intense faith, devotion and belief in Rayaru.

For decades movies on Rayaru such as Mantralaya Mahime, Sri Raghavendra , have attracted numerous devotees to Rayar. I'm learning so much about Rayaru from Meera's blog, Kalpavriksha Kamadhenu besides Divine songs on Rayaru, and Meera's divine experiences with Rayaru. All this has increased my love for and faith in Rayaru.

All devotees of Rayaru are calm, composed and confident while performing their duties. Thousands of Rayaru's devotees agree when Sri Sri Ravi Shankar of Art of Living says, “The four benefits of having a Guru - wisdom, progress, achievement, and Liberation in life.” I now realize that the Rayaru devotees I encountered in my life are wise, progressive, humble and are brimming with positive thoughts while following the path of Dharma (Righteousness) at every moment. 

Today, as spiritual quest is increasing in people of all age groups, folks are searching for Guru. Having faith and devotion in Rayaru will magically guide everyone to take the Right path.

According to Raghavendra Swami Matha Mantralayam, reciting Om Sri Raghavendraya Namaha with intense devotion is good enough to obtain Rayaru's grace.

Rayaru's last words before entering Brundavana are soul stirring. “Without Right Living, Right Thinking will never come.” 

Right Living is performing one's ordained duties according to one's station in life without hankering after the fruits of the actions and on the other hand offering all activities to the Lord. This is real sadachara (Real Living).

Rayaru also said, “Be kind and courteous to everyone. Be kind to all animals and all living creatures. Do not hurt the feelings of others. Have devotion towards the Lord. Universal affection and love for all should be practiced. Avoid pride, so that you do fall into the trap of egoism.” 

According to Agni Purana, all human beings should grow the flowers of Ahimsa i.e. love for all creatures, self-control, compassion, spiritual knowledge, meditation, and Dharma (Righteousness) in their Heart, and should perform Pooja with these flowers. Life will be filled with peace and prosperity when these Divine flowers are used every moment. 

I'm always calm and content, as I always feel that Rayaru is with me. In these times when anxiety, fear and depression is gripping the world, Rayaru's grace gives solace, strength, peace and joy to all. In this Digital era, when life gets overwhelmed with negative emotions, Rayaru not only gives comfort and peace, but provides confidence and guidance to follow the Right path in our life.

I wholeheartedly agree when Swami Vivekananda said, “As long as you have faith in your Guru, nothing will be able to obstruct your way.”