Acharyaru & Gurugala Amruthavarsha in my Life

Author : Smt. Shyamala V. Rao, Bengaluru

This is the first time in my life, I am writing about some of my spiritual experiences with the blessing of my mother and the support of my family.

I was born after my parents performed seva at Shri Kshetra Sode. My father always used to say, Shyamala, you have special blessings from Sri Vadirajaru. I was born at home and that place once upon a time belonged to Sode Matha. The school that I studied in too belonged to Sode Matha.

In 2001, I met Sri Hiriya Swamiji of Sode Matha, who was staying at Bengaluru at the time for Chaturmasya, to show my horoscope. At that time, I was working with Madhwa People’s Organization at Bengaluru. A friend of mine forcibly took me to the chhatra. It was 7-30 pm and the pravachana had concluded following which I was allowed me to meet Gurugalu. I showed him my horoscope and asked when I could get married. He told me that he does not know how to read a horoscope. He asked me to go to Sode and ask for Sri Raghavendra Upadhyaya and tell him that I was sent by His Holiness. I came home and told my sister about Gurugalu’s words. She immediately called a nearby travel agency and surprisingly they said last 2 seats were available on the bus to Sode (to and fro). She immediately booked the ticket. Within an hour we were travelling to Sode.

That was the first time my sister and me were visiting Sode. After bath and pradashine, we asked for Sri Raghavendra Upadhyaya. They asked us why? We said Gurugalu had sent us here to meet him. We met Sri Raghavendra Upadhyayaru. He said that the one who has already seen you and gone, will marry you. In the evening we went to Tapovana. At the temple somebody said ‘Vadirajeru inkleni edegu tharpudonthuna’. Within two months I got married. If I look back into the past, each and every step in my life is lead by Sri Vadiraja Gurugalu.

1. My name related to Udupi Krishna. Before my birth, my grandma selected my name as ‘Neelameghashyama’ (because my aunts’ first born are sons) after seeing me as a girl, she changed my name as Shyamala.

2. On August 13, 2018, Monday my son became very ill and he fell on my lap unconscious. I poured one tub full of water on his head. In few minutes, immediately I prayed to Vadiraja prathishtitha Hanuma that – I will offer one mudi rice, give a life to my son. Believe it or not my son regained consciousness but was unable to talk or drink. I put him in bed. I immediately called Udupi Sankarshana Departmental Store : Sri Vishvesh and explained to him the situation and asked to give one mudi rice. He listened to me and agreed. At 9.30 am my son started gaining a little strength and asked for some water. Later in the evening, I called Sri Vishvesh telling him that my son was now okay. He told me that he already gave the rice to temple. I asked him what time he gave the rice? He said around 9.30 am. It was the time my son asked for water and drank it.

You can call or visit Sri Vishvesh at his shop near Sode Matha lane or you may reach him at 8618580350, saying Shyamala from Bengaluru told this story, is it true? He is the real proof and evidence to this incident.

That’s why I am working as a volunteer to thank Hanuma.

3. 19-11-2018, Monday I came to Udupi for Mudradharane as I had it missed at Bengaluru and Sri Palimaru Matha is my Gurumatha. While doing pradakshina at Anantheshwara Temple, opposite to Sri Madwacharya window, I told myself “Acharyare I am chanting one mantra, but I do not know whether it is correct or not (and I chanted ‘Acharyaha Srimadacharyaha Santhu Me Janma Janmani’ – which I read in Kannada Sarvamoola monthly book and started chanting it. One elderly brahmana came and stood next to me chanting loudly the same mantra ‘Acharyaha Srimadacharyaha Santhu Me Janma Janmani’ did namaskara to Acharya Madhwa’s window and went. It felt like what I was chanting was correct.

4. Mantralaya Rayaru : My father was very much a believer in Rayaru also. Before 1982, once he was at Mantralaya and he was doing pradakshine and chanting ‘Poojyaya ……. Kamadhenave’. One middle age Brahmin person wearing kavi vastra came and asked my father what are you chanting? My father told the shloka. That person told my father you know Vishnusahasranama. Rayaru – Vishnu bhaktharu, you chant Vishnusaharanama and gave one hand full Manthrakshathe to my father. Father asked his name. He told he was Sri Raghavendra Achar and was staying at the matha premises. My father continued with pradakshine. Later my father got some doubts and wanted to discuss it with Sri Raghavendra Achar. He searched for him but could not find him. He asked some people at the Matha explaining to them his meeting and wanting to discuss some more things. They were surprised and told him he met none other than Sri Raghavendra Gurugalu. He used to tell us that the Mantrakshate Kalu was 3 times bigger than normal mantrakshate, they looked like pearls.

In April 2010, my husband fell very ill. My mother said one harake was pending. Before my marriage she pledged to send me and my husband to Mantralaya after marriage. Please visit Mantralaya. We gave all blood samples and same day we went to Mantralaya (till 1982 my father used to take us to Mantralaya). Sitting in the bus I was thinking after long time I am visiting Mantralaya. How much it would have changed and where to go. My husband was sick. We sat on a 3 seat row. I was very tense. At 11 pm in the night, one elderly village lady boarded the bus and sat next to me. She asked me some questions and I replied to her. She told while visiting Mantralaya visit Panchamukhi also. I had never heard about that place. I agreed. At 4 am, our bus got punctured and we shifted to another bus. The lady next to me did not board the bus. I searched for her, but in vain. She was not there (we are in bus 13 – 15 only). I got a dream – seeing some steps, dry leafs, rocks, cactus, chappal.

We could not find the rooms anywhere, somehow managed and went for dharshana. Police gave lots of chance for dharshana after seeing my sick husband. At lunch time, we went bhojanashala and asked them can I do Neladalli Oota like Udupi Bhojana Shaala? They told me to speak with the Manager. Thankfully he was from Udupi (Sri Venkatesh – not sure), tulu speaking. I asked him the same. My husband is very ill and sick. He is not able to walk. I am holding his hand and walking. He agreed. At lunch time I had lunch on the floor without banana leaf. Nobody complained.

Maybe in Mantralaya History : I am the first person who had lunch like Udupi Bhojana Shale Neladalli Oota (My husband still remembers this).

We visited Panchamukhi. I was surprised that each step, rock, dry leaves and cactus, even chapel were exactly what I saw in my dream. After reaching Bengaluru, I collected the blood report : Everything was normal. Within one and half month, my husband fully recovered.

Shyamala V