- Author : Vidwan Guruprasad Bhat
- Translation: Akshay Venkatesh
The scriptures have proclaimed that meditating upon the divine form of Gurus from their head to toe destroys all obstacles and fulfills one’s wishes.
One can observe from the life history of the most illustrious Sri Raghavendra Teertha, that he is filled with utmost compassion. Sri Raghavendra Teertha is the flawless rising moon in the ocean of nectar that is Sri Madhwacharya’s lineage. Doesn’t the holy name of Sri Raghavendra Teertha remind the devotees of Sri Rama, an epitome of kindness?
Having entered the Brindavana alive at the sacred town of Mantralaya, chanting and meditating upon Sri Rama, Sri Raghavendra Teertha who is an epitome of compassion, continues to bless countless devotees, especially those immersed in and tired of worldly miseries. Even today, we come across lakhs of devotees in all parts of the country, who have been bestowed with his grace and all kinds of worldly prosperity. It is due to this very reason that we see his holy brindavanas containing his divine presence (in the form of mruttika – divine mud), across the country.
Appannacharya in the Guru Stotra sings – “O Giver of all! The destroyer of mountains of sins with a mere glance; ocean of compassion; protect me always”. Explaining the benefits of circumambulating (pradakshina), and prostrating (namaskara) to the Brindavana, he says – apart from bestowing sight to the blind, speech to the dumb, curing leprosy and other ailments, and other worldly fruits, one would also achieve spiritual progress by meditating upon him.
In conclusion,
sarvaabhistaartha siddhyartham namaskaaram karomyaham |
tava sankeerthanam veda-shaastrartha-gnaana siddhaye ||
Appannacharya says, the ultimate purpose of devotion towards the Guru, should be to learn and understand the Vedas and Shastras (scriptures), and not for mere fulfillment of one’s worldly desires. It is a matter of great pride that Guru Raghavendra Teertha is an epochal seer in Sri Madhwa’s lineage. He has written many commentaries and treatises to many of the works of Sri Madhwa and his successors. His works (like Parimala and others) are in the true sense a Kalpavriksha (a divine tree that fulfills all our desires) and Kamadhenu (a divine cow that fulfills all our desires). Studying his works should be the aim of our life. Such study is the most befitting veneration of the Guru. May that fortune befall all of us by the mercy of Sri Rama, Sri Madhwacharya and Sri Guru Raghavendra.
Ramaa-kalatrana Daasa-vargake Namipenanavarata || Always at the humble feet of Sri-Hari’s dasas!!