Mantralayam Raghavendra Temple of Andhra Pradesh is dedicated to Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy, who lived during the 16th century. Sri Raghavendra Swamy is considered an incarnation of Prahlad, a devotee of Sri Vishnu.
Raghavendra Swamy was a devotee of Sri Moola Rama and Sri Panchamukhi Mukhya Prana Devaru. It is believed that the five-faced Hanuman gave darshan to the saint while he was performing penance at a place called Panchamukhi.
The teachings of this great saint are based on the Vaishnava cult, Dvaita philosophy and preaching of Madhvacharya. Before becoming a saint, Sri Raghavendra was a family man with a wife and a son. On the day of his transformation, his wife wished to see him for the last time and hence came running to the mutt. But in her hurry, she fell into an abandoned well and died.
As it was an untimely death of her with the desire unfulfilled, she became a ghost and came to visit the saint in the mutt. Sri Raghavendra Swamy sensed her presence and sprinkled holy water, relieving her from the cycles of birth and death. Sri Raghavendra is believed to have done many miracles in his lifetime.
Mantralayam Raghavendra Temple Timings:
Morning: 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Evening: 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Tirtha Prasada: 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Swamiji Darshan: 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Seva Sankalpa: 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM
Mahapooja to Moola Rama, Mukhyaprana and Brindavana is performed at Noon.
Mantrashakta is performed from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM.
Tirtha Prasad (Lunch): 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.
Dinner (Sandhya Bhoga – Occasionally): After 8:00 PM
Sri Raghavendra Temple History:
Sri Raghavendra Swamy Matha was established by Acharya’s devotees and the Vyasaraja Mutt and the original Mutt is known after the names of the founders and the celebrated saints. Silhouetted against this background, the name Uttaradi Mutt is at variance. This has given scope to climb this as the original Mutt. But there is no proof. It also defies logic. The main contention of their argument is that as the disciples of Acharya, Padmanabha Theertham and others belonged to the north, the main Mutt acquired the name Uttaradi Mutt. But this name fails to suggest that this Mutt is the main Mutt. The entitlement that Padmanabhatheertha and others hailing from the north themselves called their Mutt Uttaradi Mutt is both unreal and unnatural.
Even the Mutts of Acharyas of other sects do not have names based on such bizarre logic. Therefore, there is every reason to accomplish that after Ramachandratheertha during the period of Vidyanidhi, branching out into a different Mutt this must have come to be called Uttaradi Mutt. One more reason can be adduced for this. As Vidyanidhi Theertham, the founder of Uttaradi Mutt was a Taulava, it is likely for him to have called the Mutt established by him Uttaradi Mutt. Moreover, mainly because of the nonappearance of the names of such well-known saints like Vibudhendra, Vijayeendra, Raghavendra, Sumatheendra, and Chandrikacharya in the custom of this Mutt, it must have become familiar as Uttaradi Mutt.
Sri Raghavendra Swamy Temple Dress Code:
A strict Dress Code is maintained in Mantralayam Sri Raghavendra Swamy Temple.
For Men: Men should wear Dhoti and no Shirt (only Angavastram).
For Women: Women should wear a sari or salwar kameez.
Devotees are not allowed to enter the Mantralayam temple wearing jeans, shorts, or T-shirts.
Temple Festivals:
- Maharathostavam, also known as the car festival is celebrated with great pomp and glamour.
Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy Aradhanostavam. - Special events like Tulasi Archana and Hastodaka, Rathotsava and Maha Mangal aarti takes place during Dhanurmasa Month.
- Special Poojas are performed on Ekadasi, Grahana, or Eclipse days and on Sri Krishna Janmashtami.
How to reach Raghavendra Temple:
By Air:
The nearest airports are Sri Sathya Sai Airport, Puttaparthi 229 km and Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Hyderabad 254 km from Mantralaya.
By Rail:
Nearest Railway Stations are Mantralayam Road and Guntakal Junction.
By Road:
After crossing the Tungabhadra River, you are in Karnataka. There are nonstop buses connecting Mantralaya to the most important towns and cities in Andhra and Karnataka.
Raghavendra Mutt Address:
Raichur – Mantralaya Road,
Manchala,
Mantralayam,
Adoni(Dt),
Kurnool District,
Andhra Pradesh – 518345,
Is temple rush during vaikunta yekadashi…
Dear Rohini
Certainly, There will be a significant rush during Vaikunta Ekadashi.