The Hindu : Miscellaneous / Religion : Channels of spirituality

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 31, 2004

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Channels of spirituality

CHENNAI, AUG. 31. ``It is not that there are no purifying agencies in the shape of rivers and deities made of clay or stone. But they purify us after an interval of time. The vision or darshan of a sage cleanses us of all our defects instantaneously,'' says the Bhagavatham. For saints work miracles on the minds of devotees who have full belief and faith in such personages. The spiritual nature of man is such that only at intervals between materialistic pursuits can he turn to matters of divinity. What can one do to increase such awareness and proportionately expand the intervals of spiritual pursuit? The life and teachings of great men of wisdom serve as sources of spiritual rejuvenation for aspirants. Their influence on us is positive and unobtrusive, seemingly working miracles. Such men of divinity are the channels of spirituality who bring clarity and meaning to our lives.

Sri Raghavendra (1623-1671), the most popular of Madhwa gurus has no parallel in the saints hagiology, said Sri Vidya Vachaspati Theertha, the head of the Sosale Vyasaraja Math, in his discourse on the occasion of the saint's Brindavan Day (August 31). Devotees visiting his eternal abode at Manthralaya have experienced an immense inner peace and a sense of absolute comfort; many have felt the easing of heavy mental and emotional burdens, which were weighing them down.

Sri Raghavendra is identified as the celestial Sankukarna in the land of Braham being a student-servitor of Brahma. In the first of the four Yugas, Sankukarna served God as the devout Prahlad, in the second as Vibhishana, in the third as Bahlika and in the fourth as the student of devotional doctrine as Sri Vyasaraja and Sri Raghavendra. He was offered the monastic orders when only 25 years of age, with a young wife and son, and despite leading a life of penury never swerved from his devotion to God.

A series of miracles has been attributed to him, seemingly a result of `testing times' created by disbelievers. Some of these events find mention in historical documents such as the Bellary district gazette. Voluntarily entering the Samadhi, he selected a stone slab graced by Lord Rama to be placed foremost in the tomb, and it is believed that this stone helps exude the extraordinary spiritual power often felt by visitors; further, he also pledged to remain in his astral body for 700 years in order to bless mankind. An aspect vouched for by countless devotees who have thronged Manthralaya.

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