Mantralaya-1090

(Sri Prasanna Venkata Dasaru, Part 3.blessings bestowed upon him by Sri Swami Srinivas and Sri Raghavendra Teertharu)

Date : May 15, 2024

Background

Dear Devotees : Namaskara.

| Sri MannMoolaRamastu Mannmathe Moolamahasamsthhaana Mantralaya Sri Rayaramathe||
|| OM SRI RAGHAVENDRAAYA NAMAHA||
SATYAMEVA   JAYATI NA ANRUTA

Background

In Part 3 of Sri Prasanna Venkata Dasaru's journey, we delve into the blessings bestowed upon him by Sri Swami Srinivas and Sri Raghavendra Teertharu, as well as the greatness of Dasaru, described in Mantralaya (1090).

Meaning

In the preceding episode of Mantralaya (1089), we delved into the blessings bestowed upon him by Sri Swami Srinivas and witnessed Venkanna's transformation into Sri Prasanna Venkata Dasaru.

Now, let's see what happens next.

One day, the main priest of the temple had a special dream. In the dream, Lord Venkateshwara appeared and said, "Look, the boy who happily danced and sang hymns in the temple is very dear to me. I have shown him my true divine form and given him the special name 'Prasanna Venkata.' From now on, he will be known as Prasanna Venkata Dasa and will spread devotion everywhere."The Lord then gave more instructions to the priest. He said, "Tomorrow morning when you go to the temple, you will find a special package wrapped in saffron cloth inside the inner sanctum. Inside this sacred bundle, you will find my divine image along with Sridevi, Bhudevi, and symbols of Tala and Gopala. Give him a tambourine from our temple along with this divine gift, and tell him that I have chosen him to be a servant. From now on, he will be known all over the world as Prasanna Venkata Dasaru, someone who brings devotion and service to everyone."

The following morning, as the first light kissed the horizon, Venkanna ventured to the temple, his heart brimming with devotion for Lord Srinivasa. Lost in the depths of his prayer, he felt a gentle tap on his shoulder. Opening his eyes, he found himself before the chief priest, who spoke with reverence, "Venkannaavre! Truly, you are blessed. The Lord Himself has revealed His grace upon you in the form of divine visions."

With humility and acceptance of the divine will, Venkanna nodded in acknowledgment, whispering, "All is but the wish of Sri Hari." He then followed the priest's guidance, making his way to the sacred hall of Kalyanotsava at the appointed hour of worship.

Upon the priest's invitation, Prasanna Venkata Dasaru was ushered to the forefront of the assembly, where the sacred rites unfolded. With a hushed anticipation, the priest shared the divine message bestowed upon him in a dream. Then, with a solemn gesture, he presented Venkanna with the saffron-colored parcel, urging him to reveal its contents.

As Venkanna unveiled the offering, his eyes beheld the resplendent idols of Lord Sri Venkateshwara, flanked by the divine consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi, alongside the sacred tala and gopal butti. Overwhelmed by the divine presence, Venkanna closed his eyes in fervent prayer, his heart brimming with devotion.

In that sacred moment, Lord Venkateshwara blessed him with his divine vision and bestowed upon him a divine commission. "I shall remain ever by your side," whispered the Lord. "Whenever you call upon me, I shall reveal my true form through these divine idols. From this day forth, you shall be known to the world as Prasanna Venkata Dasaru. Embark on a journey across the land, spreading the flame of devotion far and wide." When Venkanna opened his eyes, he saw the priest still talking to the crowd. The priest said, "He's not just an ordinary boy. He's been blessed by Lord Sri Hari and seen his true form. Following Sri Hari's instructions, I want to give him the temple's musical instrument, the Tamboori. He's not Venkanna anymore; he's Prasanna Venkata Dasaru now."

Hearing this, the other devotees were amazed and touched by the miracle of Sri Hari. They all bowed to Prasanna Venkata Dasaru . But Prasanna Venkata Dasaru  humbly told them not to bow to him, but to bow to the lord, who resides in every heart. As Sri Prasanna Venkata Dasaru played the Tamboori, it produced a divine sound. He then walked away from the crowd, singing his own devotional songs.

Sri Prasanna Venkata Dasaru stayed in Tirumala, deeply immersed in meditation on Sri Hari. Every morning, he stood before the deity, his gaze fixed on the enchanting Lord, entering a state of trance, oblivious to the world, and reveling in the eternal bliss of the Lord. Knowing he had to leave Tirumala for the task the Lord had assigned him, he felt saddened. He would miss the divine joy of seeing his Lord every day. Spontaneously, he composed hundreds of Kirtanas praising Sri Hari. With intense devotion and attachment to the Lord, he sang a Kirtana expressing his inability to leave the feet of his beloved Lord and the divine abode of Tirumala.

Sri Prasanna Venkata Dasaru was reluctant to leave the sacred abode of Srinivasa, Tirumala. However, one day, Lord Srinivasa appeared in his dream and conveyed, "My dear son, you have been bestowed with Dasatava not to remain here, but to return to your homeland and spread this devotional movement, offering a path towards spiritual attainment for common householders."

The following day, Dasaru departed from Tirumala and embarked on his spiritual journey towards Bagalkot. Along the way, he visited various sacred sites such as Mulabagilu, Hampi, and Mantralayam. Mantralayam, the divine abode of the esteemed Madhva saint Sri Raghavendra Swamiji, held a special significance. Upon his arrival in Mantralayam early in the morning, Dasaru bathed in the holy waters of the Tungabhadra river. He began his spiritual pilgrimage by seeking the blessings of Goddess Manchalamma, the presiding deity of Mantralaya. Subsequently, he paid homage to Lord Anjaneya and Rudradevarau before concluding his visit with the darshan of Sri Raghavendra Brindavana. With profound devotion, Dasaru offered his prayers to Sri Rayaru.

During the sacred Brahmi muruhat of dawn, Prasanna Venkata Dasaru stood steadfast before the Moolabrindavana of Sri Rayaru and unleashed a keertana in the morning raga:

“Yelu Sri Gururaya Bellagaitindu
Dhooli Darshan Kodiri Yi Velle Shishyarige

….
With eyes closed and heart full of devotion, Sri Prasanna Venkata Dasaru prayed, "Great saint Gururaya, please show mercy on me and guide me on the path of service." Suddenly, he heard his name being called, "O my son, Prasanna Venkata." Sri Raghavendra Swamiji appeared with a powerful presence. Compassionate Guru Sri Rayaru said, "You are blessed directly by Lord Shri Hari. Through your songs, you will spread the teachings of Madhva philosophy far and wide. You will revive the Bhakti movement along with Vijayadasaru, Gopal Dasaru, and Jagannath Dasaru. Travel the land and share this divine message. I will always bless you." With these words, Sri Raghavendra Swamijee disappeared. Dasaru respectfully bowed to his guru and continued his journey to Bagalkot, filled with divine purpose.

One serene morning, as the sun ascended the sky during the auspicious month of Magha Masa, Prasanna Venkata Dasaru arrived in Bagalkot. Dasaru first destination was the Hanuman temple within the Killa’s fortified walls. There, the temple priest conducted the sacred abhisheka ritual to the reverberating chants of Vayu Stuti. Standing in reverence before the idol of Hanuman, Dasaru closed his eyes, invoking his divine sight to behold Lord Anjeneya. In that moment of divine connection, he was inspired to compose a kirtana, dancing in ecstatic devotion before the Lord, accompanied by the rhythm of his Tamboori and Tala.

Upon witnessing the young Dasaru perform the composition, the temple priest was struck with curiosity. "I know of Gopal dasaru, Vijaya dasaru, and other haridasas," he mused, "but never have I encountered a composition attributed to Sri Prasanna Venkat. Who is this Prasanna Venkata dasaru?" Turning to the dasare, the priest inquired about his origins. With closed eyes, the dasaru pondered the same question within himself, contemplating the profound inquiry of where the soul originates, a notion deeply rooted in Vedic philosophy.

Dasaru opened his eyes and confessed, "Acharyare, I am uncertain of my origin." The priest chuckled, remarking, "Dasare, I posed a worldly question, not a spiritual one. Yet, I cannot recall ever seeing you in this town before. No haridasas have graced this place until now. You seem like a soul enlightened by the divine." Dasaru chuckled in return, replying, "I have returned to the same place whence I departed." With a gentle smile, Dasaru addressed the priest, "Rammanna tata, could you not recognize me? How could you? I left this place as an unlettered youth, and now I return in this form." With devotion in his heart, Dasaru closed his eyes and began composing another kirtana on Lord Hanuman

The other devotees in the temple were awestruck by Dasaru's presence. Word of his arrival in Bagalkot quickly spread throughout the town like wildfire. Throngs of people flocked to the temple, eager to catch a glimpse of this enlightened soul. Conversations buzzed among them, sharing rumors that he had beheld the true form of Lord Sri Hari himself!

Upon hearing the news, Raghavendrachar and Kaveramma, Dasaru’s brother and sister-in-law, hurried to the temple to catch a glimpse of the renowned haridasa, unaware that the great soul they sought was none other than their own kin. Coincidentally, an elderly man arrived at the same time, someone who had accompanied Venkanna from Bagalkot to Tirupati. Recognizing Dasaru as the young Venkanna, son of Kakhandaki Narsappayya, he proclaimed to the gathered crowd that Dasaru was indeed Venkanna. He emphasized that Venkanna was no stranger to the village and recounted how he had received the divine vision of Lord Venkateshwara, who personally bestowed upon Venkanna the name Prasanna Venkata and initiated him into the dasa tradition.

The entire congregation at the temple showed deep respect to Sri Prasanna Venkata Dasaru. His brother, Raghavendrachar, and sister-in-law, Kaveramma, asked for forgiveness for their past mistakes and invited Dasaru to live with them in their family home where he was born. Dasaru thanked them and especially thanked Kaveramma. He said, "If you hadn't challenged me, I might never have gone on the pilgrimage to Lord Srinivasa's temple in Tirupati. Everything happened for a reason, according to the divine plan of Sri Hari."

Sri Prasanna Venkata Dasaru then moved into his ancestral home with his brother and sister-in-law, where he diligently continued his devotional practices and meditation upon his beloved deity, Sri Venkatesh Devaru. Immersed in worship and contemplation, he dedicated the majority of his time to these sacred pursuits. Each day, during his worship rituals to Lord Venkateshwara, accompanied by the idols of Bhudevi and Sridevi, the divine Lord would graciously reveal glimpses of his true form to Dasaru.

Although residing in Bagalkot, Dasaru frequently embarked on spiritual journeys, traveling to various places to impart spiritual wisdom and uplift the hearts of the common people.

He composed countless kirtanas extolling the glory of Lord Sri Hari, and soon his renown spread throughout the surrounding regions. Scores of devotees began flocking to him, seeking his divine blessings. Dasaru frequently visited Tulasigeri, home to a renowned Anjaneya temple, where he worshiped Mukhya Prana with unwavering devotion. It was here that Mukhyaprana Devaru blessed him with a divine vision of his true form, bestowing upon him his blessings. Additionally, Dasaru often journeyed to Vatapi ,present day Badami, known as Dakshin Kashi. There, on the banks of the Agastya Tirtha, he immersed himself in meditation and composed numerous kirtanas.

Dasaru embarked on a quest for spiritual enlightenment, seeking a guru to delve into ancient Sanskrit scriptures and Dvaita Siddhanta granthas. He approached Sri Mudglacharya of Galgali, a renowned scholar in Dvaita philosophy, and became his disciple. For years, Dasaru immersed himself in learning, studying all 37 Sarvamoola granthas of Sri Madhvacharya and the Sri Manyaya Sudha of Sri Jayatirtha, ultimately becoming a Sudha Pandita.

Returning to Bagalkot, Dasaru dedicated himself to the Haridasa Bhakti movement, expressing the essence of Madhvasiddanta in his kirtanas, which were accessible even to laypeople. His teachings emphasized complete surrender to the Lord, affirming that surrendering to Sri Hari ensures divine care at every stage of life, accepting all experiences as the blessings of the Lord.

During his spiritual journey, Dasaru received divine visions and performed miracles attributed to Lord Sri Hari. In one instance, he blessed a farmer who lied about his crops, leading to years of poor harvest until the farmer sought forgiveness. Another miraculous incident involved Dasaru taming a tiger with Hanuman's sacred ash, earning him the moniker "Angarada Dasaru."

Furthermore, Dasaru's omniscience was demonstrated when he seemingly appeared in two places at once, leaving Brahmins astonished. When questioned, Dasaru entered a deep meditative state, where Lord Venkateshwara revealed his divine purpose as Rudranshaaru.

News of Dasaru's miracles spread rapidly, attracting people seeking his blessings and solutions to their problems. Eventually, Dasaru decided to spend his remaining days in Badami, where he meditated by the Agastya Tirtha and performed Hanuman's Pranapratishtapana.

Upon an invitation from the Maratha Peshwa ruler, Dasaru displayed his wit and musical prowess, testing the stenographer's speed in transcribing his composition. The stenographer failed to match Dasaru's pace, highlighting the spiritual master's unmatched brilliance and divine connection.

After spending several years in Badami, Dasaru made the decision to transcend his earthly existence. On a sacred night during the Bhadrapada masa Shuddha Ekadasi, deeply absorbed in meditation, he was bestowed with the divine vision of Lord Krishna in his true form. This ethereal encounter marked Dasaru's final communion with Lord Sri Hari in this mortal form.

In his last kirtana composition, which begins with the poignant lines:

"Daro Nee Chinna Daro
Garo RatriyollommeGrakke Bandeevamma
Ikkida Kadagalikkavo Nidre Ukkeri Kannu Mucchavo
Namma Takkisuvante Nee Kalla
Chikka Makkallatvidallo Chaluva

…

Dasaru beautifully describes the closing of doors and windows, likening it to the closing of eyelids due to sleep, yet marvels at the divine arrival of Lord Krishna. He affectionately addresses Lord Krishna as Balagopal, beseeching him to reside silently as he surrenders his life force, his Prana kappa, unto the divine presence.

Upon singing this song, Lord Krishna bestows a smile upon Dasaru, guiding his soul to good loka. Though Dasaru's physical form remained in a seated posture with his hands on the strings of the tamburi, his Jivatma, his life essence, had departed, merging with the divine feet of Lord Krishna.

Sri Prasanna Venkatesha Dasaru's life story is a testament to resilience, faith, and divine grace. Born into humble beginnings in Bagalkot, Karnataka, his early years were marked by the loss of his parents and the harsh treatment of his sister-in-law, Kaveramma. Despite facing adversity, Dasaru's unwavering faith in Lord Sri Venkateshwara sustained him through the darkest of times.

Throughout his journey, Dasaru's steadfast devotion to Lord Sri Hari remained unwavering. Dasaru's story serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration, reminding us of the transformative power of faith and the resilience of the human spirit. His unwavering devotion to Lord Sri Venkateshwara and his unwavering commitment to his principles embody the essence of true bhakti, guiding countless souls towards the path of divine love and liberation..

The devotion towards Sri Raghavendrateertharu is the ultimate truth and is the most simple and effective way to reach Sri Hari  - "NAMBI KETTAVARILLAVO EE GURUGALA"! “Those who have complete faith in this Guru will never be disappointed.”

   || BICHALI JAPADAKATTI SRI APPANACHARYA PRIYA MANTRALAYA
   SRI RAGHAVENDRATEERTHA GURUBHYO NAMAHA||