528. The Saint who Spoke from his Samadhi............

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/god-and-i/the-saint-who-spoke-from-his-samadhi

Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy is a bona fide Acharya and Saint of the Madhva sampradaya. He preached the philosophy of Dvaitha which emphasizes on complete devotion and surrender to Lord Krishna. Madhva philosophy is based on nine “PRAMEYAS” or a philosophical foundation that begins with Vishnu-tattva being Supreme Absolute Truth.

Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy the greatest author and preacher in the line of Madhva Tradition was born in the year 1595 and entered into Brundavana (Samadhi) in the year 1671. He scripted many literature to establish Lord Krishna as the Absolute. He highlighted the need to chant the name of the Lord to obtain mental peace. While he was the head of the Sri Mutt in Kumbakonam from 1624 to 1636 he performed many miracles. After successfully completing his work as a pontiff of the mutt he chose to enter “Sajeeva Samadhi”, where a Saint enters into Samadhi while still alive.

                                              Sri Raghavendra Brundavana at Mantralayam, A.P 

Devotees believes that even today he is still alive within the Brundavana (Samadhi) on the banks of Tungabhadra river in Mantralayam, Karnool district of Andhra Pradesh. He has manifested himself to many people, including Sir Thomas Munro, the then Collector of Bellary who came to confiscate the land belonging to Sri Mutt. Amazingly Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy answered to the queries in English from within the Samadhi and this incident is preserved as a note in the Madras Gazetteer. It can be seen in letter format: “Extract from Madras District Gazetteer” by W. Francis Esq ICS Volume No 1 Bellary Reprint 1916 by the Superintendent Govt. Press, Madras.

Some of his teachings that he preached before entering into the Samadhi were as follows:

“Without right living right thinking is hard to come. One has to perform the ordained duties according to one's Dharma in life without hankering for the rewards and at the same time offering the rewards to Lord is correct Sadachara (right living). This is real karma yoga.”

“A social activity done for the benefit of worthy people is itself Lord's worship. Every action performed in this life which serves the society is worship. Hence life is precious and even a second that has gone will never come back. Abiding to the Shastras and performing actions by always remembering Him is the highest duty.”

“Always beware of people who merely perform miracles without following the Shastras and yet call themselves Guru. You have seen me perform miracles. These are based on Yoga Siddhi and Shastras. There is no fraud or trick involved in it. These were performed by me only to show that He is great and that such wonderful powers can be attained with His grace. I have never performed it for my personal benefit.”

“Jnana, knowledge is greater than any miracle. Without knowledge no miracle takes place. If one performs miracle without knowledge it is mere black magic. Neither the performer nor the observer is benefited from those acts.”

“Devotion towards Lord is important, but it should not be a blind faith. Blind faith is not devotion one has to accept Him wholeheartedly and only then he will experience Him. Blind Faith is only stupidity.”

Devotees pay obeisance to Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy with the following mantra:

pujyaya raghavendraya satyadharmarataya ca
bhajatam kalpavrikshaya namatam kamadhenave
 

{Sri Raghavendra who rides on the chariot of truth and righteousness is like a kalpa-vriksha (a desire fulfilling tree) for he always takes care of his devotees' spiritual needs.}