 |
| Sri Guru Rayaru |
Sri Guru Rayaru has been a great devotee of Sri Raghavendra Swami of Mantralayam. He did tapsya for a period of 23 years and became an Avadhuta. He respected all religions and all paths of life. He cultivated a sweet temper which attracted several hundreds of devotees and their families and friends to him. He preached the spirit of universal love and tolerance. He lived in a hamlet called Lakasandra about 4 kms from Ghati Subramanya temple in Doddaballapura area of Karnataka, about 65kms from Bangalore. He wore shorts (nikers) while in ashram and donned a simple dhoti of kashaya (orange) colour when receiving important devotees and while going on pilgrimages. He made frequent visits to Mantralayam. Very significantly and naturally, his appearance has an unmistakable resemblance to Sri Raghavendra Swami of mantralayam. He received devotees from far and wide; from within India and even those from US and UK and other countries who came to meet him. He was available round the clock, 24/7. He served food anna daana to the visitors. He believed that his Divine Father Sri Guru Raghavendra Swami kept him here to share the knowledge and offer food to all his devotees and visitors. Jnana and anna daana. He had devotes from other religious faiths too. He had a great sweet smile which attracted many devotees to him for getting help in spiritual matters and even in case of worldly problems. He respected Dr. E. Vedavyas guruji and kept his photo in the Prayer hall, even though he never met him even once.
Fourteen days after the Mahasamadhi of Vedavyas Guruji, on 17th of October 2007, Sri Vedavyas Guruji appeared to Sri G.S.Raju in his house in early hours and conveyed a message that Sri Guru Rayaru of Lakkasandra would visit him with his disciples and that he should treat him the way he treated Pujya Vedavyasa Guruji. So saying he came down from 1st floor of the house and walked to the main door and walked away through the main gate. All this was in a vision. Strangely as if divinely ordained, Sri Guru Rayaru of Lakkasandra got up at 4 o' clock in the morning, took his bath and got ready to move out, he told some of his devotees that he should visit Sri. G.S.Raju's house in Bhuvaneshwari Nagar in Bangalore. About 25 devotees including their families accompanied Sri Guru Rayaru to his house. Dasara Celebrations were going on during this time in Subramanya temple built by Sri G.S.Raju and family. Sri Guru Rayaru was received by temple honours, received prasad ; from there he walked down 200 feet with all the devotees to Sri G.S.Raju's house. Sri Guru Rayaru asked Smt. G.Santa Rani (wife of Sri.G.S.Raju) to prepare food for him and his devotees in the same way as she used to prepare food for Sri Vedavyas Guruji. After resting for some time he moved back to his Lakkasandra ashram. Till that time their acquaintance was due to Sri G.S.Raju's interest in establishing Pancha Mukha Anjaneya temple in Lakasandra. From then on, interactions continued. After Sri Guru Rayaru's visit, Sri G.S.Raju felt that his 'spiritual file' was transfered to Sri Guru RAYARU who repeatedly reminded that Raju and his wife had Daiva runa and Guru runa, meaning the couple is indebted to God and Guru. Therefore Sri Guru Rayaru told the couple that they should do a major project for Sri Vedavyas Guruji. He advised us to build a ashram and then to implement the plans in the memory of Sri Vedavyas guruji. All these hints and instructions resulted in purchasing land near Madanapalli to build the present campus of Rishi Vatika. He specifically told that there is no need to search for sizable lands in several places, because the right place is available in Andhra near Horsley hills. Then everything happened in quick succession. Sri Guru Rayaru performed Bhumi puja in the land acquired, in about 3 years the main building and Goshala etc., were completed. Sri Guru Rayaru came and attended the inaugural function. Then the school establishment followed. Every time when visited at Lakkasandra, Sri Guru Rayaru had made enquires about the progress. He gave suggestions, took all the interest and explained that if he did not do for Rishi Vatika, Sri Vedavyas Guruji 'would not spare him'.
During many occasions his utterances and instructions are highly consoling. When we enquired about the building inauguration as to how it is, he smilingly remarked and said: " had your Guru Vedavyasa garu lived in his body, planned this himself and executed it to his liking, he would have done it exactly in this same way, that is how it is here now". He also mentioned that from Tirupati Lord Srinivas would bless for long times to come and bless this project 'University of Vedic Sciences' as conceived by pujya Vedavyas Guruji.
Sri Guru Rayaru left his body on February 2nd 2017. Vaikunta Samaradhana of Sri Guru Rayaru will take place on 14 Feb Tuesday at Lakasandra Ashram.
Sri Guru Rayaru has been a great inspiration and strength of guidance for the project of University of Vedic Sciences.
