The greatness of ManchAle / MantrAlaya:
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The greatness of ManchAle / MantrAlaya: |
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RAyaru summoned his closest disciples and divan Venkanna and told them of his intention to enter a brindAvana live in manchAle. The devotees were devastated but they could not change his decision since it was Divine will. They wanted to know what was special about ManchAle. RAyaru explained the spiritual significance of manchAle as follows:
prahlAda had performed a large yagna in that spot, sanctifying it forever. MantrAlayAmbika or manchAlamma was his kula devata. In dvApara yuga, when arjuna was guarding the horse used in the ashvamedha yAga being conducted by dharmarAja he had to fight with a king called anusAlva in Manchale. By accident, anusAlva’s chariot was positioned over the yagya kunda used by PrahlAda, making him invincible. Perplexed by this, Arjuna prayed to Krishna for guidance. Krishna told him to move his chariot back a little. AnusAlva thought arjuna was losing and so advanced to chase him. By doing so, he moved his chariot away from the auspicious spot and lost the battle immediately. Such was the power of the spot on which prahlAda had performed his yAga.
Venkanna had a beautiful garbha-guDi (sanctum sanctorum) built around the yagya spot, adjacent to manchAlamma’s temple. He also had a brindAvana built for RAyaru. But RAyaru did not want to use that and asked him to reserve it for a future personality. He then took Venkanna to a remote spot and showed a black rock. He wanted his brindAvana to be built using the rock. When venkanna wanted to know the significance of the rock, RAyaru explained “While searching for sIta, Lord rama came here. He rested on this rock for a while. Since it has been sanctified by His touch, this rock is the one I want”. The brindAvana built under Venkanna’s guidance was used for Sri vAdIndara tIrtha at a later date.
At a suitable time and muhurta, RAyaru chose a worthy person from his disciples and gave him sanyAsa with the AshramanAma of YogIndra tIrtha. He instructed Venkanna, the maTha administrators, his disciples and the people of manchAle to accord Sri YogIndra tIrtha the same respect that they had accorded him so far.