Nestled in the lap of the King of Mountains – Himalayas, between the peaks Nara and Narayana is a quaint township called Badarinatha Dhama. Cutting through these two peaks and flowing with rapidity is the icy Alakanada River. The world renowned Badarinarayana Temple is located at the Narayana peak. This peak that seems to touch the sky is of mythological significance. Sitting at this peak and chanting magnifies its benefits by a thousand times. For instance : Chanting “Shri Krishnaya Namaha” a 1000 times here will fetch you the benefits of chanting it 10,00,000 times. Perhaps this distinction is due to the very presence of Shri Narayana at this peak. It is commonplace to find several tourists engrossed in the chanting of some mantra.
The Shri Badarinarayana Temple is the only official pilgrimage site here. Apart from this all one is likely to come across is cramped houses & glittering commercial establishments. When you stand facing the temple, you will come across a pathway to your right. (This was once the Royal path!) This pathway takes you to the famous Brahma Kapala and Mana – the last village before the Indian border. Along the same pathway, to your left side you will come across four pale colored Ashramas. A few steps beyond and you are bound to come to a standstill. Reason being the board hanging at the fifth tiny and old construction which reads “Shri Raghavendra Swami Matha”. (I presume all the readers of this article are devotees of Rayaru & hence say you are bound to come to a standstill.) What can one do besides being pleasantly surprised to see the name of Rayaru amidst all the chatter in Hindi, Garhwali & Nepali languages?
Parvatikar Maharaja was a seeker from Bagalakote – popularly known as the land of black soil. Shri Rayaru followed his great devotee to Badari and inhabited this place. That is an extremely exciting account.
I have written a detailed narrative of this story for a special edition by Prajavani on the occasion of the 341st Aradhana of Shri Rayaru. They have edited & published it to fit within their framework. This article contains about eight pages. Since it is not feasible to put it up here, I have made a downloadable version available. It is my belief that this will make an interesting read. Do share your thoughts without fail.
The complete article may be downloaded here:
From the land of black soil to the great white mountains : Around 1.6 MB
The picture of Badarinaryana’s temple : www.zipmytravel.com
A very pleasant and useful contribution for bhaktas
like us
Regards
Thank you for the comment. Sri Santanagopalan.
ಬಿಳಿಮಂಜಿನ ಆವರಿಸಿದ ಗಳಿಗೆ ವಿಚಾರಗಳ ರೋಮಾಂಚನ ದೃಶ್ಯ.
ಜೋಷಿಮಠದಿಂದ ಬದರಿಯವರೆಗೆ ಕಾಲ್ನಡಿಗೆಯಲ್ಲಿಯೆ ಪಯಣಿಸಬೇಕು. ಇನ್ನೂ ಅದ್ಭುತವಾದ ಆನಂದ.
Thank you very much for the great article. God bless you.
Wonderful narration.
Thanks.
So far I had visited 12 times to Badrinath.
Every time I use to go to Royara Brindavana for prayer
to complete our journey safe and Sri Royaru blessed us.
This Brindavana I on the pilgrim’s “Q” shed and very near to Brahma kapala.
Respected Raghunandana THANKS it was a wonderful discovery for me to know that in badrinath there is a RAGHAVENDRA MATHA and i also wish that may this matha be modified I will let many others know about it too..May our PRABHU bless you and your family
Prema Maami, thanks for your comment and wishes. Swamiji has a plan of renovating the Mutt building if nature permits their.
The article is just excellent , chilling experience, great are they who bow to Sri Rayaru , nepalis, nagas ,local panadas chant Rayara sloka ..aah no words , “intha gurugala kane na”… Sri Veena maharaj’s devotion to Rayaru is exampalry i remember another dasara pada “karedallige baruva”.
Sri Raghunanada Sharma avre thanks for posting this, and the narration is also very nice.Thanks again
SRI RAGHAVENDRAYA NAMAHA
Aravind Srinath, I remember (still) you have promised me that you would join hands in translating some interesting articles. Time madkoree. kelsa kodteeni 😉
Thanks for the comments 🙂
I visited once and i performed my parents thithi there in Rayaru matha. How about our Great Saint Sri Madhvacharya? Is he not in Barikashrama ? This will add more to the story.
Thanks for information.
Sridhar.
Sri Sridhar,
Sri Madhwa Vijaya says, Achayra is there at both the places. Badarikashrama (Visible form) and Udupi(Invisible form). However, the Badarikashrama referred in Madhwa Vijaya is different from the present day Badareenath; it is called Nija Badari which is located on the upper part of Himalayas. It is said that only celestial beings can approach that place. Scholars and senior citizen of Badrinath asserts this Nija Badari is today’s place called Tholing Mutt of Tibet.
Thanks for the comment.
How wonderful to see Rayaru’s presence in Badrinth. It is very facinating, thrilling and joyful to hear about these facts. It really makes sense. I don’t know how I missed visiting Rayaru Matha at Badrinath during my last trip. Many thanks to sri Raghunandana Sharma garu for enlighting us with this discovery.
Sri Raoji, Thanks for the comment.
There are several invisible hands behind this work. I just forward all your thanks to them.
And btw, dont forget to visit the Matha in your next visit.
Sri Raghunandana
Thank you so much for sharing this article. Navallru dhanya agidhevu.
Rayarus choicest blessings on you and your family.
Ramachandra, thanks for the wishes.
It is very good information which we not found anywhere.
Now i am totally surrendered to Sri. Guru raja with this slogan…..SRI RAGHAVENDRAYA NAMAHA……. Hai prabhu, halalladaru haku, neeralladaru haku, aadare, kai bidade enna salahu tande…. ee janmada ella kriyegalnnu mugisi, kaivalyakke dari toru……. kara mugive gururaya, nee harasabeku……
jai sri raghavendra…. jai jai sri gururaju…. moolaramo vijayate…. shesha saiki mokku shiramu shiramu…..
As always very much touched by the story & the importance. I have no words to express my gratitude towards your service to Guruji Sri Raghavendra Swami, It’s in my plan to visit Badrinath with my dad on chaar dhaam yatra, You told me about this when I met you at Delhi. Surely going to visit the place. OM SRI RAGHAVENDRAYA NAMAH !! JAI SHRI KRISHNA. God bless you always.
Happy to read your comment Rahul!
How are you my dear? bahut din hogaye tujh se baat karke. thode din keliye sailing band karke papa aur family ko le jana char dham yaatra mein. bas 15-20 din baaki hai 🙂