Reminiscent of Mantralaya of Old

Though it is said “Seeing is believing”, I was convinced that “experiencing is believing” after we visited the Sannidhana of Sri Krishna, Sri Anjaneya and Sri Raghavendra Swamy at Purnaprajnanagar in Eraiyamangalam recently. (The day of our visit happened to be the 412th birthday of Sri Raghavendra Swamy who was born in 1595A.D. on a Thursday). After meandering our way through the busy traffic of the city, we reached Tiruvellore district in about an hour and took a deviation at this point to reach­ Eraiyamangalam village. As we drove along, suddenly the rising Gopuram of the mutt came into sight and once we were there, the atmosphere was reminiscent of Mantralayam as it existed decades ago — serene and devoid of human habitation whatsoever. We felt overawed with horripilations on our body when we had darshan of the Mrithika Brindavana and literally experienced the presence and power of Guru Raghavendra who chose this remote place, almost the of beyond, to provide solace to his devotees coming to seek His blessings.

It was really a Dream come True for Shri Ranganath, (who is popularly referred to as Bhajana Mandali Ranganath) founder of Shri Raghavendra Seva and Bhajana Mandali who had a dream wherein Raghavendra Swamy appeared in the guise of an old man and said he would show another place for making his advent. Months passed but nothing had happened till one day in 1991 while Sri Vadirajaswami’s aradhana was being celebrated at Sri Krishna Mutt in Triplicane, Ranganath who was participating in the event noticed signs of his dream becoming a reality in the years ahead. One of the devotees present on the occasion had brought a blue-print of a layout consisting of 320 grounds at Eraiyamangalam, a distance of 55 kilometres from the city and said it was for sale and that like minded people could purchase them and establish a colony. Though there was some initial hesitation by the members of the Mandali to accept the offer considering the distance, Ranganath had decided to visit the place the same day. And to his consternation and delight he had a feeling of dejavu. Perhaps to reinforce this feeling he noticed a wild crop of Krishna Tulasi growing in that barren stretch. He decided it would be the ideal spot for Sri Krishna-SriAnjaneya-Sri Raghavendra to dwell. Soon the decision was conveyed to the Mandali members and things began to fall into place. Bhoomi puja was performed by His Holiness 108 Shri Sushameendra Theertha Swamiji on Dec. 2001. A Trust by name SRI KRISHNA PURNAPRAJNA TRUST was formed with a high level committee in July the following year for the execution and maintenance of the project initiated by the members of SRI RAGHAVENDRA SWAMIGALA SEVA AND BHAJANA MANDALI. Prathistapana took place on July 2nd, 2003 as planned. The 18 month project was not smooth sailing as there was no regular flow of funds but the enthusiastic group succeeded in collecting the required amount through the performance of unchavruthi bhajans traveling from place to place and seeking donations for their religious cause. Now in these past few years, the mutt has been receiving donations, (all voluntary) from ardent devotees in the form of silver vessels, a wooden chariot and a cradle, and even a used fiat car! The miracles related by devotees who seem to be on the increase day by day despite its distance are simply astounding. Even more so are the several experiences related to Ranganath by people living in the nearby village. It appears an old man was standjng in front of the mutt one day and was sobbing. When asked for the reason, he had said, almost 35 years ago he had visualized a temple coming up in that place and when he told his village people they had mocked at him saying he was mad. But now that he has seen his vision coming true he was unable to believe his eyes. He assured them that they were tears of joy and not of grief.

Future projects of the Trust include a Senior Citizens Home, Prayer Hall, and a Kalyana Mantap besides a Vidyapeeta and a Medical Centre.