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Come.Together let us recreate the Glory of Melkote

One of the four most revered Centers of Srivaishnavites

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Shloka in

This is a mangala shloka, that is often recited in Sri Viashnava homes every morning. It glorifies the four holy places of Sri – , (Venkatadri), Kanchi (Hastisaila) and Melkote (Yadusaila). Every devout Srivaishnava makes it a point to visit these places at least once in a lifetime.

Page 4 This religious center dates back to as early as the 8th Century…

Religious center apart, Melkote is a rich repository of architectural, epigraphical and literary data. While its origins are clouded in historical cobwebs, the fact is that epigraphs have chronicled this most beautiful, serene and pristine center of right from the times of Gangas and Rashtrakutas – Melkote was neighbor to Manne, the then capital of the Gangas (8th century AD).

When Raja Raja Cholan of the Chola dynasty – 985 AD - defeated the Gangas and established his reign over these parts, this place grew under the benign influence of these rulers. Typically the Cholans ensured that the temple administration and services were formulated according to the tamilian tradition. This period is important for the study of the Srivaishnava movement in in general and Melkote in particular.

Then came the Hoysalas – 1117 AD - under their King Vishuvardhan and the later kings that followed. During their rule, Srivaishnavism flourished as a prominent religion and several Sri Vaishnava temples were consecrated by the Hoysala rulers. Melkote ofourse was the prima donna of them all.

With the decline of the Hoysala dynasty, the sovereigns of Vijyanagar Empire - 1356 AD - took over the development of the area. The long lineage of Vijaynagar rulers patronized a large number of religious . Religious leaders were respected and honoured. It was during this period that received enormous royal patronage and became a strong religious force in this area. Under the Wodeyars - 1513 AD - especially during the reign of Raja Wodeyar, a staunch devotee of Lord of Melkote. In fact the glory and prosperity of the modern day Melkote could be attributed to the Wodeyar dynasty.

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Melkote, Sri Vaishnavaism and Sri Ramanujam

To understand the significance of Melkote and Sri Narayanaswami Temple in the history and religious growth of Sri Vaishnavism, it is important to know a bit about Sri Ramanujam.

While Sri Vaishnavism is traced to the strong movement perpetrated by the Alwars - Alwars, a tamil term literally means ‘ one who rules ‘. However in this context it means one who guides the faithful – it took shape and character at the hands of Sri Ramanujam during the period 1017 – 1137AD.

Born in Sri Perambudur , near Chennai in the first quarter of the 11th century he first studied under Yadavaprakasha of . Because he disagreed with his teachings, he became a disciple of at Sri Rangam. Later he succeeded Yamnacharya as the head of the .

This period is of great significance to understand the contribution made by Sri Ramanujam to Sri Vaisnavism. He systematized the philosophical ideas into simple understandable formats. He wrote several books. A radical, he brought about a lot of social reforms in the religious hegemony of those days. The foremost them being that ‘’ is not the prerogative of any particular creed, caste and community. This concept opened up new vistas of far reaching significance in Sri Vaishnvism.

To propagate his philosophy of Vishishadvaita – non-dualism – he travelled throughout . It was during these travels that he spent 12 years in Karnataka, most of the period being in Melkote. Here he enshrined the idol of Lord Narayana in the Narayanswami Temple and established the Yathiraja Math. He not only managed the administration of the temple but also established the vedic that are followed to this day.

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Folk Lore

The folok lore has it that while staying at Tondanur – at the foothill of Melkote – he ran short of the holy Tiruman. It is said that Lord Narayana of Melote appeared in his dream and directed him to proceed to Yadugir hill where he could find abundant stock of Tiruman. On ascending the hill he reached a pond called Vedopushkarini. While bathing in this pond , Lord Narayana revealed to Sri Ramanujam that he lay covered with mud in an anthill between a champaka and vakula tree. After removing the earth, Sri Ramanujam reinstalled the idol according to vedic rites prescribed in Pancharatradgama. Around this abode of Lord Narayana, grew a thriving township with streets and rows of houses. A temple was constructed and series of rituals and festivals were instituted. This townshipknwn in the earlier times as Yatisaila – since it was restored by the ‘yati’, meaning an ascetic referring Sri Ramanujam - became enshrined in as Melkote.

Even though the main diety of Lord Narayana was installed and consecrated with regular rituals being performed, there still was a need for an idol to take out in processions and other sevas so, that the main idol of Lord Narayana was not disturbed. Once again Lord Narayana appeared in a vision to Sri Ramanujam informing that this idol known as Ramapriya was in Delhi under the custody of the Turk ruler Emmaduraya. When Sri Ramanujam went and convinced the Delhi ruler to return the idol, he found that it was not among the other idols plundered by the ruler. It was found in the possession of the princess who was affectionately associated the idol as her lover. When Sri Ramanujam called the idol by the Ramapriya, it came running to the saint. Since the princess could not stay without the idol, she took the permission of her father and travelled to Melkote. The idol was installed and consecrated by the Saint himself. He instituted regular festivals that were carried throughout the year. In fact even today these festivals do take place at Melkote.

Later Sri Ramanujam established the Yathiraja Matha where a sanyasi was ordained to live and manage the affairs of the temple.

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An ardent plea

Dear Reader,

Don’t you think such a remarkable religious center, steeped in history, having witnessed the passage of several dynasties, and consecrated by Sri Ramanujam, deserves the glory it once had?

Don’t you think, the precepts and philosophy of Sri Ramanujam should be practiced and spread among the modern world, especially the youth, who are our future?

Don’t you think that the scourge of youths migrating to other urban centers or to other countries should be stopped in its tract and the religious institutions (mathas) should rejuvenated?

Don’t you think the vedapathashalas that helped maintain a regular lineage of veda vidwans and priests should be revived?

Don’t you think that Melkote should be a religious center that not only earns for itself but also extends patronage to other smaller places of ? How is this possible if we as a community stand together and invest our time, money and effort to revitalize this serene, beautiful and highly sanctified temple town situated on the hills.

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Objectives:

1. Open Veda pathashalas 2. Provide free food to the poor 3. Revitalise, cultivate and tend to the Nandanavanas (Flower Gardens) to ensure a continuous supply of flowers to the Thiru Narayana Temple and other Sannidhis in Melkote. 4. To provide source of steady income, construct holiday homes and eateries that could provide clean, hygienic stay and food for visiting pilgrims. 5. Construct old age homes to provide shelter to the elderly citizens who desire to spend rest of their lives in the service of Lord Narayana.

Please come forward, join our movement. Help us spread the word around. Our posterity will be grateful to us and our elders who stood the test of time will bless us.