The Rangai Gowder street in Coimbatore is quite a busy place and its hard to believe that tranquillity exists in these parts in the form of the Vyasaraja Mutt . The entrance to the mutt is flanked by jaggery stores which seem to indicate the sweet precincts that will take over the visitor. Saint Vyasaraja was born as Yatiraja to Balhana Sumati and Akkamma during the year 1447 AD. One great Saint Brahmanya Tirtha had revived the father of Vyasaraja and in accordance to the promise made at that moment he was handed over to him. Later on, Vyasaraja learnt scriptures under the tutelage of Sripadaraja at Mulbagal in modern Karnataka. Saint Vyasaraja is among the three who epitomised the Madhwa Sampradaya , the other two being Acharya Madhwa and Saint Jayatirtha. He was a frequent traveller who paused only during the annual Chaturmasya . Somanatha has brought out interesting facts about Vyasaraja ( 1447 - 1539 ) in his Vyasogacharitha. The Saint was known as Chandrikacharya and also as Pratyarthi Gajakesari. He has authored and lectured about a number of subjects, however the works Nyayamrutha, Chandrika and Tarka Tandava stand out as the best. The Yati took care of the prayers and rituals at the Tirumala Tirupathi temple for about 12 years ( 1486 - 1498 ) and he has been honoured by a number of rulers belonging to all parts of the country.
Saint Vyasaraja used up the wealth that had accrued as a consequence of the " Ratnabhisheka " done by his protégé Rana Sahasa Malla Sri Krishnadeva Raya ( 1509 - 1529 ) by travelling and creating centres of Dwaita philosophy all over the Vijayanagar empire.According to historians, it was the year 1511 when Saint Vyasaraja travelled within Kongunad after entering the region through the Gajjalahatti pass near Sathyamangalam. The Yati trudged the Kongu country in the company of his disciples, soldiers, finely crafted palanquins carrying his sacred deities, the local populace, the huge bulls carrying palm leaf manuscripts and the local rulers who facilitated his travel . It must have been a sight to behold while the scholarly retinue was on the move. It was generally believed that the presence of the Seer would help keep drunkards away from liquor and thieves away from robbery while also adding to the safety and dignity of women. Thanks to the visit of Vyasaraja, the empire took cognisance of the importance of Coimbatore and made it a military garrison by building a fort that could lend its support to the many Palayams in the Kongu country.
The Saint used to enter into theological debates with scholars of other schools of thought and defeat them at all times. However, he did not believe in proselytising for the sake of numbers. He installed 732 icons of Lord Hanuman all over the Vijayanagar empire in order to herald the peaceful victory of his school of thought over the others through debates. The most important icon is that of the Lord Yantrodharaka Hanuman at Hamp, the capital cityi. Its a matter of honour for the Kongu country when one gets to learn that the Seer had installed over 100 icons of Lord Hanuman in the region. He had installed 8 icons of Lord Hanuman around Perur and quite a few in places like Sevoor, Sirumugai, Kodiveri, Dharapuram, Karamadai, Nambiyur and R G street at Coimbatore. Unfortunately, its been possible to identify just a couple of them including the 2 icons at Perur. and the important one in the busy R G street.
Saint Vyasaraja is believed to be an incarnation of Bhakta Prahlada and later on he is said to have incarnated as the famous Saint Raghavendra in the 17 th century. The Vyasaraja mutt is home to a large peepul tree with the icons of Lord Narayana and his Divine consort Lakshmi ensconced under its shade. A number of native cows and their calves are tended with utmost care within the campus and one can learn about our native breeds by visiting the mutt. The walls are decorated with dung patties and a huge mound of healthy cow dung and an urn of cows' urine are found next to the icon of Lord Hanuman who is resplendent with sindoor. A number of devotees come to this scared goshala in order to feed and tend the large family of cows on an everyday basis. They give the cows a nice bath before offering them prayers and food. The volunteers use the machines installed to process the food for the cows and their lovely calves. The priest Ramachandrachar involves himself with the cows all day long. The cows are lovingly known as Koniamman, Lakshmi etc.,
A number of famous Yatis or Saints of yore have visited the Vyasaraja mutt which is home to the fabulous icon of Lord Hanuman who holds a Saugandika pushpa while also carrying a bell on his tail. These aspects epitomise the installation by Saint Vyasaraja who is said to have chiselled several icons or recited a mantra which would enable the formation of the icon all by itself. The shrine has icons of Lord Krishna with Rukmini and Satyabhama, Brindavans of Saint Vyasaraja and Saint Raghavendra, bronze icons of Lord Rama and Sita, Lord Vijaya Vittala along with that of Lord Hanuman. A number of Dwaitis perform the monthy Satyanarayan poojas at the temple mandapam and the sacred platform has been used by several scholars to elucidate the practically fruitful Dwaita philosophy of Madhwacharya. It has been difficult to keep track of the Saints and scholars who have visited the mutt over 500 years . Scholarly priests like Muralidharachar have served their Lordships here. It used to be a divine sight to witness the prayers conducted by Muralidharachar to his private deity- Lord Hanuman who had once been with Saint Sudheendra, the Guru of Saint Raghavendra. An offering of honey while reciting the Harivayustuti to Lord Hanuman in the sanctum is said to take care of all the issues pending while also enlightening the devotees about the Satvik way of life that will lead one to eternal bliss.
The self contained mutt is managed by the self less A.G.Sundararajan in the company of his brother A.G.Venkatesh who happens to be a lover of cows. The spouse of A.G.Sundararajan, A.S.Jayalakshmi is a pious lady who has written or translated a number of Dwaita works like the Bhagavata Sarotharam . The scholarly devotees of the yonder era ,Cochin Rangappachar ( 1820 - 1891 ) and B.N.K. Sharma were quite attached to this mutt. The volunteers and help like Maragatham and Srinivasa Rao do their best when it comes cow care. The management and the devotees of the Vyasaraja mutt treat the cows like their own mother. If the divine Kamadhenu is to visit the city, it will do so by beginning with the Vyasaraja mutt. The regulars feed the cows with small pieces of jaggery by letting them nimble the same out of their palms. Several Vedic scholars have been created here and the prayers including the yagnas as well are conducted in the most authentic manner at this mutt whose establishment heralded the beginning of economic growth for the city . The Vyasaraja mutt is a veritable Vrindavan at Coimbatore.
Saint Vyasaraja used up the wealth that had accrued as a consequence of the " Ratnabhisheka " done by his protégé Rana Sahasa Malla Sri Krishnadeva Raya ( 1509 - 1529 ) by travelling and creating centres of Dwaita philosophy all over the Vijayanagar empire.According to historians, it was the year 1511 when Saint Vyasaraja travelled within Kongunad after entering the region through the Gajjalahatti pass near Sathyamangalam. The Yati trudged the Kongu country in the company of his disciples, soldiers, finely crafted palanquins carrying his sacred deities, the local populace, the huge bulls carrying palm leaf manuscripts and the local rulers who facilitated his travel . It must have been a sight to behold while the scholarly retinue was on the move. It was generally believed that the presence of the Seer would help keep drunkards away from liquor and thieves away from robbery while also adding to the safety and dignity of women. Thanks to the visit of Vyasaraja, the empire took cognisance of the importance of Coimbatore and made it a military garrison by building a fort that could lend its support to the many Palayams in the Kongu country.
The Saint used to enter into theological debates with scholars of other schools of thought and defeat them at all times. However, he did not believe in proselytising for the sake of numbers. He installed 732 icons of Lord Hanuman all over the Vijayanagar empire in order to herald the peaceful victory of his school of thought over the others through debates. The most important icon is that of the Lord Yantrodharaka Hanuman at Hamp, the capital cityi. Its a matter of honour for the Kongu country when one gets to learn that the Seer had installed over 100 icons of Lord Hanuman in the region. He had installed 8 icons of Lord Hanuman around Perur and quite a few in places like Sevoor, Sirumugai, Kodiveri, Dharapuram, Karamadai, Nambiyur and R G street at Coimbatore. Unfortunately, its been possible to identify just a couple of them including the 2 icons at Perur. and the important one in the busy R G street.
Saint Vyasaraja is believed to be an incarnation of Bhakta Prahlada and later on he is said to have incarnated as the famous Saint Raghavendra in the 17 th century. The Vyasaraja mutt is home to a large peepul tree with the icons of Lord Narayana and his Divine consort Lakshmi ensconced under its shade. A number of native cows and their calves are tended with utmost care within the campus and one can learn about our native breeds by visiting the mutt. The walls are decorated with dung patties and a huge mound of healthy cow dung and an urn of cows' urine are found next to the icon of Lord Hanuman who is resplendent with sindoor. A number of devotees come to this scared goshala in order to feed and tend the large family of cows on an everyday basis. They give the cows a nice bath before offering them prayers and food. The volunteers use the machines installed to process the food for the cows and their lovely calves. The priest Ramachandrachar involves himself with the cows all day long. The cows are lovingly known as Koniamman, Lakshmi etc.,
A number of famous Yatis or Saints of yore have visited the Vyasaraja mutt which is home to the fabulous icon of Lord Hanuman who holds a Saugandika pushpa while also carrying a bell on his tail. These aspects epitomise the installation by Saint Vyasaraja who is said to have chiselled several icons or recited a mantra which would enable the formation of the icon all by itself. The shrine has icons of Lord Krishna with Rukmini and Satyabhama, Brindavans of Saint Vyasaraja and Saint Raghavendra, bronze icons of Lord Rama and Sita, Lord Vijaya Vittala along with that of Lord Hanuman. A number of Dwaitis perform the monthy Satyanarayan poojas at the temple mandapam and the sacred platform has been used by several scholars to elucidate the practically fruitful Dwaita philosophy of Madhwacharya. It has been difficult to keep track of the Saints and scholars who have visited the mutt over 500 years . Scholarly priests like Muralidharachar have served their Lordships here. It used to be a divine sight to witness the prayers conducted by Muralidharachar to his private deity- Lord Hanuman who had once been with Saint Sudheendra, the Guru of Saint Raghavendra. An offering of honey while reciting the Harivayustuti to Lord Hanuman in the sanctum is said to take care of all the issues pending while also enlightening the devotees about the Satvik way of life that will lead one to eternal bliss.
The self contained mutt is managed by the self less A.G.Sundararajan in the company of his brother A.G.Venkatesh who happens to be a lover of cows. The spouse of A.G.Sundararajan, A.S.Jayalakshmi is a pious lady who has written or translated a number of Dwaita works like the Bhagavata Sarotharam . The scholarly devotees of the yonder era ,Cochin Rangappachar ( 1820 - 1891 ) and B.N.K. Sharma were quite attached to this mutt. The volunteers and help like Maragatham and Srinivasa Rao do their best when it comes cow care. The management and the devotees of the Vyasaraja mutt treat the cows like their own mother. If the divine Kamadhenu is to visit the city, it will do so by beginning with the Vyasaraja mutt. The regulars feed the cows with small pieces of jaggery by letting them nimble the same out of their palms. Several Vedic scholars have been created here and the prayers including the yagnas as well are conducted in the most authentic manner at this mutt whose establishment heralded the beginning of economic growth for the city . The Vyasaraja mutt is a veritable Vrindavan at Coimbatore.