Sri Rama Navami : 2005 /Bhadrchala Rama Dass : Part I

[Guest guest]

SrI:

 

Dear Sri Raama BhakthAs :Bhadrachala Raam Daas , the great Raama Bhaktha

SirOmaNi , the inspiring model for Saint ThyagarAja,

was born in NelakoNdapaLLi , a small village in the Kammam

District of Andhra Pradesh in the year 1620 C.E. He lived for

68 years on this earth steeped in Raama Bhakthi .

 

At birth , He was known as Kancharla Gopanna .His Bhakthi for

Sri Vaikunta Raaman at the temple of BhadrAchalam was limitless .

His efforts to build a temple for BhadrAchala Raaman , paucity of funds

for the Kaimkaryam and borrowing money from the government

treasury of the Nawab of Golconda and being punished for

that by the Nawab to earn the name of "BandEkhana

Raama Daas " thru the forced jial residence are well

known. Sri Raama and LakshmaNa paid off this debt

and got the release for Raama Daas with special gold coins

( Raam Tanka coins) that are seen even today .

 

During his forced incarceration , Raam Daas missed

the Sevai of Sri Vaikunta Raaman of BhadrAchalam

temple nestled on the northern banks of the holy

river Godhavari . He was frustrated over the indifference

of the Lord for letting him languish in the Jail of the Nawab

and poured out his grief in many moving Krithis like

" IshvAku Kula Tilaka " set in Yadhykula KaambhOji

Raagam .

 

There are 56 keertanaas of Bhaktha Raama daas

( Telegu Text) available to us today :

 

http://www.geocities.com/promiserani2/co1015.html

 

Sangeetha Kalanidhi Sri Balamurali Krishna has made

a beautiful recording of at least 10 of these 56 songs

in his melodious voice :

 

http://musicindiaonline.com

 

Please link to vocal and artists ( Balamurali Krishna )

in this web site for the renderings of the krithis of

Bhaktha Raama Daas .

 

By seperate mail , I will send the images of Sri Vaikunta Raaman

of BhadrAchalam .Here , Lord Raamachandra , Sita PirAtti stayed

with LakshmaNa during their exile from AyOdhya . This is

the auspicious ( Bhadra) hill ( achalam ) in the middle of

the jungle , where Lord Raamachandra blessed Sage Bhadra .

 

The scenic beauty of this abode of Lord Raama with His DEvi

seated on His left lap is enchanting . The Vaikunta EkAdasi Uthsavam

and Sri Raama Navami Uthsavams are celebrated here with

pomp and circumstance . At this temple , Sri RaghunAtha BhattAchArya ,

the archkar of Sri Vaikunta Raaman initiated Bhaktha Raama Daas

into Sri Raama Taaraka Manthram & NadhOpAsanai some three

hundred years ago and we thrive through that anugraham of

Sri SitA SamEtha Vaikunta Raaman of BhadrAchalam .

 

The Choornika ( prose-poem) on SampoorNa RaamAyaNam ( Daasarathy

Sathakam) of Bhaktha Raama Daas is a treat for all Raama BhakthAs

to enjoy.

 

Raama Daya jUdavE ! Tava Paadha Bhakthim dEhi !

 

Raama Daasa Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan