Sri Appanacharya and Sri Raghavendra Stotra
Sri Appanacharya was one of Sri Raghavendra Swami's foremost disciples at Mantralayam. Knowing his unstinting devotion and that he would try and thwart his Jeeva Samadhi, Sri Raghavendra Swami sent Sri Appanacharya to a town in Karnataka on the opposite bank of the Tungabhadra river before entering the Brindavana to attain Jeeva Samadhi.
Upon hearing of his beloved Swamiji's decision to enter Brindavana, Sri Appanacharya came rushing back to Mantralayam only to find the Tungabhadra in full spate (sudden flood) due to the rain. Unable to cross the river, he burst into a 32-stanza hymn, now popularly known as Sri Raghavendra stotra as a prayer to his beloved Swamiji. It is said that on hearing the hymn, the Tungabhadra abated and allowed him to walk on her.
As Sri Appanacharya rushed into the mutt, he was mid-way through singing the last stanza of his hymn. At the same time, the last slab was placed on Sri Raghavendra Swamy in the Brindavana. On seeing this, Sri Appanacharya was overcome with emotion and was unable to sing any further to complete the stanza. Suddenly, a voice from inside the Brindavan said "Sakshee Hayastotra Hee", completing the Stotra and implying Sri Hayagreeva (an avatara of Lord Vishnu with the Horse head and Human body) and Prahalada and hence Sri Guru Raghavendra himself was witness to Sri Appanacharya's hymn.
This 32 stanza sloka has acquired fame as Sri Raghavendra Stotra or Sri Poornabodha sloka, since the first stanza starts with the words "Sri Poornabodha".
Another famous 2-stanza sloka praising Sri Raghavendra goes:
Poojyaaya Raaghavendraaya Satya Dharma Rathaayacha
Bhajataam Kalpa Vrukshaaya Namathaam Kaamadhenave
The Great Personalities who got the Darshana of Rayaru even after the Brindavan Pravesha of Rayaru are: 1) Vijaya dasaru 2) Jagannatha Dasaru(in the form of Pralhada raja) 3) Lechappacharya (The next janma of Appanacharya) 4) DheerendraTheertharu(Saw the shesha vastra of the Rayaru was wearing) 5) Ibharamapura Appavaru 6) Surpur Ananda Dasaru 7) Sri Raghavendra Guruji of Punyasthala(It is near Basavapattana,Davangere). The list goes on as Rayaru has given darshan to large number of devotess even after entering Brindavan.
Read more about this topic: Raghavendra Swami