Raghavendra Swami - Visiting Mantralayam

Visiting Mantralayam

Mantralayam is on the banks of Tungabhadra River, a major artery of the Krishna river that functions as a border between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, in this region.

The town is 16 km (9.9 mi) away from Mantralayam Road railway station on the Bombay-Madras and Bombay-Bangalore routes and around 30 miles from Raichur railway station. The Ashram is accessible by bus, taxis and other forms of private transport from both Mantralayam Road and Raichur railway stations, with Raichur offering more options, since it is a major regional hub.

The nearest airports are at Hyderabad about 240 km. away via Kurnool. From Kurnool to mantralayam is 90KMand at Puttaparthi about 237 km. away.

The Mutt provides accommodation for devotees. Once a day, free meals are provided at the Ashram on most days.For those wishing to stay in non-Mutt accommodation, there are numerous lodges at walking distance to the Mutt. The "circle" is the main entry point to the temple-town and is bustling with numerous restaurants, stores and brick-a-brack. Some popular eating joints are M.T.R. (Mantralayam Tiffin Room), Hotel Pannaga, Hotel Srinivasa Bhawan and Udipi Hotel

The Mutt accepts donations for Annadhanam and other sevas at the temple. Some of the sevas performed at the temple are (as of July 2012) 1) One day Sampoorna Annadhana Seva INR 2,00,000

2) One day Sampoorna Seva INR 1,00,000 (All Sevas for 1 day)

3) Vastra Samarpana Seva for all the Brindavans and HH Sri Swamiji INR 50,000

4) Vastra Samarpana Seva for Sri Raghavendra Swami Brindavan and HH Sri Swamiji INR 25,000

5) Gold Pallaki Seva INR 8000 (Permits devotees to participate in daily ritual of carrying idols of the god in a gold palaquin (Pallaki) in a procession around the precincts of the sanctum sanctorum)

6) Suvarna Rathothsava (Gold Chariot) INR 6000 (Permits devotees to participate in daily ritual of pulling a gold chariot (Suvarna Ratha) with idols of the god in a procession around the precincts of the sanctum sanctorum)

7) Kanaka Kavacha Samarpana INR 3500

8) Rajatha Rathotsava (Silver Chariot) INR 2000 (Permits devotees to participate in daily ritual of pulling a silver chariot (Rajatha Ratha) with idols of the god, in a procession around the precincts of the sanctum sanctorum)

9) Rathothsava (Wooden Chariot) INR 1000 (Permits devotees to participate in daily ritual of pulling a wooden chariot with idols of the god in a procession around the precincts of the sanctum sanctorum)

10) Kanaka Maha Puja INR 750 (Allows devotees to witness puja performed to Sri Raghavendra Swami Brindavana with gold coins)

11) Poorna Seva INR 500

12) Maha Puja INR 350

13) Sarva Puja INR 250

14) Utsavaraya Padapuja INR 200 (Allows devotees to witness pooja performed to miniature idols of Sri Raghavendra Swamy)

15) Phala Panchamrutha INR 150 (Allows devotees to partake of abhisheka prasada where abhisheka is performed with a mixture of fruits)

16) Panchamrutha INR 75 (Allows devotees to partake of abhisheka prasada where abhisheka is performed with a mixture of milk)

17) Ksheerabhisheka INR 50

18) Prateeka Puja INR 250

19) Archana Sahita Hastodaka INR 75

20) Unjal Seva (night) INR 350 (Allows devotees to rock the swing on which miniature idols of Sri Raghavendra Swamy are kept, at night and he is symbolically put to sleep)

21) Sri Vayustuti Punascharana (with honey, performed only on Saturdays) INR 500

22) Sri Vayustuti Punascharana (Sudhodhaka Sunday to Friday) INR 200

23) Sri Satyanarayana Swami Pooja (individual) INR 200

24) Sri Satyanarayana Swami Pooja (as a group) INR 50 (on Full Moon days only)

25) Grutha Nandana Deepa (1 month) INR 300 (Lighting of lamps in temple for 1 month, with ghee)

26) Taila Nandana Deepa (1 month) INR 150 (Lighting of lamps in temple for 1 month, with oil)

27) Godana Seva INR 5000 (Donation of cow to the Mutt)

28) Gograsa Seva INR 1000

29) Seva Sankalpa INR 25

30) Upanayana INR 2500 (Thread ceremony for Brahmins)

31) Nagapratista INR 1500

32) Javala INR 1000

33) Udyapana INR 1000

34) Namakarana INR 500 (Naming ceremony for new-borns)

35) Annaprasna INR 500 (Feeding ceremony for new-borns)

36) Sarva Siddhi Yantra INR 25

37) Santhana Yantra INR 25 (Blessed charm for couples to pray to, for child-bearing)

38) Bheethi Yantra INR 25 (Blessed charm to ward off fear)

39) Parimala Prasada Samarpana INR 20 (4 pieces)

All donations to the Mutt can be sent in the form of a cheque or a demand draft drawn on State Bank of India at Mantralayam and sent to the above address.