Bhadrachala Raam Daas - Part I

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Bhadrachala Raam Daas , the great Raama BhakthaSirOmaNi , the inspiring model

for Saint ThyagarAja,was born in NelakoNdapaLLi , a small village in the

KammamDistrict of Andhra Pradesh in the year 1620 C.E. He lived for68 years on

this earth steeped in Raama Bhakthi .At birth , He was known as Kancharla

Gopanna .His Bhakthi forSri 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

"BandEkhanaRaama Daas " thru the forced jial residence are wellknown. Sri Raama

and LakshmaNa paid off this debtand got the release for Raama Daas with special

gold coins( Raam Tanka coins) that are seen even today .During his forced

incarceration , Raam Daas missedthe Sevai of Sri Vaikunta Raaman of

BhadrAchalamtemple nestled on the northern banks of the holyriver Godhavari .

He was frustrated over the indifferenceof the Lord for letting him languish in

the Jail of the Nawaband poured out his grief in many moving Krithis like"

IshvAku Kula Tilaka " set in Yadhykula KaambhOjiRaagam .There are 56 keertanaas

of Bhaktha Raama daas( Telegu Text) available

to us today :http://www.geocities.com/promiserani2/co1015.htmlSangeetha

Kalanidhi Sri Balamurali Krishna has madea beautiful recording of at least 10

of these 56 songsin his melodious voice :http://musicindiaonline.comPlease link

to vocal and artists ( Balamurali Krishna )in this web site for the renderings

of the krithis ofBhaktha Raama Daas .By seperate mail , I will send the images

of Sri Vaikunta Raamanof BhadrAchalam .Here , Lord Raamachandra , Sita PirAtti

stayedwith LakshmaNa during their exile from AyOdhya . This isthe auspicious (

Bhadra) hill ( achalam ) in the middle ofthe jungle , where Lord Raamachandra

blessed Sage Bhadra .The scenic beauty of this abode of Lord Raama with His

DEviseated 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

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shobha