Sanctum Sanctorum of Rayaru in Mantralaya to be rebuilt

The Mantralaya Sri Raghavendra Swamy Matha has come up with a plan to rebuild the sanctum sanctorum of the holy Raghavendra Swamy Matha in Mantralaya.

The plan of the highly venerated religious institution, the Mantralaya Matha, is to “rebuild the sanctum sanctorum of  Shri Rayaru completely to create a covered stone structure with pillars in ancient architectural style”.

The website of the Sri Raghavendra Swamy Matha, Mantralaya, and emails sent out to the subscribers of the matha newsletter states that the massive project is slated to cost about Rs. 10 crores.

The Newsletter and emails of the Matha state that “His Holiness Shri Shri Suyateendra Theertha Shripaadangalavaru has undertaken a commitment to rebuild the sanctum sanctorum”.

It says though the Matha is capable of constructing the stone pavilion, both the Swamiji's (this means the senior and junior pontiff of the Sri Raghavendra Swamy Matha) wish is to present the unique opportunity to all the devotees to make a contribution towards this project and be blessed.
It says Sri Subudhendra Theertha has taken over the leadership of the project.

The value of each stone slab that will be used in the construction of the stone structure is estimated to be Rs.5000. Every stone slab used in the construction of the interior enclosure around the Brindavana may be sponsored by devotees.

Each stone slab donated by the devotee will be offered only after taking their names in the Sankalpa. A devotee may donate any number of stone slabs. Every donor will receive a commemorative memento from the Swamiji along with his blessings.

After constructing and offering the Stone Mandap to Rayaru, the surplus funds thus accrued will be utilised for the new building construction of Shri Gurusarvabhouma Samskruta Vidya Peetha.

Devotees can send their contributions through Cheque / DD / M.O to The Manager,

Sri Raghavendra Swamy Matha
Mantralayam - 518 345 Andhra Pradesh

Cash donations will be accepted only through authorised representatives or at the Donation Counters at Mantralaya.
The matha says online funds may be transferred to the account given below.

Syndicate Bank, Mantralaya
Name: Shilamantapa Account: No. 33982200017846
IFSC : SYNB0003398

This donation is eligible for tax concession under Section 80G of Income Tax act.

For more information, devotees and donors may contact Office of H.H. Sri Swamiji : 08512-279429
The Manager : 08512-279888
Public Relations Officers : 08512 279700 / 279498
Web Page : www.raghavendramutt.org/shiladana
Email : shiladana@raghavendramutt.org

An exercise in accounts

Sosale Vyasaraja Matha

 

Expense Report - Feb 2013

Published by admin on Sat, 03/09/2013 - 14:20

This is the income-expenditure chart put out by the Administrator of the Vyasaraja Matha (Sosale). The administrator, K. Jairaj, and the team of officials, say that all the income and expenditure of the matha from all its properties and daily offerings have been entered into account books and audited.

The matha is now trying to increase the rent on its properties by calling for fresh tenders or going in for fresh rent agreements of its properties mainly in Karataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
The matha has vast properties in Bangalore, Mysore, Sosale, Kumbakonam, Tricy, Tirupathi and othe rplaces. The matha is trying to ensure that it gets rentals out of  these properties. In some cases, the rentals have been inscreased and in several other cases the rentals are in the process of being increased.
Centuries ago, the Vyasaraja matha was considered to among the richest not only in Karnataka but in India too. The matha and its prosperity reached its peak during the Vijayanagar period when Vyasa Raja was the perceptor to not only Krishna Deva Raya but five other Vijayanagar Kings. During that time, it was not only the Vijayanagar Emperors but also the Muslim Kings of Bijapur, also called the Adilshahis, and Bahlol Lodh of Delhi among others who honoured Vyasa Raja and gifted him with an umbrela and jewels.
Vyasa Raja never kept any wealth with himself. When he was honoured with Ratnabhiskeha by Krishnadeva Raya, he distributed almost all of the gold, jewels and ornaments to the gathering of pandits, seers and religious men and the rest to the people.
The matha is once again trying to harness its exisitng properties so as to ensure that it gets the maximum income. The expense sheet published above will indicate how teh matha is trying to revive and reinvent itself.
All the matter contained here have been sourced from the Administrator and the officials of the Administrator's team. We just like to bring to the readers of the post the good deeds of the team. 

The present status of Sosale Vyasaraja Matha

This is an article on the present status of the Vyasaraja Matha, which is one of the oldest Madhwa mathas.

The Vyasaraja Matha has a long and hoary history. The founder of this math is Rajendra Theertha.

There is an interesting story behind the establishment of this matha. The presiding seer of the Madhwa Matha, Vidhadhiraja Theertha, had appointed Rajendra Theertha as his successor.  (Vidyadhiraja was the successor of Jaya Theertha or Teekacharya).

However, when the time to hand over the reigns of the Matha came, Rajendta Theertha was away on Sanchara. Rajendra Theertha’s brother Kavindra Theertha was given the pontificate. Rajendra Theertha then came down south to Kumbakonam and subsequently founded a Sri Matha which came to be known as Vyasaraja Matha. After Rajendra Theertha, came Jayadwaja Theertha, Puroshatama Theertha, Bramanye Theertha and then Vyasa Theertha or Vyasa Raja.

The contribution of  Vyasa Raja to Madhwa literature, philosophy and religion was so immense and he was such a towering personality that the matha came to be named after him. Several decades later,  the matha divided and the new entity came to be known as Kundapur Vyasaraja Matha or Abbur matha. The original matha called itself Sosale Matha. While Abbur is near Chennapatna, Sosale is near T. Narsipur near Mysore.

A few years ago, several devotees of the Sosale matha and even a samithi began leveling allegations of mismanagement against the management of the matha. The State Government took over the administration of the Matha and appointed former BBMP Commissioner and former Additional Chief Secretary K. Jairaj as an administrator.

I can personally vouch for the fact that one of the last acts of V.S, Acharya as a Minister before he succumbed to a heart attack was signing on a file approving the take over of the matha.

After the Matha was taken over, Mr. Jairaj and his team have started operating from the premises of the Vyasraja Matha in Basavanagudi.

I have met Mr. Jairaj and his team several times and they tell me that they are only in charge if the administrative aspect and that they do not interfere with the religious affairs of the Matha.

They told me that  they  had started and almost completed the enumeration of movable and  immovable properties of the matha. They said the services of the staff of  the matha have been regularized and salary is being paid on time. A magazine, Tatwa Chandrika, has been launched. The matha is also officially on facebook - http://www.facebook.com/SriVyasarajaMatha and another personal profile at http://www.facebook.com/PrathyarthiGajaKesari

The income and expenditure of the matha is being regulated and all expenses are being accounted for.

Mr. Jairaj said that the Vyasaraja Matha on Tirumala hills and  the Payonidhi Auditorium in Mysore are under the administration of   his team. There are  plans to make it convenient for devotees of the Matha to avail the facilities at Tirumala  and  Mysore. .

He said he and his team members had  meetings with managers of all branches of the matha and asked them to keep in mind the interest of the devotees.

The matha’s web has been redesigned and the latest developments, including  details of  the team’s work, is  being posted and tweeted.

(This article is only to give details about the matha and It is not intended in any manner to support or canvass for or againat any person or party. I visit the Vyasaraja matha almost every day and I am familiar with its history and tradition. )