Shri Appavaru (Bidi Sanyasigalu)

Shri appAvaru (ibharampura krishNachAryaru):

ShrAvaNa shukla thrithIya, is the ArAdhane of shri appavaru. Today is the 151st ArAdhane of appAvaru.

He was a great devotee of rAyaru. kaTTe is at ibhrampura, which about 4 Kms from manthralaya. He attained haripAda in 1869. 

Shloka:

Sri rAma charana dwandwa vardhi chandodayopama

Sri Krishna pujanirataha krushnomam Sarvadhavatu*

Shri Ibharampura Krishnacharya was a great saintly personality. The village which produced great Acharya i.e, Ibharampura is just about 2½ Miles from Mantalayam. Shri Ibharampura Krishnacharya (lovingly called by short name Appavaru) was blessed to the ideal couple Ahobalacharya and Krishna Bai of this village, by their sincere, devoted prayers to rAyaru. The couple had also performed ‘Naga Prathista’ . Their long unhappy status of Childlessness was done away by the child ‘Krishna’.

Krishnacharya even from childhood began to show miraculous powers of divine activities. As the child was given oil bath and allowed to sleep in the cradle, the cradle was rocking without anybody’s action. People around used to flock there to witness the rare phenomenon. The parents were poor and despite their humble little means to bring him up, the child grew up with the normal good qualities of robust health and activities. Whenever the child was with the mother at Harikathas or Puranas, he used to show the signs of happiness and elation at the episode of Kamsa Vadha by Krishna or Rukmini Kalyana. The child used to exhibit sadness over  narration of sad incidents and would begin to weep aloud hearing Draupadi Vastrapaharana, Dhruwa Rajara's life in Desert, Gajendra Moksha, etc.

Krishnacharya in his boyhood days never showed any interest in studies and anushTAna, but prefered to play in an irresponsible easy going way. The parents were much disappointed at the boy's discouraging progress. One day, vexed by the parents anger over his indifference, the young krishnacharya left to a distant jungle to weep in solitude. An old man with rare brilliance of eminence on the face came to the boy and with his divine hand, inscribed letters on the tongue. Soon, radical change of God-Consciousness was felt by the boy who fell at the feet of the old man. He expressed his happiness and relief. The old man revealed himself as “Ashwatama Acharya” and blessed krishnacharya with all the powers of curing poverty and diabolical spirits. “Ashwatama Acharya”, further expressed that Shri rAyaru would greatly contribute for krishnacharya’s power to relieve the sicknesses and anxieties of his devotees for over 80 years of his life.

Krishnacharya entered Grihasta Ashrama and began to lead a life of high discipline. “Athithis“ and “Abhyagatis” were promptly attended to after the parents paralokayatra.

Sri Raghavendra Chittagnyam Saara bramarahitam

Doorikruta Duraachaaram Krishnacharya Gurum Bhaje

Appavaru knew the heart of Mantralaya Prabhu Sri Raghavendraru, being his antaranga bhakta. By the blessings and anugraha of Rayaru he helped abundant bhaktas. A staunch worshipper of arjuna pUjita Panchamukhi Praanadevaru, Appavaru received that Panchamukhi Hanuma idol from Sri Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar.

Appavaru owing to the Aparokshagnyana and Bhakti used to forecast and foretell what is going to happen in future. In Mantralaya when one of his shishyAs, a great scholar by name Sri GaneshAchArya, performed Namaskara to the sacred feet of Appavaru, Appavararu told him "today you are doing Namaskara to me and from tomorrow onwards I have to do Namaskara to you". Everybody laughed. But in the evening a telegram came from Nanjanagudu from H.H.Sri SugnAnEndra tIrtharu asking Sri GaneshAchArya to start immediately to Nanjanagudu. Sri SugnAnEndra 

TIrtharu

Was about to attain the lotus feet of Sri Hari, made him as his successor and named him as Sri SudharmEndra teertharu.

Venkatagiriyacharya, father of Guru Jagannatha Dasaru & Sri Appavaru were close friends. From many years Venkatagiri Acharyaru didn't have Santana bhagya. Once Venkatagiri acharyaru approached Appavaru. Appavaru was doing Pranavdevara pooja. Acharyaru pleaded to Appavaru that "You did anugraha to many sajjanas.  As you know that I don't have Santana bhagya please do Anugraha". Then during pearl (muttu) abhisheka to pranadevaru Appavaru gave a pearl to Venkatagiriacharya saying "You will have a son like pearl (Muttinanthana Maga huttutane)". Appavara vakya didn't go wrong "Sri Guru Jagannatha Dasaru (SwamirAyAchaaryaru)"  was born.

Once Sri Appavaru had been to Gadag. Visited the famous temple of Sri VeeraNarayana that too in the afternoon. At that time Pooja, Alankara, Naivedya, Mahamangalarati were all completed. The Archakas and the Parupateyedars closed the doors of Garbhaalaya, locked and went home. The temple is really worth seeing, such a massive, huge temple beautifully built. It is heartening to know that Kumaravyasa Mahakavi, a great poet of Kannada has composed the Bhaarata – Gadugina Bhaarata sitting in the temple leaning on to a pillar with utmost devotion. Swami Sri VeeraNarayana blessed him and he used to say that Veera Narayana is the poet and he was only the copier. So Appavaru stepped into the temple. He said "I have come all the way to seek your darshana Narayana. Narayanappa, but the doors are all closed and locked, what is this?" At that time to great surprise, the locks opened automatically without the keys and doors opened. Appavaru went inside and took the darshana of darshana Brahma Sri Veera Narayana and started talking to Him. Swami offered Pratyaksha Darshana to Appavaru.

Sri Yogi Narayanacharya, a resident of Gadag, was there on the spot. He  actually witnessed the meet and the talk. 

After seeing Appavara’s divine personality, immediately surrendered to Appavaru and requested him to accept him as his shishya. From that day onwards Yogi Narayanacharya always followed Sri Appavaru, lived with him and performed seva with devotion and affection. 

Sri Narayanacharya, was a great devotee of Sri Veera Narayana and led the life of a Yogi. He was a scholar, a sculptor and a Sanskrit pandit. It is he who has written about Appavaru and introduced him to the world. 

Appavaru sometimes gave darshana to his devotees with shesharoopa. Sri Appavaru  always had the fragrance from his body where ever he went. 

All the people young and old never called him by name. With honour and respect they called him Appavaru.

Lakumeesha Dasaru has said: 

Those who really worship with faith and belief, Appavaru has actually removed all their evils,

paapas, difficulties by the complete blessings of Mantralaya Rayaru. 

Appavaru was daily going to Mantralaya from Ibharamapura to take the Darshana of Rayaru. It was a part of his main sacred routine. Ibharamapura’s Appavaru became a close associate of Rayaru, who knew the inner feelings of Rayara Antaranga Bhakta. At that time Appavaru himself took the responsibility of feeding the Devotees coming to Mantralaya and Appavaru used to invite all of them to Ibharamapura. Thus Appavaru was treating the guests and offered the hospitality with pleasure.

Atithi Devo Bhava, that too the Mantralaya devotees Appavaru always took special care of them. For the devotees stay Appavaru built the houses in Mantralaya, till today we can find them though they are pretty old. Appavaru always was breathing Mantralaya Mantralaya.

Rayara Namochchaarana was the Gayatri of Appavaru and the paaaraayana of the Sudha and the Parimala was the Sacred Bath of Ganges, etc. He guided the devotees on the right path .

Ibharamapura’s Appavaru was so dear and near to Mantralaya Rayaru, that Rayaru was appearing in the dreams of the Sevarthis and told several times that "tomorrow I will not be here in Mantralaya and going to Ibharamapura". This proves that how Appavaru was dear to Rayaru. Appavaru stayed in Mantralaya, performed the Seva of Rayaru with intense devotion, gained affection of Rayaru and cured several devotees by Mruttika.

Nandawaar Desai’s son was fully abnormal in growth.

Ibharamapura’s Appavaru

By daily applying Rayara Mruttika, made him healthy and bestowed long life on him through Rayaru. Appavaru has completely removed Alpaayu (shortlived), Apamrutyu (bad and untimely death) by Rayara Mruttika, Padodaka, Mantrakshate and Sheshavastra.

Always concerned in the welfare of the devotees Appavaru became very close to all and spread the Tatvas, Miracles of RAyaru, Teekarayar's Sudha, Anuvyakhyaana of Sri Srimadacharya and Mantralaya Rayaru’s Parimala.

Once Sri Ananda Dasaru of Surpur (Kamaleshavithala ankita), a great devotee of Sri Raghavendrateertharu who has composed abundant songs of Rayaru was in Ganadhaalu at the Sanctum of Sri Panchamukhi Devaru for Anushthaana for several days. Suddenly he remembered that next day waa Shraavana Krishna Dwiteeya, the Aradhana of Sri Raghavendrateertharu. Came to cross the river Tungabhadra. But Tungabhadra was overflowing, full of spate. Asked the oarsman to go to Mantralaya. Owing to the spate and the force of the water the oarsman refused for rowing the boat. Sri Ananda Dasaru pleaded with the oarsman that somehow he has to reach Mantralaya without fail. After a lot of pressure the oarsman placed the boat into the river. After crossing a little with the rudder the water entered into the boat, though the oarsman struggled hard. Ananada Dasaru decided that his end has come now, but the strong desire to participate in the Rayara Aradhana at Mantralaya could not be reduced even at this critical juncture. 

At that time two Brahmins wearing only Koupeena came near the boat crossing the river, tied a rope to the boat and again went on the other side of the boat, started pulling the boat. Kamaleshavithala ankitaru was really surprised to see this. It appeared as though it is JALAPRALAYA. Safely they pulled the boat. The oarsman was surprised to see the scene, offered gratitude to this kind act of the two Brahmins. Sri Ananda Dasaru reached the bank of Mantralaya. Asked the two Brahmins, "who are you? what are your names? I am really grateful to you, you have really saved our lives". By hearing this, the two Brahmins replied that their names were Raghappa, and Vaadappa. They both said happily that in Mantralaya Sri Ibharamapura’s Appavaru and several Gnyanis have gathered, so please go to maTa immediately and soon disappeared. Surpur Ananda Dasaru soon thought that the two Brahmins are none but the Great Divine Saints of Sri Mantralaya Sri Raghavendra teertharu and Sri Vadeendra teertharu. What an amount of pains they have taken to save the life of this Devotee. Tears rolled unknowingly, could not find the way due to tears, some how came near the main door of the Mutt, Ibharampura’s Appavaru was there only, welcomed him with smile, "Oh Dasare you have escaped by the danger of being drowned in Tungabhadra by the Paramanugrha of Sri Raghavendra teertharu". Aparoksha Gnani Ibharamapura’s Appavaru knew the heart of Rayaru and was fully aware of all the activities of Rayaru as he was very near.

Hampi Car Festiva

The servant maid (Rangappa's wife) of krishnacharya's house left for hampi (leaving behind her 12 years old boy bangaru) to witness the car festival. The boy finding mother's absence till evening burst into tears and even became swoned in disperetion. The father, Raganna, approached Appavaru for relief. Appavaru took them both upstairs and showed them and many others assembled there, the hampi car-festival. Bangaru was made to see even his mother in one of the mantapams there in hampi (as equal to morden telescope).