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 official address of Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt
Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt,
Mantralayam, (Mantralayam Taluk),
Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh,
PIN: 518 345, India
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 and at Puttaparthi about 100 km. away.
The Mutt provides accommodation for devotees. Once a day, free meal is provided at the Ashram on most days.
The Mutt accepts donations for Annadhanam and other sevas at the temple. 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.
Annadana at Mantralayam
It is said that the donation of food and water (i.e. Annadana (Anna: rice, Dana: donation)) is superior to all other forms of charity since it fulfils a basic need of all creatures unlike other forms of charity which are always only as efficacious as the recipient of the donation.
Hence Sri Guru Raghavendra relentlessly propagated Annadhanam and ensured that free food and water was made available to all visitors to the Mutt. It is a practice that continues to this date at the Moola Brindavana Matha at Mantralayam with approximately 4000-5000 people being fed here every day. While the Brindavana is open on all days of the year, no food is served on Ekadasi, Solar Eclipse, Lunar Eclipse and Krishna Janmashtami days.
Adi (Step) Pradakshina at Mantralayam
Adi (Step by Step) Pradakshina (Circum-ambulation foot-by-foot) is a form of pradakshina of the Vrindavana at Mantralayam performed by many ardent devotees as a thanksgiving ritual for wishes fulfilled and prayers answered. The devotee starts the pradakshina by placing one foot exactly in front of the other in a single line, with no gap between the two feet (unlike regular walking motion) and repeats the process until he or she has finished circulating the Vrindavana and is back to the starting point. The goal is that two feet have covered every point along the circumference of the pradakshina-path around the Moola Vrindavan.
Accommodation at Mantralayam
The Matha has built numerous guest houses and dormitories for visiting devotees. These can be availed of, by visiting the central office of the Matha at Mantralayam. Currently, there are no provisions to book these rooms online or in advance. Numerous private lodges are available
Flood in 2009
A huge flood occurred in October 2009, in northern Karnataka and bordering districts of Andhra Pradesh. Mantralayam, being in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh was the worst hit by this particular flood. The entire temple town was marooned with the Mutt being submerged in the Tungabhadra up to the top floor. The serving Swamiji of the Mutt and couple of his other aides sought refuge in the top floor till they were rescued by the Karnataka state government through an IAF helicopter.
The hotels/guest houses maintained by the temple and those privately owned were submerged up to the third floor leaving the inmates and residents of the entire town with no option but to seek refuge on terraces. All electric poles were uprooted and connection to the holy city by road, rail and telephone was completely cut-off. Routine rituals, practices and offerings at the temple were resumed much more than a week after the floods. A thorough purification of the temple premises (not the entire temple town) preceded this resumption of regular worship.
