BY JYOTHSNA HEGDE
Atlanta, GA, August 29, 2025: The 354th Rayara Aaradhane was celebrated with deep devotion and grandeur by Ananthaadi Rayara Matha, Atlanta, Inc. (RAMA) from August 9 to 11, 2025. Over the course of three days, nearly 500 devotees gathered to honor the memory of Sri Raghavendra Swamy—revered as Guru Rayaru—whose life and teachings continue to illuminate hearts more than three centuries after he entered jeeva samadhi at Mantralayam.
Raghavendra Swamy, born as Venkatanatha, was a 17th-century Vaishnava scholar, theologian, and saint, revered by many as the reincarnation of Prahlada, the legendary child devotee of Lord Vishnu. His life is filled with stories of spiritual power and unwavering devotion.
The Aaradhane commemorates this timeless saint each year during the Shravana month, observed as Poorva, Madhya, and Uttara Aradhane. In Atlanta, the rituals unfolded with beauty and reverence—Panchamrutha Abhisheka, Mangalarathi, and the grand Pallakki procession of Rayaru’s utsava murti, carried in devotion and song. The air was thick with chants and the fragrance of flowers, as if the saint himself walked among his devotees.
The celebrations at Atlanta were marked not only by reverence but also by a spirit of simplicity and seva. In a beautiful gesture of community devotion, vegetables such as winter melons, ridge gourds, bell peppers, curry leaves, beans, and chillies were all grown by the devotees themselves. Traditional South Indian meals were lovingly prepared and served on banana leaves that, too, were home-grown. Each plate of prasadam, fragrant with saaru, puliyogare, payasa, and mysurpak, was more than a meal—it was an offering of gratitude and unity.
The air was alive with the sounds of chanting and the fragrance of flowers as devotees witnessed rituals like Kanakabhisheka, Paaduka Seva, and the Pallakki procession of Sri Raghavendra Swamy’s Utsava murti. The sight of the pallakki, adorned with flowers and carried amidst soulful music and the collective chanting of Rayaru’s stotras, stirred profound emotion.
Adding to the devotional fervor was the cultural program presented by students of the RAMA Gurukula and various organizations/performers. Through shlokas, music, and dance, they retold the timeless wisdom of Guru Rayaru, blending spirituality with artistry and ensuring that the next generation inherits the treasure of these traditions.
Reflecting on the event, Pradeep Vittalamurthy, founder of RAMA, said, “We are thankful to Shri Hari Vayu and Guru Rayara blessings. We also thank Sri Subhudendra Teertharu for guiding us and thank all the devotees and sponsors for their immense support. We can be reached at www.atlantarayaramath.org.”
The 354th Rayara Aaradhane in Atlanta was not just a festival; it was an affirmation of faith, community, and the timeless bond between Guru and devotee. It showed how a tradition rooted in Mantralayam has blossomed across oceans, uniting souls in devotion, service, and the unshakeable belief that Guru Rayaru continues to guide and protect his devotees.
