A particular temple or place of pilgrimage made known to the world because of the great saints and devotees who have glorified and sanctified the temple.

One such holy place is Bhadrachalam.  Achalam means mountain. Badra means auspicious. There is a Rama temple atop this hill. The whole hill reverberates with Rama Nama.  

Today, this town is known to the whole world as one of the holiest temple towns, thanks to the great Saint, Sri Bhadrachala Ramadas.  Born as Gopanna, he came to be known as Ramadas because of his devotion to Lord Rama. 

'The Lord gives tremendous sufferings in the lives of great saints only to bring out their intense devotion for Him.'  The life of Bhadrachala Ramadas is a standing example to this statement....

Sri Bhadrachala Ramadas (Part - 1)

The name christened by his parents for Badrachala Ramadas was Gopanna. He was born in a wealthy family. Even as a child Gopanna was much attracted and devoted to Lord Rama. His father who was a minister in the court of a Muslim King died even while Gopanna was a small boy. Therefore, he could not secure his father’s post in the King’s court. However, even before his death, his father secured the post for his wife's brother, Appannagaru i.e Gopanna’s maternal uncle. When Gopanna grew up he was married and he had a son by name Raghav.

Being deeply devoted to Lord Rama, every year Gopanna celebrated Rama Navami utsav grandly. Since there was no dearth of wealth he was able to celebrate without any limitation. Vedic scholars, Bhagavatas were all invited and the whole town took a festive look. The quiet man that he was the only thing that made him lose his temper was the advise to limit his spending on the celebration of Rama Navami! Even though there was vast wealth, Gopanna was slowly reduced to a day-to-day living condition as there was no income to balance the expenditure. When Rama Navami was fast approaching Gopanna was deeply worried and anxious about its celebration. He was not one who would go about collecting funds for this from others. His wife consoled him, “Why do you worry about this? Lord Rama will never forsake us. Some way will open up and we will find enough money to celebrate the utsav. Be cheerful”. A few days later she advised him to approach his maternal uncle who now held the post that had been secured for him by Gopanna’s father. Gopanna went to Hyderabad where his uncle worked for the Nizam. Unable to recognize the nephew of her husband whom she had never seen, the aunt chased him out of the house. However, Gopanna awaited his uncle’s arrival. The uncle immediately recognised his nephew and invited him into the house. He introduced him to his wife who became very hospitable. The uncle enquired after Gopanna’s welfare. Gopanna then said to his uncle, “I intend to celebrate Rama Navami utsav”. Appannagaru said, “Fine! It is really wonderful that you intend to celebrate Rama Navami utsav. I am indeed happy about it.” Gopanna then explained his position. Appannagaru immediately responded well, “Gopanna! Do not worry. This post that I hold now is only due to your father. I have always awaited an opportunity to show my gratitude. I am happy that it has come up and I will give you all that is needed for the celebration of Sri Rama Navami. Go ahead with your arrangements and I will do all that is to be done. But, after the Utsav return here. I will speak to the King and get you a job.”

The happy Gopanna thus celebrated the Rama Navami utsav as usual. His wife herself cooked food for all the guests for she realized what an honour it was to cook for all these Sadhus. Therefore, she did not leave it in the hands of hired cooks but took it upon herself. It was late evening and Nama Kirtan was going on. Gopanna’s wife had prepared dinner for the guests. She put her little son Raghav to sleep and placing a lamp beside him moved to the place where Nama Kirtan was going on. It was her husband who sang which made it all the more interesting for her and they were all his kirtans. She was enjoying the kirtans and after a while, the mother she was, she moved to check her child. But lo! the child was not to be found where she had put him to sleep. After she had left him, the child had woken up. The lamp had been blown out and being dark, the scared child searching out for the mother had reached the place where dinner had been prepared. The ‘kanji’ (starch) from the cooked rice had been filtered nearby on the floor and the child in the dark stepped on to it. He slipped and fell into the boiling hot ‘kanji’ and died.

The mother searched for her little son and found the dead child. The wife of a great devotee of Rama she out beat her husband. She suppressed her grief and tears as the thought crossed her, “If I were to cry for my dead child Rama Navami utsav will come to a stop. This cannot be allowed to happen. The guests should be fed.” She wrapped the body of the child in a sack and placed it aside where none could see it. She then went about her work. As soon as the Nama Kirtan was over she served food for all the guests. As they were being served one of the Sadhus asked Gopanna, “Where is your little son Raghav? I have not seen him around?” Gopanna looked questioningly at wife. She quietly took him aside and showed him the dead body of the child. Gopanna was also grief stricken; He was also astounded at his wife’s behaviour in such a situation.

Meanwhile the Sadhus had gathered there and learnt about the incident. They, too, grieved over the mishap. Gopanna consoled them, "Rama blessed me with this child and He has now taken him back. The child has gone to a better place - to the Lotus Feet of Lord Rama. We should not cry over this!” However, the Sadhus said, “No, Gopanna! What will the world say? You are a Rama Bhakta. You are celebrating His utsava. The people will scoff at your Rama for bringing this upon you. This incident will bring a bad name to your Rama.” Saying so, all of them together prayed to Lord Rama pleading with him to restore the child to life.

Just then a Yogi came in and enquired in a demanding tone, “What is happening here?” He was informed of the child’s death. The Yogi said, “Died? Who says the child is dead? He is not.” And tapping the child the Yogi said, “Get up!” and the child woke up! The Yogi quickly went out of the door. Gopanna who had followed the Yogi quickly saw the form of Kothandapani Rama before he disappeared from sight. This only intensified his faith that the Lord was taking care of him in every way.

As advised by his uncle, Gopanna visited him after the completion of the Utsav. Appannagaru helped him dress befittingly and took him to the court to meet the King. The court is where the King conducts the various affairs of the Kingdom. Even as the Nizam attended to the numerous affairs concerning the kingdom he kept looking at Gopanna whose face seemed very familiar and was sitting next to his minister Appannagaru. The King questioned Appannagaru, “Who is this seated next to you?” Appannagaru explained that he was Gopannagaru, the son of the Minister in his court whom he had succeeded. “Oh!” exclaimed the King, “No wonder he seems very familiar. He resembles his father and needs no proof to show whose son he is. What is the matter? Why have you brought him here?” Appannagaru explained that it was only to help him get a job and requested the King to be kind enough to offer him a suitable job. But the King said, “Why ask me? You may place him in a suitable post”. So, Appannagaru after going through the papers containing the various posts found that the post of Tahsildar in Bhadrachalam was vacant. Achalam means mountain. Badra means auspicious. There is a Rama temple atop this hill. The whole hill reverberates with Rama Nama.

Rama Mantra is a very potent Mantra. It is the highest of all Mantras as it contains all other Mantras in it.  Gopannagaru came to be known as Ramadas because of his devotion to Lord Rama.

Appannagaru then appointed Gopannagaru as Tahsildar of Bhadrachalam. Appannagaru advised the young Gopannagaru, “This is a very high status post. It deals with lot of money. You should be very careful while occupying this seat. Working for the King is like handling a cobra. The cobra might drop a gem or if provoked bite you. Similarly, if the King is pleased he will shower you with invaluable gifts but if you rub him on the wrong side your head will be chopped off.” The post of Tahsildar was a very prestigious and highly respected post. The people of Bhadrachalam made arrangements for receiving their new Tahsildar and eagerly awaited his arrival. As it is usual to entertain the higher up by bestowing him with what pleases him, the people of Bhadrachalam learning that he was a Rama Bhakta decided to receive him in the Temple of Sri Rama in Bhadrachalam.

Part II >>