INTRODUCTION
Venkanna (16th century) was an ardent devotee of Guru Raghavendra, who served as a minister of Adoni under the Nawab Sidhi Masood Khan and helped the great Guru towards building his Jeeva Samadhi at Mantralayam, Andhra Pradesh.
The young boy Venkanna lived in a village at Adoni, Andhra Pradesh, along with his uncle, since he had lost his parents. His uncle didn’t send him to school and made him to graze the cattle. Once when he was playing with the boys in the streets, Guru Raghavendra visited Adoni and the boy worshiped him. The great guru blessed him and asked him to meditate him by chanting his mantra “OM SRI RAGHAVENDRAYA NAMAHA” during the time of difficult situations.
After some time,a representative of the Sultan came to Adoni and asked Venkanna to read the messages written in palm leaves. Since Venkanna was an illiterate, he was unable to read the text and was very much worried and prayed to Guru Raghavendra by chanting his mantra. Immediately, he could able to read the things written in the palm leaves. He informed the details to the Sultan’s representative. Since he conveyed the message in favour of Sultan, the messenger immediately informed it to him. The next day, the Sultan has appointed Venkanna as the Diwan of Adoni. Thus by the divine grace of Guru Raghavendra, the illiterate boy became a Diwan.
Diwan Venkanna later played a very important role in obtaining the holy place Manchala, as per the wish of Guru Raghavendra, where the Guru entered Jeeva Samadhi. The place is now known as Mantralaya, situated in Andhra Pradesh, where the Moola Brindavana of Guru Raghavendra is located. Daily Lot of people visit this holy place and getting the blessings of Guru Raghavendra and by the grace of the divine guru, they are getting relieved from their problems.
“OM SRI VENKANNAVE NAMAHA”
“OM SRI GURU RAGHAVENDRAYA NAMAHA”
“JAI SRI RAM”
WRITTEN BY R.HARISHANKAR
