BHARAT - THE THAPO BHUMI

Being a person who belongs to Sanatan Dharma, have you ever thought about, the Kshethras/Temples we visit, how actually identified and recognized even before constructing a temple there?

You might think by referring to our scriptures like Ramayana, Mahabharata, and other Puranas, etc..

Yes, the Kshethras or temples we visit, are mentioned in our Scriptures, but not every Temple we visit today has been recognized from Scriptures and Epics, like the exact location, of the events that took place in our Epics, and if so, how did we come to know them?

Bharath is called Dharma Bhumi, Karma Bhumi, Yagna Bhumi, and Thapo Bhumi. With these, our Bharath is completely different from other countries.

As per our scriptures, if something seems to be impossible, then it is possible with the Thapobal [powers gained by performing Thapasya],

Yes, the answer is Thapobal, [the spiritual power],

Let's discuss about few circumstances, or the set of circumstances, where we came to know the exact location of the events that took place in the history of Bharath, by the great people, with the power of Thapasya.

JAGATHGURU ADISHANKARACHARYA

Jagathguru AdiShankaracharya is the one who needs no introduction, he not only established  Advaitha philosophy from Vedas, but also fought against 72 Avaidhika mathas [religions], re-established and coordinated Sanathana Dharma by travelling on foot across the land of Bharath three times, called Jaithra Yathra.

After completing the debate with Mandana Mishra and his wife, Ubhaya Bharathi, who is none other than the amshas of Lord Bramha and his wife Saraswathi Devi, Shankaracharya requested Goddess Sarawathi Devi to come along with him and stay on earth for the welfare of the people.

After reaching the serene banks of the Tunga River in Karnataka, Shankaracharya noticed an extraordinary sight, where a cobra was shading a frog from the blazing sun with its hood, a gesture that symbolized the perfect harmony between naturally opposite species. to know what resulted that vision Shankaracharya meditated for a while and experienced the spiritual vibrations of Sage Rishyashringa’s penance in that sacred land, and he asked Maa Saraswathi Devi to stay at that place and established the  Sharada peetam, the place of divine consciousness and wisdom.

{ALSO READ :  SHANKARACHARYA AND HIS WORKS}

SRI SACCHIDANANDA SHIVAABHINAVA NRISIMHA BHARATI SWAMI

Sri Sacchidananda Shivaabhinava Nrisimha Bharathi swami, who was the 33rd Jagadguru of the Sringeri Sharada Peetam from the year 1879 to 1912, 

We all knew Shankaracharya was born in Kalady, but no one knew the exact location until around 1910. Once, Sri Sacchidananda Shivaabhinava Nrisimha Bharathi swami, walking through the land of Kerala and felt like meditating at a place, through which he found the exact location, where Shankaracharya took birth in Kalady and all other places related to Shankaracharya, like the house of Shankaracharya near Poorna river, the place where crocodile caught him, the Sri Krishna temple which was built by Shankaracharya, etc., and later, it was confirmed by the Archaeological department after performing the carbon date test on the things found after digging the land identified. Sri Sacchidananda Shivaabhinava Nrisimha Bharathi swami was responsible for starting the celebration of the Shankara Jayanthi festival in India. 

VYASATHEERTHA/ VYASARAYA 

Vyasa Theertha is considered as the incarnation of Prahlad in Kali yuga, who was believed to be born in 1447 or around 1460. He was a saint who belonged to Sri Madhvacharya's Guru parampara and he was a poet and vaggeyakara. He also performed as the main priest [Pradhana Archaka] of the Tirumala Tirupathi Temple for 12 years. 

Vyasa Theertha and King Sri Krishnadevaraya:

Sri Krishnadevaraya [1471- 1529] was a great King of the Vijayanagara Empire. He was a warrior, administrator, and not only a contributor to art and culture, but also a great poet. His reign is often referred to as a golden age because of the political stability, military victories, and flourishing art and literature.

Vyasa Theertha ruled the Vijayanagara Empire for two years, when King Sri Krishna Devaraya had the Kuhu yoga [a combination of planets as per the Astrology, that signifies a period of adverse planetary influence, often associated with potential difficulties or challenges] as it might be a risk for the wellbeing of Kingdom, and On a particular day when Vyasa Theertha was on the throne, a serpent entered the court and then Sri Vyasa Teertha threw his saffron upper garment on it, immediately the serpent got burnt into ashes, thereby saving the king from death, then after Vyasa Theertha returned the Kingdom back to the King and remained as Raja Guru of the Vijayanagara Empire. After ruling the Empire, Vyasa Theertha was called Vyasa Raya or Vyasa Raja. He established 732 different Hanuman temples across the southern parts of Bharath with different forms of Hanuman Idols, who were considered guardians of the realm. 

Once, Vyasa Raya took his bath and sat on a rock in Hampi, after drawing the Hanuman image on the opposite rock to meditate, mysteriously, the image he drew became a real monkey and disappeared. He was shocked seeing this, the next day he did the same thing, and again, it transformed into a real monkey and disappeared. This repeated for 12 days. Vyasa Raya was wondering what might be the reason behind this, he thought there must be some divine energy in that particular location and went to Dhyana samadhi. He after went deep into meditation, came to know an interesting fact, that actually the place where he was is the exact location where Lord Sri Rama and Hanuman met for the first time. Then Sri Vyasa Raya realised the amazing power of the place that no one noticed. Then this time he drew a Yanthra with a Hanuman image in the middle and 12 monkeys that disappeared around Hanuman and some Bheejaksharas. He immediately composed and eloquently recited slokas that have equal potency as mantras. Then Lord Hanuma himself appeared and blessed Vyasa Ray, promised to stay there, where the stone itself formed as the image drawn, where Hanuma is called Yanthroddharaka Hanuman, thereby establishing the Yanthroddharaka Hanuman temple. He entered Brindavanam on Phalguna bahula sankatahara chathurthi, at Nava Brindavanam, Hampi.

VADIRAJA THEERTHA 1480-1600

Sri Vadiraja Teertha (1480–1600), a saint from the Madhvacharya's Guru parampara who was a Scholar, known for his spiritual power and, devotion towards the deity Hayagreeva, where the deity himself accepts his offerings. His Tapashakti, Mantra siddhi, and Knowledge of Shastras are legendary. There are innumerable miracles associated with him during his lifetime. Vadiraja Theertha was the head of the Sode Mutt, one of the eight mutts established by Madhvacharya in Udupi.

He also belongs to the time of Sri Krishna Devaraya. Once Sri Krishna Devaraya visited Vadiraja Theertha and revealed about the financial loss after the war against the Islamic invaders, and seeked for guidance to overcome the crisis. Vadiraja Theertha meditated deeply, invoking the blessings of  Lord Sri Maha Vishnu. Through his divine vision, he identified the exact location of the cave of Vali Sugreeva in Hampi, where the treasures and also Sri Rama idols were found, which were hidden from the Thretha yuga. Vadiraja Theertha handed over the treasure from the cave to the King and ordered him to use them to fill the financial crisis, and took the idols of Sri Rama, which were worshipped by Sugreeva himself, and these idols are still being worshipped in Sode mut.

{ALSO READ: MOOLA RAMA VIGRAHAM (THE IDOL WHICH EXISTS EVEN BEFORE SRI RAMA)}

CHAITANYA MAHAPRABHU

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who was initially named Vishwambhara, also called as Nimai, was born in Mayapur near Navadwip, West Bengal, in 1486. He is believed to be the incarnation of Sri Krishna himself in the Kali Yuga. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu mastered Sanskrit and philosophy, at a very young age. By 16, he became a very famous scholar around the country.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu visited Vrindavan in 1515, a time when many of Krishna's pastime sites were nearly forgotten over time. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was searching for Radha-kunda and Shyama-kund, however, these holy lakes had almost disappeared, and none of the local residents could help Chaitanya Mahaprabhu find them. Then Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, with his divine vision, located significant places like Radha-kund and Shyama-kund. He rediscovered many other places, like Govardhana Hill, Kaliya Ghat, Chir Ghat, Shringar Vat, Keshi Ghat, Raman Reti, and Seva Kunja.
At the age of 48, in the year 1533, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had completely merged into the deity of Lord Jagannath in Puri.

These are just a few examples to show why Bharat is called Tapo Bhumi.