Sankalpa Seva can be performed by anyone who wishes to obtain Sri Guru Raghavendra Theertharu's Blessings.
Here are some details provided on how to do the seva in Mantralayam.
Aachars/ Archakas in Mantralaya mutt who performs pooja for Sri Rayaru brindavana will guide you to take the oath in front of Sri Rayaru's brindavana before starting to perform seva.
The mutt might charge somewhere around Rs.10 to Rs.20 to perform seva and you can buy them from the counter inside the mutt.
Devotees should bring one unpeeled coconut to take oath before starting to perform seva. You can buy one from the shops outside the mutt. Make sure you touch that coconut after taking bath.
It is always advisable to perform seva in the mornings between 5am to 8am and in the evenings between 4pm and 5pm.
How to do Seva:
1. How many times should the pradakshina (going around the Brindavana) be performed?
One can choose from 5, 11, 14, 28, 54 times.
2. How many days the seva can be done?
One can choose from 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, 42 days.
3. What are the regulations to be followed before starting the Seva?
a) The person taking the oath should bathe in the river twice, taking care to wet the head. A woman need to do it once only.
b) One should not use soap while taking bath.
c) Your cloth should not be wet while performing Seva.
d) One should dress in a traditional manner, using a pancha-kache (five folds), or fully covered dress and comfortable dress for ladies.
e) One should not have a haircut or shave in the days on which seva is being performed
f) One should not adorn one's hair with any flower, other than what has been offered to Sri Hari-Vayu-Guru
g) One should eat only once a day. In the night, milk or fruits can be consumed in moderate quantities.
h) Foods that have been cooked or fried or prepared in hotel should be avoided.
i) After the pradakshina is completed one should spend time by going through religious, pious works and avoid wasteful activities like idle gossip. Ladies should sing the compositions of Haridasas.
j) One should not sleep on a bed; however a chaape ( a thin mattress made of fibre) can be used.
k) On Dwadashi and during the Dhanur masa, one can continue pradakshine after taking food.
4. Are there any regulations governing the pradakshine and namaskaara (prostration)?
Yes, the the pradakshine and namaskaara should be performed in the manner prescribed by religious scriptures. Devotees should keep the following aspects in mind while performing pradakshina during the Seva.
a) One should perform pradakshina 5 times around the Hanumanta icon in front of the brindavana
b) During each pradakshina, one should perform namaskaara 4 times, one on each side of the brindavana, with utmost devotion
towards Sri Rama, Narahari (Narasimha), Krishna and Vedavyasa respectively.
c) One should do one namaskaara in front of Sri Vadeendra teertha’s brindavana too.
d) During the pradakshina time one should recite pious religious compositions like Sri Raghavendra stotra, Vayu Stuti,
Dashaavatarastuti, Krishnaashtakam, Vishnu Sahasranama etc.
e) After performing the pradakshine in the main courtyard, one should also perform one pradakshine of the brindavanas of
Sri Sudharmeendra teertha, Sri Suvrateendra teertha, Sri Suyameendra teertha, Sri Sujayeendra teertha and the banyan tree.
f) Ladies should not peform sAshtanga namaskara wherein the entire body touches the ground. They should kneel and perform the namaskara.
5. Are there other ways of performing Seva to Rayaru?
Yes. As stated before, if one is sincere and devoted to Hari, Vayu and Rayaru, there are many ways of performing Seva to Rayaru. The following section lists some of the main ones:
a) Sitting in one place and reciting Sri Raghavendra stotra 108 times.
b) Hejje namaskara (going around the Brindavana advancing one foot at a time and performing namaskara for each stride)
c) Urulu Seva – rolling on the body and going around the brindavana. This is forbidden for women.
d) Reciting Sri Raghavendra stotra 108 times while performing abhisheka for Rayara Brindavana with cow’s milk.
e) Going through religious works composed by great gyaanis; some of the popular ones are Sudha, Parimala, Sri Madhva Vijaya,
Sri Raghavendra Vijaya etc.
In all of the above cases, the main ingredient is sincerity, pure heart and intense devotion.
6. One of our relatives is handicapped. Can we take the oath in his name and do the pradakshina? Certainly. This is also acceptable to Rayaru. However, the person on whose behalf this Seva is being undertaken should be around.
7. One of our acquaintances told us that during the Seva period, Sri Rayaru appears in our dream and blesses us. Is this true?
Even though not many people can prove with absolute certainity that it was Rayaru himself who appeared in their dreams and blessed them, there is no doubt whatsoever that serving him with a pure heart and intense devotion will fetch his grace, maybe in a dream and sometimes even directly!
8. What is meant by ‘Poorna phala”?
As stated earlier, at the beginning of the Seva the devotee should set aside a new, unpeeled coconut. After the completion of the Seva, this coconut is symbolically offered to Rayaru and returned with mantrakshate. This is called Poorna phala.
9. What should be done with Poorna phala?
After receiving the holy coconut from the priest, one should handle it with great care and respect. It should not be kept on the ground or made impure in any way. It should be brought home and worshipped with devotion as it represents Rayaru’s blessings. Later it should be consumed (without cooking) in the company of close relatives.
10. What should be done after performing the Seva?
Since it is absolutely certain that Rayaru will bless you with fruits appropriate to the level of service performed, one should be patient until the desired result is obtained. In addition, all the discipline and devotion displayed during the Seva should be retained as much as possible, as long as possible. This is a sure way of obtaining Rayaru’s grace.