GREATNESS OF THE NAME RAGAVENDRA :

The name ‘Raghavendra’ chosen by Moola rAma devaru was a very apt choice for RAyaru. It carries a wealth of meaning. It indicates Lord Rama since he is the indra of the Raghu kula. It indicates Hanumanta (‘raghAva yasya indrah sah rAghavendra’, Raghavendra is the one whose indra or lord is Raghava. This signifies Anjaneya). It also means ‘one who destroys sins and bestows desired things’ – a very appropriate name for RAyaru! In one song Sri GopAla dAsaru describes the name as such – “Ra” destroys mountains of sins, “gha” provides deep rooted devotion, “Ven” gives speedy liberation from the cycle of life and death and “dra” blesses one with vision of the Lord who is celebrated in all shrutis. In the Raghavendra stotra, Sri AppannAchArya describes him as “Sri rAghave.ndraH sakalapradAtA svapAda ka.njadvaya bhaktimadbhyaH aghAdrisa.nbhedanadR^ishhTivajraH xamAsure.ndro avatumAM sadA.ayam.h” which gives roughly the same meaning as the other statements