Moola Raama
Moolaraamana Parama Bhaktha
Raghavendra Tirtha is referred to by numerous epithets…. Kaliyugada Kalpatharu/ Kaamadhenu, Gururaaya, Guru Saarvabhouma, and so on. He is also called “Moolaraamana Parama Bhaktha” (Moola Raama’s supreme devotee).
Each of the mathas that branched off from the original Madhwa matha were given one or two idols that were in the possession of Madhwaachaarya. Some of the mathas have incorporated the names of the idols in their institutions’ name as well. The Sodhe matha has the idol of BhooVaraha, Pejawara matha has Raama Vittala, Rayara matha has Moola Raama and so on. These sacred idols are carried in a box and are in constant possession of the pontiff of the matha who performs ceremonial pooje, naivedhya etc every single day.
When a mathadipathi (pontiff of a matha) is invited home for “paadapooje” wherein their feet are reverentially washed, the box containing the idols are brought but not taken out.
If a pontiff is invited to someone’s house for pooje and lunch*, the pontiff sets up an elaborate structure, places the idols according to Taaratamya, and performs ceremonial worship. During Naivedhya, one of Madhwaachaarya’s twelve compositions called Dwaadasha Stothra is sung by disciples who accompany the pontiff. At the end of the pooje, the pontiff removes the flowers and displays the idol to everybody before repacking and placing it in the box. This is a much awaited moment as mortal eyes soak in the divinity of the idols once worshipped by Jagadguru Madhwaachaarya himself.
*A pontiff’s lunch is called “bhikshe” (alms).
The origin of Moola Raama
The idol of Moola Raama is said to have been made by Vishwakarma, the celestial architect and sculptor, upon instructions from Bramha himself, at the beginning of time. This idol was then handed over to Manu who then gave it to Surya. The idol was passed down through the ages in the Ikshvaku Vamsha, the dynasty of the Sun, and was worshipped by Dasharatha. Interestingly, Dasharatha is said to have named his eldest son Raama, after the idol.
Even more interesting is the fact that Raama married Sita, while the idols of Raama and Sita were a pair.
It is said that when Raama, the prince of Ayodhya, went on expeditions, Sita, his wife worshipped the idol of Raama in place of her husband. The idol is believed to have been referred to as Moola Raama, during this time, to avoid confusion between the Raamas.
Moola Raama and Vayu Devaru
After Raama’s time, the idol came to the possession of Hanuman. Vayu Devaru, in his avataara as Hanuman, worshipped Moola Raama for aeons, as he is a chiranjeevi (immortal). In Dwaapara Yuga, Bheemasena, the second avataara of Vayu Devaru set out to fetch Sougandhika flowers for his beloved Droupadi. During his search, he came across an aged monkey lying across his path. When the monkey expressed its inability to move, Bheemasena tried to casually lift its tail to move it aside. Unable to move the tail, he realised that the monkey was Hanuman. Hanuman then blessed Bheema and offered to be present in the flag of Arjuna in the battle to follow, striking terror in the enemy camp with his terrible war cries. Hanuman then handed over the idols of Moola Raama and Sita to Bheemasena.
How such idols came to be lying unworshipped in the treasury chests of the king of Orissa in the 13th century of this Kaliyuga is unclear. One may recall that Madhwaacharya, the third avataara of Vayu Devaru, had expressed a desire to worship these idols of Moola Sita and Moola Raama and Naraharitirtha asked for the idols when the queen and prince of Kalinga wanted to show their gratitude to him (refer Adhyatmachutuke - Narahari Tirtha). Naraharitirtha upon coming to Udupi handed over the idols to Madhwaacharya who is said to have worshipped them for 80/ 108 days before handing them over to Padmanaabha Tirtha.
The Moola Raama idol finally found its way to Raghavendra Tirtha and has remained in his matha ever since. It is believed that the Moola Sita idol is in the custody of Uttradi matha.