Bichali

Bichali, which is sometimes famous as Bichchali, is a beautiful spot on the banks of the river Tungabhadra. It is popular for Appannachararya, who was Raghavendra Swamy's closest student. Guru Raghavendra has meditated in Bichale for so many years. The spot where the meditation took place was famous as Japadakatte. It is on the banks of the River Tungabhadra and is the main draw in Bichali. Bichali is one of the best places to visit in Mantralayam.

What is Bichali famous for?

Bichali, which is also popular as Bichchali, is a beautiful place on the banks of the river Tungabhadra, 20 km away from Mantralayam. The city of Bichale is famous because of Appannachararya, who was a close student of Raghavendra Swamy.

There are a lot of followers who come to the three-day Sri Raghavendra Swamy Aradhana celebrations, and Bichale goes to every celebration in Mantralaya. The Bichali is a must-visit during the Mantralayam tour package.

History

Appanacharya wrote the Stotras and the story of Sri Raghavendra Swamy, which are well known and have spread all over the world. When Sri Appanacharya heard that Swamiji was going to Brindavana, he rushed to Mantralayam and saw that the Tungabhadra was flowing at full speed because it had suddenly rained. 

He started singing the Raghavendra stotra as a prayer to Swamiji because he couldn't cross the river. People say that when the River Tungabhadra heard the stotras, it slowed down so that he could pass.

When Appanacharya walked into the Math, he was in the middle of singing the last line of his prayer. The previous slab was put down on Sri Raghavendra Swamy in the Brindavana at the same time. When Sri Appanacharya saw this, he got so emotional that he couldn't sing another word to finish the line. 

All of a sudden, Raghavendra Swamy's voice came from inside Brindavana and finished the Stotra. People know this 32-stanza sloka as the Sri Raghavendra Stotra or the Sri Poornabodha sloka.