Weather & Useful Guide in Mantralayam

Winter Season at Mantralayam: Winter is from the months of December to February.

Summer Season at Mantralayam: Summer is from March to May. It is advisable to not to undertake a visit during summers.

Rainy Season at Mantralayam: The whole Kurnool district of which Mantralayam is a part gets rains from Southwest. It experiences more rain as compared to the other parts of Andhra Pradesh.

Here is a guide to some very facts which you can`t afford to miss if you want to visit Mantralayam.

Temple Timings: Morning: 6 am -2 pm; Evenings: 4 to 9.30 pm

Temple location: 2 Km west of the Bus stand. 

Daily Meals or Annadanam: As you finish with the darshan you can head for the dining hall to have lunch. Though meals here are free but you need to get the lunch coupons distributed at the exit gate of Brindavana.

The food is served around 1 PM. There are two halls for lunch one is the Annapurna Dining Hall that is located 100 meters west of the temple. The other is the newly built Narayan Murthy hall constructed with aid from Infosys. It`s a high capacity modern dining hall that is just 5 minutes away from the math complex. The food is tasty though basic. You get a spicy chutney, rice, sambhar, Saru, buttermilk and payasam as sweet. The food is enough to carry you till 9 or 10 in the evening. 

Kiomoi Tip: It is better to carry your own water bottles or cups. Otherwise, you have to collect glasses that come with a security deposit of Rs 10.

Ekadasi Day: There is neither puja nor prasadam on the days of Ekadasi. On that day fasting is observed. Only mangal aarti is performed. 

General Clothing Advice: As Mantralayam is typically hot and humid it is better to wear comfortable and cool cotton clothing. 

Dress Code: There is a typical dress code for men at Mantralayam. Men are not allowed to wear anything on their upper body except an Angavastram. 

The most important day of the week: Thursday is the most important day of the week. 

Most Important events: Annual events like Raghavendra Aradhana in the Shravana month and Madhwanavami during Magha month are considered most important. 

Sevas: There are various sevas undertaken by devotees to tide over the problems faced in their lives. The Seva office is located towards the west, diagonally opposite to the temple. The entry gates are typically numbered for the Sevakartas. The number is marked on the receipt they get. There is a provision of offering sevas from distant places also. Please note that there will be no Sevas on Sri Krishna Janmashtami, Ekadasi, and Grahana (Eclipse) days. Some of the types of Sevas are listed here. 

Sankalpa Seva- Sankalpa essentially means an oath or a sort of resolution to do something. A Sankalpa Seva generally comprises the following steps: 

Reaching Mantralaya at an opportune time

Darshana of Rayaru`s Brindavana

Taking the solemn oath to execute Seva is an ordained manner

Performing the Seva by following some strict rules. 

Urulu Seva: Urulu seva is one of the difficult sevas. Devotees perform Urulu Seva by rolling on the ground. Women are not allowed to do this seva. 

Hejje namaskar: In Hejje namaskara devotees have to go around the Brindavana while forwarding one foot at a time. At the same time they have to do namaskara for each stride. 

Reciting Sri Raghavendra Stotra: Devotees chant Sri Raghavendra Stotra 108 times by sitting in one place.

Reciting Sri Raghavendra Stotra: Devotees chant Sri Raghavendra Stotra 108 times by sitting in one place. # Reciting Sri Raghavendra stotra with abhisheka: This is the same as above but devotees perform additionally abhisheka for Rayara Brindavana by cow milk. 

Reading Works by Madhwa scholars: Devotees need to read religious texts like Sudha, Parimala, Sri Madhva Vijaya, Sri Raghavendra Vijaya, etc. 

Receiving of Sarvasiddhi, Santana and Bheeti Yantras: These both Yantras are supposed to be obtained from the Holy Hands of Sri Swamiji only. So these yantras are not issued at the temple at Mantralayam whenever Sri Swamiji is not available. 

Puja Saman bhandar: A Puja Saman Bhandar storing all the important articles required for Puja is located within the temple premises. You can buy things from here. Watch out for the price! 

Parimala prasadam: Parimala Prasadam made of sugar and suji need to be purchased from a counter near the seva booking office. Seavakartas of higher denominations can have them for free. 

Mobile Phones: Phones are not allowed inside the sanctum Sanctorum. 

Cloakroom: There is a facility for a cloakroom that is located near the entrance to the Mandir. 

Shopping at Mantralayam: Not much shopping. There are only a few that are set up by Raghavendra Swam Mutt. You can get Jute bags, Cloth bags, purses, pens, photo frames, and stands

Keeping Beggars at bay: This is one thing that is surely going to put you down. Beggars of all sizes and sex would follow you over great distances to extract money. It is better to avoid them because giving money to one would attract hordes of others. 

Watch out for Monkeys: Keep a watchful eye for the monkeys, while visiting Pachmukhi Anjaneya Temple. 

Bus Stand: The Bus Stand at Mantralyam has buses going to different locations in Andhra Pradesh as well as Karnataka.

Present Peetadhipati of Raghavendra Mutt: Pujya Suyateendra Teertha