Bichchale or Bichali or Bhikshaalaya is the place where Guru Raghavendra Swamy’s greatest devotee Sri Appanacharya lived. It is here that Guru Raghavendra Swamy stayed with Sri Appanacharya for 13 years. Bichchale is situated in the district of Raichur, Karnataka. Bhikshaalaya is on the bank of Tungabhadra River.
Another look at the River Thungabhadra. This is exactly the place where Sri Appanacharyaru jumped into the river and started singing PurnaBhodha stotra the moment he came to know his beloved Rayaru had entered brindavana. The most famous Rayara Stotra.
Like I mentioned, Guru Raghavendra Swamy spent 13 years staying with Sri Appanacharya. The house where Rayaru stayed is in Bichchale as well.
Within the house they have marked a space showing where our beloved Rayaru slept. The house was completely destroyed in 2009 floods.
Next to this room is another room where they have Lord Hanuman installed by Sri Appanacharya. In this room they do have the original picture of Rayaru, which I have posted a long time back.
Like I have mentioned in many many posts, our Rayaru liked Channa Dal Chutney very much. Sri Appanacharya used to prepare channa dal chtuney using this stone grinder called Varalu in Kannada.
You can see a close-up of the same here:
Bichchale is also a very sacred place which was visited by Sree Sripada Rajaru and Sree Vyasa Rajaru. They have idols installed by both of them here. Take a look.
And Lord Lakshmi Narashima installed by Sree Sripada Rajaru.
And below is the Idol of Lord Prana Devaru- Hanuman by Sree Vyasa Rajaru
There is also an idol installed by Sree Raghavendra Swamy.
There is also the place where our beloved Rayaru did Japa for 13 years.
And finally, we have the Brindavana created by Sri Appanacharya for Sree Raghavendra Swamy.
Another look at the brindavana from the front:
Posted by Varadan Ramanujam on October 8, 2017 at 8:29 am
Thanks for the details
Posted by RATHNA on May 22, 2017 at 6:19 am
CAN WE STAY AT BICHALLI FOR A DAY
Posted by Prasanna on December 3, 2016 at 3:01 am
Dear Meera maam. I am from Bangalore. I am visiting mantaralaya for Rayara darshan. I will be in Mantralaya on Wed, 7th by 8am morning. Madam, I planned 2 days trip. Rayara and Manchalamma darshan and a visit Panchmukhi was my initial program. Now, I came to know about Bichhale by your post and want to visit this place too. Can you please guide me:
1) How I should plan to complete all these (Rayaru, Manchalamma, Panchmukhi and Bichhale).
2) In what order I should visit them so that I can complete all of them in 2.5 days?
3) I am planning to start my return journey on Friday night. So, will I be able to complete all these in 2 and Half days (Wednesday morning to Friday evening)?
4) Or I should extend my trip one more days? 5) By the way I am travelling by train and not car/taxi.
Thanks a lot for your guidance.
Regards,
Prasanna
Posted by meeraghu on December 3, 2016 at 9:58 am
You can definitely do all that in 2.5 days. Before you visit Rayaru, on the right side is Manchallama temple. Visit her and than have darshana of Rayaru. In the evening, you can visit Panchamukhi by rickshaw or your own taxi. Next day after you visit Rayaru again while going back to Bangalore you can visit Bichale.
Posted by Prasanna on December 4, 2016 at 12:35 pm
Thank you very much for your guidance. Nice, short and precise answer. Apaara mahima .. Guru mahima.
Regards,
Prasanna
Posted by meeraghu on December 4, 2016 at 6:03 pm
Most welcome!
Posted by yedukondalu.Andhrapredesh. vijayawada on May 13, 2016 at 4:18 am
It is very good& informative. In fact, we did not go and see the site beatutifulness of BHECCHALA.. We thought, we lost something. But we now observed greatness of them. It fulfilled me with real happiness. Thank you a lot.
Posted by TNMRAO on February 20, 2016 at 9:43 am
It is really heartening to note that I am not aware of this wonderful village-Bichali
near Mantralayam inspite of my stay at Adoni for many years in the past. Nevertheless, I decide to visit the village in my next trip to Rayaru temple with family
Meeraji is a blessed human by lord Sri Raghavendraswami avaru. Thanks & KIND REGARDS for the Sacred information
Posted by ananth on June 24, 2015 at 11:10 am
darshan which missed recent visit of MANTRAYALAM _ANANTH
Posted by raghavendra on June 21, 2015 at 1:13 am
In best place fr devotional
Posted by Ramaswamy Anantharaman on January 6, 2014 at 1:42 pm
whenever we went to Chennai by rail from my young age of 10,I have passed by Mantralayam Road & Raichur,seeing the rugged rocks & Tunga river I wanted to always walk down these places as I was sure there is GOD in these places.Seeing your video of Guru Raghavendra & places of Appanna swami his devotee I am speechless
Now I can realise that these two places were blessed the Holy feet of Guru Raya & his shishya. All the Gods must hv come here when Guru raya was chanting mantras.
Great effort of the person who made this website.May the Guru Raya bless him & his family for many many generations.I hope I get a chance to visit these two places with
the blessings of GURU & his Shishya.
Posted by venkatanarasiah on November 27, 2013 at 1:36 am
Very nice photographs Thanksfrom:Vatsala & Narasiah (hunsur1935@gmail.com)
Posted by R.MUKUND on November 26, 2013 at 11:10 am
Excellent Kshetra. Kudos to you for the snaps. I have taken photos before the fencing was done a few years ago. Here’s the link.
https://picasaweb.google.com/101618251870286666315/BichhaliSelected?authuser=0&feat=directlink
Posted by meeraghu on November 26, 2013 at 4:58 pm
Excellent. There is no fence at all. Thanks for sharing, Mukund.
Posted by Shanthi sethuraman on November 25, 2013 at 2:22 am
very nice Meera. My father recently expired. We are four daughters to my father, we have to do everything. So I pray my Guru Ragavendra to bless us and lead heaven to my father.
Posted by meeraghu on November 25, 2013 at 7:41 am
So sorry to hear that, Shanthi. May his soul rest in peace.
Posted by meena on November 25, 2013 at 2:03 am
Dhanyavadagalu Meera Maam, Bichale jaagada bagge kelidde nodiralilla. Neeve kalisiruva yella photogalannu nodida mele nanagu aa sthalada darshana madabelku annisuttide. Mattomme dhanyavadagalu nimage.
Posted by meeraghu on November 25, 2013 at 7:41 am
Meena,
Thanks.
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Posted by meeraghu on November 25, 2013 at 7:42 am
Yes, indeed.
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Posted by kum on November 24, 2013 at 4:41 pm
Is this the place where Rayaru got the darshan of Panchamukhi Hanuman?
It seems Rayaru prayed to Lord Hanuman here…
Thanks again for the wonderful pictures!
Posted by meeraghu on November 24, 2013 at 5:58 pm
That is a different place called Panchamukhi.
Posted by AnithaShastry on November 24, 2013 at 3:08 pm
Wow great !! came to know about Bichchale, till now we had not seen this place. This time if we visit we surely make a point to see this place. Thank you very much.
Posted by meeraghu on November 24, 2013 at 3:11 pm
It is worth all the tough and narrow roads to go visit. The roads are really bad.
Posted by G S V Babu on November 24, 2013 at 12:23 pm
Meera Sister,
Thank You very much.for providing a glimpse of Bicchale. I was overjoyed at its sight. I felt as if I am in RAYARA sannidhana. Rayara karune sarvarigu sada doreyali.
Vandanegalu
G S V Babu
Posted by meeraghu on November 24, 2013 at 1:03 pm
Most welcome.
Posted by Aarthy on November 24, 2013 at 12:19 pm
Thanks Meera ma’am.
A pleasant virtual yatra when living miles away from homeland.
Brings tears!
I know I’m the age of your daughter but still may God Almighty bless you.
Thanks again
Posted by meeraghu on November 24, 2013 at 1:03 pm
Glad you enjoyed the virtual tour.