When Shirman Narayana incarnated as Sri Rama in Treta Yuga, he annihilated Ravana and his army. Ravana was a brahmin by birth. Killing him tantamounted to Brahmahatya. Though none of these karmas get attached to the Lord, since he was in human form he as with all other aspects of his life wanted to lead by example. He installed the Shivalinga at Rameshwara. He then asked the assembled brahmins if anyone would carry the sin of Brahmahatya. Tapodhana, a brahmin present there hautily agreed to it. Sri Rama then cursed him that he become a Brahmarakshasha because of his ego and because of his past karma. Sri Rama who was kind to that brahmin also told him that he would serve a great soul and amass a lot of merits and would get Rudrapadavi when that great soul- a Ruju would get VayuPadavi.
In Kali yuga, during Ruju Latavya’s birth as Sri Vadiraja guru, that Brahmarakshasha was born as Narayanacharya, a brahmin in Narala, South Kannada District. He became a very close disciple of Rajaru(Sri Vadirajaru) and even accompanied him to Vijayanagar to meet Sri Vyasarayaru. On one day which was a Sadhana Dwadashi day, because Sri Vadirajaru was immersed in his dhyana the previous night, he didnt wake up early in the morning. Vyasarayaru and others were waiting for him to do parane and to take teertha prasada. When sent for, Rajaru hurriedly had his bath and skipped his daily elaborate puja and did his parane. Later, he took his Devara Pettige and went towards the river in the middle of the forest. Narayanacharya followed him deep in the jungle. Once settled, Rajaru miraculously brought out all the food he had partaken seperate and fresh and laid them out on the plaintain leaf in front of him. He then had his bath in the river, did his regular daily ritualistic puja and one the way back he saw Narayancharya who was hiding on a tree. Putting up an act of angerness, Rajaru cursed his young disciple for having tried to test him. He cursed him to become a brahmarakshasha. Immediately Narayancharya realised his folly and begged his forgiveness. Being the compassionate Guru that he is, Sri Vadirajrau advised him to go northwards and to ask all that passed him ” Aa Ka Ma Vai Ko Na Snathaha?” The day someone answers that question, he would be relieved of the curse. The Brahmarakshasha went towards Badari and merged with it’s original form and started troubling all those who had turned their backs to God.
Later on after several years, while on his yatra to Badari, Sri Vadirajaru entered the same forest in which this Brahmarakshasha was known to cause trouble. As soon as it saw the entourage, the Brahmarakshasha challenged Sri Vadirajaru to a argument and to answer his question. Rajaru who immediately recognised the Narayanacharya and agreed to accept the challenge. Chiranjeevi Ashwathama appeared to mediate and to decide the winner.
The Brahmarakshasha made a strong case of his argument and words worthy of appreciation even from devata flowed continuosuly from him. Sri Vadirajaru rejected all his arguments and proved him wrong. Sri Vadirajaru had won the argument. Then the Brahmarakshasha asked his final question – ” Aa Ka Ma Vai Ko Na Snathaha?” . Smilingly Sri Vadirajaru answered that whoever bathed early at dawn in the months of Ashada, Karthika, Magha and Vaishakha would be spared of becoming a Brahmarakshasha. And since he hadnt done that in his early lives, he was cursed to become a Brahmarkashasha. Immediately, the Brahmarakshasha was cured of his curse and he lost that frightening form of his.
In its place stood a divine form, shining like the sun, with bow and arrows and with red lips and ear ornaments, prayed for Sri Vadiraja’s grace. Rajaru blessed him and said that he would known as Bhoota Raja, punishing the wicked and protecting the pious, he would remain with Rajaru and serve him always. He also reminded him of Sri Rama’s words.
Thus Bhootaraja or Bhoothanatha or Narayana Bhoota is serving Sri Vadirajaru even till date. There are many pavadas associated to him. He is Bhavi Rudra in the kalpa that Sri Vadirajaru gets elevated to Vayu padavi. Bhootharaja remains in Sode as protector of the place ensuring that no whiff of injustice or wrongs occurs there. When Sri Vadiraja Teertha decided to end his incarnation, it was Bhootharaja who arranged to construct the pancha vrindavans. He too has a temple close to the vrindavans and for centuries continues to stand there protecting the place and destroying the difficulties of the pilgrims and devotees of Sri Vadiraja Teertha. The pilgrims in turn first visit the shrine of Bhootharaja and roll a coconut towards him before they visit the vrindavans.
