Who is Bhootaraja?

• Bhootaraja is considered one of the best among the servants of Vaadirajaru.
• He is considered to be an incarnation of Patrataapa Rudra
• Rudras are a group of devatas and the 11th rudra is mahadeva shiva. Patrataapa Rudra is 10th Rudra and the Mahadeva Rudra of next Kalpa.

1. Tapodhana

There was a brahmana called Tapodhana during Treta Yuga and was an incarnation of Patrataapa rudra.

After Raavana vadha , when Shri Rama enquired all brahmins  in his court at Ayodhya as how to get rid of sin of killing a brahmana, Tapodhana mocked at other brahmins saying that they do not have power to wash away sin of brahmahatya and he has enough tapashakti to do it.

Lord Shri Rama said that Mocking brahmanas in this way would result in next birth being a brahma Raakshasa.

Though lord did not curse and said this with a smile , the words and sankalpa or Paramaata never fail and Tapodhana realised this. He fell at the feet of Shri Rama and asked for kshama.

Shri Rama assured him that he will be relieved from his brahma raaksha roopa by service to the devata who will become Vayu in next kalpa and he is none other than laatavya.

As Tapodhana regretted for his sin , his Karma reduced and he took 2 births further to clear his brahma raakshasatva.

2. Somadatta

During the times of Mahabharata , there used to be Bahlika who was incarnation of Prahlada. He had a  son called Somadatta, who was incarnation of Patrataapa Rudra.

His bravery is described many times in Mahabharata. He had 2 sons Bhuri and Sala. They were incarnations of the rudras , Ajaikapad and Virupaaksha respectively.

He desired of a son who is of tremendous strength and unconquerable in war.He did severe penance and pleased Mahadeva Shiva, who blessed him with a son who was incarnation of Ahirbhudni(9th Rudra). He is none other than the famous warrior Bhurishravas.

He was a skilled warrior and had mastery of vaious weapons just like his father.

Somadatta had advised Dhritharaastra not to invite pandavaas for the game of dice and was also against war with them.

Just like his father Baahlika maharaja, he sided kauravas owing to his cousin Bheeshma being on their side. He fought in the battle and was slain by Saatyaki.

3. Narayana Sharma Or Bhootaraja (Narayana Bhoota)

Somadatta took birth as a brahmana called Narayana Sharma and was a great pandit. He used to be a disciple of Sri Vaadirajaru and was close to him.

Once Vyasarajaru visited matha of Vaadirajaru, who was about to commence his pooja. It was dwadashi. Vyasarajaru had said that without Rajaru coming and sitting by his side , he wont commence his dwaadashi Bhojana.

Not liking the thought of keeping the aakasmika atithi wait for bhojana, Vaadirajaru arrived where he was sitting and sat along with him for Bhojana. After Bhojana , Raajaru asked all his students and disciples to stay at matha and not to follow him.

He went near shalmali river, brought a big leaf , sat on a rock and brought out all the food he ate sometime back as raw and hot as it was when it was served.Nothing had digested in his stomach.He did this with his yoga shakti.

One student had followed him and was observing all this by climbing a tall tree. He was none other than Narayana sharma.

VadiRajaru did snana and finished his pooja and ate the hot bhojana again. While returning to matha, Narayana sharma came across him and said he had viewed everything. Rajaru cursed him to become a Brahma raakshasa.

Upon asking for forgivence, he said ” Roam in the forests and ask — Aa Ka Ma Vai .. Ko Na Snathaha ? and whenever someone answers this question he will get relieved from his brahmaraakshasatva.

He roamed in forests near Badarikaashrama. No one would walk through the forest where he used to reside as he used to kill and eat people who used to bypass that forest

When this was revealed to Vadirajaru, who took pity on his student visited that forest and was stopped by Narayanabhoota who asked him the same question.

Rajaru said ” Randa Putra , tvam na snataha “

Meaning: The one who is son of a prostitute and/or a brahma raakshasa like you would not bath in months of Aa(ashwayuja) , Ka(Karteeka) , Ma(Maagha) , Vai(Vaishaaka)

The vipra lost his Brahmaraakshasatva and gained his original form of Patrataapa rudra. He was out of the curse he gained.

His body rose like the emerging red sun and was blazing like Fire. he had round big eyes and a terrible stature. He made saashtaanga namaskara to the divine avatara of Shri Laatavya, ie Shri Vaadirajaru and desired to serve him to the eternal times.

Raajaru blessed him saying he will be Bhaavi Rudra and will be kshetra paalaka at Sodhe and would be famous as Bhootaraaja. From then on Bhootarajaru would be in invisible form and serve his Guru ie Vaadirajaru.

Bhootarajaru brought Trivikrama Moorthy from Badri

Once when Vadirajaru ordered him to bring the Utsava moorti of Lord Trivikrama at Badarikaashrama which gets pooja regularly by none other than Brahma himself, Bhootaraja rushed to the spot and started bring the moorti along with its ratha in Aakaasha maarga. He encountered a Daitya in the skies who tried to stop him.

Bhootaraja picked up a wheel and threw at the daitya who died instantaneously. He was in a hurry as he had to bring the Trivikrama vigraha within the muhurta specified by his Guru. When he landed in Sodhe, VadiRajaru installed Lord Trivikrama We can still see this in Trivikrama temple at sodhe where the lord who is inside a ratha with only 3 wheels.

Bhootaraja temple at Sodhe:

There is a separate shrine for Bhootarajaru in Sode. Coconut offering is so special and It is a belief one who does coconut offering, all their needs are  fulfilled

Everyday in the evening, bhootaraja Bali pooja is conducted

There is a special entrance in the saravora at Sodhe for Bhootarajaru. It is not open for other devotees.

Bhootaraja stothram

Dasara Pada on Bhootarajaru:

ಶತ್ರುಭಯ ಪರಿಹರಿಸೊ ಭೂತರಾಜ || ಪ ||

ಭವಕೆ ಭೀಕರ ಭಾವಿ ಭೀಮನ
ಭಜಿಪ ಭೋಜಾ ಸುತೇಜಾ || ಅ.ಪ. ||

ಒಂದು ಅರಿಯದೆ ಇಂದು ನೀನೆ ನಾನೆಂದು
ಕಮರಿ ಕೂಪದಿ ನೊಂದೆನೊ
ಭಾವಿ ನಂದಿವಾಹನ ಮಂಗಳ
ಪ್ರದ ನೀಲಕಂಠಾ || 1 ||

ಇಲ್ಲೆಲ್ಲಿ ಸರ್ವಸ್ಥಳದಲ್ಲಿ ವ್ಯಾಪ್ತವಾಗಿಹ ನಿನ್ನ
ಲೋಲ ಮೂರುತಿಯ ನೆನೆವೆ ಫಾಲನಯನಾ
ಪಾಲಿಗೇ ಪಾಲನೆಂತೆಂದು ಕಾಲಮೀರದೆ
ಚಲಿಸದೆಲೆ ಬಾರೊ ಗರಳಧಾರಿ || 2 ||

ಶ್ರೀಕೃಷ್ಣದಾಸನೆ ನಿನ್ನ ಇಷ್ಟನೆಂತೆಂದು
ಮನಮುಟ್ಟಿ ಭಜಿಸುವೆನೊ ಚಾರುದೇಷ್ಣೆಪಾಲಾ
ದಿಟ್ಟ ಗುರು ಕೃಷ್ಣವಂದಿತ ತಂದೆ-
ವರದಗೋಪಾಲವಿಠ್ಠಲನ ಸಹಜ ಬಂದು || 3 ||

Satrubaya parihariso butaraja || pa ||

Bavake bikara bavi bimana
Bajipa boja suteja || a.pa. ||

Ondu ariyade indu nine nanendu
Kamari kupadi nondeno
Bavi nandivahana mangala
Prada nilakantha || 1 ||

Illelli sarvasthaladalli vyaptavagiha ninna
Lola murutiya neneve palanayana
Palige palanentendu kalamirade
Chalisadele baro garaladhari || 2 ||

Srikrushnadasane ninna ishtanentendu
Manamutti Bajisuveno charudeshnepala
Ditta guru krushnavandita tande-
Varadagopalaviththalana sahaja bandu || 3 ||