When Sir Thomas Munro was the Collector of Bellary in 1800, the Madras Government ordered him to procure the entire income from the Raghavendra Swamy Matha and the village of Mantralaya.
When the revenue officials were unable to comply with this order, Sir Thomas Munro visited the Matha for investigation. He removed his hat and shoes and entered the sacred precincts. Sri Raghavendra Swamigal who had entered Jeevasamadhi in 1671 (embracing death by sitting in a meditative posture in an enclosure and getting it closed by a concrete block canopy permanently) emerged from the Vrindavana and conversed with him for some time, about the resumption of endowment.
The Saint was visible and audible only to Munro, who received Manthrakshate (god's blessing). The Collector went back and wrote an order in favour of the Math and the village.
This notification was published in the Madras Government Gazette in Chapter XI, page 213, with the caption "Manchali Adoni Taluka". This order is still preserved in Fort St. George and Mantralaya. How fortunate was Munro to be blessed by Rayaru himself.
218 years later, fifth generation of Munro’s family visited Mantralaya in July 2018 and obtained the blessings of Rayaru. Really this is something wonderful to know and made my day today
These are the 5th generation family members of Sir Thomas Munro. On their visit to Mantralaya, they are seen here divinely dressed in traditional dress.