|| Shri Raghuttama Teertha Gurubhyonamaha ||

Introduction to Shri 1008 Shri Raghuttama Teertharu :

Diksha Accepted on 1557 ( Pingala) Preceptor Shri Raghuvarya Teertharu Brindavana Pravesha 1595 (Mamatha) Pithadhipati 38 Years , 7 Months , 8 Days Aradhane Pushya Shuddha Ekadashi Brindavana at Tirukoilur River Pinakini Dist Villupuram State Tamil Nadu Poorvasharama   Name Ramachandra Father's Name Subha Bhatta Mother's Name Ganga Bai

|| Shri Gurubhyonamaha ||
|| Shri Hari Om ||

For the Madhva community there was an urgent need for a lighthouse to guide the rudderless boat in a stormy sea. The Lord decided that none other than Nirruti, the guardian of the south-west direction of Vaikunta, was the right person who could act as a perfect guide to the sorrow stricken bhaktas.

According to the Taratamya Stotra written by the purvashrama sister of Shri Madhvacharya, Nirruti occupies the 17th position in the Taratamya. Like Shri Madhvacharya, Nirruti had served in his first two avataras of Shri Rama and Shri Krishna paramatma as Durmukha Vanara and Ghatotkacha respectively. In the Kali Yuga, Nirruti devatha, who belongs to the same kaksha as that of Pravahi, Mithra, Tara And others came to the earth as Shri Raghottama Teertharu.

Shri Raghunatha Teertharu of Uttaradi Math had attained the lotus feet of the Lord and his successor Shri Raghuvarya Teertharu had upon his mantle the problem of resurrecting the trouble stricken Madhvas. He was at crossroads when he contemplated the plight of the literature of Shri Madhvacharya and his followers. He came to the conclusion that the feet of Vayu Bhagavan was the apt place to seek refuge and hence ardently prayed to Shri Madhvacharya. His fervent prayers were answered and Shri Ananda Teertharu sprinkled Anandha on this great devotee by appearing in his dream and instructing him to go to Svarnavrata where his purvashrama sister, Gangambe, was living with her husband Subbabhatta. The couple was childless and Shri Madhvacharya ordered the saint to bless them with a child. He also assured that the child born to them would blossom in the garden of Madhva Philosophy and spread the fragrance to all the devout souls. After alleviating the sorrow of the saint, Shri Madhvacharya disappeared. In the morning Shri Raghuvarya Teertharu woke up rubbing his eyes in disbelief and tears poured from his eyes on the kindness of Shri Madhvacharya and also the fortune of having beholden him.

Once in the course of his tour Shri Raghuvarya Teertharu visited Swaranavadi village in the Nizam State. The Zamindar of the village Shri Subba Batha and his wife Gangabai invited Shri Raghuvarya Teertharu for "Bhiksha" in their house but Swamiji refused their offer because they were childless. After repeated requests made by the couple, Shri Raguvarya Teertharu accepted to receive their Bhiksha provided their first born male child should be handed over to the Math. The blessed couple accepted to do so. Accordingly Swamiji performed the pooja of Shri Moola Rama and Seetha and received the Bhiksha in their house and gave Phala Mantrakshate to the couple.

Some time later, Smt. Gangabai, the wife of the Zamindar conceived. Shri Swamiji was informed accordingly. He returend to the village expecting the birth of the child. A big gold plate was sent to the Zamindar's house from the Matha with a direction to receive the child directly in the golden plate without allowing the child to touch the earth. Accordingly the child was received in the golden palte and brought to the Matha where the child was washed with the Abhishekha water.

The personality and the face of the child was beautiful like a moon. He was named after Shri Ramachandra by his Holiness and brought up at the Math itself and was fed only with the Abhishekha milk of the Vyasa Kurma Saligram of the Math.

When Shri Ramchandra became a boy of seven years he had his Upanayanam at the Math and the very next year he was ordained as a sanyasin and named as Shri Raghuttama Teertharu.

Shri Raghuttama Teertharu was one of the holiest saints of Shri Uttaradi Math who descended for the upliftment of the satvic souls. Shri Raghuttama Teertharu received his advanced studies in Nyaya Sudha and Vedantha from the Math pandit Adya Varadacharya as per the direction of the guru Shri Raghuvarya Teertharu. The pandit used to come to Math daily to teach the lessons on Shriman Nyaya Sudha. After some days, the pandit puffed up with pride and discontinued coming to the Math for taking classes. There was a Dalapathi in the village who patronised the pandit so much, incapable of understanding the greatness of Swamiji and began to respect both swamiji and pandit as equals. Inspite of such insults, Shri Raghuttama Teertharu very patiently, went to the house of pandit with humility to continue the studies.

On one occasion the Dalapathi invited Shri Raghuttam Teertharu and pandit for partaking food on Dwadashi day. Shri Raghuttama Teertharu went to Dalapthi house a little late due to his pooja and Ahnikam. Varadacharya and others had already commenced taking food without waiting for the arrival of Shri Raghuttama Teertharu. The lady of the house fell at the feet of Shri Raghuttama Teertharu and apologised. When Sri Raghuttama Tirtharu returned to Math he was very much sad at what has happened on that day. During the early hours of the next day, God himself appeared in the dream in the form of his guru Shri Raghuvarya Teertharu, and inscribed the symbolical letters on the tongue of Shri Raghuttama Teertharu and blessed him that he would be a master of all knowledge and learning and that he could commence teaching his disciples straight away. Further he was directed in his dream that he should abandon his too simple life and commence a life of pomp and status, having number of servants, establishment, professionals, elephants etc to make the Math strong and powerful center of religious and philosophical learning. The next day onwards at usual time of lectures, Shri Raghuttama Teertharu himself started to deliver impressive lectures on Nyaya Sudha in mellifluent voice which was sweeter than honey.

One day Shri Swamiji was expounding a portion of Nyaya sudha. That particular portion posed problems of understanding for pandit Varadacharya himself. On that day, pandit Varadacharya hid himself behind a wall and listened to Swamiji's excellent exposition which dispelled his doubts and gave him a grasp of that portion. He lay prostrated before Shri Raghuttama Teertharu and admitted his superiority in knowledge and paid respect to him. The most noble swami comforted the pandit and decreed that he should have first teertham in Uttaradi Math.

The great religious leader enjoyed the honors befitting a prominent Math such as the throne, crown, palanquin white umbrella, chamara, makarataorana, fan, daylight torch, flags and musical instruments.

Once Shri Raghuttama Teertharu was passing through a forest with his disciples. A gang of highwaymen attacked Shri Raghuttama Teertharu and his disciples. Swamiji went into mediation. Suddenly, the robbers ware enveloped in roary conflagration and surrendered to the saint. The noble swamy saved them. Many such extraordinary miracles happened in his regime.

Shri Raghuttama Teertharu desired to enter the Brindavana at Manampundi(Thirkoilur) on the banks of river South Pinakini (Penna) which is in Villupuram District of present Tamilnadu. This is said to be the holy place where Shri Galava Rishi once recided. This place is also known as "Pancha Krishnaranya Kshetra". Shri Samiji ordered a Zamindar of Tiruvanamalai in a dream to construct his Brindavana at a specified place. Shri Raghuttama Teertharu entered Brindavana in 1595 AD on the day of Vaikunta Ekadashi.

At present this place has become a holy seat of pilgrimage and a vast number of devotees belonging to all castes and creeds perform SEVA even today. Shri Raghuttama Teertharu is known to save all souls, all those devotees who had taken refuge in him. None of his devotees seem to have returned in disappointment.

|| Shri Krishnarpanamastu ||

Works of Shri Raghuttama Teertharu :

The Bhavabhodas of Sri Raghuttama Tirtharu have been written to bring out the nature and the hidden meanings of the works of Shri Madhvacharya And Sri Jayatirtha. We can compare the five Bhavabhodas to five fragrant flowers of the parijata tree of Madhva Shastra, each exulting exotic fragrance soothing the sathvik souls.
The five Bhava Bodhas written by him are as follows

1. Brihadaranya Bhavabhoda
2. Nyaya Vivarana Bhavabhoda
3. Gitabhashya Bhavabhoda (Prameya Dipika Bhavabhoda)
4. Vishnutatvanirnaya Bhavabhoda
5. Tattvaprakashika Bhavabhoda

He is also known to have authored two other works

1. Vivaranoddhara and
2. Nyayaratnasambanda Dipika

Sri Raghuttama Tirtha Moola Brindavana, Manampoondi (Tirukoilur)

The Moola Brindavana of Shri Shri 1008 Shri Raghuttama Teertharu is located at Manampoondi near Tirukoilur. Sri Satyapramoda Tirthara moola brindavana is also located at this place.

Directions:

Manampoondi is a small village located located between Tiruvanamalai and Tirukoilur. Manampoondi is 36 K.ms away from Tiruvannamalai. It is at a distance of 2 Kms from Tirukoilur. Tirukoilur is 237 Kms from Bangalore.

From Bangalore:

Proceed towards Hosur. After Hosur take left at Krishnagiri and proceed towards Tiruvannamalai. After Tiruvannamalai proceed towards Tirukoilur. Keep left when road divides and proceed until you see a board of Sri Raghuttama Brindavanam to the left. Take left (at the intersection just before the River Pinakini bridge). The Brindavanam is located to the immediate right.

Public Transport:

Busses running in the Bangalore - Villupuram route stop at Manampoondi on request. Sufficient bus facility is also available to Manmpoondi from Tiruvannamalai. You can either take a direct bus to Villupuram or go to Tiruvannamalai and then take another bus to Manampoondi.

KSRTC bus services from Bangalore leave at 10 p.m and 11 p.m. Advanced reservation facility is available in these buses. For return journey, reservation will be given starting from Villupuram. There are also some Tamil Nadu services plying in this route. The bus journey takes 6 hours. If you take the night services you will arrive at the Brindavanam by 5 a.m in the morning.

Address:

Sri Sri Raghuthamma Swamy Moola Brindavana,
Manmpoondi (Tirukoilur) - 605759,
Dist : Villupuram,
Tamilnadu.
Phone : 04153 - 24690

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