Raghavendra Math (Mantralayam)

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Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt, Mantralayam
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Sri Moola rama, Digvijaya rama and Jayarama Idols at Raghavendra Math

Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt, Mantralayam is one of the Dvaita Vedanta monasteries (Matha) descended from Madhvacharya through Sri Jayatirtha further with Vibudhendra Tirtha (a disciple of Ramchandra Tirtha). It is one of the three premier monasteries descended in the lineage of Jayatirtha the other two being Uttaradi Math and Vyasaraja Math and are jointly referred as Mathatraya.[1][2][3] It is the pontiffs and pandits of the Mathatraya that have been the principle architects of post-Madhva Dvaita Vedanta through the centuries.[4]

Ramachandra Tirtha's disciples are Vibhudendra Tirtha and Vidyanidhi Tirtha. As senior desciple of Ramachandr Tirtha, Vibhudendra Tirtha continued the lineage of Ramachandra teertha Matha[5]. Junior Vidyanidhi Tirtha founded the lineage of Uttaradi Matha[6] and these lineages were continued for the benefit of the Madhva philosophy so that more and more individuals consequently have access to the philosophy and get Upadeśa (spiritual guidance). The Parampara of Madhwacharya came to be known as Vijayendra Math or Kumbakonam Matha after the times of famous Vijayendra Tirtha. Even during the period of the famous Raghavendra teertha the matha was famously known as Kumbhakonam matha. Following him, Sumatindra Tirtha emerged as a prominent pontiff. During his time, the matha came to be recognized as the Samatindra Mutt. To this day, the matha is popularly known as the Sumatindra Mutt in the Tamil Nadu region. After the period of Sri Sumatindra Tirtha, the matha once again came to be famously known as the Sri Raghavendra Matha — a name that continued for centuries. The lineage was recognized as the parampara in which Sri Raghavendra Tirtha ascended the peetha, owing to his immense contributions through scholarly works and spiritual leadership. Then, after a considerable period, came Sri Subodhendra Tirtha. Following his tenure (1799–1835), the matha was stationed at Nanjanagud. As a result, in later years, it also came to be known as the Nanjanagud Sri Raghavendra Swamy Matha. In recent decades, the mutt has established it headquarters at Mantralayam. It is the holy abode of Sri Raghavendra teertha (1621 - 1671) who is one of the prominent personalities in the lineage of Madhvacharya. Sri Raghavendra Swami Mutt (the temple and monastery surrounding the burial site of Sri Raghavendra Teertha) is located on the bank of Tungabhadra River in Mantralayam in Adoni taluk of Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh, India.[7][8]

History

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Raghavendra Math is descended from Jagadguru Shri Madhvacharya through Vibhudendra Tirtha. Earlier the matha was known as Kumbhakonam Matha or Dakshinadi Math and later the matha was made popular as Sri Vijayendra Mutt after Vijayendra Tirtha by Sudhindra Tirtha, a disciple and successor to the pontificate of Kumbakonam Matha. After Sudhindra Tirtha his disciple, the most venerated dvaita saint Raghavendra Tirtha continued in the pontifical lineage as the pontiff of the matha.

Deities worshipped

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The Moola Rama is the prime deity of the matha.[9] [10]Along with Mool Rama, Sri Digvijaya Rama (Worshipped by Sri Madhvacharya) and Jaya Rama (worshipped by Sri Jayateertha) are being worshipped at Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt.[11] Two Vyasamushtis,[12] [13]Sri Shodasha bahu Narasimha worshipped by Sri Vibudhendra teertha and Santana Gopala Krishna, Vaikuntha Vasudeva, Sri madhwa kararchita Vitthala and other prominent deities with significant historical importance are worshipped in the mutt.

20th pontiff of the math Sri Sumatindra Tirtha has authored several devotional works dedicated to Lord Rama, including Sri Rama Dandaka, Rama Taravali, and Rama Gunavali. [14][15]

References for Moola Rama

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  • Purandara Dasa has meaningfully described the worship of Moola Rama as performed by his contemporary Yatishwara, Sri Surendra Tirtha.[16]
  • Sri Gopala Dasa references Sri Vasudhendra Tirtha eight times in his Suladi dedicated to Moola Rama, titled "Taranikulotpanna Taputakanchanavarna."
  • Sri Jagannath Dasa also composed kirtanas praising many revered saints (Yativarenyas) of the Sri Raghavendra Math, making specific mention of Moola Rama. He expresses deep reverence for his beloved guru, Sri Raghavendra Tirtha, and fondly describes Moola Rama as the cherished deity. Sri Jagannatha Dasa also mentions in his kirtanas that the Moola Rama deity was being worshipped by the then contemporary peethadhipatis of Sri Raghavendra Matha—namely, Sri Vasudhendra Tirtha and Sri Varadendra Tirtha. [17]

Guru Parampara

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The Guru Parampara (Lineage of Saints) of Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt is given below.

  1. Sri Madhvacharya
  2. Sri Padmanabha Tirtha
  3. Sri Narahari Tirtha
  4. Sri Madhava Tirtha
  5. Sri Akshobhya Tirtha
  6. Sri Jayatirtha
  7. Sri Vidyadhiraja Tirtha
  8. Sri Kavindra Thirtha
  9. Sri Vaageesha Thirtha
  10. Sri Ramachandra Tirtha
  11. Sri Vibudhendra Tirtha
  12. Sri Jitamitra Tirtha
  13. Sri Raghunandana Tirtha
  14. Sri Surendra Tirtha
  15. Sri Vijayeendra Tirtha
  16. Sri Sudhindra Tirtha
  17. Sri Raghavendra Tirtha
  18. Sri Yogeendra Tirtha
  19. Sri Sooreendra Tirtha
  20. Sri Sumateendra Tirtha
  21. Sri Upendra Tirtha
  22. Sri Vadeendra Tirtha
  23. Sri Vasudhendra Tirtha
  24. Sri Varadendra Tirtha
  25. Sri Dheerendra Tirtha
  26. Sri Bhuvanendra Tirtha
  27. Sri Subodhendra Tirtha
  28. Sri Sujanendra Tirtha
  29. Sri Sujnanendra Tirtha
  30. Sri Sudharmendra Tirtha
  31. Sri Sugunendra Tirtha
  32. Sri Suprajnendra Tirtha
  33. Sri Sukrutheendra Tirtha
  34. Sri Susheelendra Tirtha
  35. Sri Suvrateendra Tirtha
  36. Sri Suyameendra Tirtha
  37. Sri Sujayeendra Tirtha
  38. Sri Sushameendra Tirtha
  39. Sri Suyateendra Tirtha
  40. Sri Subudhendra Tirtha – (Present Pontiff)[18]

Current Peethadhipati

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The current Peethadhipati (pontiff) of the Sri Raghavendra Swamy Matha at Mantralayam is Sri Subodhendra Tirtha Swamiji. He has been serving as the head of the matha and is recognized for his leadership in various religious and administrative matters.[19]

References

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  1. ^ Sharma 2000, p. 199.
  2. ^ Steven Rosen (30 November 1994). Vaisnavism. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. p. 132. ISBN 9788120812352.
  3. ^ Sharma 2000, p. 193.
  4. ^ B. N. Hebbar (2004). Viśiṣṭādvaita and Dvaita: A Systematic and Comparative Study of the Two Schools of Vedānta with Special Reference to Some Doctrinal Controversies. Bharatiya Granth Niketan. p. 29. ISBN 9788189211011.
  5. ^ Narayanacarya (2013). Raghavendra Vijayam.
  6. ^ Sri Vijayeendra Vijaya - Madhwakavi.
  7. ^ Venkataraya Narayan Kudva (1972). History of the Dakshinatya Saraswats. Samyukta Gowda Saraswata Sabha. p. 196.
  8. ^ Purabhilekh-puratatva: Journal of the Directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museum, Panaji-Goa, Volume 2. The Directorate. 2001. p. 90. This matha was established by one Vibhdeendra Teertha in the middle of the 15th century. He was the spiritual progenitor of Sri Ramachandra Teertha of the Uttaradi matha. Both belong to Dvaita philosophy.
  9. ^ "Sri Raghavendra Swamy Matha, Mantralayam". SRS Matha. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  10. ^ bhargavasarma (nirikhi krishna bhagavan) (17 June 2024). ARCHAGATIKRAMA (Sri Vaadeendra Theertharu).
  11. ^ Sameer.joshi (4 October 2023). "द्वैत दर्शन ದ್ವೈತ ದರ್ಶನ [ DWAITA DARSHANA ] : ರಾಮನ ನೋಡಿರೈ.... ರಾಮನ ನೋಡಿರೈ ..." द्वैत दर्शन ದ್ವೈತ ದರ್ಶನ [ DWAITA DARSHANA ]. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  12. ^ "ಶ್ರೀರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರವಿಜಯ ಉಲ್ಲೇಖಿಸುವ ಶ್ರೀರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರತೀರ್ಥರ ಪಟ್ಟಾಭಿಷೇಕ". Sri Sushameendra Seva Pratishtana. 4 March 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  13. ^ Narayanacarya (2013). Raghavendra Vijayam.
  14. ^ Sri Sumateendra Tirtha (1993). Sri Ramadandaka with Vyakhyana of Sri Sumatindra Tirtharu.
  15. ^ Sharma, B. N. Krishnamurti (2000). A History of the Dvaita School of Vedānta and Its Literature. p. 506.
  16. ^ "ಪುರಂದರದಾಸರು – ಸಮಗ್ರ ದಾಸ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ". Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  17. ^ "ರಾಮನ ನೋಡಿರೈ | ಹರಿದಾಸ ಸಂಪದ". haridasa.sampada.net. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  18. ^ "Subudhendra Tirtha takes charge of Mantralayam math". The Hindu. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  19. ^ "Sri Raghavendra Swamy Matha, Mantralayam". SRS Matha. Retrieved 27 September 2025.

Bibliography

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  • Sharma, B. N. Krishnamurti (2000). A History of the Dvaita School of Vedānta and Its Literature, Vol 1. 3rd Edition. Motilal Banarsidass (2008 Reprint). ISBN 978-8120815759.
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