Raghavendra Math (Mantralayam)

Shri Raghavendra Math, better known as Rayara Math (popularly known as Shri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt, formerly known as Kumbakonam Math, Vibhudendra Math, Dakshinadi Mutt^[1] or Vijayendra Math or Sushameendra Math) 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.^[2]^[3]^[4] It is the pontiffs and pandits of the Mathatraya that have been the principle architects of post-Madhva Dvaita Vedanta through the centuries.^[5]

Ramachandra Tirtha's disciples are Vidyanidhi Tirtha and Vibhudendra Tirtha. Vidyanidhi Tirtha continued in the lineage of Uttaradi Matha and Vibhudendra Tirtha established Dakshinadi Matha in Kumbhakonam. These lineages were formed and 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). Later this matha came to be known by the name of Kumbhakona Matha. After the times of famous Vijayendra Tirtha it came to be known as Vijayendra Math. Post the period of Sri Subodhendra Tirtha (1799 - 1835) the mutt was stationed at Nanjanagud, hence it is also known as Nanjanagud Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt in later days. 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.^[6]^[7]

History

Raghavendra Math is descended from Jagadguru Shri Madhvacharya through Vibhudendra Tirtha and came to existence in 15th century.^[8]^[9]^[10] The Raghavendra Math was founded in 15th century by Vibhudendra Tirtha in Kumbhakonam. So, 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

The Moola Rama is the main deity of the matha.^[11] 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.^[12]^[13] Two Vyasamushtis,^[14] Sri Shodasha bahu Narasimha worshipped by Sri Vibudhendra teertha and Santana Gopala Krishna, Vaikuntha Vasudeva, Vitthala and other prominent deities with significant historical importance are worshipped in the mutt.

Purandara Dasa has meaningfully described the worship of Moolarama performed by his contemporary Yatishwara Srisurendratirtha.^[15] Sri Gopala Dasa mentions Vasudhendratirtha eight times in Moolarama's Suladi called 'Taranikulotpanna Taputakanchanavarna'. Sri Jagannath Dasa composed kirtans on many Yativarenyas of Sri Raghavendra Math, quoting Moolaram. He also dearly mentions his beloved guru Sri Raghavendra teertha. He also describes the Moola rama as beloved god of Vasudhendra teertha̤. ^[16]

Guru Parampara

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

Sri Madhvacharya
Sri Padmanabha Tirtha
Sri Narahari Tirtha
Sri Madhava Tirtha
Sri Akshobhya Tirtha
Sri Jayatirtha
Sri Vidyadhiraja Tirtha
Sri Kavindra Thirtha
Sri Vaageesha Thirtha
Sri Ramachandra Tirtha
Sri Vibudhendra Tirtha
Sri Jitamitra Tirtha
Sri Raghunandana Tirtha
Sri Surendra Tirtha
Sri Vijayeendra Tirtha
Sri Sudhindra Tirtha
Sri Raghavendra Tirtha
Sri Yogeendra Tirtha
Sri Sooreendra Tirtha
Sri Sumateendra Tirtha
Sri Upendra Tirtha
Sri Vadeendra Tirtha
Sri Vasudhendra Tirtha
Sri Varadendra Tirtha
Sri Dheerendra Tirtha
Sri Bhuvanendra Tirtha
Sri Subodhendra Tirtha
Sri Sujanendra Tirtha
Sri Sujnanendra Tirtha
Sri Sudharmendra Tirtha
Sri Sugunendra Tirtha
Sri Suprajnendra Tirtha
Sri Sukrutheendra Tirtha
Sri Susheelendra Tirtha
Sri Suvrateendra Tirtha
Sri Suyameendra Tirtha
Sri Sujayeendra Tirtha
Sri Sushameendra Tirtha
Sri Suyateendra Tirtha
Sri Subudhendra Tirtha – (Present Pontiff)^[17]

References

^ Census of India, 1961, Volume 2, Issue 6, Part 32. Office of the Registrar General Manager of Publications. 1962. p. 86. Sri Raghavendraswamy Mutt at Mantralaya is also known as Kumbhakonam Mutt and Dakshinadi Mutt i.e., belonging to South.
^ Sharma 2000, p. 199.
^ Steven Rosen (30 November 1994). Vaisnavism. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. p. 132. ISBN 9788120812352.
^ Sharma 2000, p. 193.
^ 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.
^ Venkataraya Narayan Kudva (1972). History of the Dakshinatya Saraswats. Samyukta Gowda Saraswata Sabha. p. 196.
^ 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.
^ Siba Pada Sen (1980). Sources of the History of India, Volume 3. Institute of Historical Studies. p. 390. Sri Vibudendra-Tirtha founded the Kumbhakona Matha. This Matha came into existence in the fifteenth century.
^ 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 Vibhudeendra 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.
^ The Quarterly Journal of the Mythic Society (Bangalore)., Volume 83. Mythic Society. 1992. p. 133. During the 15th century Ramachandra Teertha had initiated two sanyasis and of the two Vibhudendra Teertha founded a new Matha in the far South at Kumbhakonam.
^ "Story Of Moola Rama Murtis At Mantralayam Raghavendra Swamy Mutt". 8 July 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
^ "Srila Prabhupada relates the story of Sri Mula rama". Hare Krishna Society. 30 March 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
^ 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.
^ "ಶ್ರೀರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರವಿಜಯ ಉಲ್ಲೇಖಿಸುವ ಶ್ರೀರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರತೀರ್ಥರ ಪಟ್ಟಾಭಿಷೇಕ". Sri Sushameendra Seva Pratishtana. 4 March 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
^ "ಪುರಂದರದಾಸರು – ಸಮಗ್ರ ದಾಸ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ". Retrieved 12 April 2024.
^ "ರಾಮನ ನೋಡಿರೈ | ಹರಿದಾಸ ಸಂಪದ". haridasa.sampada.net. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
^ "Subudhendra Tirtha takes charge of Mantralayam math". The Hindu. Retrieved 12 March 2014.

Bibliography

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.