SRI RAGHUNATHA TIRTHA TIRU

- GRRRao on dvaita.org

Sri Raghunatha thirtha (1641-1755) .(Trimakoota- *Tirumkudla Narasipura) Also called Sri Sesha Chandrikachaarayaru.- Lived for 114 Years.

Called Abhinava Vyasa.

10th Yati after Sri Vyasarayaru in the line of Sri Vyasaraya Mutt. Got ashram from Sri Lakshminarayanathirtha- He is affectionately called Sesha ChandrikaChaRayaru-

Sri Seshachandrikacharya was born in Gudibande of Kolar Taluk, educated at kashi. Wrote commentaries on Tatparya Chandrika, Saadhana adhya , Phala adhya of Sri Vysarayar and became noted as Sesha tatparya Chandrikacharyaru. He visited Sri Ranaganatha at Sri Ranagapatam and then went to Bannur, the birth place of Sri Vyaasaraya and worshipped the Prana Devaru there. On his way to KumbhakoNam, he stopped at T Narasipur and performed Vaikunta Yatra , under the shade of Bramhashwaththa. This tree was planted by Bramha himself. After giving ashram to his disciple Sri Jagannatha Thirtha, near Agastheswar temple, at 11-30am, thro’ his Bramha Randra left this loka and joined Haripaadha.

Sri Prasanna Thirtharu praises him

Praathisuve Raghunatha Thirthara Prarthisuve PurushaaRtha Pravara |

Yogi Jana Mano Nayana Prasanna Sri Raghavendrara Paraaavathaara.||

There is an interesting story

The shaivaits complained to the King Hyder Ali directly that the Sanyasi’s Samadhi was done at their place of worship. The King immediately ordered that the samadhi be transferred to some other place and asked the Tahsildar to take immediate action. Tippu was 5 year old baby. The Tahsildar who knew about the greatness of the saint waited for a day. Next day was Friday, being a Government holiday, nothing could be done. That Friday at about 3 am., at Sri Rangapatam, the king had a dream. His saw his son drowning in the sangam and there was nobody to rescue him. He was shouting for help. At a distance he saw a sanyasi, and he approached him to save the baby. This saint saved the child. The king asked him what he wants. The saint did not say anything. Hyder got us early in the morning. His mind was in a state of disturbance. He imagined that some calamity might happen. The saint’s image was coming before him often. He called Dewan PooRnaiah and told all the details. The Dewan predicted and said that it might be Sri Seshachandrikacharyaru who had come in his dream warning him not to disturb him from his present samadhi place. He also said that the people had approached the king directly without his knowledge and he had no idea about the transfer. He said that the shaivats thought that PooRnaiah would order in favour of Vaishnavaas. The King ordered that the samadhi should be at the same place and not to be disturbed. He came immediately to T Narasipur and offered “Salam” at the Samaadhi to the great saint. Supervised for a Manatap in stone to be built and made arrangements for Pooja etc. Further, he made it a point to offer Salam to this saint also in addition to Lord Ranganatha, every day . He may be a Musilm King. His respect for this saint was great.

The violin maestro T Chowdaih’s mother performed “Tapa ” sitting by the side of the saint’s Brindavan . to get a child in 1893 . (Chowdaih was born on 1st jan 1894)- S. Krishnamurthy on T Chowdaiah-. Bharatha Bharathi Sampadha. Page 10.).

The king gave the portion of the site relating to Aagastheswar temple ( water comes from the shiva Linga and that water is given as Thirtha- even if the water is removed with a dry cloth, still water trickles out )to shaivats and the small portion where the Samadhi of the saint was occupied , was given to Sri VyAsaraja mutt. After 214 years of attaining Brindavan of Sri Raghunatha Thirtha, the 38th Pontiff Sri Vidhyapayonidhi thritha took interest to restructure the place and made nava Vrindavanm of yathis on the lines of Hampe’s nava Vrindavanam, making T Narasipur still holy and great. ( -Courtesy- Mahaayogi Sri Sesha Chandrikacharyaru by KaakoLu Raghavendra).

Dhyaana Sloka:

Sarvam SarvaM Saheshanassabhasujita VaaadhiraaT|

Sarvada Saravado Bhoyaad Raghunatha MunishswaraH ||