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SRI RAGHAVENDRA SWAMI	Return to Articles Index
Šri Rãghavendra Swãmi, affectionately known to his countless devotees, simply as Swãmiji, is a living saint and a legend. He is believed to be an incarnation of Prahlãda, the greatest devotee of Lord Vishnu. Born in the year 1601 AD to a poor but pious couple in Kãveripattanam, in South India, Swãmiji was named Venkatanãtha by his parents to show their gratitude to Lord Venkatešwara, Who blessed them with this divine child. Venkatanãtha was orphaned early in his life and was brought up by his sister Venkamma and brother-in-law Lakshmi Narasimhãchãrya who introduced him to the Sanskrit language. Soon Venkatanãtha was sent to Sudheendra Teertha Swãmi of Sree Mutt (a monastery in Kumbakonam) from whom he learned the scriptures, philosophy, grammar, literature, logic etc. Thereafter, following a brief stay in his hometown Kaveripattanam, Venkatanãtha returned to Sree Mutt to serve Sudheendra Teertha and learn more from him. In course of time, Sudheendra Teertha was inspired by a divine vision to name Venkatanãtha as his successor of Sree Mutt. In the year 1623 AD, after Venkatanãtha took sanyãsa and was conferred the name Rãghavendra Teertha, he was installed as the head of Sree Mutt. During his years of stewardship of Sree Mutt, Sri Rãghavendra Teertha Swãmi or simply Swãmiji as he became known, visited several holy shrines throughout Bhãrata Varsha, winning the hearts of rulers and peasants alike. He also wrote commentaries on the scriptures and several scholarly works, which stand out as a testimonial to his intellectual caliber. When Swãmiji was in his early 90's, he built a temple for Lord Venkatešwara in Manchãle village on the banks of Thunga river. This place is now known as Mantrãlayã, in Kurnool Dist, A.P. There are innumerable accounts of miracles associated with Swãmiji and almost all of his devotees have had first-hand experience of at least one such miraculous episode. Swãmiji had very subtly revealed that although he would be physically present for less than 100 years, his writings would be popular for 300 years and he would be among his devotees for 700 years blessing them in every way. Hence Swãmiji is known as a ‘living saint’. On krishna paksha dwitiya day (second Thursday) in the month of šravana in the year 1693 AD, Swãmiji entered a small cave in Mantrãlaya and sat in a meditative pose. He instructed his followers to cover the cave with a Vrindãvana carved out of a boulder associated with Šri Rãma and cover it with 1,200 Lakshmi Narãyana sãligramas. It is believed that seated in this cave, Šri Rãghavendra Swãmi continues to bless his devotees to this day. Poojyãya Rãghavendrãya Satya Dharma Ratãyacha I Bhajatãm Kalpa Vrikshãya Namatãm Kãmadhenave II
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