Sri Raghuttama Tirtha’s Brindavana is located in Manampoondi, a village near Tirukoilur in Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu and situated on the banks of the South Pennar River (also known as Pinakini). Raghuttama Tirtha (c.1548 – c.1596) was an Indian philosopher, scholar, theologian, and saint. The honorific Bhavabodhacharya also knew him. His works include commentaries on the writings of Madhvacharya and Jayatirtha.
Raghuttama Tirtha served as the fourteenth pontiff of the Madhvacharya Peetha – Uttaradi Math from 1557 to 1595, holding the position for thirty-nine years. He is regarded as one of the significant seers in the history of the Dvaita school of thought.
During this time, Shri Raghunatha Teertha of the Uttaradi Math had passed away, and his successor, Shri Raghuvarya Teertha, faced the challenge of reviving the troubled Madhva community. Concerned about the state of Madhvacharya’s teachings and literature, he sought refuge in prayers to Shri Madhvacharya.
In response, Shri Madhvacharya appeared in his dream and instructed him to visit Svarnavata, where his sister Ganga Bai and her husband Subba Bhatta lived. The couple was childless, and Shri Madhvacharya asked Shri Raghuvarya Teertha to bless them with a child. He assured him that this child would grow up to spread the teachings of the Madhva philosophy. Deeply moved by the vision, Shri Raghuvarya Teertha woke up filled with gratitude.
Following further guidance from his dreams, Shri Raghuttama Teertha was inspired to strengthen the Math by adopting a grander lifestyle, including servants, elephants, and other symbols of status. He began delivering impressive lectures on Nyaya Sudha in a voice said to be sweeter than honey, captivating his audience with his profound explanations.
Once, while teaching a challenging section of Nyaya Sudha, he resolved the doubts of Varadacharya, who had been secretly listening. Varadacharya, humbled by Shri Raghuttama Teertha’s knowledge, sought his blessings. The saint graciously decreed that the Adya family members would always receive the first teertham at Uttaradi Math, a tradition still followed.
Shri Raghuttama Teertha, known for his wisdom and miraculous deeds, once saved his disciples from robbers in a forest by meditating and invoking divine intervention. The robbers surrendered, and the saint forgave them, showcasing his noble nature.
Towards the end of his life, he chose to enter Brindavana (final resting place) at Manampundi on the banks of the South Pinakini River in Tamil Nadu, a sacred site known as “Pancha Krishnaranya Kshetra.” As per his instructions, a Zamindar of Tiruvanamalai constructed his Brindavana. Shri Raghuttama Teertha entered Brindavana on Vaikunta Ekadashi in 1595 AD, leaving a legacy of devotion and scholarship.
