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 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. It is the pontiffs and pandits of the Mathatraya that have been the principle architects of post-Madhva Dvaita Vedanta through the centuries.

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 Matha ( the moola vrindavana place of Sri Raghavendra teertha) is located on the bank of Tungabhadra River in Mantralayam in Adoni taluk of Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh, India.

History
Raghavendra Math is descended from Jagadguru Shri Madhvacharya through Vibhudendra Tirtha and came to existence in 15th century. 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.

The Moola Rama is the main deity of the matha. 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. Two Vyasamushtis, 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.
 * Deities worshipped

Purandara Dasa has meaningfully described the worship of Moolarama performed by his contemporary Yatishwara Srisurendratirtha. Sri Vijaya Dasa has composed a Suladi on Moola rama. 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.

Guru Parampara
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)'''