Thimanna Bhatta and Gopikamba were blessed by lord Venkateshwara to have a boy child. Accordingly, Gopikamba conceived a child. She knew the boy in her womb would be someone incredible and he would become a Saint of the highest order. The soul selected this womb considering the purity of the lineage (Vamsha Shuddhi).The great grandfather

The birth of child Venkatanatha with the blessings of Lord Venkateshwara was considered a grand event in Kaliyuga. The child born in a traditional Brahmin family was tutored and mentored by scholars including Sri Sudheendra Tirtharu. In his young age, Venkatanatha developed interest in learning Vedas, Upanishad, Brahmasutras Puranas, Shastras, music, playing veena and many

Asinchana is the quality of a person not to indulge in collection or consolidation of any materialistic objects. It is one of the greatest virtues found in one in a billion. This rare quality was seen, early-on in Venkatanatha, even before he took on sainthood. They were frequently observing fasting with no regrets. It is

The Brindavana of Sri Raghavendra Tirtharu at Mantralaya is sculpted using hard black rock. It is called Krishna Shila, as it is dark in colour. Rayaru makes a specific selection of this rock stone for his Brindavana for a unique and interesting reason. He says the rock at Madhavaram, the neighboring village of Manchale, is

Guru Raghavendra Swamy has earned many magnificent titles, each one, describing some aspect of his greatness, his quintessential magical life force. Rarely in a lifetime and beyond, does one life create such waves of change, in-depth transformation and paves a niche path for human advancement. Over years, there is a significant amount of literature produced

In the Hindu philosophical and religious traditions, there are many sacred names that have been enigmatic, mystical and phenomenally great achievers. As a nation, we can be proud of the testimony we bear to having some of the world’s greatest souls, that have changed the course for mankind. One such name, we call even to

Guru Raghavendra Swamy was born Venkatanatha, the second son of Sri Thimanna Bhatta and Smt Gopikamaba in the year 1595, in the Phalguna month, in Bhuvanagiri, Tamil Nadu. Shri Thimmanna Bhatta was the son of Sri Kanakachala Bhatta and the grandson of Sri Krishna Bhatta, a Veena scholar in the court of King Krishnadevaraya. He

Venkatanatha was a brilliant child, and as he grew was sent further to pursue higher education. He started his higher education in Kumbakonam, then, considered the seat of learning, with Sri Sudeendra Teertharu. He was an earnest student and believed in preparations, and dedicated to mastering all the subjects, he was taught. It is said

Guru Raghavendra Swamy was a saint of the Madhwa philoshophy and sampradaya. Quintessentially, he preached the Dvaita Siddhantha, or Dualism, which emphasizes complete devotion and surrender to Lord Vishnu. A core system of belief, as established by the great Madhwacharya, based on the nine Prameyas or nine doctrines, which begin with Lord Vishnu being the