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 was named Venkatanatha in honour of lord Sri Venkateshwara, of Tirupathi, the great Hindu shrine, with whose blessings he was considered to have been born.

He was born into a Deshastha Madhwa Brahmin family of musicians and scholars. His great-grandfather Krishnabhattar was a tutor to Vijayanagara king Krishnadeva Raya and his father Timmanacharya was an accomplished scholar and musician.

Venkatanatha went on to become the pontiff of the Mutt in Kumbakonam from 1624 – 1671. He was also an accomplished player of the Veena and composed several songs under the name Venu Gopala. He composed many Stotras and Keerthanas on Lord Sri Krishna. He was a great Orator and also conducted many discourses, in a language and methodology which appealed to the common man.

Beyond his role as a pontiff, over the years, he came to be known as Guru Sri Raghavendra Swamy, a great mystic and miraculous saint of the South. He continues to be synonymous with benevolence, spiritual greatness, symbol of humanitarianism and compassion, apart from being renowned as a scholar, composer and a great musician.

Om SHRI GURUBHYO NAMAHA!