Back

Dashboard

Hindu Saints and Philosophers Details

Name Required

Priod

From:

To:

Hagiography

Raghuttama Tirtha, also known as Bhavabodhacharya, was an Indian philosopher, scholar, theologian, and saint. He was born around 1548 into an aristocratic Brahmin family in Mannur, Karnataka. Raghuttama Tirtha&#39;s father was a Zamindar, and he was brought up in a mutt under the guidance of Raghuvarya Tirtha. At the age of seven, he underwent Upanayana (sacred thread ceremony) and immediately took Sannyasa (renunciation).

Raghuttama Tirtha studied under the learned Pandit Adya Varadarajacharya of Manur and received guidance from Raghuvarya Tirtha. He was the nephew of Raghuvarya Tirtha, the thirteenth pontiff, and succeeded his uncle as the fourteenth pontiff of Madhvacharya Peetha - Uttaradi Matha. He held this position for an impressive thirty-nine years, from 1557 to 1595. Raghuttama Tirtha was considered one of the most important seers in the history of the Dvaita school of thought.

After his long tenure as the pontiff, Raghuttama Tirtha took Samadhi (entered into a deep meditative state) in 1596. He passed away on the banks of the South Pennar River in Mannampoondi near Tirukoilur. His shrine at Tirukoilur is a popular destination for thousands of visitors each year. Raghuttama Tirtha was succeeded by his disciple Vedavyasa Tirtha.

Work Done

Raghuttama Tirtha authored 10 works, primarily commentaries on the works of Madhvacharya, Padmanabha Tirtha, and Jayatirtha. The majority of his works are titled Bhavabodha, and he is often referred to as &quot;Bhavabodhakara&quot; or &quot;Bhavabodhacharya.&quot; Out of his 10 works, only five have been published to date.

One of his notable works is Brihadaranyaka Bhavabodha, a commentary on Madhva&#39;s Brihadaranyaka Upanishad Bhashya. Considered his magnum opus, it spans approximately 9,000 granthas and delves into both the Khandana (critique) and Bhashyartha (explanation) of the Upanishad.

Another significant work is Tattvaprakasika Bhavabodha, a super commentary on Jayatirtha&#39;s Tattvaprakāśikā. This extensive gloss comprises nearly 8,100 granthas. It is referenced and critiqued multiple times by Jagannatha Tirtha in his Bhashyadipika and once by Raghavendra Tirtha in his Tatparya Chandrika Prakasha.

Image

Status