View source for Religion:Raghuttama Tirtha

{{short description|Hindu guru}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox Hindu leader
 | name           =Raghuttama Tirtha 
| honorific_prefix = Sri
|honorific_suffix =
 | image          =Old Portrait of Brindavana (tomb) Sri Sri Raghuttama Tirtha of Uttaradi Math.jpg
 |caption       = Brindavana (tomb) of Raghuttama Tirtha at Tirukoilur 
 |alt = Raghuttama Tirtha Brindavana 
| religion = [[Religion:Hinduism|Hinduism]]
 | birth_name     =Ramachandra Bhatta
 | birth_place    = Mannur ({{small|present-day Bijapur district, Karnataka, {{wipe|India}}}})
 | birth_date     = 1548 
|death_date = 1596 
| death_place =  Tirukoilur ({{small|present-day Tamil Nadu, {{wipe|India}}}})
 | order          = [[Philosophy:Vedanta|Vedanta]] ([[Religion:Uttaradi Math|Uttaradi Math]])
 | guru           = [[Religion:Raghuvarya Tirtha|Raghuvarya Tirtha]]
 | philosophy     = Dvaita, [[Religion:Vaishnavism|Vaishnavism]]
|literary_works= ''Tattvaprakasika Bhavabodha'',{{Sfn|Okita|2014|p=267}} ''Brihadaranyaka Bhavabodha''
|successor        = [[Religion:Vedavyasa Tirtha|Vedavyasa Tirtha]]
|honors = ''Bhāvabodhacārya''
}}
{{DvaitaInfobox}}

'''Raghuttama Tirtha''' ([[Social:Sanskrit|Sanskrit]]:रघूत्तम तीर्थ); IAST:Śrī Raghūttama Tīrtha) ({{circa}} 1548 - {{circa}} 1596), was an Indian  [[Biography:Philosopher|philosopher]], [[Philosophy:Scholar|scholar]],  theologian and saint. He was also known as '''Bhavabodhacharya''' ({{IAST|Bhāvabodhacārya}}). His oeuvre include commentaries on the works of Madhva and Jayatirtha. He served as the fourteenth pontiff of [[Religion:Madhvacharya|Madhvacharya]] Peetha - [[Religion:Uttaradi Math|Uttaradi Math]] from 1557 to 1595, which he occupied for thirty-nine years.{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=463}} He is considered to be one of the important seers in the history of Dvaita school of thought.{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=433}} His shrine at Tirukoilur attracts thousands of visitors every year.{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=464}}

Born in an aristocratic Brahmin family, but was brought up in mutt under the direction of [[Religion:Raghuvarya Tirtha|Raghuvarya Tirtha]]. He composed 11 works, consisting of commentaries on the works of Madhva, Jayatirtha and Vyasatirtha in the form of ''Bhāvabodhas'' elaborating upon the Dvaita thought.{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=463}}

==Biography==
Most of the information about Raghuttama Tirtha's life is derived from hagiography - Gurucaryā.{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=463}} He was born as Ramachandra into Zamindar family of Swarnavata (Suvarnagad), a village between Kolhapur and Satara in the state of Maharashtra belonging to Deshastha Madhva Brahmin family to Subba Bhatta and Gangabai in 1548. Gangabai is purvashrama sister of [[Religion:Raghuvarya Tirtha|Raghuvarya Tirtha]] of [[Religion:Uttaradi Math|Uttaradi Math]].{{Sfn|Hebbar|2005|p=155}}{{Sfn|Prabhanjanacharya|2005|p=1}} Indologist B. N. K. Sharma says the native place of the Raghuttama Tirtha's family is Mannur, Indi taluk, Bijapur district, Karnataka.{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=463}}

===Birth & Sannyasa===
According to Gurucaryā, the childless couple approached saint [[Religion:Raghuvarya Tirtha|Raghuvarya Tirtha]], who granted them boon of children with the condition that their first child, would in turn be handed over to him. These words brought a mixture of happiness and sorrow to the childless couple but they accepted the decree of the divinity.{{Sfn|Sarma|1956|p=xxxix}} Soon after this incident, Gangabai conceived. Raghuvarya Tirtha was informed accordingly. He returned to the village expecting the birth of the child. A big gold plate was sent to Subba Bhatta's house from the Matha with a direction to receive the child on the golden plate without allowing the child to touch the earth.{{Sfn|Prabhanjanacharya |2005|p=5}} 

Accordingly, the child was received on a golden plate. The personality and the face of the child were beautiful. He was named after Lord [[Biology:Rama|Rama]] as Ramachandra by Raghuvarya Tirtha.{{Sfn|Sarma|1956|p=xxxix}} Raghuvarya Tirtha made arrangements to feed the child every day with the abhishekha milk of the Vyasa Kurma Saligram of the Matha. He had his Upanayana at the age of five and immediately after Upanayana was ordained as a [[Philosophy:Sannyasa|Sannyasa]].{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=463}} Raghuttama Tirtha is said to have studied for some years after his ordinance, under a learned Pandit Adya Varadarajacharya of Manur under the direction of [[Religion:Raghuvarya Tirtha|Raghuvarya Tirtha]].{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=464}}

===Reign as Pontiff===
Raghuttama Tirtha was the nephew of [[Religion:Raghuvarya Tirtha|Raghuvarya Tirtha]] {{mdash}} the thirteenth pontiff and succeeded his uncle in the pontificate of [[Religion:Uttaradi Math|Uttaradi Math]] in 1557.{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=463}} Raghuttama Tirtha was also a contemporary of Vijayindra Tirtha and Vadiraja Tirtha.{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=463}}

===Entering Brindavana===
After completing thirty-nine years on the sacred pontifical seat of Uttaradi Matha, Raghuttama Tirtha desired to enter the Brindavana. So he ordered the then Zamindar of Tiruvannamalai, in a dream to construct a Brindavana at Mannampoondi near Tirukoilur on the bank of the river South Pennar. 

This is said to be the holy place where Galava Rishi once resided. Raghuttama Swami entered Brindavana alive in 1596 on the auspicious day of Ekadashi.{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=463}} He was succeeded by his disciple [[Religion:Vedavyasa Tirtha|Vedavyasa Tirtha]].{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=433}}{{Sfn|Sarma|1956|p=xliii}}{{Sfn|Brück|Brück|2011|p=202}}

==Works==
There have been 10 works accredited to Raghuttama Tirtha, 9 of which are commentaries on the works of [[Religion:Madhvacharya|Madhvacharya]], Padmanabha Tirtha and Jayatirtha, out of which five are published so far. ''Bhavabodha'' is the general title of a majority of his works and Raghuttama is usually called "Bhavabodhakara" or "Bhavabodhacharya".{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=464}} His work ''Brihadaranyaka Bhavabodha'' is a commentary on Madhva's ''Brihadaranyaka Upanishad Bhashya'', is considered to be his magnum opus. Running up to 9,000 granthas, it discusses both Khandana and Bhashyartha of the Upanishad.{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=465}} His work ''Tattvaprakasika Bhavabodha'' is a commentary on Jayatirtha's ''Tattvaprakāśikā''. It runs nearly 8100 granthas. It is quoted by Jagannatha Tirtha in his ''Bhashyadipika'' three to four times and by Raghavendra Tirtha once in his ''Tatparya Chandrika Prakasha''.{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=464}}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name
! Description
! References
|-
|''Viṣṇutattvanirṇaya Bhavabodha''
|Gloss on ''Viṣṇutattvanirṇayaṭikā''  of Jayatirtha
|{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=264}}
|-
|''Tattvaprakasika Bhavabodha''
|Super-commentary on ''Tattvaprakāśikā'' of Jayatirtha
|{{Sfn|Dasgupta|1975|p=61}}
|-
|''Nyāyavivarana Bhavabodha''
|Direct commentary on ''Nyāya Vivarana'' of [[Religion:Madhvacharya|Madhvacharya]], in continuation to Jayatirtha work to Nyāyavivaranaṭikā
|{{Sfn|Dasgupta|1975|p=87}}
|-
|Nyāyaratna-Sambandhadipikā
|Commentary on ''[[Philosophy:Anu Vyakhyana|Anu Vyakhyana]]'', showing at the same time the inter-connection between the words of Madhva and Sutras of Badarayana.
|{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=265}}
|-
|''Brihadaranyaka Bhavabodha''
|Commentary on ''Brihadaranyaka Upanishad Bhashya'' of [[Religion:Madhvacharya|Madhvacharya]]
|{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=266}}
|-
|''Vivaraṇoddharā''
|Gloss on the passages of ''Nyāya Vivarana'' which was commented by Jayatirtha in his Tattvaprakāśikā
|{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=265}}
|-
|''Gītābhāṣya Bhavabodha'' {{small|(''Prameyadīpikā Bhavabodha'')}}
|Gloss on Jayatirtha's ''Gītābhāṣya Prameyadīpikā''
|{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=266}}
|-
|''Sanyayavivruthi''
|Commentary on ''Sanyaya Ratnavali'' of Padmanabha Tirtha
|{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=266}}
|-
|''Tāratamya Stotram''
|Prayer explaining the hierarchy of gods
|{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=266}}
|-
|''Taittirīyavinirṇaya''
|Commentary on ''Taittiriya Upanishad Bhashya'' of [[Religion:Madhvacharya|Madhvacharya]]
|{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=266}}
|}

==Legacy==
After Jayatirtha, Raghuttama Tirtha became Tika-kara and is referred to as ''Bhavabodhacharya''.{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=464}} Sharma writes "His language is simple and precise. He makes his points forcefully. He quotes often from certain unidentified sources not cited by any other commentator".{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=465}} Raghuttama Tirtha is regarded as a saint known for preaching the worship of Lord [[Religion:Vishnu|Vishnu]] regardless of caste or creed. His shrine in Tirukoilur at present has become a holy seat of pilgrimage and a vast number of devotees belonging to all castes and creeds perform SEVA even today. Guru Raghuttama Tirtha is known as a healer. Thousands of devotees who go to his Brindavana are a proof of his divine power and a kind heart to bless his devotees. He has made dumb to speak, mad to be intelligent, childless to beget progeny. None of his devotees have returned in disappointment.{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=464}}

===Intellectual & Scholarly Influence===
Raghuttama Tirtha, through his commentaries and preachings, carried the torch of the philosophy of Madhvacharya during his times. A band of commentators developed under his tutelage. He made each one of his disciples a repository of scholarship and academic excellence. They were successful not only in defending the Philosophy of Madhvacharya in scholarly debates but also in preparing others to become scholars and commentators. Raghupathi Tirtha (a pontiff of another Madhva Matha), [[Religion:Vedavyasa Tirtha|Vedavyasa Tirtha]], Vedesa Tirtha,{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=492}} Yadavarya, Vyasa Ramacharya,{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=433}} Ananda Bhattaraka (father of Vidyadhisha Tirtha), Rotti Venkatabhatta who all made a name as commentators were directly trained by Raghuttama Tirtha. When Madhusūdana Sarasvatī composed Advaitasiddhi, a line-by-line refutation of Nyayamṛta of Vyasatirtha. In response to Advaitasiddhi, Vyasa Ramacharya and Ananda Bhattaraka, wrote Nyayamṛta Tarangini and Nyayamṛta Kantakoddhara and challenged Madhusūdana Sarasvatī.{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=21}}{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=145}} They are intellectual gifts given by Raghuttama Tirtha to the followers of Madhvacharya.{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=382}}{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=375}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{Refbegin|30em}}
* {{Citation|title = A History of the Dvaita School of Vedānta and Its Literature, Vol 1. 3rd Edition|first = B. N. Krishnamurti| last = Sharma| publisher=Motilal Banarsidass (2008 Reprint) |isbn = 978-8120815759| year= 2000 }}
*{{Citation|title=Sri Raghuttama Tirtharu|url=https://archive.org/details/Sri_Raghuttama_Tirtharu_-_Prabhanjanacharya/mode/1up|year=2005|publisher=Sri Vyasa Madhva Samshodana Parishad|first=Vyaaanakere|last=Prabhanjanacharya|isbn=9789381826102}}
* {{Citation|title= A History of Indian Philosophy, Volume 4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ml2H_z0E7bAC|first=Surendranath|last=Dasgupta|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers|year=1975|isbn=978-8120804159}}
*{{Citation|title=A Prehistory of Hinduism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0ZJdDwAAQBAJ|first=Manu V.|last=Devadevan|publisher=Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG|year=2016|isbn=978-3110517378}}
*{{cite book|title= The Sri-Krsna Temple at Udupi: The History and Spiritual Center of the Madhvite Sect of Hinduism|url=https://archive.org/details/SriKrsnaTempleAtUdupi|first=B.N|last=Hebbar|publisher=Bharatiya Granth Nikethan|year=2005|isbn=81-89211-04-8}}
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*{{cite book|title=Tattvaprakāśikā-vyākhya Bhavabodhah|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LNcsDzMDePcC|publisher=Government Oriental Manuscripts Library|year=1956|first=R. Nagaraja|last=Sarma}}
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*{{cite book|title=The Brahmasutras and Their Principal Commentaries A Critical Exposition|first=B. N. Krishnamurti|last=Sharma|publisher=Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers (2008 Reprint) |year=1971|isbn=978-8121500357}}
*{{cite book|title = Living Traditions in Contemporary Contexts: The Madhva Matha of Udupi |first = Vasudeva | last = Rao| publisher=Orient Blackswan |isbn = 9788125022978 | year= 2002 }}
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{{Refend}}

==Further reading==
*[https://archive.org/details/Sri_Raghuttama_Tirtharu_-_Prabhanjanacharya Sri Raghuttama Tirtharu by Vyasanakere Prabhanjanacharya (Kannada text)]
*[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.405056 Tattvaprakasika Vyakhya Bhavabodhah (Sanskrit text)]

==External links==
*[https://archive.org/search.php?query=creator%3A%22Yati%2Craghuttama%22 Works of Raghuttama Tirtha] at [[Internet Archive]]
*[https://www.uttaradimath.org/parampara/sri-raghuttama-tirtha Sri Raghuttama Tirtha] from https://www.uttaradimath.org
*[http://tatvavada.org/eng/prayer.shtml Sri Raghuttama Tirtha] from http://www.tatvavada.org/eng/



{{DEFAULTSORT:Tirtha, Raghuttama}}
[[Category:Vaishnavism]]

{{Sourceattribution|Raghuttama Tirtha}}