Sunday, August 5, 2018

Raghavendra Swamy Mutt, Shenbakkam – Nava Brindavanams

Raghavendra Swamy Mutt, Shenbakkam – Nava Brindavanams
The Nava Brindavanam Complex, housing the Moola Brindavanams of eight saints who propagated the Dwaita philosophy propounded by Sri Madhwacharya, and the Mrithika Brindavanam of Sri Guru Raghavendra at Madhwa Vijayanagaram, in Shenbakkam village panchayat near Vellore is sacred for the Dwaitis (followers of the Dwaita philosophy). Mrithika means soil and the Mrithika Brindavanam of Sri Guru Raghavendra was built on the soil brought from the Moola Brindavanam of the saint in Mantralayam, Andhra Pradesh.





Brindavanams of Sri Sripathi Theertha and Sri Kambaal Ramachandra Theertha of the Vyasaraja Matha can be found at the entrance. The Brindavanams built for Sripathi Theertha, and his direct disciple, Sri Kambalur Ramachandra Theertha are seen facing each other in the Nava Brindavanam complex. Brindavanams of Sri Vidyapathi Theertha and Sri Sathyathiraja Theertha of Uththaradhi Matt can be found adjacent to each other on the first floor. There are smaller Brindavanams of Sri Kesava Udayaru, Sri Govinda Madhava Udayaru, Sri Bhoovaraaga Udayaru, and Sri Raghunatha Udayaru in an underground chamber below their brindavanams. 





An early 1990s Mrithika brindavan of Sri Raghavendra Swamy, makes it a Dhakshina Navabrindavana. The Shenbakkam Nava Brindavanams is fortunate to get the foot prints of various holy Madhava Saints. Jagadguru Sri Madhwacharya said to be here for some time. Sri Vyasa Tirtha did his installation of Sri Hanumantha here. Kalyyuga Kalpatharu/Kamadenu Mantralaya mahaprabhu Sri Raghavendra Swamiji stayed in this place for 14 days.


The place derives its holiness from the presence of the Moola Brindavanam of Sri Kambalur Ramachandra Theertha since Sri Raghavendra is believed to have acquired a high level of scholarship in the Dwaita philosophy only on reading Theertha's Grantha.