Monday, November 1, 2021

Satyabhinava Theertharu Brindavana, Nachiyar Koil, Thanjavur

Satyabhinava Theertharu Brindavana, Nachiyar Koil, Thanjavur

Satyabhinava Theertharu Brindavana is a Hindu burial shrine of Satyabhinava Theertharu, 21st pontiff of the Shri Uttaradi Matha, located in Nachiyar Koil in the outskirts of Kumbakonam Town in Kumbakonam Taluk in Thanjavur District of Tamil Nadu.

History

Satyabhinava Tirtha (1706 CE) was a Hindu philosopher, saint, scholar and theologian. He served as the pontiff of Shri Uttaradi Math from 1673 to 1706. He was the 21st in succession from Madhvacharya. He is known for his great works Durghata Bhavadipa on Bhagavata Tatparya Nirnaya and Mahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya Vyakhyana, a commentary on Mahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya of Madhava.

According to hagiographies, He was born as Keshavacharya into a Kannada-speaking Deshastha Madhava Brahmin family. Satyabhinava Tirtha who was born with a 'Madhavi Rishi hamsa' had occupied the pontificate with distinction for 32 years, 6 months and three days. Satyadhisha Tirtha was the first and Satyadhiraja Tirtha was second disciple. Both these died within a year of their ordination.

Later he ordained Kolhapur Krishnacharya as the next pontiff as Sri Satyapurna Tirtha. After his death in 1706, his mortal remains were enshrined in the mutt at Nachiyar Koil, which is few miles away from Kumbakonam. He was succeeded by Satyapurna Tirtha. Three works have been attributed to Satyabhinava. His Mahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya Vyakhyana is a commentary running up to 3,220 granthas on Mahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya of Madhava. 

Duraghatabhavadipa is a commentary running up to 8,160 granthas on Madhva's Bhagavata Tatparya Niryana which, apart from elucidating the concepts of the source text, criticises the allegations against Madhava raised by some scholars and grammarians. His work Sri Satyanatha Guru Stuti is a praise poem in honour of his guru Satyanatha Tirtha. According to Sharma, "Almost on every page of his gloss in his Bhagavata, we find certain criticisms on the Bhagavata Tatparya Nirnaya of Madhava repudiated.

The determination and persistence with which he pursues these critics show that Bhagavata Tatparya Nirnaya had been severely criticized by some later-day commentators probably Advaitic of unknown identity. The commentary throws light on many knotty points. It's special interest lies in hunting up the criticisms against the Bhagavata Tatparya and silencing them".

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 100 meters from Nachiyar Koil Bus Stand, 10 Kms from Kumbakonam Bus Stand, 10 Kms from Kumbakonam Railway Station, 11 Kms from Kumbakonam, 47 Kms from Thanjavur and 107 Kms from Trichy Airport. Nachiyar Koil is situated on Kumbakonam – Thiruvarur Route. Buses are available from Kumbakonam every 15 minutes on this route.

Location