Raghuttama Tirtha

Raghuttama Tirtha (also known as Raghuttama Yati) (Śrī Raghūttama Tīrtha) (c. 1548 - c. 1596) was an Indian philosopher, scholar, theologian and saint. He was also known as Bhavabodhacharya (Bhāvabodhacārya). His diverse oeuvre include commentaries on the works of Madhva and Jayatirtha. He served as the fourteenth pontiff of Madhvacharya Peetha - Uttaradi Math from 1557-1595, which he occupied, with remarkable distinction for thirty-nine years.[2] He is considered to be one of the most important seers in the history of Dvaita school of thought.[3] His shrine at Tirukoilur attracts thousands of visitors every year.[4]

Raghuttama Tirtha
Personal
Born
Ramachandra Bhatta

1548
Mannur, Bijapur district, Karnataka, India
Died1596
Tirukoilur, Tamil Nadu, India
ReligionHinduism
OrderVedanta (Uttaradi Math)
PhilosophyDvaita, Vaishnavism
Religious career
GuruRaghuvarya Tirtha
SuccessorVedavyasa Tirtha
Literary worksTattvaprakasika Bhavabodha,[1] Brihadaranyaka Bhavabodha
HonorsBhāvabodhacārya
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Born in a aristocratic Brahmin family, but was brought up in mutt under the direction of 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.[2]

Life

Most of the information about Raghuttama Tirtha's life is derived from hagiography - Gurucaryā.[2] He was born as Ramachandra Bhatta into Kannada-speaking Deshastha Brahmin family to Subba Bhatta and Gangabai in 1548.[5] According to the hagiographies, his father was a Zamindar. The place of his birth is Mannur, Bijapur district, Karnataka. According to the Gurucaryā, He had his Upanayana at the age of seven and immediately after Upanayana was ordained as a Sannyasa.[2] 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 Raghuvarya Tirtha.[4] According to the hagiographies, he was the nephew of Raghuvarya Tirtha- the thirteenth pontiff and succeeded his uncle in pontificate of Uttaradi Matha and was also a close contemporary of Vijayindra Tirtha and Vadiraja Tirtha. Raghuttama Tirtha occupied the pontificate with remarkable distinction for thirty-nine years till his demise in 1596.[2] After his death in 1596, his mortal remains were enshrined in the mutt at Tirukoilur. Traditional accounts report that Raghuttama asked his tomb (Brindavana) to be built around him as he entered into a state of samadhi. He was succeeded by his disciple Vedavyasa Tirtha.[3][6][7]

Works

There have been 10 works accredited to Raghuttama Tirtha, 9 of which are commentaries on the works of Madhvacharya, Padmanabha Tirtha and Jayatirtha, out of which only five are published so far. Bhavabodha is the general title of a majority of his works and Raghuttama is usually called "Bhavabodhakara" or "Bhavabodhacharya".[4] 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.[8] His work Tattvaprakasika Bhavabodha is a super commentary on Jayatirtha's Tattvaprakāśikā. It is a voluminous gloss running to nearly 8100 granthas. It is quoted and criticized by Jagannatha Tirtha in his Bhashyadipika three to four times and by Raghavendra Tirtha once in his Tatparya Chandrika Prakasha.[4]

Name Description References
Viṣṇutattvanirṇaya Bhavabodha Gloss on Viṣṇutattvanirṇayaṭikā of Jayatirtha [9]
Tattvaprakasika Bhavabodha Super-commentary on Tattvaprakāśikā of Jayatirtha [10]
Nyāyavivarana Bhavabodha Direct commentary on Nyāya Vivarana of Madhvacharya, in continuation to Jayatirtha work to Nyāyavivaranaṭikā [11]
Nyāyaratna-Sambandhadipikā Commentary on Anu Vyakhyana, showing at the same time the inter-connection between the words of Madhva and Sutras of Badarayana. [12]
Brihadaranyaka Bhavabodha Commentary on Brihadaranyaka Upanishad Bhashya of Madhvacharya [13]
Vivaraṇoddharā Gloss on the passages of Nyāya Vivarana which was commented by Jayatirtha in his Tattvaprakāśikā [12]
Gītābhāṣya Bhavabodha (Prameyadīpikā Bhavabodha) Gloss on Jayatirtha's Gītābhāṣya Prameyadīpikā [13]
Sanyayavivruthi Commentary on Sanyaya Ratnavali of Padmanabha Tirtha [13]
Tāratamya Stotram Prayer explaining the hierarchy of gods [13]
Taittirīyavinirṇaya Commentary on Taittiriya Upanishad Bhashya of Madhvacharya [13]

Legacy

After Jayatirtha, Raghuttama Tirtha became Tika-kara and is usually referred to as Bhavabodhacharya.[4] 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".[8] Raghuttama Tirtha is regarded as a saint known for preaching the worship of Lord Vishnu regardless of caste or creed. His shrine in Tirukoilur attracts thousands of visitors every year.[4]

References
  1. Okita 2014, p. 267.
  2. Sharma 2000, p. 463.
  3. Sharma 2000, p. 433.
  4. Sharma 2000, p. 464.
  5. Hebbar 2005, p. 155.
  6. Sarma 1956, p. xliii.
  7. Brück & Brück 2011, p. 202.
  8. Sharma 2000, p. 465.
  9. Sharma 2000, p. 264.
  10. Dasgupta 1975, p. 61.
  11. Dasgupta 1975, p. 87.
  12. Sharma 2000, p. 265.
  13. Sharma 2000, p. 266.

Bibliography
  • Sharma, B. N. Krishnamurti (2000), A History of the Dvaita School of Vedānta and Its Literature, Vol 1. 3rd Edition, Motilal Banarsidass (2008 Reprint), ISBN 978-8120815759CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Dasgupta, Surendranath (1975), A History of Indian Philosophy, Volume 4, Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, ISBN 978-8120804159CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Devadevan, Manu V. (2016), A Prehistory of Hinduism, Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG, ISBN 978-3110517378CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Hebbar, B.N (2005). The Sri-Krsna Temple at Udupi: The History and Spiritual Center of the Madhvite Sect of Hinduism. Bharatiya Granth Nikethan. ISBN 81-89211-04-8.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Brück, Regina von; Brück, Michael von (2011). Life in the Power of Rituals : Religion and Spirituality in India. CHBeck. ISBN 978-3406612428.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Glasenapp, Helmuth von (1992). Madhva's Philosophy of the Viṣṇu Faith. Dvaita Vedanta Studies and Research Foundation.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Trivedi, Krishnaji (1971). Mahatmas: Acharyas, Mystics, Saints, Sages, Seers. Shivaji news printers.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Sarma, R. Nagaraja (1956). Tattvaprakāśikā-vyākhya Bhavabodhah. Government Oriental Manuscripts Library.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Naqvī, Ṣādiq; Rao, V. Kishan (2005). A Thousand Laurels--Dr. Sadiq Naqvi: Studies on Medieval India with Special Reference to Deccan, Volume 2. Department of Ancient Indian History, Culture & Archaeology, Osmania University.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Kashyap, Ram Anant; Purnaiya, R. (1973), An Introduction to Madhva Ontology, Tattva Viveka Publications
  • Callewaert, Winand M. (1994). According to Tradition: Hagiographical Writing in India. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. ISBN 978-3447035248.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Sharma, B. N. Krishnamurti (1971). The Brahmasutras and Their Principal Commentaries A Critical Exposition. Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers (2008 Reprint). ISBN 978-8121500357.
  • Rao, Vasudeva (2002). Living Traditions in Contemporary Contexts: The Madhva Matha of Udupi. Orient Blackswan. ISBN 9788125022978.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Okita, Kiyokazu (2014). Hindu Theology in Early Modern South Asia: The Rise of Devotionalism and the Politics of Genealogy. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0198709268.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

Further reading


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