“Sri Uddanda Ramachandra Thirtharu”
(Sreepadaraja Mutt) (14th pontiff)
ಗೋಪಾಲಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಸಂಜಾತಮ್ ಧುರ್ಮತಧ್ವಾಂತ ಭಾಸ್ಕರಮ್ |
ಉದ್ದಂಡ ರಾಮಚಂದ್ರಾಖ್ಯ ಗುರುಂ ವಂದೇ ನಿರಂತರಮ್ |
Gopalaswamy Sanjaathan DhuRmathaDwantha Bhaskaraam|
Uddanda Ramachandryaakhya Gurum Vandhe Nirantharam
He helped the chieftain of Penagonda in performing his political duties. Sri Ramachandra Thirtharu is believed to keep his “Danda” for Vigil on the sacred box which contained the deities. Whenever, he used to go out of the Mutt, he used to keep his “Danda” after doing “Abhimantrana” on the deities. So, he was called as “Uddanda Ramachandra Thirtharu”
Aradhana – Phalguna Bahula Saptami
Vrundavana – Penugonda (A.P.)
Ashrama Sweekara – 1620
Vrundavana Pravesha – 1645
Ashrama Gurugalu – Sri Gopalaswamy Thirtharu
Ashrama Shishyaru – Sri Raghunatha Thirtharu
Sri Sri Ramachandra Thirtharu has done extensive sanchara in the Andhra region. He is famous for his tapo sakthi and mantra sakthi. He made Penugonda as his working capital. Penugonda was a town and the state capital during earlier days.. Sri Sripadaraja has done pratistapane of one pranadevau murthy in the premises of Sri Sripadaraja Mutt in Penugonda Town.
In penugonda Sri Vyasarajaru has stayed for more than a year. Out the 732 pranadevaru prathistapana by Sri Vyasarajaru, it is believed that 372 pranadevaru is in Penugonda alone. i.e. he has done each day one pranadevaru prathista during his stay. In Penugonda, a small hill called Brahmagiri is there. It is said that till today, no one is dare to climb the hill as each rock is in one or the other form has Pranadevaru roopa. Sri Sri Ramachandra Thirtharu has made this pavithra Penugonda as his working area. It is to be noted that 3 great yathis of 3 different mutt’s moola brindavana is available in Penugonda. That too in each direction. They are :
Sri Uddanda Ramachandra Thirtha of Sri Sripadaraja mutt,
Sri Lakshmikantha Tirtharu of Sri Vyasaraja mutt and
Sri Vedavyasa Theertha of Uttaradhi mutt. By the presence of these 3 yathis one can imagine the sanctity attached to this place.
Sri Ramachandra Theertharu for his daily anhika, in the early morning used to go to Brahma saraovara at the top of Brahmagiri hill. Since the entire hill is having the amsha of Sri Pranadevaru, Srigalu used to sit on the plantain leaf and by his yoga sakthi use to fly to the top of the hill. During this time to protect the samsthana idol box, he used to keep his Dhanda as vigil. Since he used his Dhanda for protecting the sacred idol box, he is called as Uddanda Ramachandra theertha. That was the power his yoga sakthi and his mantra sakthi. During Sri Sripadarja and Sri Vyasaraja period, thousands of Brahmins were living in Penugonda.
Sri Uddanda Ramachandra Tirtharu entered Vrundavana on Phalguna bagula sapthami.
His Brindavana is in the middle of Mango garden and very close to Bangalore Hyderabad national highway, 2 km before the Penugonda town.
Earlier the brindavan was standing in the open place on a raised platform. Now, shelter has been put. Recently, prathistapana of idol of Sri Narasimha devaru has been done. There are 2 Sri Sripadaraja mutts in Penugonda. One is the moola brindavana of Sri Ramachandra theertha and other houses the prana devaru and mrithika brindanvan of Sri Rayaru
Please contact Sri Anantha Rao, Sri Sripadaraja mutt, Penugonda. Phone number 08555-221090 for any assistance.
(Source – Sripadaraja Mutt)