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Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt, Mantralayam

Sri Raghavendratheertha was born as Venkatanatha in the town of Bhuvanagiri in Tamil Nadu. Venkatanatha studied under Sudheendra Theertha. He quickly emerged as a talented scholar and consistently won debates over scholars older than him. He was also known as a teacher of Sanskrit and the ancient Vedic texts.
He was named as Parimalacharya after he wrote the vedic script Sudha Parimala.

Sri Venkata Natha was known to be a skilled musician and an expert in playing the instrument Veena. He took sannyasa and adopted the name Raghavendra Theertha and in 1621.
In 1671, after assuring his disciples in a speech that he will be in spirit (in TEJOROOPA) with them for the next seven hundred years, Raghavendra attained JeevaSamadhi at Mantralayam.

Mantralayam is a constituency in Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh, India. It lies on the banks of the Tungabhadra river on the border with neighbouring Karnataka state.

It is also called as Manchale. This town is noted for the holy presence of the Vrindavana (sacred burial) of Guru Raghavendra Swami, a Madhwa saint and follower of Sri Madhwacharya.

It is believed that Guru Raghavendra Swami will be in the Vrindavana alive for 700 years and blessing the devotees. Raghavendra swamiji has solved and being solved many critical and problems of the people.
Manchalamma is the presiding deity of the Manchale village and one has to offer prayers to Manchalamma first, before they enter Sri Raghavendra Swamiji's mutt.

Swamiji stayed with Sri.Appanacharya, the prime student of Swamiji in Bikshalaya (Bichali) for 13 years. This place is also located on the banks of River Tunghabadra and it is 20 km from Mantralaya.

Raghavendra Swamy entered alive into Jeeva Samadhi (tomb), also called Brundavana. The Guru attained Samadhi in 1671 AD. The main shrine is situated in a large building inside the temple.
The Saint still exists in his holy form after he had relinquished the material world and that he will continue in this form till the completion of 700 years from the time he attained 'Jeeva Samadhi'.

The male devotees who want to perform Pooja at Brundavana have to wear dhoti. While male devotees paying normal visit have to remove their shirt and female devotees have to wear Sarees or other traditional cloths.
There are 4 chariots in the temple coated with precious gems, silver, sandalwood and gold. The idol of the saint is carried on the chariot around the temple everyday.
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