Raghuttama Tirtha

Raghuttama Tirtha (Sanskrit:रघूत्तम तीर्थ); IAST:Śrī Raghūttama Tīrtha) ( 1548 - 1596), was an Indian philosopher, scholar, theologian and saint. He was also known as Bhavabodhacharya (). 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 to 1595, which he occupied, with remarkable distinction for thirty-nine years. He is considered to be one of the most important seers in the history of Dvaita school of thought. His shrine at Tirukoilur attracts thousands of visitors every year. Born in an 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. Most of the information about Raghuttama Tirtha's life is derived from hagiography - Gurucaryā. He was born as Ramachandra Bhatta into Deshastha Madhva Brahmin family to Subba Bhatta and Gangabai in 1548. According to the hagiographies, his father was a Zamindar. The place of his birth is Mannur, Indi taluk, 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. 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. According to the hagiographies, he was the nephew of Raghuvarya Tirtha- the thirteenth pontiff and succeeded his uncle in the 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 until he took Brindavana Pravesha in 1596. Raghuttama Swami took Brindavana on the bank of the river South Pennar in Mannampoondi near Tirukoilur. He was succeeded by his disciple Vedavyasa Tirtha.