“Sri Uddanda Ramachandra Theertharu”
(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 Theertharu 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 Theertharu”
Aradhana – Phalguna Bahula Saptami
Vrundavana – Penugonda (A.P.)
Ashrama Sweekara – 1620
Vrundavana Pravesha – 1645
Ashrama Gurugalu – Sri Gopalaswamy Theertharu
Ashrama Shishyaru – Sri Raghunatha Theertharu
Sri Sri Ramachandra Theertharu 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 pattana and state capital during earlier days.. Sri Sripadaraja has done one pranadevau murthy is in Penugonda Town Sri Sripadaraja Mutt. In penugonda Sri Vyasarajaru has stayed for more than a year. Out the 700 and odd pranadevaru prathistapana by Sri Vyasarajaru, it is believed that close to 365 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 available. 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 Theertharu 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. Sri Ramachandra Theertha of Sri Sripadaraja mutt, Sri Lakshmipathigalu of Sri Vyasarja mutt and Sri Vedesha 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 annika, 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 Brahmanas were living in Penugonda.
On Phalguna bagula sapthami, he entered brindavana. His Brindavana is in the middle of Mango garden and very close to Bangalore Hyderabad national highway, 2 km before the Penugonda town.
The present senior swamiji of Sri Sripadaraja mutt has renovated the surrounding places of Brindavana. Earlier the brindavan was standing in the open place on a raised platform. Now, shelter has been put. Recently, prathistapana of Narasimha swamiji vigraha has been done. There are 2 Sri Sripadaraja mutts available 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 Ananatha Rao, Sri Sripadaraja mutt, Penugonda. Phone number 08555-221090 for any assistance.
(Source – Sripadaraja Mutt)