NAVABRINDAVANA
INTRODUCTION
Navabrindavana is the Samadhi shrine of the nine pious Madhwa saints and it is situated at Anegundi, near Hampi, Karnataka. The names of the holy saints are:
- Shri Padmanabha Tirtha, Disciple of the Holy Universal Guru Shri Madhvacharya
- Shri Kavindra Tirtha
- Shri Vagisha Tirtha
- Shri Raghuvarya Tirtha
- Shri Vyasatirtha, an incarnation of Bhakta Prahalada.
- Shri Sudhindra Tirtha, Guru of Shri Raghavendra Tirtha
- Shri Srinivaasa Tirtha
- Shri Raama Tirtha
- Shri Govinda Vodeyaru
Navabrindavanam is mostly worshipped by Madhwa Brahmins and by the devotees of Guru Raghavendra. Since the saints are in Jeeva Samadhi, while worshipping the holy gurus, the devotees are not permitted to touch the Samadhi shrine. Nearby this Samadhi Shrine there is a Lord Hanuman temple and also a Lord Venkateshwara temple. As per legend, the great Vishnu Devotee Sri Bhakta Prahalada had once worshipped Lord Vishnu at this place. Nearby this place, we can find lot of playful monkeys, and they would surround us for want of food. We can offer bananas and butter milk to the moneys in order to remove their hunger and to quench their thirst. It is advisable to worship this temple during morning times.
The statue of Hanuman was installed by the Madhwa saint Sri Vyasaraja, and the idol of Hanuman looks very beautiful and powerful. He blesses us with a smiling face, and would give all kinds of prosperity to us.
By visiting the Samadhi shrines of the nine saints, we would get mental peacefulness and happiness which we could not get anywhere else. Those who suffer from mental stress and depression are suggested to visit this holy place, in order to get rid from their mental worries.
The famous Vijayanagar King, Sri Krishnadevaraya and the great Madhwa saints like Guru Raghavendra Swamy, Raghuthama Tirtha, Purandara Dasa and Kanaka Dasa have also visited this holy place.
Pujas starts here after 10-00 a.m. Devotees can perform abishegam and archanai to the shrines and can get the blessings of the Gurus and the God. It is believed that Lord Rama had visited Navabrindavana during the Treta Yuga along with his brother Lakshmana. During the year 2019, some miscreants vandalized the Vyasaraja thirtha brindavana, and immediately it was again re-constructed with the help of the Madhwa Brahmins, who consider the Madhwa saints as their beloved and worshipful gurus.
Let us once visit this Navabrindavana in order to seek the blessings of the Holy Gurus.
“OM SRI RAGHAVENDRAYA NAMAHA”
WRITTEN BY
R.HARISHANKAR