Heritage · Faith · Tradition
About the Temple
Introduction
The Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt at Mantralayam, on the banks of the Tungabhadra river in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh, is one of the most visited holy places of South India. Here is the sacred Brindavanam of Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy, the beloved saint who, devotees believe, remains present to this day to bless all who come to him with faith. People of every background travel to Mantralayam to pray for health, peace, education and relief from difficulties, and countless families visit again and again to give thanks.
Sri Raghavendra Swamy
Sri Raghavendra Swamy was born in 1595 as Venkatanatha, in a scholarly family. He grew into a brilliant scholar of the Dvaita philosophy of Sri Madhvacharya, and in 1621 he took sannyasa and became the head of his Matha as Sri Raghavendra Tirtha. He wrote many learned works – his commentary called Parimala earned him the title Parimalacharya – and travelled widely, teaching devotion to Lord Vishnu. Devotees revere him as an incarnation of the great devotee Prahlada, and remember countless stories of his compassion and miracles.
The Brindavanam
The land at Mantralayam, then the village of Manchale, was granted for the Matha by the Nawab of Adoni, who had become a devotee of the Swamy. In 1671, on the second day of the dark fortnight of the month of Shravana, Sri Raghavendra Swamy entered his Brindavanam here alive, in deep meditation – a jeeva samadhi. Devotees believe that he promised to remain present in the Brindavanam for seven hundred years, and that is why he is worshipped as a living guru. The Brindavanam is the heart of the Mutt, and the whole of Mantralayam has grown around it.
Within the Mutt
- Sri Raghavendra Swamy's Brindavanam: the main shrine, where daily pujas, abhishekam and alankarams are performed.
- Sri Moola Rama: the ancient idols of Sri Rama worshipped through the Matha's lineage receive daily puja.
- Sri Manchalamma: the village goddess of Manchale, whose shrine stands near the Mutt. By tradition, devotees visit her first and then go for darshan of the Swamy.
- Prasadam: devotees receive the sacred mrittika (soil from the Brindavanam), parimala prasadam and free annadanam (meals) served by the Mutt.
Festivals
- Aradhana Mahotsavam (August): the most important event of the year, marking the day the Swamy entered the Brindavanam. The Aradhana is held over three days – Purva, Madhya and Uttara Aradhana – as part of a week-long Saptaratrotsavam, with special pujas, the Swamy's procession in the golden chariot, music, discourses and lakhs of devotees.
- Guru Vaibhavotsavam (February–March): celebrations remembering the Swamy's anointment as head of the Matha and his birth anniversary.
- Thursdays (Guruvaram): the day of the Guru, when the Mutt is especially crowded and the Swamy is taken out in procession on a chariot (ratham) in the evening.
Darshan Timings
- The Mutt is generally open from early morning until night, with the main pujas in the morning.
- Timings change during the Aradhana and on special days; please check the Matha's official channels before your visit.
How to Reach
By Road: Mantralayam is about 90 km from Kurnool, about 45 km from Raichur and about 45 km from Adoni. Frequent APSRTC and KSRTC buses run from Kurnool, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Raichur and other cities.
By Train: the nearest railway station is Mantralayam Road, about 15 km away, on the Mumbai–Chennai line; buses and autos connect it with the Mutt.
By Air: the nearest airport is Kurnool Airport at Orvakal (KJB), about 110 km away, with limited flights. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Shamshabad (HYD) is the major airport, about 280 km away.
Visitor Information
- Dress code: traditional dress is expected. By custom, men remove their shirts and vests before entering for darshan of the Brindavanam.
- Tungabhadra snanam: many devotees bathe in the Tungabhadra before darshan; take care near the river, especially when water levels are high.
- Stay: the Mutt and private lodges offer accommodation; book early for the Aradhana and long weekends.
- Nearby: Panchamukhi, a short drive away across the river in Karnataka, where the Swamy is believed to have performed penance before coming to Mantralayam.
