Guru Raghavendra also called as Sri Guru Raghavendra Thirtha was born to humble parents in Southern India in 1595 AD. His parents were very devoted to Lord Venkateswara and as an acknowledgement to the Lord they named their son, as Venkatanatha. As a child, Guru Raghavendra grew up under the watchful eyes of Sudheendra Thirtha his Guru. When he grew up to be a young man, he married Saraswathi, his dutiful wife who served him a lot and helped live a normal household living. Together they had a son. Raghavendra continued to be a devotee and serve his Guru, Sudheendra Thirtha. Later on he succeeded his Guru as Swami Raghavendra Thirtha and slowly attained the status of the head of the Mutth.
It is said that the news of his renunciation as Guru became so unbearable for his wife, that she committed suicide. After becoming the head of the Mutth, Guru Raghavendra assisted many of the people who became his devotees and he also performed numerous miracles. The Dwaita philosophy was propagated by him and he also composed many significant Vaishnavite works.
Guru Raghavendra died at Mantralayam (known originally as Manchala) at Adoni (in Madhya Pradesh state) at the age of 78 years. His devotees believe that Guru Raghavendra blesses his devotees continuously from his Samadhi. His Samadhi is called as the Mantralayam Temple, a popular pilgrimage site in Southern India. Both the poor and rich devotees alike visit the temple to pay their homage to Guru Raghavendra. He is known to have the power to revive the dead, he believed that having the right knowledge is greater than any miracle, that worship means social work done for the good of worthy people, to remain devoted to the Lord and that right thinking will never come, without right living.
