The Beginning

Back in early 1990’s, the land – which is now the Holy Abode of Shri Raghavendra Swami – was just another piece in the large landscape besides the Kulur-Kavoor road. No one would have imagined it will one day bear the sacred Brindavanam, except Shri Guru Raya himself and his ardent devotee Smt. Rohini Sadashiva Rao (or Rohini Amma as she was lovingly called) – whom He chose to lead the effort to find this shrine in order to bless the devotees near and far.

Kodange Shanubhog Shri Anantharam Rao’s second son Shri K. Sadashiva Rao had transferred this ancestral land to his wife Rohini Amma as part of his Will. She had been worshipping Guru Raghavendra Swami at home since her childhood and regularly attending Guru bhajans initially at Sharavu temple and then at Kadri temple for many years. Having realized the effects of Shri Guru Raya’s blessings herself first hand, she felt it was important to help others who are in need – to get the love and blessings of Shri Raghavendra Swami by constructing a Brindavanam. Driven by a sense of purpose and unwavering determination, Rohini Amma made up her mind to donate her land for the cause.

In order to jump start the construction of sanctum sanctorum and the surrounding building, she sold additional land of hers to raise the funds quickly. Help started coming in from other devotees in various forms to construct Mahadwaram, office room, roof cover, to name a few. As the building work progressed, the planning for sculpture of Brindavanam and Deities began. Through divine coincidence, there was already a beautiful Brindavanam waiting for this exact moment along with the idols of Lord Krishna and Lord Mukhyaprana at Padubidri! Shri Padubidri Govardhan, who was a great devotee of Shri Guru Raya had gotten them sculpted with the anticipation of consecrating them someday. However, for one reason or the other, it did not materialize for many years. Upon being approached, he readily donated the Brindavanam and idols to be installed at Ambica Nagar.

Guided and blessed by the Acharyas and Sages, the Brindavanam and the idols were consecrated in the sanctum sanctorum in May 1998. Since then, countless devotees have been visiting the shrine offering their prayers and services. The Brindavanam has been the refuge for the devotees offering them solace, peace of mind and reassurance that Shri Guru Raya always has their back. The dream of Rohini Amma ia being fulfilled every moment when a devotee connects with Sri Guru Raya at the Brindavanam.

The road until now has not been easy and it will never be easy, but for those with unwavering devotion, purity of goal and rock solid determination, Shree Raghavendra Swami will open up the pathways in manners which seem miraculous to the normal eyes. What you see today at the land in Ambica Nagar, overlooking the arterial road is the result of selfless services each and every day by countless devotees who have adopted this Brindavanam as their own. With Guru Raya’s blessings and the efforts of His devotees, it will continue to grow and become the center for spiritual and social activities in the region.

Dr. V. Ravichandran & family’s association with Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy Matha, Kavoor, Mangalore:

Mrs. Indira Ravichandran is a great devotee of Sri Raghavendra Swamiji and has been performing the puja in his name every Thursday without fail for over 40years irrespective of the location and time zone she lives in.

They are also devotees of His Holiness Shri Shri Vidhyadheesha Theertha Swamiji, Sri Palimaru Matha. Their association with Shri Shri Vidhyadheesha Theertha Swamiji goes back to the time when they started their first I.T business venture ‘Sri Guru Computers’ in Puttur in the year 1989. His Holiness Shri Palimaru Swamiji was the chief guest for the inaugural function and he had blessed their business venture then. From that time on, Dr. Ravichandran & his family have ventured into several businesses and presently their IT Company is known as Diya Systems with an employee strength of approximately 1800+.
Dr. V. Ravichandran and Mrs. Indira Ravichandran firmly believe that their growth and success over the years is only because of the choicest blessings showered on them by Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy and His Holiness Sri Palimaru Swamiji.

Building a new Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy Matha

Dr. V. Ravichandran and his wife Mrs. Indira Ravichandran had visited Sri Guru Raghavendra Matha in the year 2009, on knowing that this Sri Matha was in need of some financial assistance to manage the day-to-day

activities. During this visit to Sri Matha, when Dr. Ravichandran and Mrs. Indira Ravichandran were standing in front of the During their first visit to this Matha, when Dr. Ravichandran and Mrs. Indira Ravichandran were standing in front of the Sanctum Sanctorum of Sri Raghavendra Swamy, Rohini Amma caught hold of Mrs. Indira Ravichandran’s hand despite them not knowing each other previously. Rohini Amma requested her that someday in future you’ll have to take care of the Sri Matha and take it forward. Dr. Ravichandran and Mrs. Indira Ravichandran were perplexed with what she told to them. They didn’t know how to react to her statement and they didn’t give Rohini Amma any kind of commitment back then. But they started contributed towards some of the Sri Matha’s expenses.

As Rohini Amma’s health started deteriorating, she requested them to take Sri Matha forward. So Dr. Ravichandran met His Holiness Sri Sri Vidhyadheesha Theertha Swamiji and explained to him about Rohini Amma’s wish and humbly requested His Holiness to take over Sri Matha. Swamiji readily agreed to this request.

Once His Holiness agreed to take over Sri Matha, Dr. Ravichandran and his wife met Rohini Amma’s son Sri Ramananda Rao, who was then managing the Sri Matha and discussed about their meeting with His Holiness Palimaru Swamiji. He and his brothers Sri Ganesh Sundar Rao & Sri Kumaraswamy Rao, agreed to handover the Sri Matha, to be managed under the able guidance of Sri Palimaru Matha.

Dr. Ravichandran and his wife visited Rohini Amma during the last stage of her life and informed her happily that the wish she had made to them 10 years back was now being fulfilled with the approval and blessings of His Holiness Sri Sri Palimar Swamiji.

The sacrifices that Sri. Ramananda Rao has done in order to take care of his mother Rohini Amma and simultaneously run this Matha over the years with very limited resources and the magnanimity and generosity of his brothers, who donated the land and Shri Raghavendra Matha comprising of 21 cents, free of cost to Shri Palimaru Matha has to be appreciated. Their mother Rohini Amma must be the happiest person showering her blessings on her children and all of us from heaven above for fulfilling her dreams.

In addition to this land donation, Sri Palimaru Matha Trust in mutual consideration with Dr. V. Ravichandran and his family, also thought about the future expansion of Sri Matha and purchased the adjacent land of 30.75 cents.

A trust, called Sri Ramanjaneya Prathistana was formed to renovate and extend the existing premises of Shri Guru Raghavendra Matha to provide additional facilities such as Vishranthi Gruha for Peetadhipathis, Veda Patha Shaala, Yajna Shaala, Athithi Gruha, Dining Hall, Community Hall etc.,

In the first phase of renovation, new Shilamaya Garbha Gudi, Sutthupouli, Well, Vishranthi Gruha, Kitchen, Dining Hall, Yajna Shala etc., were constructed at a cost of about Rs 6 crores.

Along with Mriththika Brindavana of Sri Guru Rayaru, Vigrahas of Sri Krishna, Sri Rama and Sri Mukhya Prana were installed at Sri Matha. Brahmakalashotsava of the completely renovated Sri Guru Raghavendra Matha was ceremoniously held between May 24th – 30th.

With the blessings of Sri Hari Vayu Gurugalu, Sri Matha will continue to grow and become the center for spiritual and social activities in the region.