Navabrindavanam - History And Significance Of The Tombs of The Nine Saints!

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Navabrindavanam, the samadhis or the tombs of the nine saints of the Madhwa order further sanctifies Anegundi, Karnataka, which is believed to be the birth place of Lord Hanuman. On an island in the middle of the Tungabhadra river, stands Navabrindavanam, the tombs of these nine saints, who were the followers of Madhwacharya and predecessors of Sri Ragavendra.

History of Navabrindavanam

As per the Ramayana, Kishkindha, the kingdom of Sugriva is now the region of Anegundi. When Lord Rama and Lakshmana went about in search of Sita, Lord Rama pointed out to Lakshmana an island and asked him to perform salutation there, foreseeing it to be a holy place in future, which is now Navabrindavanam.

Navabrindavanam is also associated with another story from mythology. Sangukarna, a celestial being was entrusted with the job of gathering flowers for the worship of Lord Vishnu in this place. He, however, was lost in the charm and serenity of the environment, which caused a delay in his mission.

A curse thus befell on him for getting lost in worldly pleasures and to be reborn as an asura, who was none other than Prahlada, the son of the demon king Hiranyakasipu. As per the legend, Prahlada meditated in this place to atone for the sin of being instrumental in the death of his father, Hiranyakashipu. It is also a point of interest that Prahlada reincarnated as Vyasaraja Thirtha, one of the saints of Navabrindavanam and Sri Ragavendra.

The nine saints of Navabrindavanam

The Navabrindavanams of the nine Madhwa saints belong to the Uttaradi Math, Vyasaraja Math and Ragavendra Math.

1. Sri Padmanaba Tirtha is the first among the nine saints of Navabrindavanam. He was the direct disciple of Madhwacharya, the expounder of the Dvaita philosophy. The other saints are all descendents of Padmanaba Tirtha.
2. Sri Jaya Tirtha/Raghuvaryar Tirtha (There is a debate whether the second of the Navabrindavanm is of Jaya Tirtha or Raghuvaryar Tirtha.
3. Kavindra Tirtha
4. Vagisha Tirtha
5. Vyasa Tirtha
6. Srinivasa Tirtha
7. Rama Tirtha
8. Sudhindra Tirtha
9. Govinda Wodeyar

The most significant aspect of the Navabrindavanam to be the holy of the holiest places is that these saints have attained Jeeva Samadhis, which means they are still alive within their tombs.

The Significance of Navabrindavanam

A small island in the Tungabhadra River, which lies near Hampi is Navabrindavanam. It is a holy place for the Madhwas as it holds the Brindavanams (tombs) of the nine Madhwa saints, who are supposed to be alive beneath their tombs. Of the nine saints, Sri Vyasaraja Tirtha's Brindavanam is in the centre surrounded by those of the other saints. In order to maintain the sanctity and serenity of the place a yellow circle is drawn around the Brindavanams to restrict people from crossing it to get close to the Brindavanams.

The Brindavanam of Vyasaraja Tirtha is unique in its structure with four pillars in front of it. On the four sides of this Brindavanam, figures of Lord Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman are engraved. Opposite to this Brindavanam is the temple of Avathaarathraya Hanuman.

This idol installed by Vyasaraja Tirtha is unique in itself and bears the combination of the three avatars or incarnations of Hanuman, Bheema and Madhwacharya in one single form. The face is of Hanuman's, the muscular shoulders with the Gadhayudha depicts Bheema and the manuscripts in the hand symbolises Madhwacharya.

Apart from the Brindavanams (tombs) of the nine saints there is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Ranganatha and another Hanuman temple near the cave where Prahlada meditated, atop a boulder.

A noteworthy significance of the Navabrindavanam is that it is also a pilgrimage site or a Parihara Sthala for malefic effects of planets in one's horoscope.

Rules to be adhered in Navabrindavanam

1. Pilgrims are not allowed to touch the Brindavanams and cause disturbance to the saints meditating within them.
2. People are not supposed to cross the yellow circle in order to reach near the Brindavanams.
3. People ought not circumambulate with wet clothes and untied hair.
4. Since Navabrindavanam is on an island, it is only possible to reach it by ferry or a boat. During the rainy season, there is no puja and the priests show Arati from the other side of the river.

Let's thus seek the blessings of the saints of Navabrindavanam.