Introduction:
The river Tunga flows across the green forest land and mountains of Theerthahalli, a place of pilgrimage and natural beauty, and there is ‘Bheemanakatte’, a small village but a big name for its sanctity. Bheemanakatte, as the name embellishments from Madhwas, the followers of Madhwacharya, was named after the incident happened during Dwapara, when Bheema, Madhyama pandava, built a dam to the river Tunga overnight to stop the outflow of water, as local history says. Incidentally, Bheemanakatte is the place where Sri Achyuta Preksha had built his Ashrama, who gave Sanyasa Deeksha to Sri Madhwacharya, the founder of Dwaitha Philosophy.
Background: During the period of Janamejaya Raya who was the last noted inheritor of Pandavas, had to make "Theerthayathra" to overcome the accumulated sins suffered by him due to his killing of snakes by performing "Sarpayaga". On his way to Rameshwaram he had visited this place, when Sri Kaivalyanatha Theertha was looking after the Ashrama on the bank of the river Tunga, nearby Bheemanakatte. Sri Kaivalyanatha Theertha comes in the parampara of Maharshi Doorwasa who lived during the period of Pandavas. There is "Shasana" (Inscription) describing about handing over of this place to Sri Kaivalyanatha Theertha by Sri Janamejayaraya to make use of this place by performing regular worship of the God Sri Ramachandra and also to perform regular religious functions.
Madhwa Parampara :
After taking Sanyasa Deeksha from Sri Achyuta Preksha, Sri Madhwacharya has established Dwaitha Philosophy, condemning ‘Mayavada’, the ‘Philosophy of myth. Bheemana Katte Matha is the moola matha of Madhwas since Sri Achyuta Preksha who also named him as Poorna Prajna has given Sri Madhwacharya, the sanyasa deeksha.
Location:
Bheemana Katte is located on the bank of the river Tunga in the Talluk of Theerthahalli of Shimoga Dist. It is in the State of Karnataka of India. One can reach to this place from the highway between Theerthahalli and Agumbe. Bheemana Katte matha once established with hundreds acres of land with coconut and banana trees grown around, now only has two acres of land left out, after the introduction of Land Tenancy Act of the Government. The square-shaped matha consists of a Pooja Mandira in the middle, where idols of the God Sri Ramachandra, Lakshmi Narasimha, Vittala, Hayagriva (given by his highness Sri Vadiraja of Sonda), are being worshipped. Also there are idols of Sri Prana Devaru and Bhootharaja, being worshipped. His Highness Sri Raghumanya Thirtha, Peetadhipathi is the back bone of this Matha.
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Sri Raghumanya Thirtha:
After taking Sanyasa Deeksha on 10.06.1974, from Sri Raghu Thilaka, Sri Raghumanya Thirtha, a disable of this parampara went to Manthralaya, to study Shastra-Grantha and did Sudha-Mangala under the guidance of Sri Ranganatha Acharya. He has stayed there in Manthralaya for eight years and has worshipped Sri Raghavendra swamy, and gained "Tapah-shakti". He has already completed twenty-two ‘Chaturmasa Vratham’. He has a unique nature of mingling with all devotees of God Sri Ramachandra, creating awareness of Madhwa-Shastra and Vichara. Especially, he attracts younger generation by inviting them to participate in Cultural and religious programmes of matha at Bheemana katte. Sri Swamiji is a great Tapaswi and he extends all help to those who goes to him with their materialistic problems. His regular worship of Sri Vadiraja and Manthralaya Guru Sri Raghavendra has earned him a great Tapah-shakthi, and his devotees are its beneficiaries.
Present Status of Matha : After the implementation of Land Tenancy Act of the Government, the matha is struggling hard for its revenues with just two acres of land available for its development. The devotees are the real asset of the Matha. The Swamiji has tremendous plans in his mind to develop the Matha and thus creating awareness of Madhwa-shastra all over. To implement this, certainly a lot of support is required to strengthen his plans. Now is the time for all devotees to extend their support and help in the existence of this paramapara for our future generation.
Current Plans of Swamiji :
1. To collect deposits and donations for day-to-day seva, functions of matha.
2. To establish Shri Raghumana Theertha Education Fund for the welfare
of poor students.
3. To establish a Co-Operative Society.
4. To establish centres for Sanskirt-Veda study in all Districts of Karnataka State.
5. To establish an organization to popularize Madhwa Philosophy
6. To establish a centre for guidance to youth for self-dependence.
7. To make awareness with people to adopt simplicity in performing all
ritual functions like Marriage, Upanayanam, etc.,
8. To establish health centres for the village poor people.
