HISTORIC MEETING OF SRI RAGHAVENDRA TIRTHA & CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI
HISTORIC MEETING OF SRI RAGHAVENDRA TIRTHA & CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI
This small write-up is about the historical meeting between Sri Raghavendra Tirtha of Mantralayam and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
As per tradition, he is the reincarnation of Sri Vyasatirtha who flourished during Vijayanagara’s golden epoch i.e. Krishnaraya’s reign. It is well documented that Vyasatirtha was the guardian-saint of Krishnaraya as he sat on the emperor’s throne for 3 days during Kuhuyoga.
Vyasatirtha installed 732 Hanuman idols & rekindled the Dharmik fire in the Hindu warriors of his times.
After the dismemberment of Vijayanagara by mid 17th c. Shivaji Raje became the bulwark of Hindu Rashtra. Under the able guidance of Guru Samartha Ramadas, Shivaji Raje became the tortch bearer for Hindus. His saffron flag fluttered all over.
Living up to his previous incarnation, Sri Raghavendra too inspired Shivaji Raje when he met him at Kolhapur during Chaturmasya. This historic moment is mentioned in “Shah Amal”, an old dairy maintained at Raghavendra Matha.
Shah Amal says that Naropanth Hanumathe (Narasinga Hanumate Panth) a scholar-cum-minister from Shahaji’s time arranged this meeting. Here is a brief note on Naropanth Hanumate from the proceedings of Oriental Conference held in 1940 by then Travencore govt. Naropanth was an adherent of Dvaita school. He played a key role in the ministry of Shahaji Raje & continued with Shivaji’s as well.
‘Shah Amal’ informs that Sri Raghavendra Tirtha, during the meeting, blessed Shivaji Raje to become successful in his Dharmik cause. Thus, Sri Raghavendra, like Vyasatirtha, bestowed his divine grace to fill the void created by the disappearance of Vijayanagara.
References:
1. Kaliyuga Kalpataru by Raja S. Gururajacharya
2. Proceedings of Oriental Conference, 1940