Kumbakonam & Nachiyarkoil

Kumbakonam, the temple city, known for its large number of temples is located in the Tanjavur district of Tamil Nadu. Nachiyarkoil is a small neighbouring town, located about 10 KM from Kumbakonam. The rivers Kaveri & Arasalar are located to the north and south of the cities respectively. Kumbakonam is also popular for the Mahamagham festival that is celebrated once in 12 years, attracting devotees in large numbers. It is also known for the many scholarly pundits who studied and lived here. The Kumbakonam branch of Sri Uttaradi Math was established by Sri Satyabhoda Teertharu.

Sri Vijayeendra Teertharu was known as Sri Vittalacharya in his poorvashrama. His vidya guru and ashrama guru was non-other than Sri Vyasarajaru. He, during his education, mastered all 64 art forms, like Sri Vadirajaru who was one of his friends and companion in the gurukula. He is the only saint to have written 108 granthas. On the orders of his Guru Sri Vyasarajaru, Sri Vijayeendra Swamigalu worked on spreading the siddhanta of Srimad Madhwacharayaru. He debated and defeated many Shaivite scholars during his visits to the various parts if Vijayanagara Samrajya. However, he never captured or encroched the temples and maths after defeating the philosophers of the different sidhantas. This has been the standing principle of our Madhwa parampare. He like the many montiffs and philosophers of Madhwa Siddhanta only humbled the debators - never humiliating them. Wherever he went, he humbled the debators who were scholars in Meemamsa, Nyaya, Vyakarana, Jyothisha, Sahitya, Ayurveda and other subjects. He also played a pivotal role as the guru and guide for the Vijayanagara empire.

Sri Satyabhinava Teertharu was the pontiff of Sri Uttaradi Matha and was formerly known as Sri Narasimhacharya. His Guru Sri Satyanatha Teertharu chose him for peetha though there were many other scholarly people and said that by the sheer wish will make him a great saint. Sri Satyatmateertharu, fondly says, that the brindavan of Sri Satyabhinava Teertharu is not made of stones but made out of bhakti towards his Guru. We as devotees learn this aspect of unstinted bhkathi towards our entire Guru parampare. Soon after being initiated to pontificate thorne of Uttaradi Math by Sri Satyanatha Teertharu , Sri Satyabhinava Teertha made arrangement to regularize certain offerings to the daily worship of Sri Moola Rama, Sri Moola Sita, Sri Vedavyasa and other sacred deities of the Math. He appointed 64 sevaks for offering the ritual and worship to the samasthana idols in the Math.

The math at Kumbakonam was established by Sri Satyabodha Teertharu. The math premises has a Prana Devaru whose pratishtapane was done by Sri Satyabodha Teertharu himself. There is no moola brindavana in the Kumbakonam branch of the Uttaradi Math. However, there is a small gurukula where students learn our shastra. The Sri Math branch has very good accommodation facilities with AC and non AC rooms and halls. Teerthaprasada arrangements can also be made in the math. Devotees can avail these by informing in advance. Sufficient parking is available in the math premises. Other than accomodations in the Sri Math, there are many hotels and lodges available in Kumbakonam.

Nachiarkoil is about 10 Km from Kumbakonam. The only accommodation facility available here is a hall with clean toilets and washrooms. Devotees wishing to do seva can stay in the hall or make use of the accommodation facilities in Kumbakonam and travel to Nachiarkoil for seva and darshana. However, Teerthaprasada is available when informed in advance.

Kumbakoam & Nachiarkoil are reachable by road. It is about 283 KM from Chennai and 384 KM Bengaluru. They are well connected by Buses. The Mysuru - Cuddalore Port Express runs daily between Bengaluru and Kumbakonam. Similarly, there are many daily and weekly trains from Chennai to Kumbakonam. Kumbakonam and Naciarkoil are internally well connected by buses with an approximate travel time of 30 mins.