A town named after a saint!

At the entrance of Sri Sathya Vijaya Theertha Moola Brindavana

The town of Mannargudi in Tamilnadu. Sri Sathyapoorna Theertha, the Uttaradhi Mutt Pontiff was travelling through the town when he heard about a young brahmin called Balachar. People praised his knowledge on the Vedas and Agamas. Sathyapoorna Theertha expressed his desire to meet Balachar.

When Balachar came to meet him, Sri Sathyapoorna Theertha asked him give up his sadhana of several months, and come back to him. Without speaking another word, Balachar got ready to do as instructed. Moved by his devotion, Sathyapoorna Theertha accepted him as his successor and named him "Sri Sathya Vijaya Theertha".

Prior to meeting Balachar, Sri Sathyapoorna Theertha had already named Sri Sathyapriya Theertha as his successor. Sathyapriya Theertha had proceeded to North India on pilgrimage.

Understanding that his end was drawing near, and the return of Sathyapriya Theertha not known, Sri Sathya Poorna Theertha had made the move of appointing Sri Sathya Vijaya Theertha as his successor.

Soon after this event, Sri Sathyapoorna Theertha entered Brindavana. But there was no sight of Sri Sathyapriya Theertha. Hence, Sri Sathya Vijaya Theertha took over all the responsibilities of the Uttaradhi Mutt and executed them with care and diligence.

During his tenure, Sri Sathya Vijaya Theertha visited several places and finally reached Arani, a town in Tamilnadu.

Hanuman at the Sathya Vijaya Theertha Brindavana

The then Jagirdar of Arani was Sri Srinivasa Rao Sahib. The Jagir had been received by his ancestors for the services rendered to Chattrapati Shivaji's father, Shavaji. The Jagirdar received the Swami with affection, and made all arrangements for his comfortable stay.

One day, the Swami and the Jagirdar were walking along the banks of the Kamandala Naga Nadhi, when they saw a five headed snake dancing with his hood up. The Swami asked the Jagirdar to move his palace close to that spot. Immediately, the Jagirdar built a new palace near the place and made it his headquarters. He also named the place Sathya Vijaya Nagaram in honor of Sri Sathya Vijaya Theertha. This place stands ruined till date.

In 1737, Sathyavijaya Theertha called the Jagirdar and told him that his end was drawing near. After his demise, he asked the Jagirdar to have his body carried eastwards till a point were the body became so heavy that it could not be carried any further. He requested that his Brindavana be built at that place. The Jagirdar accepted with tears in his eyes.

That was not all. He mentioned to the Jagirdar, that Sri Sathyapriya Theertha who had obtained sanyasa before him, did not seem to return yet and when he did the Jagirdar must hand over the list of items belonging to the Mutt so meticulously prepared by him. He asked for his idols of worship to be buried at a place close to his Brindavana along with his Danda. These must be handed over to Satya Priya Theertha with the instruction that he must exchange his Danda for this one.

Very soon, Sri Sathya Vijaya Theertha left his physical body. As instructed, the Jagirdar's men carried him eastwards till such time that they could no longer carry the body. It was the exact location where the Jagirdar had seen the five headed snake. The Jagirdar built his Brindavana there.

The Brindavana of Sri Sathya Vijaya Theertha

Soon, Sathya Priya Theertha returned from pilgrimage. He heard everything that happened, and was a little perplexed about the Danda as he was senior to Sathya Vijaya theertha and did not think it was be appropriate to exchange Dandas with him. However, it is believed that he had a vision of Hanuman from the idol that was installed by Sri Vyasaraja (previous incarnation of Sri Raghavendra) at Sathya Vijaya Nagara and He instructed him that it would be perfectly right for him to do so, as Sri Sathya Vijaya Theertha had performed poojas and rituals at the Uttaradhi Mutt for a long time which he had not and hence, that made him worthy to have his Danda exchanged.

The Brindavana of Sri Sathya Veera Theetha

That is not all. The Brindavana of Sri Sathya Vijaya Theertha also contains the Mrithika Brindavana of Sri Sathya Veera Theertha, his successor twice removed. The Jagirdar is said to have been issueless for a long time, and it was through the grace and blessings of Sri Sathya Veera Theertha that he was blessed with a son who he named after him. As a token of gratitude, he installed the brindavana of Sri Sathya Veera Theertha after his demise, next to Sri Sathya Vijaya Theertha. For a picture of the Jagirdar placing Sri Sathya Veera Theertha on his throne, and other interesting details about Sathya Vijaya Nagaran, please visit www.arnijagir.com

The Brindavana Complex also has a Mrithika Brindavana of Sri Raghavendra which has been installed in 1997. Every year, the Aradhana celebrations are held here with a great deal of festivity.

Mrithika Brindavana of Sri Raghavendra Swamy

How to reach here:

Sathya Vijaya Nagaram is about 7 kms before Arani when one takes the Chennai - Bangalore Highway.

Temple Timings:

The Achar's family lives close to the temple complex. Therefore, on a normal day one could call up the Achar before visiting.

Contact Details:

Sri Sathya Vijayachar - 99444 63550 . If you do happen to visit Sathya Vijaya Nagara, do make it a point to visit the Hanuman installed by Sri Vyasaraja, which is quite close to the Brindavana.