Sri Raghavendra Swamy Matha, Mantralayam

Mantralayam, on the Tungabhadra river, Kurnool district · The Moola Brindavana (living samadhi) of Sri Raghavendra Tirtha (Rayaru, Guru Raghavendra), with the matha's ancient Moola Rama idols

The Tungabhadra-side Brindavana where Guru Raghavendra entered living samadhi in 1671 – Kaliyuga's wish-fulfilling saint.

Mantralayam is a village in Andhra Pradesh on the Tungabhadra, close to the Karnataka border, built around the Moola Brindavana of Sri Raghavendra Tirtha (c. 1595–1671), the Madhva saint, philosopher and miracle-worker whom devotees call Rayaru. Devotees believe he entered the Brindavana (a stone samadhi shrine) alive in 1671 and is still present in it, answering prayers; hence his title Kaliyuga Kamadhenu and Kalpataru (wish-fulfilling cow and tree of this age). The matha he headed, the Moola (original) matha of Madhvacharya's lineage, also worships the Moola Rama idols said to go back to Brahma and Rama. It is not a government temple: it is run by the matha, which offers daily sevas, free meals and over 1,200 rooms.

Timings

Brindavana darshan (morning): 6:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Main gate closed (cleaning): 2:00 – 4:00 PM
Brindavana darshan (evening): 4:00 – 9:00 PM
Seva sankalpa (all sevas): approx. 7:30 AM in the prakara
Rathotsavas and Unjal Seva: approx. 6:30 – 6:45 PM
Mantrakshate by the swamiji (when in residence): approx. 10:00 – 11:30 AM and 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Note: Per srsmatha.org. Timings change during the Aradhana and on special days. Sevas are not performed on Ekadashi, eclipse days or Krishna Janmashtami.

Darshan types and costs

Dharma darshan (free) – Free
Seva holders – With seva

Sevas and costs

Archana Sahita Hastodaka – ₹100 (Daily, sankalpa approx. 7:30 AM)
Ksheerabhishekam – ₹100 (Daily, approx. 7:30 AM)
Panchamrutham – ₹100 (Daily, approx. 7:30 AM)
Phala Panchamrutha – ₹200 (Daily, approx. 7:30 AM)
Sarva Seva – ₹300 (Daily, approx. 7:30 AM)
Utsava Rayara Padapooja – ₹300 (Daily, approx. 7:30 AM)
Maha Pooja – ₹500 (Daily, approx. 7:30 AM)
Gopooja – ₹500 (Daily, approx. 7:30 AM)
Ghruta Nanda Deepam (1 month) – ₹500 (One month from the seva date)
Unjal Seva – ₹500 (Daily, approx. 6:45 PM)
Poorna Seva – ₹800 (Daily, approx. 7:30 AM)
Go-Graasa Seva – ₹1,000 (Daily)
Kanaka Maha Pooja – ₹1,250 (Daily, approx. 7:30 AM)
Rathotsavam – ₹2,000 (Daily, approx. 6:45 PM)
Rajatha (silver) Rathotsavam – ₹3,000 (Daily, approx. 6:45 PM)
Kanaka Kavacha Samarpana – ₹5,000 (Daily, approx. 7:30 AM)
Rajatha Gajavahana Seva – ₹6,000 (Daily, approx. 6:45 PM)
Suvarna (golden) Rathotsavam – ₹8,000 (Daily, approx. 6:45 PM)
Godaana – ₹11,000 (Daily, approx. 7:30 AM)
Bangaru Pallaki Seva – ₹12,000 (Daily, approx. 7:30 AM)
Navaratna Rathotsavam – ₹15,000 (Daily, approx. 6:45 PM)
Vastra Samarpana Seva (Rayara Brindavana / all Brindavanas) – ₹35,000 (Rayaru's Brindavana) · ₹75,000 (all Brindavanas) (Morning; sevakartas attend the previous evening's sankalpa)
Dinaika Sampoorna Seva / with Annadana – ₹1,00,000 · ₹2,00,000 (with Annadana) (One full day)
Lifetime (Nitya/Niyamita) Sevas – e.g. Panchamruta ₹2,000 · Sarva Seva ₹6,000 · Maha Pooja ₹8,000 · Kanaka Maha Pooja ₹16,000 · Rathotsava ₹22,500 · Rajata Rathotsava ₹42,500 · Kanaka Rathotsava ₹1,22,500 · Golden Pallaki ₹1,62,000 · Navarathna Rathotsavam ₹1,95,000 (Every year on your chosen tithi or date)
Samoohika Sathyanarayana Pooja – Check official site (On Poornima (full moon) days)

How to book darshan

Sevas, rooms, Tatkal rooms, donations and Aradhana sevas are booked only on the matha's own portal at srsmatha.org. The matha warns that it has authorised no agents or other websites. Lifetime sevas are booked only in person.

SRS Matha online services

Dress code

Men must remove shirt and vest (banian) and carry them in hand for darshan of the Brindavana; dhoti or trousers below. Women should wear Indian clothes, preferably a saree. No caps, hats, sunglasses or unusual clothing near the Brindavana.

Best time to visit

October to February. Thursdays (Guruvara, the guru's day) are especially popular. The Aradhana in August/September is the biggest event but very crowded.

How to reach

air: Nearest airports: Kurnool (Orvakal) approx. 120 km; Hyderabad approx. 300 km; Bengaluru approx. 370 km.
rail: Mantralayam Road station on the Mumbai–Chennai line is approx. 15 km away, with buses, autos and taxis to the matha. Raichur and Adoni are larger stations.
road: Buses from Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kurnool, Raichur and Adoni. Kurnool is approx. 100 km; Raichur approx. 45 km; Adoni approx. 50 km.

Festivals

Sri Raghavendra Swamy Aradhana (Saptaratrotsava) – Shravana month, August/September. 355th Aradhana: 27 August – 2 September 2026
Vardhanti (Rayaru's birthday) and Pattabhisheka – Phalguna and other dates (check panchanga)
Madhva Navami, Narasimha Jayanti and other Madhva festivals – Through the year
Adhika masa programmes – When an extra lunar month occurs (2026 had one)