Raghavendra Swami of Malladahalli (1890–1996),
popularly known as Tiruka ("beggar"), was the founder of Anatha
Sevashrama Trust, Malladihalli. He taught yoga to more than 4.5 million people
all over the world from his base as Malladahalli near Holalkere in Chitradurga
district.
Early life
Raghavendra Swami, was born on 27
July 1890, in a small village Barkur, in Karnataka. He was their only child.
His parents named him Kumaraswamy. Later, urged by the head priest of
Mantralaya Mutt, his name was changed to Raghavendra.
He suffered from numerous
ailments, including epilepsy, in his childhood. Later in his life, he met
Palani Swami, a yogi from whom he learned hatha yoga, asanas and pranayama. His
health improved and his body became strong after a few years with this yogi. He
was adopted by Puthali Bai and Narasimhaiah on the advice of Bhirthi
Ramachandra Shastry after the death of his mother. Anantha Padmanabha, leaving
his son in the care of the foster parents went on a pilgrimage to Himalayas.
Raghavendra's health gradually
improved, and his foster parents began sending him to school. He performed well
in every subject, except English. He was very fond of music, and learnt
Carnatic music. He learned singing Bhajans and devotional songs. As a school
boy he participated and acted in many plays, Yakshagana, and Thala Maddale.
His aradhana is celebrated on this
auspicious day by his devotees and followers.
Later life
He met Siddharoodha Swami to do
social works in Hubli; but left the work later. After staying some days at
Siddharudha Mutt he left for Tumkur.
Kumaraswamy started his
association with K. Shivaram Karanth, a budding artist, who later, acquired the
skills of drama, and its intricate styles, at the Amba Prasaditha Nataka Company, in Tumkur. Shivaram Karanth took
Raghavendra to Ranganatha Thamankar, who offered him a job as a clerk at his
drama company. He was entrusted with the sales of tickets and disbursement of
salaries and wages to the staff of the drama company. Later during this period,
he left his job.
He met Paramahamsa Yogananda, and
Swami Shivananda Tirtha and was impressed by him. He was later introduced to
Baroda professor Manekrao, who had taught Swami Shivananda physical exercises
and the use of weapons, as a disciple. Manekrao (1878–1954) had acquired
knowledge from his preceptor Jumma Dada, who lived up to the age of one hundred
and ten years. Kumaraswamy learnt various martial arts under the guidance of
Manekrao.
He was sent to Lahore to learn
Ayurveda from Lakshman Das, a scholar of Yoga and Ayurveda, and an Ayurvedic
practitioner.
Jaggi Vasudev was an 11-year-old
boy when he came in contact with Swamiji (who was then 78 years old) and learned
hatha yoga from him. Later on Jaggi Vasudev founded the Isha Foundation and
came to be known as Sadhguru by his followers.
Social works
He claimed that he had treated
more than 3 million people for various diseases with ayurvedic medicines, and
yoga without any surgery. He built an Ayurvedic hospital at Malladahalli and
Vishwa Yoga Mandira (World Yoga Trust) and various educational institutions, on
a non-profit basis.
Recognition
The State Government of Karnataka
and the Central Government of India gave him several awards but it is said that
he declined to accept them.
Bibliography
He was the author of books on yoga and ayurveda, as well as on Kannada literature, drama, music, etc., published under the pen name of Tiruka. He also went by the name Malladihalli, the name of his native village. Some of his writings have been included in school text books in Karnataka.