Malladihalli Raghavendra Swamiji : (1895- 1996 ) Malladihalli Raghavendra svamiji, was a profound, Yogacharya, and Ayurveda ratna,who gave life to thousands of patients who came to him. His yoga demonstrationswere well cited in most of his devotees who are running Yoga centers in Malaysia,USA, Australia, and England. Some of them have settled in Bengaluru, Maisuru,and other cities of our country. Svamiji, was a scholar, in Kannada literature,studied Sanskrit, and knew Hindi, Konkani, English, and Tulu languages. “BrihadYogadarshana” Is the reference book, on all aspects of Yoga, for the promisingstudents of Yoga. This book deals all the fundamental aspects of Yoga, including‘Angamardana kriya,’ as well ! He was an excellent organizer, prolific Speaker,Writer, Actor, and Singer. More than any thing, he was a great human being! Heloved the poor, oppressed and downtrodden, and spent his entire life in theupliftment of their lives. Gandhiji’s teachings had a great influence on him.Raghavendra Swamiji was not like the other Swamijis’ who belong to particular sector group. He did not belong to any cult or section of a particular cast, or sect.His universal message of Service and love for the entire mankind, has become selfevident. Svamiji was born like that and practiced the same till his end. He was aself made man, who brought the divine bliss to an obscure village, calledMalladihalli- which was unknown to some of the people of Karnataka even. Thesleepy hamlet had the major share of Devanga community, and next in the order isKurubas- farming community, and the rest are Dalits, Muslims and others. Kumara swami, as he was named by his parents, Shri. Anantha padmanabha nambudari,and his wife Padmambal, born in the state of Kerala, during 1891. The baby boy,was terribly sick, suffering from “Balagraha pide “and was unable to cry or smile,and recognize his own parents, Leave alone Nambudaris, he was not responding toany one. He was like a piece of flesh, just opening and closing his eye- lidsoccasionally. Nambudaris were old., they were not keeping good health either.They approached all Ayurvedic pandits and Yogis for help. English medicines wereunknown then ; even the medical science had not developed. But nothing helpedthem. Mother was very much disturbed with the child and went to several Gods andGoddesses, to get the ‘Anugraha’. Finally some one suggested that, ‘DeviMukambika’ is the goddess of ‘wakshakti’ , and hence to go to her mercy.The temple was far away at Kolluru. Although it was a few hundred kilometersaway, there were no buses or motorcars then. There were no roads, and one has towalk all the distance amidst jungles, rivers, and some times wild beasts.Nambudaries determined to visit Kollur. They took their 14 year old son, in theirarms, and back and traveled all the way by bullock carts, and most of the times bywalk. Finally they landed at a place called ‘Barakur’. It was already night, andthey sought the shelter in a house of a Brahmin. His name was Sri. Narasimhaiah, aGamaki, Scholar, and a Yakshagana specialist; and his wife were Smt. Puthalibai.Both were very ‘satvik’ people, and offered a place in the corner of theircoconut garden.Nambudari, was an Astrologer, Priest and a great scholar of Sanskrit. He wasadvising the village folks, and helping in their Ceremonies, rituals, pujas etc;in the process he was getting some money as Dakshina.

Once, the acting Swamiji of ‘Mantralayam math’, came to the village of Barakurand had his camp, in the sourrounding villages. Padmambal, was very keen to meetSvamiji and show her child, Kumarasvami, and get the blessings from the seer.Manthralayam Swamiji, saw the boy and blessed the child, with ‘Mantrakshate’. Hesaid that, all the ailments would be cured by the grace of God, and he would be agreat man one day, and will help to uplift the lives of poor and needy.Swamiji from Mantralayam had blessed the boy, and also christened him asRaghavendra. These words some how made Padmabal immensely happy; with out hersenses, she was repeating the lines that guruji said, ‘My son will become a greatperson one day, and will help the poor and the needy’ ! She was suffering frombody pain and temperature was rising on her forehead. She died leaving her belovedchild in the lap of her husband.Ananth Padmanabha Nambudari, was bewildered. How to look after this grown upchild ; Kumara svami was already 15 years old then. Nambudari begged Narasimhaiah,and wife Puthalibai, to help him to take care of his child. But they had theirown children .How to take care of a boy who is so sick and not able to look afterhimself. One scholarly person from Bhirthi, Pandit Ramachandrashastry advisedPuthali bai, to take care of the orphan child. He advised Puthalibai, that amother less child needs a special care and only she could give it. Since his wordscarried highest reverence and weight age in their family, he convinced the coupleto take care of the motherless child. The monetary help would be provided by himand as well as by Nambudari. Puthalibai, sincerely followed the words of her guru,and adopted Kumaraswamy as her own child. That day was the auspicious Ugadi, dayin 1906.This was the greatest turning point in the life of Kumumarasvami. Nambudari,could not stay there, he offered money all that he had to the couple and left forHimalayas to meditate and spend his rest of his life there. Some how, it wasproved right. The boy started watching at the faces of the people whoever comes incontact; lips started moving a little, and there was a significant improvement intaking food. This metamorphosis happened all of a sudden, like a miracle. No onecould believed including Narasimhaiah and Putlibai. Raghavendra, startedwalking like other boys in the neighborhood, and practically he was one amongthem.All the schooling up to matriculation was done at kundapur. He had some very goodteachers like shivaramaiah, who initiated him to study kannada literature, andprovided him all the books of great of kannada lieterature.Raghavendra was very studious, in his studies, he was very good in acting, singingand speaking on the stage. Above all, he was conducting himself with the elders,and friends, made everybody spell bound. The exemplary character he possessed.Every one wanted to talk to him and help in whatever way they can.A Swamiji called Nityananda, came to his house. Narasimhaiah was a great devoteeand had immense reverence for swamiji. Swamiji was residing at the house ofNarasimphaiah. Bhajan, kirtan and pravachans were being conducted for a weekperiod. During the period Ragahva helped swamiji in his pooja, and other things.Swamiji had great love and affection towards Raghava and wanted to offer himRamataraka mantra and did so on the last day. Raghava was very emotional, and nowhe became completely aloof from the worldly events. His Metric exams were fastapproaching but he never bothered. He wanted to witness God, and have theblessing of the almighty ! The quest for realizing God in his mind, enhanced andhe some how could not overcome it.

His Kannada teacher, Shri Shivaramaiah came in rescue of him; he told Raghava, tocomplete Metric and afterwards any thing could be done. Raghava now explores theworld, and started learning yoga, Ayurveda vidya and with palani svamiji themuscle building. While learing Vyayama at ‘Jumma dada Vyayam shala’, Baroda underProfessor Manikya rao, after successfully completing the course, he was grantedBPC degree in presence of Baba Guru Lakshmana das, of ‘Kaivalyashram’, Lahore.All these career developments were done with the help of Swami shivananda. He wasvery much satisfied with his performance of Raghavendra. Now he felt the time hascome to bless him to hand over out to the mankind. First step was to Inaugurate’ Maruthi Vyayamshala’ at Bhatkal, in Karnataka.Now Raghava was looking very muscular and youthful; every one was pleased to seehim with so much of vigor and healthy body and his humility was unmatched to none.This aspect was loved by all his gurus. He visited nearly 45- 50 villages in andaround karnataka. His Yoga camps were arranged for a week at the most. Then theplace called Malladihalli came on the way, which became a place of his‘karmabhumi’ for a period almost 50 years, (he came in the year 1943) the rest ofhis life! Initially as per his schedule he will select a village and as per thefirst come fist serve basis, and after one week he would proceed for a nextvillage. But after one saptah, the villagers were not ready to part with him. Nowa sage called Shankaralinga bhagavan sarsasvathy came to negotiate. He advisedRaghava to stay some time and do the upliftment of the poor and needy in thevillage of Malladihalli. This village resembled the replica of a backward villageof India, where much more was needed. Some now Raghava was here to do it.During his stay of nearly 50 years to his death he did lots of work to uplift thepoor and the villagers of Malladihalli. High schools, Colleges, Ayurvediccolleges, Hospital, Hostels for Students and as well as Teachers ,Library,‘Sarvodaya Printing press’, Vyayam shala, Banashankari Temple, ‘Parappa svamy math’ ‘Palani Svami math’, ‘Vyasa pith’. In yoga, they have subdivided into 8branches. They are:1.yama, 2 Niyama 3. Asana, 4. pranayama, 5. pratyahara. 6. dharana, 7. dhyana8. Samadhi.In Ayurveda there are 8 branches; This is known as Astanga Ayurveda.1.Science of Surgery2.Sciences of Eyes, Nose and Throat etc;3.General Treatment4.Treatment of Demonical Diseases5.Management of Children6.Toxicology7.Science of Rejuvenation8.Science of AphrodisiacDuring (Shravana masa) while observing penance, (Mauna vrata) one month, he waswriting volumes of books dealing with Ayurveda, Yoga, Kannada literature, Drama,Prose, Poetry, and Novels. Raghavendra svamiji had profound knowledge in kannadaliterature, Sanskrit, Hindi and English. He knew Tulu, Konkani also; whiletraveling he learnt many languages. He was able to create so much in Kannadaliterature. Total books that he has written so far amounts to 8 Kavyas, 9 Novels,12 Dramas, 2 Gita Nataka, 7 One act plays, 1 Basava sahitya, 3 Collection of