Malladihalli Raghavendra

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Raghavendra Swami of Malladihalli (Kannada: ಮಲ್ಲಾಡಿಹಳ್ಳಿ ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ) (1890–1996), popularly known as ತಿರುಕ 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 Malladihalli near Holalkere in Chitradurga district, a village in Karnataka, India.
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.
Later life.
He met Siddharudha Swami to do social works in Hubli, Karnataka; 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 Malladihalli 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 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.