Raghavendra Swamy Jayanti marks the birth of Sri Raghavendra Tirtha, the great Madhva saint of Mantralaya whom devotees lovingly call Rayaru. Devotees observe the day on Phalguna Shukla Saptami, the seventh day of the bright fortnight of the Phalguna month. Most recently it fell on Tuesday, 24 February 2026, and the next observance comes in late February 2027.
This guide gives you the verified date logic, the rituals, and a clear-headed plan for Mantralaya. It leaves out the muddled dates that float around on aggregator pages.
A quick note before we begin. This website (srsmatha.org.in) is an independent pilgrim guide. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or the official website of Sri Raghavendra Swamy Matha, Mantralaya.
We take no bookings, sevas, or donations. For every reservation, please use the official Matha portal linked further below.
Raghavendra Swamy Jayanti at a Glance
- Tithi: Phalguna Shukla Saptami (seventh day of the waxing moon in Phalguna month).
- Most recent date: Tuesday, 24 February 2026.
- Next date: late February 2027, so confirm the exact day on the Mantralaya Matha Panchanga nearer the time.
- Also called: Vardhanti or Vardhantotsava, which many devotees consider the correct term.
- Birth star: Mrigashira Nakshatra; birthplace: Bhuvanagiri, near Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu.
- Birth name: Venkatanatha, later Sri Raghavendra Tirtha after sanyasa.
When Is Raghavendra Swamy Jayanti?
Raghavendra Swamy Jayanti falls every year on Phalguna Shukla Saptami, the seventh lunar day of the bright fortnight in the Phalguna month. Because the Hindu lunar calendar shifts against the English calendar, the date lands somewhere between late February and mid-March. In 2026 the tithi was observed on 24 February, while the next Vardhanti arrives in late February 2027.
You may see 23 February 2026 listed on a few websites. That figure follows the tithi as it falls in United States time zones, so it does not match the Indian observance. For devotees in India, and for the Mantralaya Matha itself, the correct 2026 date was Tuesday, 24 February. Always trust the tithi on the Matha Panchanga rather than a plain calendar date copied from another site.
Vardhanti or Jayanti: Why the Name Matters
Here is a subtle point that most guides skip entirely. “Jayanti” is commonly used for a saint’s birthday, yet many Madhva devotees insist the right word is “Vardhanti”. The reasoning is devotional. Devotees believe Rayaru did not die but entered live samadhi, so he remains a living presence guiding his followers even now.
Since a Jayanti usually implies remembering someone who has passed on, calling the day Vardhanti honours the belief that Rayaru is still with us. Both terms point to the same tithi and the same celebration, so you will not go wrong using either. Still, if you want to speak the way close devotees do, “Vardhanti” carries the deeper meaning.
Jayanti Versus Aradhana: Do Not Confuse the Two
This is the single biggest mix-up online, and getting it wrong can wreck your travel plans. Raghavendra Swamy Jayanti is his birthday, whereas the Aradhana is the anniversary of the day he entered Brindavana. They fall in completely different seasons, so a devotee who books for the wrong one can miss the festival by months.
| Aspect | Jayanti / Vardhanti | Aradhana |
|---|---|---|
| What it marks | Birth of Rayaru | Brindavana Pravesha (live samadhi) |
| Tithi | Phalguna Shukla Saptami | Shravana Krishna Dwitiya |
| Usual season | February to March | July to August |
| Recent date | 24 February 2026 | 29 to 31 August 2026 |
| Mood | Joyful birthday | Solemn remembrance |
In plain terms, the birthday comes in the Phalguna month around February, while the Aradhana comes in the Shravana month around August. For a full breakdown of the second festival, see our detailed Raghavendra Swamy Aradhana guide. Keep these two dates separate, and you will plan your yatra with confidence.
The Birth of Venkatanatha
Sri Raghavendra Swamy was born as Venkatanatha in 1595, in the Manmatha Nama Samvatsara, at Bhuvanagiri near Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu. His parents were Thimmanna Bhatta and Gopikamba, a learned and devout couple of the Madhva tradition. The child was named after Lord Venkateswara of Tirupati, because the parents believed he was born through the deity’s grace.
His grandfather, Krishna Bhatta, was a respected veena scholar in the court of Krishnadevaraya, so music and learning ran in the family. Young Venkatanatha mastered the veena and the Vedic texts early, and he later studied Dvaita Vedanta at Kumbakonam under his guru, Sri Sudhindra Tirtha. After taking sanyasa in 1621, he became Sri Raghavendra Tirtha, the name the world now reveres.
One honest note on the sources. Most authoritative accounts place his birth on Phalguna Shukla Saptami, and the Matha observes the Vardhanti on the Saptami. A few older biographies mention Navami instead, so you will find both in print. The Matha’s own observance settles it on the Saptami, which is why the celebration lands where it does.
How Raghavendra Swamy Jayanti Is Observed
On Raghavendra Swamy Jayanti, homes and mutts fill with abhisheka, bhajans, and the steady hum of the Raghavendra Stotra composed by Sri Appannacharya. Families rise early, clean the pooja space, and offer special naivedya to Rayaru. Chanting his mantra through the day is considered especially auspicious.
Service to others sits at the heart of the day, because Rayaru himself championed Annadana. Many devotees offer food to the needy, feed cows and birds, and support the poor. Temples arrange satsangs and discourses on his life and his works, so the community gathers in devotion rather than mere ritual.
Guruvaibhavotsava at Mantralaya
At Mantralaya, the birthday sits inside a week-long festival often called Guruvaibhavotsava or the Raghavendra Saptaha. The celebration runs from Phalguna Shukla Dwitiya to Saptami, so it opens with the Pattabhisheka Dinotsava and culminates on the Vardhanti day. In 2026 this stretch ran roughly from 18 to 24 February.
A beautiful tradition marks the occasion each year. Officials of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) bring Srivari Vastram from Tirumala, which the Matha welcomes and offers to Rayaru. The gesture echoes his very name, since Venkatanatha was born through the grace of Lord Venkateswara. Because the Matha announces exact timings closer to the date, confirm the final programme on the official portal before you travel.
Planning a Mantralaya Visit for Raghavendra Swamy Jayanti
Mantralaya sits on the banks of the Tungabhadra in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh. The nearest railhead is Mantralayam Road station, about 15 km away, while Hyderabad and Bengaluru serve as the closest major airports. Trains are usually the easiest option, so book early when a festival is near.
Darshan of the Moola Brindavana normally runs from 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM. It then reopens from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM. These timings shift during festival days, because the crowds and special sevas rearrange the schedule. A strict traditional dress code applies, so men wear a dhoti or panche and women prefer a saree or salwar with a dupatta.
The Matha runs guesthouses near the temple, and private lodges operate in the town as well. Basic rooms usually start at a few hundred rupees, while an AC suite can cost over a thousand. Confirm the current rates on the official portal, since tariffs change. During festival days rooms fill weeks ahead, so reserve your stay early.
Sevas, Bookings, and a Fraud Warning
All room reservations, seva bookings, and e-hundi offerings run only through the official Sri Raghavendra Swamy Matha website. The official portal is srsmatha.org, and bookings happen at srsmatha.org/srsbook. This independent guide does not take any bookings, so treat any page that asks you to pay us as a red flag.
The Matha has publicly warned that copycat websites impersonate it to collect payments from unsuspecting devotees. Because of this, never share card or UPI details with unofficial numbers or agents who approach you near the temple. When in doubt, close the tab and go straight to the official site. Cross-check the tithi against a trusted panchang such as Drik Panchang so your dates and your payments both stay safe.
A Note on Fasting and Health
Some devotees keep a fast or upavasa on Raghavendra Swamy Jayanti as an act of devotion. If you have diabetes, low blood pressure, or any medical condition, please consult your doctor before fasting. The same caution applies to pregnant or elderly pilgrims facing a long day in the queue. Carry water and any regular medication, since festival crowds and February sun can tire you quickly.
Faith and medicine are not rivals, and Rayaru’s grace is a matter of devotion rather than a substitute for treatment. So keep taking prescribed medicines, pace yourself through the crowds, and let elderly pilgrims rest between darshan and sevas.
What First-Time Devotees Get Wrong
A little planning turns a stressful trip into a peaceful one. These are the mistakes we see most often, along with the simple fixes.
- Booking for the wrong festival: the birthday falls in February or March, while the Aradhana falls in July or August. Check which one you actually want before you pay.
- Trusting a copied calendar date: verify the tithi on the Matha Panchanga, because aggregator dates are often wrong.
- Leaving rooms to the last minute: guesthouses sell out weeks before a festival, so reserve early through the official portal.
- Falling for agents: book only on srsmatha.org, and ignore anyone offering quick darshan for cash.
- Underdressing: the dress code is strict, so pack traditional attire to avoid trouble at the entrance.
Before You Go
Raghavendra Swamy Jayanti is a joyful celebration of Rayaru’s birth. Keep it clear in your mind as the Phalguna Shukla Saptami day, and never confuse it with the August Aradhana. In 2026 it fell on 24 February, and the next Vardhanti arrives in late February 2027. So mark it, and confirm the exact tithi on the Matha Panchanga.
Plan your travel and stay early, route every payment through the official portal, and give the day to prayer, chanting, and Annadana. That way the focus stays where Rayaru would want it, on devotion rather than logistics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Raghavendra Swamy Jayanti?
Raghavendra Swamy Jayanti is the birthday of Sri Raghavendra Tirtha, the revered Madhva saint of Mantralaya known as Rayaru. Devotees observe it on Phalguna Shukla Saptami with abhisheka, mantra chanting, and Annadana. Many prefer to call it Vardhanti, since they believe Rayaru remains a living presence.
When is Raghavendra Swamy Jayanti in 2026 and 2027?
In 2026 the day fell on Tuesday, 24 February. The 2027 Vardhanti comes in late February, though you should confirm the exact date on the Mantralaya Matha Panchanga closer to the time. The tithi is always Phalguna Shukla Saptami.
Is it called Jayanti or Vardhanti?
Both terms are widely used and point to the same day. Many Madhva devotees prefer Vardhanti, because they hold that Rayaru entered live samadhi and did not truly pass away. Jayanti remains common in general usage and in search.
What is the difference between Jayanti and Aradhana?
Jayanti is Rayaru’s birthday, observed on Phalguna Shukla Saptami around February. Aradhana marks the day he entered Brindavana, observed on Shravana Krishna Dwitiya around July or August. They are separate festivals in different seasons, so never plan a trip for one thinking it is the other.
Where was Raghavendra Swamy born?
He was born as Venkatanatha in 1595 at Bhuvanagiri, near Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu. His parents were Thimmanna Bhatta and Gopikamba, and he was named after Lord Venkateswara of Tirupati. He later took sanyasa in 1621 and became Sri Raghavendra Tirtha.
What rituals are performed on the day?
Devotees perform abhisheka, offer special naivedya, and chant the Raghavendra Stotra and his mantra through the day. Annadana, or feeding others, is central, along with feeding cows and birds. Mutts and homes host satsangs and discourses on his life and works.
Is the Jayanti celebrated at Mantralaya?
Yes, Mantralaya celebrates it as part of a week-long Guruvaibhavotsava that ends on the Vardhanti day. TTD officials bring Srivari Vastram from Tirumala to offer to Rayaru. Confirm the exact schedule on the official Matha portal before you travel.
How do I book sevas for the Jayanti at Mantralaya?
Book only through the official website, srsmatha.org, or in person at the Matha counters. This independent guide takes no bookings and handles no payments. Beware of copycat sites and agents, and never share payment details with unofficial numbers.