Shri Puttige mutt is one among the ashta mutts, it derives its name from the place where its main branch is located in a village called Puttige, Hiriyadka taluk,Udupi, Karnataka. The Swarna river flows very close to the mutt, it is surrounded by lush green paddy fields and forest, making it serene picturesque, a visual treat for the eyes and tranquillity for the mind. Shri Madhwacharya anointed Sri Upendra tirtha as the first pontiff of this mutt.
Upendra Tirtha-Sri Madhwavijaya mentions a story of Sri Upendra teeertha. Sri Madhva undertook a second trip to Badari. On the way, many interesting incidents took place. Once, after Sri Madhva and his followers crossed the Ganga river, the troops of a Muslim ruler arrested all of them. Sri Madhva explained to the King that it was the same Supreme Being that all people on earth worshipped and therefore he feared none. Looking at the fearless saint and impressed by his words, the King offered many gifts to Sri Madhva (all of which were politely refused) and permitted them to leave. On another occasion, a band of dacoits attacked the party. Sri Madhva asked Upendra Tirtha, his disciple, to confront them. Sri Upendra Tirtha, who went on to become one of the eight disciples who got the opportunity of worshipping Sri Krishna at Udupi, and who is the founder of the Puttige Matha, fought like a man possessed and drove away the bandits. Shri Madhvacharya blessed him by gifting main deities Sri Vitthala with Rukmini and Satyabhama.
He laid the steps to present madhva teerta sarovara Udupi Krishna mutt.
His brindavana is located at Teerthahalli, Shivamogga district, Karnataka. He had done Sudha mangala twelve times during those times to several scores of students. He was the vidyaguru of several yatis like Vidhyadheesa tirtharu of Krishnapura mutt, Yogindra tirtha of Puttige mutt, Rajendra tirtha. His scholarly knowledge had got Puttige mutt jahageer at Teerthahalli. His disciple Rajendra tirtha left the abode before him so he anointed Yogindra tirtha as the successor to the peeta.
Shri Sudhindra tirtha was the 27th pontiff in the lineage of Shri Puttige mutt, he was born in 1856 (Nala nama samvatsara, Phalguna Shukla Ekadashi, Makha nakshatra) near to the riverbank of Shambhavi, Hejamadi village, he was the 8th child of the couple Ranganatha Bhattaru and Mahalkashmi, his father was a priest(archaka) in the Mahalingeshwara temple of the village, hailing from Bharadwaja gotra , Yaju shaka. His poorvashranama name was GopalaKrishna. As per the tradition after upanayana (sacred thread ceremony) Gopalakrishna was sent to Vidyadheesha tirtha of Krishnapur mutt for education, who trained him and eventually was anointed as pontiff of Puttige mutt, he went onto reign the Vedanta throne for almost eight decades and had completed four paryayas, so the ashta mutt yatis conferred him a title as ‘’Yatikula chakravarthi”. He had renovated the Anateshwara temple and Krishna mutt during his time. It is believed that he has chanted shatkoti(6 crore) times Shri Krishna nama japa. Once HH ShriVidyamanya tirtha said it was due to Shri Sudhindra tirtha ShriKrishna nama initiation done during his poorvasharama fetched him an opportunity to touch and worship Lord Udupi Shri Krishna. HH Vishwesha tirtha of Pejawara mutt after completing whilst being trained under Shri Vidyamanya tirtha he used to offer all the learning of Sudha pata and samarpana to Sudhindra tirtha. HH Sudhindra tirtha lived a long life of 101 years, even during his ripe age and his last day of his presence on this mortal planet, he never lacked zeal in performing daily rituals (nitya anushtana), Shri Krishna nama japa and the services of the Lord Udupi Krishna, left his mortal body on fullmoon day of Phalguna masa 1957 (Durmukhi nama samvatsara, Phalguna Pournami). His brindavana is in Udupi Krishna mutt (near to the ashwata katte) first row, second brindavana.
The main branch of this Matha is in the village by name Puthige. The idol of Vithal with Rukmini and Satyabhama gifted to the first pontiff Shri Upendra Tirtha by the Acharya Madhva is worshipped here.
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