Sri Vijayîndra Thîrtha was a great Madhva saint who belonged to the Vyãsarãya parampara. He lived in Kumbakonam and was widely known for his mastery over the 64 arts. He performed innumerable miracles during his lifetime. The Guru of Sri Raghavendra he was also the contemporary of Sri Ramachandra Thîrtha and Sri Appaya Dikhshithar. Even today his Adhishtãnam (place of final samadhi) stands in Kumbakonam.

Ramachandra Thîrtha was a great Madhva sanyasi who hailed from North India. Once, when in deep meditation, he foresaw that he would leave his body in the Dakhshinãyana kãlam - period of 6 months from Ãdi (mid-July)to Mãrgazhi (mid-January) based on the relative position of the Sun. Our shastras say that it is very auspicious to leave one's body in the Uttarãyana Kãlam - period of 6 months from Thai(mid-January) to Ãni (mid-July). So, Ramachandra Thîrtha came to Kumbakonam which is considered as the Bhaskara (Sun God) Kshetra because the Dakshinayana - Uttarayana Kãlas are not applicable to this kshetra (as the Sun resides here).

Sri Ramachandra Thîrtha and Sri Vijayîndra Thîrtha spent a lot of time together. Every morning Sri Ramachandra Thîrtha took a holy dip in the Cauvery and then facing eastward chanted the Upanishads and the Dasãvatara Stuti. Sri Ramachandra Thîrtha held the Dasãvatara Stuti very close to his heart. He then accompanied Sri Vijayîndra Thîrtha to the temples. Sri Vijayîndra visited the Mangalãmbika temple while Sri Ramachandra Thîrtha went to have darshan of Varãha Swami.

Sri Ramachandra Thîrtha was a Narasimha upãsaka and possessed numerous siddhis. King Amarendra was then the ruler of Tanjore. He heard about Sri Ramachandra Thîrtha's siddhis and wished to test him. Accepting the invitation of the king, the saint went to his palace. The king requested Sri Ramachandra Thîrtha to roar like a lion. Sri Ramachandra Thîrtha asked the king to send all pregnant women and elephants to a safe place beyond Chidambaram and the king carried out this request. But he decided to hold back a newborn elephant. Sri Ramachandra Thîrtha then roared like a lion and the new born elephant fled in fear destroying the walls of the fort. The king then offered 'Pãnakam'(water sweetened with jaggery, a favourite of Lord Narasimha) and performed ãrathi to Sri Ramachandra Thîrtha. He apologized profusely to the saint for having tested Him and offered 'sanmãnam' (gift). The saint refused to accept anything but a 'Dharbãsanam' (mat made of 'kusa' grass) from the king.

The king established an 'agrahãram' (a street housing Brahmin families with a Vishnu temple at one end and a Siva temple at the other) near Sri Ramachandra Thîrtha's residence in Kumbakonam. This agrahãram was named after the king as 'Amarendrapuram agrahãram'. The king appointed two sevaks to fan the saint. He visited Sri Ramachandra Thîrtha every Thursday and offered a crown made of flowers.

Sri Ramachandra Thîrtha's disciples placed it on their Guru's head. Sri Ramachandra Thîrtha observed a strict fast on all days except Dasami and Dwãdasi. On those two days he had milk and bananas. Crowds thronged to have his darshan on those two days. He spoke about the greatness of the Lord to all those gathered there. He always asked pregnant women to sit in front while he spoke as felt that listening to the greatness of the Lord would do a world of good to the child in the womb.

Sri Ramachandra Thîrtha is believed to be the incarnation of Sri Sanaka (one of the four elderly disciples of the youthful Lord Dakshinamurthy, the 'Ãdi Guru'). Even today His adhishtãnam stands on the banks of Cauvery in the Amarendrapuram agrahãram and vibrates with His presence.

Sri Swamigal recently visited this adhishtãnam. A Siva temple, Varadaraja Perumal temple and Ganapathy temple are located adjacent to it. Sri Ramachandra Thîrtha is present in this adhishtãnam even today and celebrates a 10-day long Narasimha Jayanthi utsavam along with the Devas. Lord Brahma performed puja to Lord Ganapathy here offering a bag full of gooseberries in order to safeguard the South Indian temples during the Muslim invasion.