Shri Lakshminaatha Teertharu

यो बडोदामहाराजं सत्पुत्रमकरोच्छ्रितम् ।

लक्ष्मीनाथगुरुर्मेऽस्तु स मनोभीष्टदः स्तुतः ॥

The 15th Guru of the parampara Shrimad Ramanatha Tirtha, a day before his samadhi, gave sannyasa deeksha to a capable 11-year-old vatu at Venkatapura and ordained him Shri Laksminatha Tirtha. After Guru Svami took samadhi on Adhik Chaitra Shuddha Navami of Shaka 1726, Shri Lakshminatha Tirtha, 16th in succession from the first Svami Shriman Narayana Tirtha, acceded to the Guru Pitha.

Shri Lakshminatha Tirtha was ordained into sannyasa at the tender age of 11, completed his studies over the next 5 to 6 years, and eventually took samadhi before completing 29 years of age. Thus, the period of his pontificate comes out to be just a little under 18 years. During this period, he travelled far & wide, and went on various pilgrimages. One of his most significant accomplishments was the renovation of the matha at Gokarna; which had been previously established by the third Guru Shri Jivottama Tirtha on the land donated by Narsu Keni, and renovated later by the 6th Guru Shri Ramachandra Tirtha. Shri Lakshminatha Tirtha also erected a tower of Hanuman in front of the matha at Gokarna. It appears from available letters that the 13th Guru Shrikantatirtha had the intention to renovate the matha at Gokarna but the plan wasn’t fructified. The old mathas at Bhatkal, Basrur, Ankola and Avarsa were renovated during his reign.

Shri Lakshminatha Tirtha visited Tirupati, Rameshwar and other pilgrimage places in the south; paid a visit to Pandharpur to see Vithoba and journeyed northward. Records mention that he bathed in the river Bhagirathi during this pilgrimage. His visit to Baroda has documented evidence. But first, let us see the account of him blessing the King of Baroda with phalamantrakshata to beget an heir to his throne. The story goes thus: While on tour, Svamiji reached Baroda on Margashirsha Shukla Shashthi of Shaka 1743. At that time, the king of Baroda accompanied by his wife, paid a visit to Guru Svami & did paadyapooja. Having no heir-apparent, they expressed their desire to beget a son. In consideration of their wish, Svamiji enchanted a fruit with his spiritual powers and gave it to the couple with blessings. Later when the queen became with child, the royal couple requested Guru Svami to extend his stay at Baroda, to which request Svamiji agreed. After the birth of a prince, Svamiji became the object of utmost reverence for the Baroda royals.

On the day Svamiji took Vrundavana, i. e., Margashirsha Krushna Navami of Shaka 1744, a man by the name of Ganpat Ramchandra, who was a resident of Baroda in those times, wrote a letter to his relative Anant Bhandari in Mumbai. A copy of this letter is available in the , “Shri Lakshminatha Tirtha Svamiji arrived in Baroda in the evening of Friday, Margashirsha Shukla Shashthi. That day he was ailing with fever and diverse treatments were attempted but none came to effect. He decided to stay at Baroda but had plans for his journey ahead. But later in the early hours of Monday, Margashirsha Vadya Navami, he attained samadhi. Nothing is beyond God’s Will. I will dispatch all his objects of worship and other belongings from here shortly.”

Shri Lakshminatha Tirtha took samadhi at Baroda on Margashirsha Krushna Navami of Shaka 1744 Chitrabhanu Samvatsara.

Source - Math website