Bhadragiri is a place located at Dakshina Kannada district in coastal Karnataka. The place attained worldwide fame due to Bhadragiri Keshavadas known for propagating Hindu religion through the musical form of religious discourse called Harikatha. He was the younger brother famous Harikatha exponent Achutha Das.
Keshavadas belonged to the Bhadragiri village in Udupi Taluk of Dakshina Kannada district. Born in the year 1934 to Venkataramana Pai (father) and Rukminibai (Mother) – a humble Goud Saraswat Brahmin couple, as their fourth child.
What set him apart was the fact that he performed Harikatha in English besides Kannada, Tulu, Konkani, Hindi and Marathi. He had a number of foreign disciples especially in United States of America.
He established the Vitthal Temple for popularizing Hinduism and Hari Bhakti in the United States.
He built a similar temple for Panduranga and a temple of Bhagavad Gita at his Vishwa Shanti Ashrama in Bangalore.
He wrote many books on stories and parables, including Liberation from Karma and Lord Panduranga and His Worship.
He composed about a thousand songs and produced six hundred devotional and inspirational speeches and songs.
On December 4, 1997, at the age of 63, Keshavadas passed away while on a lecture circuit.