The Suladi Dasa

A renown Haridasa, he is called the Suladi Dasa as he used this form of poetry to express his devotion to Hari and propagate the Madhwa way of life.

He stands next only to Purandara Dasa in the number of his compositions. Though he was born more than a hundred years after Purandara Dasa died, he accepted Purandara Dasa as his guru as he came in his dream and took him to Vyasa Kashi.

It was at Vyasa Kashi that Purandara Dasa introduced him to Veda Vyasa who inscribed the Ankita Vittala on his tongue. Since then, he went on to compose 25,000 songs and he came to be better known as Vijaya Dasa (1682-1755).

He has to his credit 525 suladis, 491 padas and 72 ugabhogas. Unfortunately, these are all the compositions of this great Haridasa which are extant today. The rest are presumed missing or lost to posterity.

He used the suladi medium to great effect. He is the author of the Pancharatna Suladi and this is rare gem in Kannada literature. He also made use of suladis to describe Raghavendra Swamy, his avatars and the Brindavana.  

He has written suladis on Purandara Dasa, Vyasa Raja and Sripadaraja also. His suladi on Purandara is called Dasa Purandara. In one of the suladis, he describes the vows a person has to take before he accepts the Haridasa Deekshe.

His suladis are generally characterized by usage of Sanskrit words. Yet, the compositions are simple and easy to recite. 

Some of his famous suladis include Veda Vyasa Suladi, Kapila Suladi, Vayudeva Suladi, Narasimha Suladi, Habba Suladi, Durga Suladi,  Haridasa Lakshana Suladi, Parashurama suladi, Gurubhakuti Suladi, Hayagreeva Suladi, Dhanvantri Suladi, Naivedya Suladi, Stotra Suladi, Mangalacharana Suladi, Mantra

mahatmya Suladi, Apattu parihara Suladi, Tatvabhimani Suladi,

Taratamya Suladi, Srusti Prakarana Suladi, Upasana

Suladi, Atmanivedana Suladi, Vyadhiparahira suladi,  

Apamrutyu parihara suladi and Theerthakshetra suladi.

Incidentally, Vijaya dasa has composed a Suladi on Narasimha as has his shishya or disciple Jagannatha Dasa of Manvi.

The Narasimha suladi of Vijaya Dasa goes like this:

“Lata Lataa Lata Lataa Latakatisi Vanajanda

Kataha Pata Pata Putadutkatadi Bichchutaliralu

Puta Putaa Putanegedu Cheeri Haaruta

Palkata Kata Kataa Kadidu Roshadinda

Bobbiriye Veera Dhwaniyinda Tanagidi

Habbi Munchooni Uri Horageddu Sutte

Ubbasa Ravigaage Abja Nadugutire

Abdhi Saputa Ukki Horachelli Barutire

Abuja Bhavaadigalu Tabbibbugondaru

Abbaravenenuta Nabhada Gooleyu Tagiye

Shabda Tumbitu Avyakruta Aakasha Pariyanta

Nibbaragalu Taru Giri Jharjharisalu

Vabbarigoshavalla Namma VijayaVithala

Ibbageyaagi Kambadinda Poramatta.”

In another suladi, he talks of seeing Raghavendra Swamy with several other Gods. This is what he says:

“Nodidhenu Guru Raghavendrara

Maadidenu Bhakutiyali Vandane

Bedidenu Kondaadi Varagala

Eedu Illade Koduva Gurugala

Nooru Parvata Varusha Bidadale

Chaaru Vrundavanadalli

Vistaara Aradhaneyu Tolagade

Vaara Vaarake Aagutippudu

Saara Kaarunyadali Lakumee

Narayana Taa Chakra Roopadi

Saaridavara Agha Kaledu

Ivarige Keerutiya Tandippdanudina.”

  

Vijaya Dasa lived a long life and he had innumerable disciples (61 disciples) and the most famous among them are Gopala Dasa (Bhaganna Dasa),  Panganamma Timmana Dasa or Venugopala Vittala Dasa, Mohana Dasa, Ramachandrappa (Ramachandra Vittala Dasa), Kondali Madhwacharya (Madhwesha Vittala Dasa), Sheshagiri Dasa (Hayagreeva Vittala Dasa), Modalakallu Sheshagiri Dasa (Guru Vijaya Vittala Dasa) and Kallur

Subbannacharya (Jagannatha Dasa).

Some of his contemporaries are Satyabhinava Theertha, Satyapoorna Theertha and Satyabodha Theertha, all of Uttaradi Matha: Sumateendra Theertha, Upendra Theertha, Vadeendra Theertha and Vasudendra Theertha, all of Mantralaya Matha, Vyasa Tatvagnaru, Dewan Venkannapant or Dewan Venkanna of Adoni, Jagannatha Dasa of Manvi, Prasanna Venkata Dasa, Helavanakatte Giriyamma and others.

A mother's image on a Brindavana

The Brindavana of Raghuttama Theertha, the renowned pontiff of Uttaradhi Matha, is massive. Apart from its size, its importance lies in the fact that Raghuttama Theertha entered Brindavana at the age of 39 years.

The Brindavana, located near Tirucoilur in Tamil Nadu, is uncovered either by a roof or any other material. This is because Raghuttama Theertha belongs to the Surya Vamsha and seers belonging to this lineage want the sun to shine directly on their Brindavana.

There are only a handful of such Brindavanas which do not have a  roof or covering over them. The first such Brindavana belongs to Bramanye Theertha, the seer of Vyasaraja Matha and Guru of Vyasa Raja or Vyasa Theertha.

The Brindavana of  Bramanye Theertha is in Abbur which is near Chennapatna. The Brindavana too is uncovered. Similarly, the Brindavana of Sripadaraja in Mulabagal too is uncovered. He to belonged to the Surya Vamsha.

The Brindavana of Sripadaraja is just off the national highway at Mulabagal and it is called Narasimha Theertha. Sripadaraja and Bramanye Theertha were cousin brothers and their mothers were sisters.

Coming back to the Brindavana of Raghuttama Theertha, this Brindavana is unique in another way. Raghuttama Theertha entered the Brindavana alive. He is one of the four Madhwa seers to have done so the others being Vadiraja, Raghavendra and Satyavrata Theertha.

The Brindavana of Raghuttama Theerts is different from other Brindavanas in that it has the image of his mother Gangubai carved on it. You can see the image on top of the Brindavana.

This shows Raghuttama Theertha’s love and devotion to his mother. There is an interesting story about the mother-son relationship.

Gangubai  was accustomed to watch the pooje of  Moola Rama and other deities by Raghuttama Theerta. These idols were given to the Matha by Madhwacharya several centuries ago.

When Raghuttama Theertha performed the pooje and offered Naivaidya, Gangubai saw to her amazement that the gods themselves would walk up to partake the offerings.

Among the Gods that came down to earth and accepted the offerings by Raghuttama Theertha was Yama. While Gangubai could easily see and admire the other Gods, she grew particularly afraid of Yama, the God of  Death.

The very form of Yama frightened Gangubai and she would become restless and nervous after seeing his form. When Raghuttama Theertha came to know of this, he prayed to Yama to become invisible and accept his offerings. Yama readily agreed to do so and from that day, he remained invisible to all except Raghuttama Theertha.

Gangubai then happily watched all the other Gods “coming alive”  and accepting the offerings with the sole exception of Yama. Years later, when Raghuttama Theerha decided to enter Brindavana alive he had an image of his mother carved on top of the structure.

There is a belief that because of her presence on the Brindavana, childless couples who pray with devotion and sincerity will get children. The seer, Raghuttama Theertha, adds to her blessings and this makes it doubly holy.   

The Brindavana is left open to the skies even today. It is never covered either by flowers or even clothes. Even if flowers are placed on the Brindavana, it is blown away by a strong wind. The branches of the nearby tamarind tree too cannot cast its shadow on the Brindavana. The moment its leaves or branches reach out towards the Brindavana, they get burnt.

It is only during the aradhana of Raghuttama Theertha every January that clothes and flowers are kept on the Brindavana for a short period. Otherwise, the Brindavana is generally shorn of all decorations barring certain times when special pooje is conducted.   

The day Raghuttama Theertha entered Brindavana

He was just 39 year of age when he decided to near Brindavana alive. That would make him the only Madhwa saint to have entered Brindavana at such an early age.

Once he made up his mind to enter Brindavana, no amount of pleadings from either his disciples or others could make him change his mind.

He realised that he had completed the task entrusted to him by his beloved Rama and there was no point in living physically on the Earth anymore.

The Seer had set the Uttaradhi Matha on a firm footing and he had lived his life as per the dictates of his beloved Rama. He had also accomplished the task set out for him by Vedavyasa and Madhwacharya when he visited Badari. Both of them had instructed the seer to write the Bhavabodhas or commentaries on the works of Madhwacharya.

Raghuttama Theertha had already accomplished the task of penning the Bhavabodhas. These commentaries, he knew, had already received the approval of Prana Devaru at Srirangam.

The seer had seen no reason to continue with his physical presence and had chosen to enter Brindavana at the Vamana Kshetra. This seer was none other than Raghuttama Theertha, the pontiff of the Uttaradhi Matha.  
Raghuttama Theertha asked the Zamindar of  Tirucoilur in Tamil Nadu to construct the Brindavana at the place he had chosen. The place was beneath a tamarind tree in Manampoondi near Tirukoilur and adjacent to a Hanuman Temple.

There was also the temple of Trivikrama nearby and the place he chose was on the banks of the Pinakini. Once the preparations for the Brindavana Pravesha were completed by him, he called a meeting of his disciples and Matha officials and told then of his intention.

There was pin drop silence in the meeting. The disciples were stunned that their Guru was entering Brindavana at such short notice. The Matha officials, on their part, did not know how to react. Their only question was when the matha had been so enriched by the efforts of the seer and when he had established himself as the foremost Dwaitha saint of the age, where was the need for entering Brindavana.

Raghuttama Theertha bode no opposition and he told the audience that he would enter Brindavana exactly a month later. He also fixed the day as  Pushya shuddha Ekadashi.

The audience then burst into a spontaneous appeal, urging the seer to take back his words. “Be with us for more time. We need you”, they said. There is some more things that ought to be done, they said.  

The seer replied that none could go against the will of Hari. When Hari calls, can I say nom he asked his distraught disciples. He, however, promised them that he would continue living in the Brindavana for exactly a thousand years.

He then indicated that no roof should be constructed over his Brindvana and that it should also not be covered in any manner. He wanted the rays of the Sun to always fall on the Brindavana as he would be meditating.

He then named his favouite disciple, Vedavyasa Theertha, as his successor and set out to Tirucoilur from Mannur in Gulbarga where he had been camping.   

The seer then appeared in the dream of the Zamindar and informed him of the date of the Brindavan Pravesha.

He reached Tirucoilur and finally the place where he would enter Brindavana. He inspected the structure and expressed satisfaction.

The day of the Brindavana Pravesha dawned and it was January. On this day too, the seer did not forge his regular practice. He got up early in the morning during Brahma Muhuruta and performed his daily ablutions.

He then performed the pooje of Moola Rama  and other deities that had been handed over to the matha by Madhwacharya. He then called his sorrowing disciples and took classes in Shastras and Dwaitha philosophy.

Many of the disciples had tears in their eyes and they could barely hear the commanding voice of their Guru. However, there were others who reverentially listened to the discourse knowing fully well that they would never hear the voice again.

When all the days’ works was over, Raghuttama Theerha bid farewell to his disciples and began walking with then towards the Brindavana. Several people from nearby villages and even Mannur had come to witness the event.    

The Brindavan had been constructed in such a manner that the seer could easily sit in Padmasana. Amid vedic chants, Raghuttama Theertha walked to the Brindavan, got into it and sat down.

Before entering the Brindavana, the seer blessed each person present and gave a small but short speech. He then turned to Veda Vyasa Theertha and asked him to continue with the tradition of the Matha.

He then prayed to Vamana, the Sun and other deities and gave  final instructions to his disciples. He asked them to close the roof of the structure once they saw his Angavastra or upper clothe worn across the stomach fly into the air.

Soon, the saffron clothe flew out of the Brindavana and disappeared into the sky. The devotees and disciples reverentially chanted the name of the seer and closed the Brindavana. Later, they poured 7,000 saligramas which they had obtained from the Gandaki river in Nepal.  

To this day, there is no roof over the Brindavana of  Raghuttama Theertha. There is a tamarind tree nearby and when some of its branches grow and give a shade over the Brindavana, they soon bur and turn to ash.

The Brindavana for most part of the day remains uncovered. Only on the Aradhana of the saint, is it decked with clothes. At other times, the clothes are removed. Even flower are not put on the Brindavana.

Manampoondi is a small village between Tiruvanamalai and Tirukoilur. It  is 36 K.ms away from Tiruvannamalai and just 2 Kms from Tirukoilur.

Tirukoilur is 237 Kms from Bangalore. If you are going by road from Bangalore, continue on the Hosur road and touch Hosur. Then  take a left at Krishnagiri and proceed towards Tiruvannamalai. After Tiruvannamalai take the road to Tirukoilur. Keep left when the road divides and proceed till you come to a board saying the Brindavana of Raghuttama Theertha. Then take the left road at the intersection just before the River Pinakini bridge. The Brindavana is located to the immediate right.

KSRTC and Tamiul Nadu buses also operate  between Bangalore and Tirukoilur.

Whether you can go to Tirukoilur or not remember this sloka.

“Pranamadh Kamadenamcha Bhajadsurataroopamam
Sri Bhavabhoda Krit Paada Chintaamanimupaasmaye”

The sloka will always help you in your hour of need.

The Seer who saw Sripadaraja

It was in the early years of the twentieth century and Medhanidhi Theertha (1908-1926) was heading the Sripadaraja Matha.

The seer had come to Mulabagal where he was performing daily pooje to the Moola Brindavana of  Sripadaraja Theertha (1412-1504) at Narasimha Theerha near Mulabagal in Kolar district.

One day, the seer was slightly discomforted when he was performing the pooje of  Sripadaraja Brindavana. He thought that the steps should be evened out and placed properly so that it would not inconvenience anyone,

Medhanidhi Theertha completed his pooje and before retiring to his quarters, he asked some of his disciples to remove the steps leading to the Brindavana and lay them again properly. He asked them to exercise care and ensure that the Brindavan remained untouched.

The disciples did as they were told. They had already removed some of the stone slabs on the steps when they found a gaping hole. They thought that the hole had resulted in the steps sinking down and making them uneven. They removed more stones when suddenly they saw a binding flash of light.

The disciples ran back to Medhanidhi Theertha scared and anxious about what had happened. The seer rushed back to the Brindavana and peered into the dark hole.

What he saw in the hole astonished him. He saw Sripadaraja  sitting in Padmasana with a lamp burning near him. The Nandadeepa was burning bright and he could clearly make out the luminous feature of Sripadaraja.
The Seer could make out that Sripadaraja was sitting in deep meditation and that the Mudra was clearly visible on the upper part, hands and head of  Sripadaraja. Quickly prostating before the Dhriva avatar, Medhanidhi Theertha decided against going any further with the repairs to the steps.  

He then called his disciples and asked them not to go ahead with any repair of the steps. He direcetd them to carefully close the steps  as they were. Even today, the steps remain as they were during his time.

Several centuries earlier Sripadaraja was teaching Vyasa Theertha at Narasimha Theertha in the Vyasa cave. (The cave exists even today). Sripadaraja went out for same time and when he was about to return, several disciples came running to him. They were out of breath and there was fear on their face. They told Sripadaraja  that a huge snake had coiled itself around Vyasa Theertha who was meditating. They feared the worst, saying that Vyasa Theertha was not moving.

Sripadaraja came back to the spot and found the serpent coiled around Vyasa Theertha. Instead of chasing away the serpent, he began speaking to it.

The disciples and even Vyasa Theertha were later astounded to know that the snake was none other but Padmanabha Theertha, the first disciple of Madhwacharya.

Sripadaraja had immediately recognised Padmanabha Theertha and he had conversed with him. The serpent vanished after talking to Sripadaraja All the while, Vyasa Theertha was so engrossed in meditation, that he had not seen the serpent.

When Sripadaraja was in Srirangam, he had worshipped Ranganatha. He saw that all songs praising Rannganatha were in Tamil and that devotees from Karnataka could not enjoy the songs as they did not understand the language. He then decided to translate “Harisarvothamatatwa”  into Kannada and also write in Kannada so that common people could understand the work. Thus, Sripadaraja became the first Madhwa saint to wrote in Kannada. He then composed several Devara Namas in Kannada.

His inspiring works in Kannada led to the birth and even growth of the Haridasa movement. He is, therefore, called teh Nheeshma Pitama of Haridasa Sahitya. 

Some of his famous Devara Namas are Bushanake Bushana, Baro Manege Govinda, Nee Ittahange iruveno hariye, Kangalidyathako Cauvery rangana nodada, Daya madi salahayya and many others. His ankita nama was Ranga Vittala.

Some of his important compositions are Bhramaragita, Venugita

Gopigita and Madhvanama.

His only work in Sanskrit is Vagvraja. However, he contoiuned writing and even preaching in Kannada but asked his favourite disciple, Vyasa Theertha, to write in Sanskrit.

Vyasa Raja spent years at Mulabagal imbibing everything from Sripadaraja. It was due to his efforts that Vyasa Theertha could become the foremost scholar of the day. No wonder Vyasa Theertha honors his Guru, saying  “Vedashastrapuranadali Adisheshana polva Muni” in one composition and also as “Vadigaja masthakankusha” in another.

Born in Abbur in Channapatna taluk of Ramanagar district, Sripadaraja’s poorvashrama name was Lakshminarayana Muni. His parents were Seshagiri and Giriamma. He was a cousin brother of  Bramanye Theertha of Abbur Kundapur Vyasaraja Matha.

Sripadaraja headed the Mulabagal Matha for several decades before handing over the reigns in 1504 to Hayagreeva Theertha. He entered the Brindavan on Jeshta shudha chaturdashi at  Narasimha Theertha near Mulbagal.

The work from the Brindavana

He is perhaps the only saint in the Madhwa Parampare who composed a work even after he entered Brindavana. The work was dictated by the saint from within the Brindavana to a deaf mute over a period of several years.

When completed it came to be called  Swapna Brindavana Akhyaana. The author-Vadiraja Theertha who had entered Brindavana in 1600, several decades before the book came up.

This is the story of how the book came to be written.

Vadiraja Theertha was succeeded by Vedavedya Theertha. He was followed by Vidyanidhi Theertha and Vedanidhi Theertha.

Some thirty years after Vadiraja Theertha entered Brindavana, the deaf and dumb Brahmin who had served him faithfully started having extraordinary dreams.

Vadiraja Theertha appeared in his dream and recited shlokas that he urged the Brahmin to convey to Vedanidhi Theertha. The Brahmin recollected clearly the shlokas and recited them in front of  Vedanidhi Theertha, who arranged for them to be transcribed into a manuscript.

After reciting the shlokas, the Brahmin would lose his ability to speak and relapse back to his previous deaf mute state. This startling incident went on for 12 years from 1630 to 1642 before the work, called Swapna Brindavana Akhyana, was completed

This lengthy metrical work in characteristically alliterative style of Vadiraja was communicated every day to the deaf mute in two or three verses.

Not many people were able to go through let alone understand the work. The language was highly complex and the contents mystical. It was left to the deaf mute Brahmin to be reborn in 1776 to unravel the mystery of the Swapna Brindavana.

The Brahmin became the seer of the Sode Matha in 1788 called Vishvapriya Theertha (1776-1865). He once went to Sode and performed seva to the brindavana of Vadiraja Theertha for 48 days.

On the last day, when Visvapriya Theertha  prostrated himself before the Brindavana, consecrated rice fell on his head. In a flash he recollected all the details of his previous births and his role in the creation of the Swapna Brindavana Akhyana. He also understood the meaning of the Akhyana.

He called his disciples and taught them the Akhyana. He arranged for notes and commentaries to be written on the Akhyana. His sole aim was to propagate the work and he did it tirelessly. He this came to be known as Vrundavana Acharya. His Brindavana is in Udupi.

Visvapriya Theerha  commissioned one of his disciples Musna Acharya to write a Sanskrit commentary on the Brindavana Akhyana and another disciple, Raghupravira Theertha of the Bhimanakatte Matha, to write the Pramanyabodhini which substantiated the authenticity and validity of the Swapna Brindavana Akhyana. This book was first printed in 1925 from Belgaum.

The theme of the Swapna Brindavana Akhyana is the Mahima of   Vadiraja and his oneness with Latavya, the God. It is here that Vadiraja declares that he is the Ruju Guna and that he will succeed to the post of Mukya Prana in the next Brahmkalpa. He speaks about his holiness as God thus ands says he holds the Ruju Sthana (position)

“Om Am devam Vijanati Rujustham punyakrunnarah

Sayati nilayam punyam yadgatvaa na nivartate”

Vadiraja Theertha asks people not to judge the Swapna Brindavana Akhyana like any other work. He himself says it is a special work and studying this is equivalent to the study of the Purusha Sukta.

There are 22 Adhyayas or chapters in the book and the first four  are called Bhajana parvas. In these chapters, Vadiraja Theertha speaks about the service of  celestial beings to him and to Lord Hayagriva.

The first and fifth chapters and all the chapters from the fifth to eleventh are classified as Vaibhava parvas. All these chapters are on Vadiraja Theertha-his greatness and merit, scholastic ability and holiness.

The chapters from twelfth to twenty-second  are known as Nidarshana parvas and they are nothing but instructions by  Vadirajar Theertha  to devotees.

Another legend about the incident of the writing of the book is that the deaf mute later took birth as Vedanidhi Theertha of Sode Matha and he explained in detail the nuances of the book in his work called “Anu Brindavana Akhyaana”.

The Anu is a beautiful composition extolling the virtues of Vadiraja and his place in the galaxy of saints on earth and the gods above.

The Anu says devotees who consider Vadhiraja as a Riju Deva, and worship him in his Pancha Brindavana at Sode will attain merit. This is so because Vasudeva himself is ever present in the Brindavana in the five forms of  Vasudeva, Narayana, Pradhyumna, Anirudha and Sankarnshna. Besides, Mahavishnu,  Maha Lakshmi, Bramha, Vaayu and Rudra are also present in the Brindavana.

“Hayagrivam chidanamdavigraham sadanugraham
Dashagrivachvhidam shapaanmanigriva vimochanam
Svanamagrahanadeva nirastagraha vigraham
Vrumdavanagatam vamde brahmarudremdra Vamditam.”

The verse translates thus-I worship Hayagriva who has blessed me and he has a body like Rama, Krishna and Veda Vyasa. This is simpler translation. In actuality, the verse calls for a deeper understating of how Rama destroyed Ravana, Krishna helped  Nalakubara and Manigriva get moksha from their curse, Veda Vyasa releases from bondage by the mere utterance of his name,
and how the supreme God has entered into the five brindavans and is worshipped by Brahma, Rudra, Indra and other celestial beings.

Coming back to Visvapriya Theertha, he was an eminent scholar and he lead an austere life. He subsisted only on Laja and flour for several years.

Folklore has it that Bhootaraja, the legendary attendant of Vadiraja Theertha, served Visvapriya Theertha whenever the need arose.

He was instrumental in converting the then ruling family of Cochin to Dwaitha sect.

The last days of Vyasa Theertha

He was one of the greatest Madhwa sages of his times and common men and Emperors alike acknowleged it. He was honored by several Emperors including Krishna Deve Raya, his successor Achurta Deva Raya, the Adil Shahi Emperor who was a biter foe of  the Vijayanagar.

A royal preceptor to six emperors of the Vijayanagar dynasty, Vyasa Raja or Vyasa Theertha had made Hampi or Vijayanagar the home of Madhwa or Dwaitha philosophy. He had, by example,  set the tone for Dasa Sahitya.

Krishna Deve Raya honored Vyasa Raja by performing Ratnaabhisheka and placing the seer on the throne of Vijayanagar for a day. Vyasa’s power and prestige reached a peak during the period of Krishna Deve Raya.

Vijayanagar then had two durbars-the royal one in which Krishna Deve Raya presided and the Dharmic one in which the venerable Vyasa held fort. In this court, even the Emperor was only a mute spectator.

Vyasa’s durbar was attended among others by Vadiraja Theertha, Purandara Dasa, Kanaka Dasa, Belur Vaikunta Dasa (He did not stir out much from Belur and the only time he travelled was when he visited Hampi) and others such as Srinivasa Theertha and Rama Theertha, both followers of Vyasa Raja . Even the Portugese travelers Paes and Nuniz paid respect to Vyasa Raja in his durbar.   

Krishna Deve Raya died in 1529 and he was succeeded by Achuta Deve Raya. Achuta Deve Raya  showered Vyasa Raja with the same affection and respect as Krishna Deve Raya.

However, sometime during 1539, Vyasa Raja felt that his end was near. He recalled the curse of Brahma when he was Shanku Karna, Brahma had cursed him with being born a Brahmin and to live on earth.

Shanku Karna then had been plucking flowers for Brahma and he had stayed back awhile to admire the melody from the Veene of Saraswathi. Brahma had been angered by the delay of Shanku Karna in bringing him flowers for the worship of Narayana. He had then cursed Shanku karna.

Though born as Balmiki Raja, Shanku Karna had not been able to throw away the curse of Brahma. He had died at the hands of Bhima during the Kurukshetra War.

When he was reborn as Vyasa Raja, he realised that he would have to complete the curse of Nrahma. Hence, he had chosen to stay for long time in Hampi, particularly Nava Brindavana, which was the very place from where he had plucked flowers for Brahma.

Vyasa Raja visited Nava Brindavana frequently and paid his respect to Padmanabha Theertha, the first direct disciple of Madhwacharya. Apart from this seer, two others-Vageesha Theertha and Kavindra Theertha-had their brindavana at Nava Brindavana.

All these saints had left a place in the centre of the Nava Brindavana and Vyasa Raja had chosen this spot for his Bindavana Pravesha.

Vyasa Raja had made his intention to enter Brindavana clear to Achuta Deve Raya and his composer Dasa, Purandara. His two Shishyas, Srinivasa Theertha and Rama Theertha, too had been informed.

During the last few days of  his physical presence, the Emperor (Achuta Deve Raya) and the wandering ministrel (Purandara) were constantly on attendance to Vyasa Raja. They tried to fulfill each and every need of Vyasa Raja.

Even in those last few days, Vyasa Raja continued reading texts and teaching his pupils. When his eyelids drooped due to old age, he asked Pyurandara to hold them up so that he could continue reading uninterrupted.

On the day he was to enter Brindavan, the Emperor and Purandara were at his side. Vyasa Raja looked calm and composed though he knew his end was near. He began his pooje and slowly sang his favourite “Krishna Nee Negana Baro,” which he had composed some decades earlier. (This song is wrongly attributed to Purandara. By the way, this was one of Purandara’s all-time favourite and it was always on his lips.) 

Another song he remembered was, “Puttadhante madu srushteesa Sri Krishna Pattabhi Ramane Parama purushotthamane gettiyaagi ninna padhagala nambidhe.” He was continuously chanting the  name of  Krishna. He had worshipped Krishna uninterruptedly for more than eight decades. 

Looking at Vyasa Raja, Purandara  burst extempore into one of his songs. He likening the movement of Vyasa to the Brindavana to the movement of a jewel bedecked chariot. This, Purandara said, was the journey from Satyaloka to Devaloka.

All the while, Vyasa Raja was majestically sitting in Padmasana. He appeared oblivious of everyone near him who were in tears. The man who shed tears most was Puurandara. The Emperor  Achuta Deve Raya too was in tears.

Vyasa Raja was entombed in the Brindavana in the middle of Nava Brindavan. The day was Saturday and the date March 8, 1539. He had been born on April 22, 1447 in Bannur near Mysore and he was 90 years old or a little more at the time of leaving the mortal world.

Even as the large crowd watched, the last stone was placed on the Brindavana and the Emperor and Purandara among others walked back to Vijayanagar. Strangely, the lively city of Vijayanagar seemed to be enveloped in an eerie silence and all forms of gaiety had ceased on that day.

Purandara says he saw Vyasa Raja being taken in a special plane to Vaikunta.

During subsequent days, Achuta Deve Raya personally monitored the completion of the construction of the Brindavana. As far as Purandara was concerned, he seemed to be lost in thought and he began spending more and more time at the Puurandara Mantapa near Nava Brindavana. 

Much of the material for this article is taken from Vyasayogicharita, a wrok by Somanatha, a Smartha poet and contemporary of the seer, the biography of Vyasa Theertha by his immediate successor to the Vyasa Raja Matha, Sreenivasa Theertha and the poems of  Purandara. I have also referred to the chronicles of the foreign travelers who visited Vijayanagar during the time of Krishna Deve Raya and Achuta Deve Raya and also accounts of Vijayanagar Empire by historians of Adil Shahi court.

The Brindavana that yielded clear water

Two weeks from today (December 19), on Margashira Shukla Dashami, is the aradhane of  the saint of the Uttaradhi Matha parampare, Satyanidhi Theertha.

Satyanidhi Theertha was the 19th pontiff of the Uttaradhi Math and he had succeeded Satyavratha Theertha as the mathadhikari. He took Sanyas in 1663.

He is known to have ruled over the Uttaradhi Matha till 1680. He was a contemporary of Raghavendra Swamy of Kumbokanam Matha (The matha headed by Raghavendra Swamy during his lifetime was known as Kumbakonam Matha and it was only after he entered Brindavana it came to be known as Rayaru Matha).

Satyanidhi Theerha met Raghavendra Swamy at Kumbakonam and both maintained a healthy respect towards each other.

The Vijayanager kingdom had been finally extinguished and the Adil Shahis of Bijapur were battling with the Mughals and the Marathas for an upper hand in the Deccan.

Ibrahim Adil Shah, the second, had honored Raghavendra Swamy during his visit to Bijapur with a white umbrella and jewels. In the north, Aurangzeb was trying his best to stamp out Hinduism. The swamijis of all the mathas -Uttaradhi, Kumbakonam, Vyasaraja, Sripadaraja-were trying their level best to revive Hindu religion by their regular sanchara and Theertha yatre.

One such seer was Satyanidhi Theertha. During his poorvashrama, he was known as Kaujalgi Raghupathycharya.

Satyanidhi Theertha undertook an extensive tour of south India and visited almost all the important pilgrim places, spreading the tenets of Madhwacharya.

He then gave Sanyasa to Satyanatha Theertha and Gunanidhi Theerha and left for the holy places on the banks of the Krishna and Tungabhadra where he wrote “Vishnu Sahasranama Vyakhyana”. Unfortunately, the book is not available.  

He entered Brindavana on the tenth day of the bright half of the month of Marga Sheersha near Nivrutti Sangam where  Krishna and Tungabhadra river meet in Kurnool District of Andhra Pradesh.

Three centuries after he entered Brindavana,  the Andhra Pradesh Government took up construction of the massive Srisailam Hydro Electric Power Project.

The backwaters of the project would have submerged the Moola Brindavana of  Satyanidhi Teerthra.  The Uttaradhi Matha deiced to shift the Brindavana to a safer place.

Satyapramoda Theertha (the Guru of the present pontiff, Satyatma Theertha), took up the task of relocating the Brindavana.

Satyapromoda Theertha performed pooje to the Brindavana of Satyanidhi Theertha for almost an hour before preparations for dismantling the Brindavana began.

The disciples were asked to then dismantle the Brindavana. The process of removing the stone slabs began and soon the disciples who were engaged in the task began smelling fragrance.

When the Brindavana was completely dismantled, the devotes found that the perfume was from the pure sandalwood paste (sriganda) which was placed in the Brindavana.

They also found a saligram, Japamala and Counch (Kamandala), which was full of crystal clear water. The water appeared so pure that it looked to have been filled the same day. The water was not dark or full of algae as would happen if it is kept in the open for days.

Satyapramoda Teertha sprinkled the water on himself and his disciples. The Brindavana was later shifted to the premises of the Uttaradhi Matha near Pedda Market in Kurnool which was nearby and rebuilt in the same manner as the original. This incident occurred in 1984 and I have heard it from Satyapramoda Theertha himself and two of my relatives who were present during the incident.

The aradhane of another Uttaradhi Matha seer, Satyanatha Theertha, is on December 20.

His Poorvashrama name was Raghunathacharya. He was called by two other names- Vidyanatha and Ranganatha. He met Lakshminarayana Theertha of Vyasaraja Matha at Tanjore.

He travelled all over north Indian and propogated Vaishnava Siddhanta. He is the author of Abhivana Chandrika, Abhinava Amrita, Abhinava Tandava and Abhinava Gadha. His other works include Nyaya Sudha Tippani, Vijaya Maia, Karma Nirnaya Tippani, Rigbhashya Tippani and  Khandana Thraya Parashu.

He entered Brindavana on Margasheera Shukla Ekadashi at Veeracholapuram in Tamil Nadu. His predecessor was Satyanidhi Theertha.

There is another Satyanidhi Theertha in the Madhwa Parampare. He belongs to the Sripadaraja Matha and he headed that august institution from 1955 to 1980. His Poorvashrama name was Hebbani  Krishna Murthyachar.His Brindavana is in Mulabagal.

This seer was an embodiment of perfect health. Even at the age of one hundred, he sat without any back support.

He performed the Prathistapane of Raghavendra Swamy Brindavana in anumber of places such as Tirumala, Pollachi, Dharmapuri, Bangalore, Mysore and KRS. He always meditated the Hamsa manthra japa.

The speaking Brindavana

It is very well known that Raghavendra Swamy or Rayaru spoke to Sir Thomas Munroe from the Brindavana. This episode is written in the Madras Gazeteer and also in other accounts.

But what is not known is that Rayaru spoke to several other persons, including some of the great Haridasas.

The Haridasa movement had waned after the demise of the Vijayanagar empire in 1565. Purandara Dasa had died an year before, ie 1564 in Hampi. When the Vijayanagar Empire was defeated in the battle of Talikoti, Hampi was completely destroyed and burnt. Almost every person, soldier, poet, nobleman, and even the Haridasas scattered.

Even the sons of Purandara Dasa left Hampi for safer places. This mass desertion was more than justified as the Muslim hordes fell on Hampi with such ferociousness that nothing remained of the once magnificent city.

Decades later, the Haridasa Sahitya once again took a new form and this time it was Mantralaya and surrounding areas that became the centre of Haridasa Sahitya. Our beloved Rayaru had entered brindavana in 1671 and scores of Haridasas sought the blessings of Rayaru.

Many Haridasas composed their works in Mantralaya or sang their compositions before the brindavana of Rayaru.

One of the first Haridasas who was inspired by Rayaru was Vijaya Dasa (1682-1755). Believed to be an incarnation of Purandara Dasa’s son Madhwapathi Dasa, this poet-saint composed 25,000 songs.

Vijaya dasa was a contemporary of Vadeendra Theertha, the great grandson of Rayaru.

Vijaya Dasa visited Mantralaya several times and each time he devoted a Devera nama in Rayaru’s name. So intense was this Haridasa’s devotion, that he personally saw Rayaru sitting in the Brindavana and conversed with him.

He was a contemporary of Sri Vadeendra Teertha and visited Mantralaya several times. He is supposed to have seen and conversed with Rayaru personally several times.

During one of his visits, he burst into the beautiful song, “Nodidhe Guragala Nodidhe, Nodidhe Gurugala Nodidhe, Guru Raghavendrara Madhidheni Bhaktialli Vandane” when he saw Rayaru sitting in Padmasana, in the Brindavana.

This song also ecstatically speaks of  Dasaru seeing Lord Narasimha, Lord Rama, Vedavyasa and Krishna on the four sides of the Brindavana.

The composition further says Dadaru ios nlessed at seeing all the great Acharys from Madhwacharya to Raghavendra Swamy.  He also sees Lord Lakshminarayana in the guise of a discuss (chakra) readily granting the wishes of the devotees.

Another Haridasa who shared a close bond with Rayaru was Gopala Dasa.

Gopala Dasa (1722-1762) was a disciple of Vijaya Dasa. He gifted 40 years of his life to Jagannatha Dasa.

Gopala Dasa also saw Rayaru in the Brindavana and he also spoke to him several times. In many of the songs, Gopala Dasa has thrown light on earlier incarnations of Rayaru. Some of his  compositions on Rayaru are Kotta Bidaradalli Yestu Dina Jeevisalli, Vairagya Marga Kelu, Hyange Maadalavyya Hogutidhe Ayushya, Mooru Namava Darisida.

Jagannatha Dasa the author of Harikathamrutasara, has composed the highest number of songs by Haridasas on Rayaru.

He spoke to Rayaru so frequently and so regularly that other devotees became envious of it.

Rayaru stopped taking to him from the Brindavana. A deeply sorrowful Dasa sang “Yakke  Mukanadheyo Guruve”. That night Raghavendra Swamy came in his dreams and told him that they could continue their conversation uninterrupted in dreams.

When he placed Harikathamrutasara before the Brindavana of  Rayaru, the Mantralaya seer himself walked out of the Brindavana and blessed him. The Dasa immediately went into a trance and sang Yeddu Barutaro Noode.

Rayaru shared a special bond with Jagannatha Dasa. When Rayaryu was Prahalada, Jagannatha Dasa was his brother called Sahalada.        

Prasana Venkata Dasa of Kakhindiki in Bijapur district went to Tirupathi with the Anugraha of Rayaru. He too is believed to have felt and seen Rayaru. He also conversed with Rayaru in his Brindavana and then left for Bagalkot.

When he saw Rayaru in the Brindavana, he could not contain himself and he sang “Yelu Sri Gururaya Bellagaitu.”

Mahipath Dasa (1611-1681) is another dasa who wrote innumerable compositions. His most famous is Kolu Kolanna Kole. He has also seen Rayaru in the Brindavana and composed songs on him.
Rayaru cured Praneesha Dasaru of leukoderma. However, he left a small spot as it is on the body of Pranesha Dasaru. When asked why, Rayaru said Praneesha dasaru was an incarnation of King Pandu. This King had  leukoderma and Rayaru had left the spot as a reminder of  Dasaru's great lineage.  

Apart from these Haridasas, there are others who have either seen or heard Rayaru. Blessed are those who have interacted either in person or in their dreams with Rayaru.  
 

Madhwa seers and their Brindavana

There are 28 Madhwa mathas and all of them trace their origin to Madhwacharya. All the mathas have a common lineage till some seers after which they were divided.

I have tried to compile a list of some of the major mathas and the places where the seers of these mathas entered Brindavana. Let me start with Uttaradhi Matha for the sake of convenience.

The founder of the Madhwa parampare is Madhwacharya. He was born at Pajaka Kshetra near Udupi and he disappeared from view on Magha Shudha Navami while giving a discourse on Upanishads from the Anantheshwara Temple in Udupi.

The Uttaradhi Matha seers who entered Brindavana are as follows. I have classified them as names, day of entering Brindavana and place:

1 Padmanabha Theertha- Nava Brindavana, Hampi - Kartika bahula chaturdashi.

2 Narahari Theertha- Chakratheertha, Hampi- Pushya bahula saptami

3 Madhava Theertha-Mannur, Bhadrapada bahula amavaasya

4 Akshobhya Theertha- Malkhed, Margashira krishna panchami

5 Jaya Theertha -Malkhed -Ashada bahula panchami

6 Vidyadhiraja Theertha -Puri, Orissa-Vaishakha shuda tritiya

7 Kavindra Theertha- Nava Brindavana- Chaitra shudha saptami.

8 Vageesha Theertha- Nava Brindavana -Chaitra bahula tritiya

9 Ramachandra Theertha-Yaragol- Vaishakha shuda shasti

10 Vidyanidhi Theertha- Yaragol- Kartika bahula chaturdashi

11 Raghunatha Theertha-Malkhed -Margashira krishna pratipada

12 Raghuvarya Theertha- Nava Brindavana -Jeshta bahula tritiya

13Raghuttama Theertha- Tirukoilur- Pushya shuda ekadashi

14 Vedavyasa Theertha- Penakonda, Chaitra shuda tritiya

15 Vidyadheesha Theertha-Ekachakranagar -Pushya bahula chaturdashi

16 Vedanidhi Theertha- Panadrapur- Kartika shuda ekadashi

17 Satyavrata Theertha- Sangli- Phalguna shuda shasti

18 Satyanidhi Theertha- Kurnool- Margashira shuda dwadashi

19 Satyanatha Theertha- Veeracholapuram, Margashira shuda ekadashi

20 Satyabhinava Theertha- Nachirkoil, Jeshta shuda chaturdashi

21 Satyapurna Theertha- Kolhapur-Jeshta bahula tritiya

22 Satyavijaya Teertha -Arani- Chaithra bahula ekadashi

23 Satyapriya Theertha- Mana Madurai, Chaitra shuda traiodishi

24 Satyabodha Theertha- Savanur, Phalguna krishna pratipada

25 Satyasandha Teertha- Mahisi Jeshta shuda dwithiya

26 Satyavara Theertha- Santhebidanoor - Shravana shuda saptami

27 Satyadharma Theertha-Holehonnur, Shravana krishna traiodishi

28 Satyasankalpa Theertha-Mysore- Ashada shuda poornima

29 Satyasantushata Theertha- Mysore -Phalguna bahula amavasya

30Satyaparayana Theertha- Santhebidanoor, Karnataka-ashwija shuda saptami

31 Satyakaama Theertha-Athkur, Karnataka- Pushya Bahula Shashti

32 Satyeshata Theertha- Athkur- Bhadrapada Shuda Ekadashi

33 Satyaparakrama Theertha- Chitthapur Ashwija Shuda Ashtami

34 Satyaveera Theertha- Korlahalli - Kartika Shudha Dwadashi

35 Satyadheera Theertha-Athkur -Jeshtha Bahula Navami

36 Satyajnana Theertha- Rajamundry- Magha Shuda Ekadashi

37 Satyadhyana Theertha- Pandrapur- Chaitra shuda ashtami

38 Satyaprajna Theertha- Athkur- Chaithra shuda tritiya

39 Satyabhijna Theertha- Ranebennur, - Pushya bahula ashtami

40 Satyapramoda Theertha- Irukoilur- Kartika shudha tadige

41Satyatma Theertha  is the present pontiff  of the Uttaradhi Matha.

The next Matha and its seers is the Raghavendra Swamy Matha. Even here, the parampare is same till Ramachandra Theertha. He gave deekshe first to Vibhudendra Theertha and then to Vidyanidhi Theertha. This is the second break of the Madhwa Matha.

Vibhudendra Theertha goes on to found the Sri Matha at Kumbokanam which subsequently came to known was Raghavendra or Rayaru Matha.

So let me start with Vibhudendra Theertha.

    

1  Vibhudendra Theertha- Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu- Margha navami

2 Jitamitra Theertha-Jitamitra Gadde, near Raichur-Marghashira amavyasa

3 Raghunanda Theertha- Hampi-Karthika ashtami

4  Surendra Theertha-Madera- Pushya Sudha dwadeshi

5 Vijendra Theertha – Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu- Jesta triodashi

6 Sudheendra Theertha- Nava Brindavana- Phalguna dwithiya

7 Raghavendra Theertha –Mantralaya, Shravana krishna dwithiya

8 Yogendra Theertha-Srirangam, Magha shuda dashami

9 Surendra Theerta-Madurai, Jesta shuda dwithiya

10 Sumateendra Theertha- Srirangam, Ashwini bahula saptami

11 Upendra Theertha- Srirangam- Margha ashtami

12 Vadeendra Theertha-Mantralaya- Jeshta shuda navami

13 Vasudeendra Theertha-Kanchangudu-Ashwini saptami

14 Varadendra Theertha- Pune, Ashada Shuda Shasti

15 Direndra Theertha- Hosarati-Phalguna shuda traiodashi

16 Bhuvendra Theertha-Rajavilli- Vaishaka bahula saptami

17 Shubadendra Theertha -Nanjangud –Chaitra bahula trithiya

18 Sujanendra Theertha-Tiruthani-Karthika aastami

19 Sugjanendra Theertha-Najangud –Shravana chaturthi

20 Sudharmendra Theertha-Mantralaya-pushya panchami

21 Sugunendra Theertha- Chitoor, Margha shuda poornima

22 Supragnandra Theertha-Nanjangud, Margha shasti

23 Sukratheendra Theertha-Nanjangud –Ashwini dashami

24 Susheelendra Theertha- Hosarati-Ashada shuda tritiya

25 Suvratheendra Theertha- Mantralaya-Vaishaka shuda dwadashi

26 Suyamendra Theertha-Mantralaya- Pushya shuda dwithia

27 Sujayeendra Thertha-Mantralaya-Magha chaturthi

28 Sushmeendra Theertha –Mantralaya-

29-Suyatendra Theerta-the present pontiff

The parampara of Sri Vyasaraja matha

Here too the parampare is the same as the Uttaradhi Matha till Vidyadhiraja Theertha. He gives Deekshe to two disciples-Vageehsa Theerta who continues the Uttaradhi Matha tradition and Rajendra Theertha who sets up the Sri Matha at Sosale which later came to be known as Sosale Vyasaraja Matha. This is the first  break in the Madhwa pontificate.

1 Rajendra Theertha-Yaragola- Vaishaka shuda poornima

2 Jayadwaja Theertha-Yaragola- Karthika shuda poornima

3 Purushottama Theertha-disappeared into a cave near Abbur,  Chaitra shuda prathipada

4 Bramanye Theertha- Abbur- Vaishaka bahula dwadashi

5 Vyasa Raja-Nava Brindavana- Phalguna bahula chaturthi

6 Srinivasa Theertha-Nava Brindavana-Vaishaka bahula panchami

7 Rama Theertha - Nava Brindavana –Awijitha shuda chaturdashi

8 Lakshmikanta Theertha-Penukonda, Shravana shuda saptami

9 Sripathi Theertha-Vellore- Ashada shuda dwadeshi

10 Ramachandra Theertha-Vellore- Marghashira shuda trithiya

11 Lakshmivallabha Theertha- Vellore-Pushya shuda panchami

12  Lakshminatha Theertha- Srirangam,  Shravana, shuda dwadashi

13 Lakshmipathi Theertha- Srirangam, Karthika shuda  ekadashi

14 Lakshminarayana Theertha-Badarikshrama, Karthika shuda triyodashi

15 Raghunatha Theetha-Malladalu, Ashada shuda chaturthi

16 Jagannatha Theertha-Kumbakonam,

17 Srinatha Theertha- Pushya shuda chaturthi

18 Vidyanatha Theertha- Kumbakonam,Vaishaka shuda ekadashi

19 Vidyapathi Theertha- Kumbakonam, Vaishaka shuda chaturthi

20 VidyavallabhaTheertha- Mukkudalu, Margashira shuda navami

21 Vidyakantha Theertha- Sosale, Jesta shuda navami

22 Vidyanidhi Teertha- Sosale, Ashada, bahula ekadashi

23 Vidyapoorna Theertha-Sosale, Shravana shuda shasti

24 Vidya  SrisindhuTheertha-Sosale, Ashada shuda aastami

25 Vidya Sreedhara Theertha- Srirangam, Chaitra bahula, chaturdashi

26 Vidya Srinivasa Theertha- Sosale, Vaishaka shuda chaturthi

27 Vidya Samudra Theertha-Sosale, Karthika shuda dwithiya

28 Vidya Ratnakara Theertha-Sosale, Vaishaka bahula navami

29 Vidyavaritha Theertha – Srirangam, Bhadrapada, bahula panchami

30 Vidya Prasanna Theertha-Sosale,  Margashira shuda poornima

31 Vidya Payonidhi Theertha- Mukkadalu

32 Vidya Vachaspathi Theertha-Sosale

33 Vidya Manohara Theertha is the present pontiff

The parampara of Sripadaraja matha

1 Madhwachayra-Udupi, Magha shuda navami

2 Padmanabha Theertha- Nava Brindavana

3 Lakshmidhara Theertha

4 Sankarshana Theertha- Srirangam-

5 Parashurama Theertha-Srirangam-

6 Aadhiraja  Theertha-Srirangam-

7 Satyavrata Theertha-Srirangam-

8 Swarnavarana Theertha-Srirangam-

9 Sripadaraja- Mulabagal, Jeshta shuda chaturdashi

10 Hayagriva Theertha- Mulabagal- Karthika shuda pournima

11Sripathi Theertha- Vaishaka bahula panchami

12Sridhara Theertha-Mulabagal, Ashwayuja shuda chaturdashi

13Gopalaswamy Theertha-Mulabagal, Shravana shuda poornima

14Uddanda Ramachandra Theertha-Penukonda,

15Raghunatha Theertha-Yeragamballi, Ashada Shuda panchami

16Lakshmi Manohara Theertha- Erode, Pushya shuda poornima

17Lakshmipathi Theertha- Ashada shuda dwadashi

18Lakshaminatha Theertha-Abbur, Vaishakha shuda poornima

19Lalshmikantha Theertha-Davangere, Jesta shuda chaturdashi

20Srikantha Theertha- Nangli, Magha bahula amavasya

21Srinidhi Theertha- Erode, Ashwayuja bahula sapthami

22Tejonidhi Theertha-

23Yoganidhi Theertha-

24Vidyanidhi Theertha-Erode, Vaishakha shuda padya

25Gnananidhi Theertha-Srirangapatna,

26Gunanidhi Theertha, Matturpuram, Magha bahula sapthami

27Gunasaranidhi Theertha- Mulabagal, Pushya shuda dashami

28Pragnanidhi Theertha-Mulabagal, Chitra shuda dashami

29Subodhanidhi Theertha- Mulabagal, Ashada bahula chaturadashi

30Vairagyanidhi Theertha- Mulabagal, Ashada shuda saptami

31Sugyananidhi Theertha-Mulabagal, Phaluguna shuda poornima

32Sugunanidhi Theertha-Bhavani,

33Sudhinidhi Theertha-Erode,  phaluguna bahula ashtami

34Medhanidhi Theertha-Erode, karthika amavasya

35Dayanidhi Theertha- Mulabagal, Margashira shuda trayodashi

36Satyanidhi Theertha-Mulabagal, Ashada bahula shashti

37Vijayanidhi Theertha-Mulabagal, Phalguna bahula dwitiya

38Vigyananidhi Theertha is the present pontiff

The parampara of  Palimar matha

1 Hrishikesha Theertha- Kashi, Magha Shuda Saptami

2 Samaatmesha Theertha- Krishnateera, Shravana Shuda Dwithiya

3 Sambhava Theertha- Ayodhya, Vaishakha Shuda Panchami

4 Aparajitha Theertha -Godavari - Magha Shuda Saptami

5Vidyamurthi Theertha –Rameshwaram, Vaishakha krishna astami

6 Srinidhi Theertha -Jagannatha Puri, Ashada shuda shasti

7 Vidaisha Theertha- Godavari, Shravana krishna saptami

8 Vallaba Theertha-Kashi, Pushya shuda pratipadha

9 Jagadbhushana Theertha- Palimaru, Chaitra shuda dwadasi

10 Ramachandra Theertha –Palimar, Kartika krishna chaturdashi.

11 Vidyanidhi Theertha- Palimaru, Vaishakha shuda pournima

12 Suresha Theertha-Palimaru, Jeshta krishna panchami

13 Raghavendra Theertha-Ubaya Magha shuda, ashtami

14 Raghunandana Theertha –Palimaru, Bhadrapada shuda Navami

15 Vidyapati Theertha-Godavari, Vaishakha shuda saptami

16 Raghupati Theertha-Kashi, Jeshta krishna dwitiya

17 Raghunatha Theertha-Ayodhya, Chaitra shuda navami

18 Raghutthama Theertha- Palimaru, Magha shuda panchami

19 Ramabhadra Theertha-Palimaru, Ashwija shuda pournima

20 Raghuvarya Theertha- Palimaru, Magha shuda shashti

21 Raghupungha Theertha-Palimaru, Ashada krishna

22 Raghuvara Theertha- Palimaru, Ashwija shuda saptami

23 Raghupraveera Theertha –Udupi, Shravana krishna dwithiya

24 Raghubhushana Theertha-Udupi, Ashada krishna tritiya

25 Raghuratna Theertha-Kantavara,Vaishakha shuda chaturdashi.

26 Raghupriya Theertha-Palimaru, Chaitra shuda panchami

27 Raghumanya Theertha-Ghatikachala, Margashira shuda pratipada

28 Vidyamanya Theertha-Palimaru, Vaishakha shuda ekadashi

29 Vidyadeesha Theertha is the present pontiff

The parampara of Adamar matha

1 Narashima Theertha-Bhageerathi, Chaitra shuda panchami

2 Kamaleksha Theertha -Bhageerathi, Magha shuda dwadasi

3. Shri Ramachandra Theertha-Ayodhya, Vaishakha shuda pournima

4 Vidydeesha Theertha- Dwaraka, Pushya shuda pournima

5Vishwapati Theertha- Godavari, Jeshta shuda dashami

6 Vishwesha Theertha -Vrindavana,Jeshta shuda tritiya

7Vedanidhi Theertha-Moolakaveri, Jyeshta shuda panchami

8Vedaraja Theertha-Ramasetu. Kartika krishna dwithiya

9Vidyamurthi Theertha- Nammatuvi, Bhadrapada krishna panchami

10 Vaikuntaraja Theertha- Theertharajapura, Bhadrapada krishna panchami

11Vishwaraja Theertha -Talakad matha, Chaitra krishna tritiya

12Vedagharba Theertha -Pajaka, Chaitra shuda dwadasi

13 Hiranyagharbha Theertha- Pajaka, Vaishakha shuda dwadasi

14 Vishwadeesha Teertha-Bhageerathi, Bhadrapada shuda panchami

15Vishwavallaba Theertha-Ramasetu, Pushya Shudha panchami

16Vishwendra Theertha Shurpali Jeshta krishna pratipada

17Vedapati Theertha- Dharmapuri, Vaishakha krishna amavaasya

18Vadeendra Theertha- Pajaka, Magha shudha tritiya

19Vidyapati Theertha-Udupi, Vaishakha shuda panchami

20Vibhudapati Teertha-Adamar, Kartika shuda dwadasi

21Vedavallaba Teertha- Bhageerathi, Margashira krishna tritiya

22Vedavandhya Theertha-Adamar, Phalguna krishna dasami

23Videshya Theertha- Udupi, Bhadrapada krishna dasami

24VibhudaVallabav Theertha- Udupi, Pushya krishna shasti

25 VibhudaVandhya Theertha- Adamar, Margashira krishna tritiya

26VibhudaVarya Theertha -Udupi,

27Vibhudendra Theertha- Udupi,  

28VibhudadiRaja Theertha- Adamar,

29VibhudaPriya Theertha-Ghatikachala,  

30Vibhuamanya Theertha-Adamar,

31Vibhudesha Theertha is the present pontiff

32Vishwapriya Theertha is the junior seer

The parampara of Puttige matha

1UpendraTheertha-Krishna river, Magha Shuda dwadasi

2 Kavindra Thheertha- Bhageerathi, Shravana shuda panchami

3 Hamsendra Theertha- Puttige, Phalguna shuda panchami

4 Yadavendra Theertha- Udupi, Chaitra shuda pratipada

5 Dharanidara Theertha-Kashi. Pushya krishna panchami

6 Damodara Theertha- Kashi,

7 Raghunatha Theertha- Udupi, Chaitra shuda panchami

8 Matsaanka Theertha- Rameshwara, Bhadrapada shuda saptami

9 Gopinatha Theertha -Vrindavana, Shravana krishna panchami

10Ranganatha Theertha- Udupi, Ashwija lrishna amavaasya

11Lokanatha Theertha- Godavari Teera, Ashwija Shudha Panchami

12 Ramanatha Theertha- Puttige, Chaitra krishna panchami

13Vallaba Theertha- Udupi, Vaishakha krishna amavaasya

14 Srinivasa Theertha- Udupi, Jyeshta shuda pratipada

15Shrinidhi Theertha- Udupi, Chaitra shuda panchami

16 Gunanidhi Theertha -

17 Anandanidhi Theertha-Puttige, Magha krishna panchami

18 Taponidhi Theertha-Teerthahalli, Magha krishna amavaasya

19 Yadavendra Theertha- Madallu, Chaitra krishna panchami

20 Kavindra Theertha -Puttige, Vaishakha shuda dasami

21 Raghavendra Theertha- Puttige, Ashada shuda pratipada

22 Vibhudhendra Theertha- Udupi, Jeshta shuda panchami

23Surendra Teertha- Nagapuri, Phalguna shuda dwadasi

24Bhuvanendra Theertha Teerthahalli Kartika shuda tritiya

25Yogendra Theertha- Udupi, Ashada shuda pratipada

26 Sumatindra Theertha Udupi -

27 Upendendra Theertha Udupi -

28 Sugnyanendra Theertha Udupi-

29 Sugunendra Theertha is the present pontiff

The parampara of Shirur matha

1 Vamana Theertha Ganga-Yamuna Sangam,

Vaishakha shuda dasami

2 Vaasudeva Theertha- Dwaraka, Magha shuda dwithiya

3 Punyasholka Theertha-Kumbakonam, Kartika shuda dwithiya

4. Shri Vedagamya Teertha- Tirunalveli, Chaitra shuda panchami

5 Vedavyasa Theertha-Tungabhadra, Pushya krishna panchami

6Vedavaidya Theertha- Gokarna, Phalguna krishna amavaasya

7 Mahesha Theertha-Godavari,Shravana shuda dwithiya

8 Krishna Theertha- Krishna teera, Margashira shuda dasami

9 Raghava Theertha-Netravati teera, Jeshta shudha panchami

10 Suresha Theertha- Bhageerathiteera, Vaishakha shuda Samptami

11Vedabhushana Theertha-Shivapura, Bhadrapada krishna tritiya

12 Srinivasa Theertha –Vekataadri, Ashwija shuda saptami

13 Vedaindhi Theertha- Shivapura, Pushya shuda panchami

14 Sridhara Theertha- Paavajengrama. Phalguna krishna dasami

15 Yadavotthama Theertha- Shivapura, Vaishakha shuda Trayodashi

16 Lakshminarayana Theertha-Kaveriteera, Kartika krishna panchami

17 Vishwabhushana Theertha-Shivapura, Shravana krishna trayodashi

18 Trilokyapavana Theertha- Malarimatta, Ashada krishna panchami

19 Laksmikantha Theertha- Nivrtha Sangama, Vaishakha krishna tritiya

20 Lakshminarayana Theertha- Udupi, Ashada shuda panchami

21Laksmipati Theertha- Udupi, Shravana krishna dasami

22Laksmidharati Theertha- Udupi, chaitra shuda dwithiya

23Laksmiramama Theertha- Udupi, Jeshta krishna panchami

24 Laksmimanohara Theertha Udupi-

25Laksmipriya Theertha- Udupi-

26Laksmivallaba Theertha- Udupi-

27Laksmisamudra Theertha- Udupi-

28Laksmindra Theertha- Udupi-

29 Laksmivara Theertha is the present pontiff

The  parampara of Krishnapur matha

1 Janardhana Theertha- Prayag, Vaishakha shuda dwadasi

2 Shrimathsanka Theertha- Prayag, Kartika krishna panchami

3 Vageesha Theertha- Brahmavara, Margashira shuda navami

4 Lokesha Theertha- Krishnateera, Ashada shuda ashtami

5 Lokanatha Theertha- Haridwara, Margashira krishna shasti

6 Lokapujya Theertha- Rutimatikatti, Ashwija shuda ashtami

7 VidhyadhirajaTheertha-Varahiteera, Kartika shuda ashtami

8 Vishwadhiraja Theertha Jagannatha-

9 Vishwadeesha Theertha Kaveri teera -

10Visheshwa Theertha-Ramasetu, Ashada shudha tritiya

11Vishwavandhya Theertha-Kasi, Shravana shudha shasti

12 Vishwaraja Theertha-Netravati teera, Ashwija krishna amavaasya

13Dharanidhara Theertha-Shukthimathiteera, Vaishakha krishna amavaasya

14 Dharaadhara Theertha-Prabhasa, Vaishakha shudha navami

15 Pragnyanamurthi Theertha-Shukthimathiteera, Magha krishna tritiya

16 Tapomurthi Theertha-Neramballi, Phalguna krishna panchami

17 Sureshwara Theertha-Krishnateera, Chaitra shuda dwithiya

18 Jagannatha Theertha- Prayag,vaishakha shuda samptami

19 Suresha Theertha-Gandaki teera, Ashada shuda tritiya

20 Vishwapunga Theertha-Gandaki teera, Kartika shuda dasami

21Vishwavallaba Theertha- Gandaki teera, Margashira krishna amavaasya

22 Vishwabhushana Theertha -Neramballi, Kartika shuda ashtami

23Yadavendra Theertha-Rameshwara, Phalguna krishna dasami

24 Pragnyanamurthi Theertha -Vishwanatha, Magha krishna navami

25 Vidhyadhiraja Theertha- Godavari teera, Vaishakha krishna panchami

26Vidyamurthi Theertha-Bailu pejawara, Bhadrapada shuda ashtami

27 Vidyavallaba Theertha -Bailu pejawara, Bhadrapada shuda saptami

28 Vidyendra Theertha-Ganga-Yamuna Sangam,

Bhadrapada shuda pratipada

29 Vidyanidhi Theertha -Krishna teera, Bhadrapada shuda navami

30 Vidyasamudra Theertha-Krishna teera, Magha shuda navami

31 Vidyapati Theertha-Udupi, Phalguna krishna chathurthi

32Vidyadeesha Theertha-Bangalore, Jeshta Krishna Ekadashi

33 Vidyapoorna Theertha- Udupi,Phalguna krishna pratipada

34 Vidyaratna Theertha Peramballi-

35 Vidyasagara Theertha is the present pontiff

The parampara of Sri Sode matha

1 Vishnu Theertha-Kumaraparvata,Rohana margashira krishna trayodashi

2 Vedavyasa Theertha- Vaishakha shudha chathurthi

3 Vedhya Theertha

4 Agharba Theertha- Phalguna krishna panchami

5 Varesha Theertha-

6Vamana Theertha - Magha shuda pratipada

7Vasudeva Theertha-Shravana shuda shasti

8Vedavyasa Theertha- Ashwija shuda chathurthi

9Varaha Theertha- Vaishakha shuda chathurthi

10Vedatma Theertha -

11Vishwavandya Theertha - Jeshta Sudha dasami

12Ratnagharba Theertha - Magha Panchami

13Vedanga Theertha- Bilagi, Pushya shuda ashtami

14Vidyapati Teertha - Bhadrapada shuda panchami

15Vishwavandya Theertha- Jeshta krishna amavaasya

16Vishwa Teertha -

17Vittalla Theertha - Ashwija shuda panchami

18 Varadaraja Theertha- Kumbasi, Kartika shuda ashtami

19 Vageesha Theertha-Udupi, Magha shuda dasami

20 Vadiraja Theertha-Sonda, Phalguna krishna tritiya

21 Vedavedya Teertha Sonda Ashwija Shudha Dwithiya

22VidyanidhiTeertha- Kumbasi, Vaishakha Krishna Dasami

23Vedanidhi Teertha -Sonda, Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi.

24Varadaraja Teertha- Teerthahalli, Jyeshta Krishna Chaturdashi.

25Vishwadhirajendra Theertha-Sonda, Phalguna krishna ashtami

26 Vadivandhya Theertha- Sonda, Ashwija Shudha Shashti

27 Vishwavandya Theertha –Udupi, Kartika Krishna Chathurthi

28 Vibhudhavarya Theertha- Udupi, Margashira Shudha Panchami

29 Vishwanidhi Theertha- Undaru, Margashira shuda tritiya

30Vishwadhishwara Theertha-Undaru, Pushya shuda trayodashi

31Vishwesha Theertha-Kenchagaru, Magha krishna trayodashi

32 Vishwapriya Theertha-Udupi, ashada krishna amavaasya

33Vishwadhisha Theertha-Udupi, Ashada krishna amavaasya

34Vishwendra Theertha-Udyavara, Ashwija shudha navami

35 Vishwotthama Theertha

36 Vishwa Vallabha Theertha is the present pontiff

The parampara of  Pejawar matha

1Adhokshaja Theertha-Dhanushkoti, Magha shuda samptami

2 Kamalaksha Theertha-Bhageerathi, Kartika shuda panchami

3Pushkaraksha Theertha - Pushya shuda pratipada

4 Amarendra Theertha-Moolakaveri, Phalguna shuda Navami

5Vijaya Teertha -Vrindavana, Jeshta krishna dasami

6Mahendra Teertha- Godavari

7 Vijayadwaja Theertha-Kanva teertha,Vaishakha shuda dwadasi

8 Uttama Teertha-

9 Chintamani Theertha-Kanva teertha, Jeshta shuda panchami

10 Damodara Theertha -Udupi, Bhadrapada krishna chaturdashi.

11Vasudeva Theertha- Bhageerathi, Kartika shuda pournima

12Vadeendra Theertha- Moolakaveri, Pushya shuda dasami

13Vedagharba Theertha –Vrindavana, Ashwija shuda pournima

14Anupragnya Theertha -Jagannath, Jyeshta krishna panchami

15Vishwapragnya Theertha-Tryambak, Shravana krishna saptami

16 Vishwesha Theertha-Proshti, Jeshta krishna navami

17Vishwabhushana Theertha- Ramanathapura, Kartika krishna panchami

18Vishwavandhya Theertha-Kudli, Magha shuda chaturdashi.

19Vidyaraja Theertha-Srirangam, Phalguna shuda panchami

20Vishwamurthi Theertha -Pejawar, Pushya shudha dwadasi

21 Vishwapati Theertha- Vaishakha shuda dwithiya

22 Vishwanidhi Theertha- Pejawar, Phalguna shuda samptami

23 Vishwadeesha Theertha- Udupi, Kartika shuda dasami

24 VishwaDheeraja Teertha- Udupi, Jyeshta Shudha DWITIYA

25VishwaBhoda Teertha- Pejawar, Ashada Krishna Chathurthi

26 Vishwavallaba Theertha- Mulabagal, Phalguna krishna chaturdashi.

27 Vishwapriya Theertha

28Vishwavarya Theertha-Peranamkila-

29 Vishwaraja Theertha-Peranamkila-

30Vishwamanohara Theertha- Peranamkila-

31Vishwagnya Theertha Udupi-

32 Vishwamanya Theertha-Kanva Teertha-

33VishweshaTheertha is the present pontiff

The parampara of Kaniyoor matha

1 Rama Theertha-Himatkitara, Magha krishna panchami

2 Raghunatha Theertha- Bhagirati, Chaitra Shudha Panchami

3 Raghupati Theertha-Tryambak,Vaishakha krishna yrayodashi

4 Raghunanadana Theertha-Moolakaveri, Magha shuda Tritiya

5 Yadunandana Theertha-Dakshina rameshwara, Phalguna krishna dashami

6 Vishwatma Teertha-

7 Vishwanatha Theertha-Dwaraka, Kartika shuda panchami

8 Vedagharba Theertha-Tungabhadra, Pushya shuda Pournima

9 Vageesha Theertha-Ganga bhagirati, Magha hsuda pratipada

10Varadapati Theertha- Puri, Magha krishna panchami

11Vishwapati Thertha-Kurukshetra, Kartika shuda chaturdashi.

12Vishwamurthi Theertha-Moolakaveri, Kartika shuda ashtami

13Vedapati Theertha-Krishnakshetra, Magha shuda Dwithiya

14 Vedaraja Theertha- Godavari, Shravana krishna navami

15 Vidyadeesha Theertha-Balyamatha, Chaitra shuda panchami

16 Vibhudhesha Theertha- Mannargudi, Magha krishna dashami

17 Varijaksha Theertha- Vaishakha shuda panchami

18 Vishwendra Theertha- Kaniyoor, Magha krishna dasami

19Vibhudhavandya Theertha-Kaniyoor, Magha Shuda pratipada

20Vibhudhadhiraja Teertha-Kanioor, Chaitra krishna panchami

21 Vidyaraja Teertha- Kaniyuru, Margashira krishna shasti

22 Vibhudapriya Teertha- Udupi, Ashada Shudha Dwadasi

23 Vidyasagara Teertha Udupi

24 Vasudeva Teertha Udupi

25 Vidyapati Teertha Udupi

26 Vamana Teertha

27 Vidyanidhi Teertha Udupi

28 Vidyasamudra Teertha Udupi

29 Vidyavarinidhi Teertha Udupi

30 VidyaVallabaTeertha Present pontiff

The parampara of Subrahmanya matha

1 Vishnu Theertha- Kumaraparvata

2 Aniruddha Theertha- Samputa Matha

3 Varaaha Theertha - Samputa Matha

4 Vaageesha Theertha - Samputa Matha

5 Vishwesha Theertha - Samputa Matha

6 Venkatesha Theertha - Samputa Matha

7 Vakyadheesha Theertha- Hampi

8 Vidyaapathi Theertha Janardana

9 Vaasudeva Theertha Kashi

10 Vaamana Theertha Udupi Balaghatta Matha

11 Vedavyaasa Theertha Prayaga

12 Vaikuntavallabha Theertha Puri Jagannatha

13 Vijnaana Theertha Puttur Aladkalu

14 Vimalathma Theertha Balpadagundaje

15 Vibhudhesha Theertha Ramanathapura

16 Vedagarbha Theertha Mannarugudi

17 Vedapoojya Theertha Kaayambadi

18 Vedesha Theertha Rameshwaram

19 Vidyaadhiraaja Theertha Nagara

20 Varadaraaja Theertha -Samputa Matha

21 Varadesha Theertha -Samputa Matha

22 Vidyaanidhi Theertha- Samputa Matha

23 Vedaanthanidhi Theertha -Samputa Matha

24 Vidyaadhipathi Theertha- Samputa Matha

25Vishwapooja Theertha-Udupi

26Vishwavanddya Theertha-Bhandya

27Vishwaadhipathi Theertha -Samputa Matha

28Vishwapathi Theertha Nagar

29Vishwaadheesha Theertha-Samputa Matha

30Vidhyadheesha Theertha Ananthashayana

31Vidhyaavallabha Theertha Pundyooru

32Vedaraaja Theertha - Samputa Matha

33Vidyaaraaja Theertha- Samputa Matha

34 Vidyaapoorna Theertha- Samputa Matha

35 Vyasa Theertha-Padamunnuru

36 Vishwaanja Theertha- Samputa Matha

37 Vidyaasindhu Theertha -Samputa Matha

38Vidhyabhooshana Theertha

39Vidyaaprasanna Theertha is the present pontiff

The parampara of Kudli Matha

The Madhwa line continues till Akshobya Theertha. It is from here that the Matha gets another parampare.

1 Trailokya Bhushana Theertha- Kudli, Chaitra shuda dwadashi

2 Lokavanditha Bhushana Theertha-Kudli, Vaishaka shuda dwadashi

3 Sulubha Theertha-Kudli, Jeshta bahula amavasye

4 Raghupungava Theertha- Harihar, Karnataka- Ashada bahula panchami

5 Ragunatha Theertha- Kudli- Shravana shuda hunime

6 Raguvarya Theertha- Hampi -Ashvija shuda dwadashi

7 Vidyanidhi Theertha- Hampi -Vaishaka shuda dwadashi

8 Raghupathi Theertha- Pushya bahula shasti

9 Narayana Theertha-Mayagundi, Magha shuda Bidige

10Mukunda Theertha, Ashvija shuda saptami

11 Raghupathi Theertha, Margashira shuda dashami

12 Ramachandra Theertha, Chaitra shuda saptami

13 Ragottama Theertha, Shravana bahula ashtami

14 Ragottama Theertha- Kudli -Phalguna shuda hunime

15 Ragupathi Theertha-Kudli- Jeshta shuda dwadashi

16 Ramachandra Theertha- Kudli-Ashada Bahula Tadige

17 Rama Theertha-Navooru, Dakshina Kannada-

Margashira Bahula Tadige

18 Raghuvarya Theertha- Kudli -Margashira Bahula Padya

19 Raghuvallabha Theertha- Kudli- Vaishaka Bahula Tadige

20 Raghupriya Theertha- Kudli- Ashweja Shudha Tadige

21 Raghuvara Theertha- Kudli -Vaishaka bahula Tadige

22 Ragottama Theertha -Kudli- Bhadrapada bahula padya

23 Raghushanta Theertha- Kudli- Pushya bahula chaturdashi

24 Ragukantha Theertha -Malkhed -Jeshta bahula shasti

25 Raghudanta Theertha- Kudli-Badrapada shuda saptami

26 Raghuveera Theertha- Kudli- Margashira shuda tadige

27 Ramadhyana Theertha- Kudli- Badrapada bahula

ekadashi

28 Raghupramathi Theertha-Kudli -Pushya bahula shasti

29 Raghupriya Theertha is the present pontiff

30 Raghuvijaya Theertha is the junior pontiff