It was circa July 1997 that I undertook my maiden trip to the holy Udupi Kshetra. God’s own land, as Parashurama Kshetra is aptly called in English, was truly a magnificent sight to behold. The monsoons had set in and a steady drizzle was our constant companion during the entire sojourn of Dakshina Kannada – from Kukke Subramanya and Dharmasthala up until Kollur and beyond. The lush greenery, the rich foliage and the gushing waters of the myriad streams constantly made my heart and mind ruminate on the words of Acharya Madhwa, Bahu Chitra Jagat!!
After having the first ever darshana of Madhwa Vallabha Krishna in Udupi, we travelled to Pajaka Kshetra, the revered birth place of Acharya Madhwa and, thence to Palimaru kshetra. It was the grace of Hari Vayu Gurugalu that we were blessed to have an audience with Sri Vidyamanyateertharu. He was ailing then and yet, he was the perfect picture of piety, divinity and radiance. The events that unfolded then were to become moments of epiphany for me; a memory that I will treasure for all my life.
I was a lad just out of my teens; bewildered beyond words and expressions to be in the presence of so benign and great a sage as Sri Vidyamanyaru. He queried with all benevolence about me, my family and my roots. With a genuine interest he asked me for my Guru Matha; when I replied it was ‘Uttaradi Matha’ he immediately recalled and uttered the name of Sri Satyadhyana Teertharu, the revered pontiff of the Uttaradi Matha who was once the Vidya Gurugalu of Sri Vidyamanyaru. The gratitude and regard could be seen in the Pontiff’s eyes…it was a sight to behold.
As the conversation progressed and a couple of hours passed by, it was time for Teertha Prasada. Poojya Sri Vidyamanyaru instructed that we part take of food at Palimaru Kshetra itself. The schedule for the day did not provide us the leeway for stopping at Palimaru Ksehtra for food. With folded hands we regretted and sought permission from him to return. We explained to him that we needed to return to Udupi at the earliest to undertake our further travels. The pontiff was visibly dejected and repeatedly implored us to stay back. Once he understood that we would not be able to budge, he enquired how were travelling. We had retained a taxi to ferry us back and forth through the trip and the same was conveyed to Sri Vidyamanyaru. He smiled and sent for the taxi driver immediately. Motherly love, care and concern personified that he was, Sri Vidyamanyaru instructed the driver to take us directly to Krishna Matha in Udupi and not stop elsewhere for food!! Poojya Sri ensured that if we did not part take of food in Palimaru Kshetra then it had to be at Krishna Matha and nowhere else!! Needless to say, as ordained, we visitied Krishna Matha and had our bhojana.
In just a couple of hours, we were witness to and the recipient of Sri Vidyamanyaru’s benign grace, benevolence and care. We witnessed his Guru Bhakti and Vaatsalya in turns and returned blessed by Hari Vayu Gurugala Anugraha.
Ever engaged in the sadhana of Srimadvaishnava Siddhanta of our Guru, Acharya Madhwa and all the Yatis and Dasas who have blazed this noble path. May HVG bless us all