The Trikaala jnaana of Shri Madhwacharya

  • Author : Vidwan Sri Bommarabettu Shrinivasa Bhatta
  • Translator : Varun Krishnam Vijaya

‘Trikaala Gnaana’ is defined as the awareness of the three periods of time – the past, the present and the future, which is usually a state of supreme enlightenment. Shri Madhwacharya, the higher of all the ‘Jeeva’s (Jeevottama), naturally has this special awareness. Most of us are aware of the miracles of Vishwaguru Madhwacharya during his travels to Badarikashrama. Upon reaching Badari and meeting Lord Vedavyasa, Shri Madhwacharya was bestowed with special Vyasamushti’s containing the exalted presence of the supreme Lord Narayana and his consort Lakshmidevi. He was also instructed by Lord Vedavyasa to author the famed ‘Mahābhārata tātparya nirṇaya’ during the same visit.

Post the Badari visit, Shri Madhwacharya traveled towards the south. En route, he visited the holy Ganga. The Ganga had to be crossed but there were no boats available. With the sun setting and darkness engulfing, the disciples got anxious. Their faces waned. However, Shri Madhwacharya remained composed and wore a smile. He crossed the river on foot. None of his clothes were wet even after walking over the mighty river. He crossed the river effortlessly. After all, wasn’t he the same Lord Hanumanta who had traversed the mighty sea spanning 100 yojanas itself? Wasn’t he the same Bheemasena who had performed great miracles as a child in the Ganga? Hence, it comes as no surprise that Shri Madhwacharya was able to traverse the Ganga by bare foot.

After crossing the river, Shri Madhwacharya met the king present at the river bank. He instructed him and arranged for boats thus enabling his disciples to cross the river. The disciples were in awe of the prowess of their teacher. Thereafter, Shri Madhwacharya and his congregation traveled to Hastinapura, where they undertook the Chaaturmaasya penance for that year. Post the completion of the penance, they traveled to Kashi. At Kashi, Shri Madhwacharya engaged in a duel with his disciples. He defeated all of his young disciples single-handedly even though they numbered more than 15 altogether.

At Kashi, he defeated the renowned scholar Indrapuri, in a debate. In all his debates, Shri Madhwacharya upheld the qualities of Lord Vishnu such as His absolute supremacy, completeness in all auspicious qualities and being devoid of any defects. He spread the message that all the Veda’s represented Lord Hari. Through these points of discussion, Shri Madhwacharya emerged victorious in every debate that he was ever part of.

Later, Shri Madhwacharya traveled on foot to Kurukshetra. At a specific location there, he instructed his disciples to excavate. The gigantic mace (Gadha) that Shri Madhwacharya had used in his incarnation as Bheema was found. Shri Madhwacharya lifted the mace with utter ease leaving his able disciples such as Sathya Teertha and others astonished. Through this incident, it became evident that Shri Madhwacharya was none other than the incarnation of Lord Vayu himself. This feat of Shri Madhwacharya lifting his ‘Bhima-Gadha’ and showing it to his disciples adorns the cover page of this edition.

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