- Author : Vidwan Bommarabettu Shrinivasa Bhat
- Translation: Varun K V
The episode of discourses on Bhagavata by Acharya Madhwa at the famed Vishnu temple at Vishnumangala had been discussed in the previous issue. Not far from there was a house that belonged to the Likucha (Pejattaaya) family. It was the residence of the scholar Shree Subrahmanya Pandita. He had a son named Trivikrama Pandita, whose intellect and prowess was unprecedented right from childhood. Trivikrama Pandita was victorious in every debate that he had participated in so far.
Acharya Madhwa participated in debates for a few days at his place and emerged victorious. Wowed by Acharya’s brilliance, Trivikrama Pandita expressed interest to become Acharya’s disciple. He prostrated in complete surrender before Acharya. Shree Madhwa, in his complete magnanimity, pardoned him and accepted him as his disciple, facilitating the transfer of knowledge between them. This Trivikrama Pandita itself went on to write the famed “Tattwa Pradeepa” which was a treatise on Acharya’s Brahma Sutra Bhaashya. He also composed the brilliant “Vayustuti” which details the three incarnations of Lord Vaayu in all his pristine glory. The son of this Trivikrama Panditha was none other than Narayana Panditha, author of the epic, Shri Madhwa Vijaya. Whatever knowledge is currently available on Acharya Madhwa’s life and history is solely due to this work.
Later Acharya Madhwa anointed 8 saints as his disciples and handed over the responsibilities of performing daily rituals to Lord Krishna and the propagation of Madhwa philosophy. He also appointed Shri Padmanabha Teertha for the propagation of Madhwa philosophy in the deccan region. Acharya authored many works for the promulgating the superiority of Lord Hari. He wrote treatises on Vedas, Upanishads, Brahma Sutras, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. He taught the same to his students as well.
Once, while Acharya was staying on the banks of river Gomti, a foul-mouthed, Veda-hating king came for a visit. The king claimed that since recitation of Vedic hymns did not provide the intended benefits, Vedas in themselves are false and had no standing. Acharya refuted by asserting that they would provide the intended results only when a befitting person, having the proper command and authority over the hymns recited them. The king rebutted this by questioning Acharya whether during that period there was no one person having either that command or authority, as the results were not to be found anywhere. Acharya Madhwa did not like the insults hurled at the Vedas by the king even a single bit. He immediately held a few seeds of grains in his palm and recited the Aushadhi Sukta. As soon as this was done, those seeds germinated, grew and bore ripe produce as well, all within an instant. Through this Acharya exhibited the prowess of Vedic hymns, which silenced the king for good. This divine incident of Acharya Madhwa transforming seeds to fully grown, produce-bearing plants adorns the cover page of the current edition.
Great
Thank you 🙏🙏🙏
Informative..
Thank you