Thursday, December 31, 2009

Sumadhva Vijaya

Jai Bedi Anjaneya
Jai Yoga Narasimha
Jai Vyasaraja
Jai Vijayaraya

SumadhvaVijaya
Composer    Narayana Panditacharya
Sarga 1
Shlokas 55
Brief
i)Pranams to Sri Hari
ii) Description of Hanuman and Bheema Avataars and
iii)Situation of the vedic kingdom at the time of advent of Srimadacharya"
Sarga 2
Shlokas 54
Brief
i) Gods Pray to Mukunda to save good Souls
ii) Mukunda orders Mukya Prana to incarnate
iii) Description of Madhvacharya's parents and their 12 year tapas to beget children
iv) Vayu incarnates as Srimadacharya
v) Miracles performed by Infant Vasudeva
Sarga 3
Shlokas 56
Brief
i) Child Vasudeva visits Ananteshwara Temple
ii) Miracle of Child Vasudeva
iii) Vasudevas schooling and extra ordinary in sports
iv) Vasudevas GuruDakshina ""True Meaning of Aitreya Upanishad"""
Sarga 4
Shlokas 54
Brief
i) Vasudeva decides to become an asetic
ii) Achyuta Prajna was previously a brahmin staying with the Pandavas
iii) Vasudeva satisfies his parents conditions; taking sanyasa after his brother is born
iv) PoornaPrajna defeats scholars 40 days after taking Sanyasa
v) PoornaPrajna points out 32 mistakes in the first stanza of the advaitic text Ishta Siddhi
vi) PoornaPajna recites the correct version of the Bhagvata Panchama Skanda prose portion showing PERFECTION and Poorva Janma Gyana"
Sarga 5
Shlokas 52
Brief
i) PoornaPrajna is handed over the reins of Peeta
ii) PoornaPrajna conquers tarka logic scholars, to become famous as Anumana Tirtha
iii) PoornaPrajna defeats buddists buddisagara and vadisimha
iv) PoornaPrajna critizes shankara bashya and writes BrahmaSutra Bashya
v) South India tour to Thiruvananthapur, Kanyakumari, Rameshwaram (chaturmasya), Sri Ranga, Adoor and back to Udupi."
Sarga 6
Shlokas 57
Brief
i) Meeting of scholars at Adoor, showing meaning of VishnuSahasranama; winning debate; providing correct interpretation and predicting the future.
ii) Shastras compared to Draupadi
iii) Badari Trip
iv) Offering to Gita Bashya to Badari Narayana
v) Bathing in the cold Alaknanda river at Badri
vi) Mauna Vrata for 48 days and invitation from Veda Vyasa.
vii) Madhva's trip to Veda Vyasa ashrama; Satya Tirtha's attempt to follow."
Sarga 7
Shlokas 59
Brief
i) Description of Sri Veda Vyasa's Ashrama
ii) Description of Entry of SriMadAcharya in Sri Veda Vyasa's ashrama
iii) Different comparisions of the tree under which Sri Veda Vyasa is sitting
iv) Sri Veda Vyasa's roopa description
v) Sri Veda Vyasa welcomes SriMadAcharya to his ashrama with open arms."
Sarga 8
Shlokas 54
Brief
i) Sri Veda Vyasa teaches SriMadAcharya all the shastras; they go to Narayana Ashrama
ii) Madhva describes Narayana
iii) Different avataaras of Sri Hari are praised
iv) Narayana orders SriMadAcharya to compose BrahmaSutra Bashya"
Sarga 9
Shlokas 55
Brief
i) Madhva returns to Badari; composes BrahmaSutra Bashya
ii) Madhva reaches Godavari, defeats Shobana Bhatt who converts to Padmanabha Tirtha
iii) Madhva converts Achyuta Preksha and senior ascetic and they preach Madhva Shastra
iv) Madhva does chakrankana to his disciples
v) Madhva installs Sri Krishna idol at Udupi
vi) Madhva supports a pishta bali sacrifice by his teacher's son Vasudeva
vii) Madhva goes to Badri Kshetra and returns to Udupi"
Sarga 10
Shlokas 56
Brief
i) Ishwara Deva shows that Madhva is his Guru.
Ii) Madhva meets with Muslim King, visits Varanasi, cures his disciples arrogance
iii) Chatur masa at Hastinpur, defeat of Amarendra Puri
iv) Visit to Kurukshetra, Hrishikesha, Ishupatha Kshetra, Goa, Pashupe"
Sarga 11
Shlokas 79
Brief
i) Sesha Devaru listens to Madhva's discourses
ii) Sesha Devaru describes the benefits of SriMadAcharya's discourses
iii) Sesha Devaru gives detailed description of Vaikunta"
Sarga 12
Shlokas 54
Brief
i) advaita scholars list their helplessness and their repeated defeats at the hands of SriMadAcharya
ii) pundarikapuri challenges SriMadAcharya and loses badly.
iii) SriMadAcharya's works are stolen
iv) SriMadAcharya's veda recital is compared to Draupadi
v) SriMadAcharya is compared to the rising sun, Lord Narasimha, Garuda and Narayana"
Sarga 13
Shlokas 69
Brief
i) SriMadAcharya's works are retrieved and King Jayasimha invites SriMadAcharya to VishnuMangala
ii) Detailed description of SriMadAcharya and his grand welcome.
Iii) Trivikrama Panditacharya's background
iv) Prelude to the debate between Sri Trivikrama PanditAcharya and SriMadAcharya"
Sarga 14
Shlokas 55
Brief
i) SriMadAcharya's works are returned in the royal court
ii) Detailed description of the activites of SriMadAcharya from Morning to Night
iii) Description of the form of Sri Krishna"
Sarga 15
Shlokas 141
Brief
i) SriMadAcharya expounds the BrahmaSutraBashya.
Ii) SriMadAcharya's words are compared to Ganga.
Iii) Refutation of Nireeshwara samkhyas, Bhaskara, Pashupata, Vaisheshika, Bauddha, Madhyamika, Advaita and Charvaka
iv) SriMadAcharya defines Mukti
v) Trivikrama Panditacharya debates with SriMadAcharya and surrenders to him
vi) SriMadAcharaya composes Anuvyakhana and Nyayavivarana
viii) Sri Vishnu Tirtharu and other disciples"
Sarga 16
Shlokas 58
Brief
i) Miracles performed by SriMadAcharya
ii) Hatred towards Madhva is natural for evil persons
iii) SriMadAcharya disappears to Uttara Badri"
Shlokas Total    1008

Other forms for simpler Parayanas
AnuMadhva Vijaya    33 shlokas   Composer    Narayana Panditacharya
SuMadhvaVijaya Prameya Phala Malika    22 shlokas Composer    Sri Vishnu Tirtharu 
MadhvaNama 32 shlokas Composer SriPadarajaru (Can be sung by ladies)


Sumadhva Vijaya Gist
Sumadhva Vijaya is the biography of Srimad Ananda Tirtha by Sriman Narayana Panditacharaya. It is an very high calibre poetic work. It is also shastra, this is synergy between shastra and kavya is very rare. Generally kavyas are never shastras because of exaggeration and shastras are dry . This symbiosis is the first unique point of Sumadhva Vijaya. It is exteremly sacred to the madhva's, there are people who even to this day will not eat anything in the morning unless they read the 1008 shlokas of Sumadhva Vijaya after their pooja.

Sumadhava Vijaya is the first work of it's kind in South India i.e. biography of Guru. This trend setting work, triggered other streams of philosophy to write about their gurus. But being off by a few centuries none maintained the accuracy of Sumadhva Vijaya.

Sumadhva Vijaya was written when Srimad Acharya was visible in his human form, thereby making it a contemprory work and thereby maintaining the accuracy of it's writings. The epilogue of this work is very interesting, where Sriman Narayana Panditacharya mentions that all the events recorded in the work are events that he has witnessed personally or by others known to him. If an event was narrated to him, he had it verified by other people who witnessed it first hand and included it after verification. This adherence to the truth and dedication to maintaining an "as is" record is very rare and almost absent in poets and especially in recording the greatness of their Guru. He is also very humble in admitting that he can only justice to the best of his capacity and the readers should any treat any mistakes as his alone.

Introductory part of Sumadhva Vijaya
Sumadhva Vijaya starts with description and Hanuman and Bheema avataars of Srimadhacharya. The reason for this, is simple. When applying for a job, everybody asks what experience you have. Srimand Narayana Panditacharya quotes not just this birth's experience but across janma's and yugas. Srimadacharya is always adhering to dharma when he incarnated as Hanuman and served Sri Rama. As Bheema, he always adhered to Sri Krishna on the path of dharma. Therefore, since he is always on the side of Sri Hari across janmas even in this janma; Srimad Acharya worships Sri Hari as Sri VedaVyasa and his works and is always adhering to Sri Hari. The fact that we should know how much our guru knows about Sri Hari is demonstrated in Sundarkanda when Sita akruti inquires Hanuman about Sri Rama. Hanuman proceeds to describe Sri Rama, this incident proves that a good Guru should be able to demonstrate his/her closeness to Sri Hari. In both avataars the service done by Hanuman and Bheemasena has been accepted by Sri Hari as Sri Rama and Sri Krishna to full measure.

This introductory ground work across janmas and yugas is totally unique in a Guru's biography and can be attributed to Srimadacharya alone.

Variety of opponents
He has faced every type of opponent possible. From buddhists, to advaiti's, to black magic, to unfriendly kings, robbers, dacoits, wrestlers, muslim rulers, theft of his works etc. In the midst of all these diverse opponents Srimad Acharya laid the foundation for a new philosophy which he revived from scratch. All other acharya's had existing foundations to build on; but Srimadacharya created a new cirriculum, textbook and syllabus and helped everybody get on the right path.

Throught the work, there is not one instance where Srimadacharya has faced any kind of discomfort, displeasure or any of that feeling. He is always at ease and always has the lotus face of the Sri Hari in his heart.

Childhood strength
Speciality of Vayu is in all avataras he displays unfathomable strength right from infancy. This is totally unique and clearly shows that he does not need any vara or boons to acquire strength. As Hanuman he jumped towards the sun and took full impact of Indra's Vajra without even a hair out of place. As Bheema he broke a mountain top when he was just days old. As Srimadacharya he killed Manimanta in the form of a serpent, he digested a sack of horse gram, and spent a whole day in the forest holding the tail of a ox, he also protected an entire troupe from a brahma pischachi in the forest when he was just months old. ( Kids are very vulnerable to ghosts and spirits, the fact that Srimadacharya protected the whole troupe is proof of his extra ordinary strength ), he cures his guru's sons migrane attacks, frees his father from his debt to the loan shark, visited Ananteshwara temple in the neighbouring village.

His strength is devotion to Sri Hari and that protects from all types of harm. In other words Srimadacharya is "all proof".

Apart from Sri Hari, Sri Lakshmi and Vayu nobody else displays lila's in childhood.

Sanyasa
Srimadacharya took up Sanyasa at the tender age of eight years. In the very first shloka, taught to Srimadacharya after sanyasa, he pointed 32 mistakes and proceeded to correct them. Seeing the corruption of the teachings Srimadacharya himself started writing documentaries on Brahmasutra Bhasya, Gita Bhasya, etc. He defeated many buddist monks and advaitas despite his age. In Sringeri Srimadacharya defeated hordes of scholars single handedly.

Srimadacharya made a statement at a discourse that each word in the Vishnu Sasharanama had a 100 meanings minimum. When he was challenged, he sponantenously went ahead and demonstrated that for one word. By the time he was finished, the challengers and the audience fell to his feet. This was the revolutionary discovery at that time. Nobody had ever envisioned this concept and this was a total eye opener at that time.

Physical Powress
Srimadacharya has defeated well known wrestlers, in unarmed combat. The wrestlers would not be able to lift a single finger of Srimadacharya. When Srimadacharya was in kumbaka, the wrestlers failed to pluck even a single hair from Srimadacharya's body, even with prongs. Once, Srimadacharya made himself extremely light and made sat on the back of a small boy, the boy was able run around the temple with great ease. This shows Srimadacharya's siddhi of lagima and anima. On another occasion Srimadacharya challenged two wrestler brothers to wring his throat and stop him from speaking, while he was giving a religious discourse. Needless to say they failed, you don't need to be a great body builder to realize the strength of Srimadacharya. The throat is such a delicate organ, yes you can strengthen with Shaolin training. But giving a religious discourse effortlessly while two wrestlers are trying to squeeze your throat is out of this world.
Srimadacharya once lifted a massive rock to help a construction project. That stone is still present and has the inscription on it in sanskrit stating that "Srimadacharya has lifted this huge rock with one hand".
Srimadacharya helped his group of 30 students walk cross the Ganga in spate. This feat is extraordinary in that he can not only cross himself but can help others cross as well. They crossed the ganges and landed in the midst of muslim troops who threatened to kill them. Fearlessly Srimadacharya conversed with the muslim ruler in Arabic. The muslim ruler was so impressed he offered Srimadacharya half his kingdom and requested Srimadacharya to stay with him. Srimadacharya refused and went on northwards towards Badri.
Srimadacharya spent 48 days in Kashta Mauna Vrata in Badri, when he got the invitation from Veda Vyasa Srimad acharya went to Uttara Badri which is still not accessible to humans. The residents there were stunned to see Srimadacharya. Srimadacharaya's tejas was more than the sun, yet it was softer than the moon. Hence the residents decided that it must somebody who is higher than the Sun and the Moon, therefore it must be Vayu who has arrived in the form of Srimadacharya.

Food related Powress
Sometimes when the host for Srimadacharya had made arrangements for 30 people, 300 people would show to meet Srimadacharya. Srimadacharya would increase their stock such that all 300 people would be fed. Sometimes there would be far less people than the arrangements, on such occasions Srimadacharya would accept the extra food effortlessly. On one such occasion, Srimadacharya consumed 300 raaj kelas and 30 huge containers of milk. His former guru Achutpreksha asked Srimadacharya, how he was able to acheive this and more importantly, how is it that Srimadacharya's stomach was exactly as flat as it was before. Srimadacharya explains that he is the carrier of the digestive fire called Vrik, hence the name Vrikodara. With this Vrik the size of a thumb, he consumes the whole universe at the time of dissolution.

Mantra Shakti
Srimadacharya demonstrated the efficacy of mantras by making a seed sprout, grow and give fruit then and there by uttering a Rig Veda mantra. Srimadacharya has laid the foundation for the correct use of Tantra in the work TantraSara. The details in Tantrasara are mind boggling, the exact measurments of idols, the size of idols for a town, home, village. The relation between size of idol and size of entrance door, so on and so forth.

Social Reform
Srimadacharya, advocated against killing of animals in the name of vedic sacrifices. Srimadacharya suggested using pishta bali instead, animals made from flour.

Singing
Sumadhvavijaya records that Srimadacharya has sung songs on two occasions. On both the occasions the whole nature responded to his beautiful voice.

Completeness
No guru demonstrates revolutionary philosophy, performs physical feats, social reforms, creates a whole institution which is still existing in the style that Srimadacharya has exhibited. The fact that the dvaita philosophy has produced stalwart students who worship Srimadacharya is the icing. The most compelling factor is Srimadacharya is still present in Uttara Badri and is also present as Anjaneya in Kimpurusha Kanda. So with two avataars of Vayu gurugalu still present it is easy to see why to follow Srimadacharya's philosophy.

Teaching to Gods
Sumadhva Vijaya records that Rudra, Sesha etc attended the discourses by Srimadacharya. Hence the title Trilokacharya :)

Vaikunta Varnane
Sesha Devaru narrates a description of Vaikunta which is totally unique and pleasure to hear.

Progression
A unique feature of the three avataara's of Hari Vayu is the progression. In Sri Rama Hanuman avataara, the Hari Vayu combination is exteremely prominent. In Sri Krishna Beema avataara, Indra/Sesha is allowed to be prominent which means, whomever Bheema holds by his hand is also very dear to Sri Krishna ( see Ranga Bhumi part of Mahabharata where Bheema holds Arjuna by his hand and takes him away ). In the third avataara Sri Veda Vyasa and Srimadacharya, only Srimadacharya is seen physically and Sri Veda Vyasa through his works. So if we catch hold of Srimadacharya's works, Sri Hari will cast his merciful glance at us.

BharatiRamanaMukyaPranantargata Shri Krisharpanamastu,
Hrishikesh.S.S.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Sri Vyaasraja Tirtha

Jai Bedi Anjaneya !!!

Hare Srinivasa !!!

Jai Vijayaraya !!!

Jai VyasaRaja !!!

The Glory of Sri Vyasa Raja


SRI VYASARAJA THIRTHA

Arthikalpita kalpoyam prathyarthi gajakesari/

Vyasathirtha Gurubhoryarth asmad Ishtartha siddhaye//


This is an attempt to transcript the greatness and awesomeness and history of the sterling history of the great Madhva muni , Sri Sri Sri Vyasaraja !

Sri Vyasaraja has a very high position in the Madhva lineage. He is considered among the Muni trayaru. Sri Madhvacharya, Sri Jayatirtharu and Sri Vyasaraja . Sri Madhvacharya gaves us the Sarva Mula, Sri Jayatirtharu gave us the teeka for the Sarv Mula, Sri Vyasarajaru gaves us tippani for Sri Jayatirtha's teeka's.

Sri Jayatirtharu himself blessed Sri Vyasarja on two seperate occasions as we shall see ahead.

Documentation

Of all the documents available, the one chosen for this transcription is "Vyasa Yogi Charitre" by Somanatha Kavi. It's style is called "champu kavya" viz a mixture of gadya ( prose ) and pada ( poetry ). More about the author and the composition later on.

Birth

Sri Vyasaraja's parents were a little old and were on their way to a Badri piligramage. One the way the husband suffered an incurable disease and was lying on his death bed. The wife sought out the blessings of Sri Sri Sri Brahmanya Tirtharu who was on his way back south from Badari to end her life. When she prostrated before Sri Brahmanya Tirthu he blessed her "Sumangali bhava" without even looking up and then blessed her "Putravati bhava", thus the couples life was saved and they also begot a son. Such was the siddhi of Shri Brahmaya Tirthu ! Just before the birth of the boy, Sri Brahmanaya Tirtharu sent a chinnada harvana ( golden plate) and had the baby delivered directly onto the golden plate. After being born without bhoo sparsha ( touching the ground ), Sri Brahmanya Tirtharu himself bathed the newborn. As per Srimadacharya's Tantra Sara, when a Swamy bathes the child, the sannidhi of Sri Hari increases in the child.

Childhood

When the child was just five years old, Sri Brahmanya Tirtharu had the thread ceremony done for the child. At the age of eight, Sri Brahmanya Tirtha placed the proposal of Sanyasa, Sri Vyasaraju declined and went away from the mutta. This is parallel to Sri Raghavendra Swamy refusing Sanyasa at first. The reason is that being a Sanyasi/ Peetadapati is a very responsible job, it is the head of the society. The boy was resting under a tree. A huge snake wrapped itself around the boy and spoke to him face to face. It was Sri Jayatitharu in snake form, he advised him to take Sanyasa and infused him with confidence. The boy returned to Sri Bhramanya Tirtha's mutta and accepted sanyasa. Thus, Sri Vyasaraja came into being.

Sanyasa

Sri Vyasatirtha studied under Sri Brahmanya Tirtha for twelve years. Before presenting the peethadapati to Sri Vyasaraju, he undertook a digvijaya yatra. Sri Vyasaraja reached, Kanchi a renowned learning centre at that time. Sri Vyasaraja defeated all the scholars there at that time. The opponents decided to take revenge and poisoned Sri Vyasaraja's food. Sri Vyasarajaru invoked Sri Dhanvantri namaka Sri Hari. Sri Danvantri provided Sri Vyasaraju with some herbs to nullify the effect of poison. Thus Sri Vyasaraju came out victorous every way. Sri Vyasaraju then returned to Sri Brahmanya Tirtharu. Sri Brahmanya Tirtha had entered Brindavana by that time, Sri Vyasaraja ascended the peethadapati. Sri Vyasaraja went to Sri Padraja in mulbagalu for higher studies. It is important to note two points
a) Mulbaglu was the most renowned learning centre in Karnataka until the turn of the ninteenth century.
b) Sri Vyasaraju was already a great scholar, defeated many scholars in Kanchi, but still he spent twelve years studying under Sri Padarajaru. This shows the depth of knowledge of Sri Padrajau and the passion for knowledge of Sri Vysarajaru.



There is a special cave in mulbagalu even today called Vyasa guhe(cave), where Sri Vyasarajaru used to sit and meditate. Once there was a serpent coiled around Sri Vyasarajaru in the guhe, Sri Padaraju entered the cave and talked to the Serpent in it's own language.It was Sri Jayatirtharu again in serpent form to provide his blessings to Sri Vyasarajaru.

Stay at Tirupati

"Venkatadri samam stanam brahmanda nasti kincahana, Venkatesha samo devo na bhuto na bhavishyati."

At this time, the administratation is Tirumala was corrupt. It was so corrupt that the preists used to place their own kids on the vahanas during brahmotsava. The local kin got wind of this and executed all the preists. The king approached Sri Padajararu to clear him of Brahma hatya and to make arrangements for the nitya puja at Tirumala.
* Purification of Raja - Sri Padarajaru sprinkled some shankodaka ( water from conch ) and declared that the king was absolved of brahmahatya. This incident became a joke among the students. To prove his point Sri Padarajaru sprinkled some shankodaka on a cloth blackened by oil. The portion of the cloth that was sprinklled upon became clear and clean. The disciples had no choice but to accept Sri Padarajaru's words.

Sri Padarajau send Sri Vyasarajaru as the chief preist for Tirumala. This shows greatness of both Sri Padarajaru, for not taking the oppurtunity himself and Sri Vyasarajaru for accepting the position of a priest. It also shows that the position of a priest was/is a very honoured one.

Once Sri Vyasarajaru arrived in Tirumala, he started taking care of nitya pooja and also administration of the temple activities. Sri Vyasarajaru made a lot of improvements in the processes there. Sri Vyasarajaru worshipped Sri Venkatesha as per the TantraSaraSangraha paddati of SriMadAcharya. Sri Vyasarayaru installed the Ugra Srinivasa utsava moorthy (a very special utsav moorthy that is brought out only once a year before sunrise and taken back into the temple before the sun rises) and the "Vimana Venkatesha"(For people in KaliYuga, when there is not enough time for darshana, the silver frame accentuated Venkatesha on the golden dome, assures that if you see that, it is equivalent to having darshana of Sri Venkatesha). There is a special spot where in the garbha guddi where Sri Vyasarajaru used to sit and meditate. There used to be a board indicating the spot until a few years ago. There is also a Vyasa mantapa on the Swamy Pushkarni near the Varaha Swamy temple which can be seen even today.

Sri Vyasaraja, wrote Nyayaamruta and various other works during his stay here. After twelve years of dedicated service, Sri Vyasarajaru re-instated the preists in the temple. The sons of the priests were too young to worship earlier, were now ready to take charge. Once Sri Vyasarajaru, finished the dwadashi puja and prostrated before Venkatesha, Sri Venkatesa threw his upper cloth and covered Sri Vyasarajaru with his own cloth. Thus Sri Vyasarajaru got approval from Sarvothamma for his service for twelve years at Tirumala. This is similar to the alingana of Sri Rama and Sri Hanuman at the end of Sundar Kanda in Ramayana.

Hampi

At this time, Krishnadevaraya invited Sri Vyasarajaru to be his raja guru. Sri Vyasarajaru accepted his invitation and arrived there. There was a great procession and ceremony. When Krishnadevaraya lifted the cloth of the palanquin carrying Sri Vyasarajaru, he found Sri Vyasarajaru reading the scriptures in the dim light. Krishanadevaraya was shocked and pleasantly surprised, he was so impressed with this that he declared Sri Vyasarajaru as his household guru as well.
* This incident shows the passion of knowledge for Sri Vyasarajaru. It also shows that there is no end to learning for knowledge. Finally it shows that we should not stop learning for authoity , inspite of being a chakravarthi Krishnadevaraya was gratified by this incident.
There was a lot of opposition for this in the court of Krishnadevaraya, Basavabhatta was the leader for the opposition. Basavabhatta was defeated in the ensuing debate and he had to hand over his emerald shivalinga to Sri Vyasaraja,
* This shivlainga is till present in the Sri Vyasaraja mutta and is displayed during Shivratri.
During the stay of Sri Vyasarajaru, Vijayanagara kingdom prospered tremendously. It never faced defeat during war and jewels and precious stones were sold on the streets. Sri Vyasaraja headed an educational institute of ten thousand students during this time. Once Sri Vyasarajaru composed a work extempore in response to the Kalinga king's challenge. This challenge was prepared a committee of pandits in Kalinga, Sri Vyasaraju composed this response as an extempore and sent the response immideately. To express his gratitude Krishnadevaraya offered everything he had at the lotus feet of Sri Vyasarajaru. He arranged for a ratna abhisheka for Sri Vyasaraja. It seemed like Varuna devata himself was pouring jewels on Sri Vyasaraja . On another occassion there was a kuhu yoga for the throne, whoever ascended the throne for that amount of time would be attacked by the kuhu yoga. Sri Vyasaraja himself sat on the throne and swatted away the kuku yoga with his upper garment. Sri Vyasarajaru gifted everything he had received from Krinshandevaraya back to him and to the people.

Scholarly Status

Sri Vyasarajaru was exteremly respected far and wide for his knowledge. It was so wide spread that people would come from far and wide to present their works in front of him. If they received a nod or a simple yes from Sri Vyasarajaru, then that means he had arrived. All the scholars irrespective of tradition were always vying for Sri Vyasarajaru's approval. Such was the scholarly status that scholars would shy away and try influence to get an audience with Sri Vyasarajaru. Basava bhatta was also one such scholar, he got audience through another Madhva muni.

Miracles

While returning from north India tour, there was a dispute about land division between Vaishnavites and Shaivaites.Sri Vyasarajaru presented the solution and himself ran seven kilometers holding his breath.

On another occasion, he revives a dead boy by sprinkling teertha during his tour.

Music

It was under the blessings of Sri Vyasarajaru that Pitamaha of Carnatic Sangeet Sri Purundara Dasaru started his journey. He also had Kanaka dasaru as his disciple. Sri Vyasarajaru himself is a brilliant composer with many compositions to his credit. His song "Krishna Nee Begane Baro" is an evergreen carnatic song and is sung in a lot of Carntic concerts.
* This is the original, of the remixed version from the Colonial Cousins

Installations Of Hanman

In his previous birth, he was King Bahlika and fought on behalf of the Kaurava's. He was killed by Bheemasenadevaru during the war. During that time,he struck 732 times with his club. To make amends for that, Sri Vyasarajaru installed 732 Hanuman vigrahas all around south.

Conclusion

A person will be treated great even he does just one of the deeds of Sri Vyasarajaru, the fact that Sri Vyasarajaru accomplished all these deeds simultaneously just goes to show that he worked tirelessly, effortlessly and with utmost dedication and bhakti. Among his works Tarka Tandava deserves a special mention. It is a compact work that destorys all the citadels of Advaita word by word. Each and every aspect of it is challenged and torn to bits; hence the suffix "Tandava"

Any mistakes are solely mine.

BharatiRamanaMukyaPranantargata Shri Krisharpanamastu,
Hrishikesh.S.S.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Arjuna's Ratha

Shri KRISHNAYA NAMAHA !

Yamaka Bharata of Sri Madhvacharya

yena jayadrathamAraH pArthaH shatrUnavApatadrathamAraH  |
yadvirahAdapi dehe sa rathaH shashvat.h sthiteH sadAdapi dehe  || 58||

Arjuna,the killer of Jayadratha,pleased with the lusture of his chariot having
Krishna on it,destroyed his enemies.That chariot got burnt to ashes when
Krishna alighted from it.Even the embodied soul experiences pleasure and  pain
because of the constant existence of the Lord in the body.
Arjuna's Ratha

On the last day of battle, on reaching the Pandava's camp, Shri Krishna asks Arjuna to step down from the chariot first. Arjuna is puzzled by this as the tradition is that the charioteer always alights first, but he respectfully follows the order. Shri Krishna alights from the chariot, the next instant the Hanuman from the flag disappears. Immidiately the whole chariot catches fire and all of it including the horses is completely reduced to ashes. Arjuna inquires about this with Shri Krishna. Shri KRishna replies that because of all the divine arrows and missiles used on Arjuna, the chariot would have burned up a long time ago. Shri Krishna prevented this from happening until the last day of the battle. Wah! :)

A little analysis on this incident. First even if Shri KRishna was not physically present on the chariot during night times, it was always under the protection of Shri Hanuman. The effects of all the astras only came to play only after Shri Hanuman left the chariot i.e. until Shri Hanuman was on the chariot it did not suffer even a single effect of the all the divine missiles shot at arjuna. Going back even further Shri Krishna became Arjuna's charioteer only because Shri Hanuman was already present. (Shri Bhimsen devaru made sure that Shri Hanuman would sit on Arjuna's flag long before Arjuna asked Shri Krishna to be his charioteer ). Shri Krishna revealed the Bhagvad Gita to Arjuna, because he was already under the protection of SHri Hanuman.

If we liken the chariot of Arjuna to our body, as long as we have Shri Krishna in our heart and Vayu devaru as our Guru and protector i.e. Our head at Shri Hanuman's feet nothing can overcome us, let alone harm us and we will be able to see Shri Krishna's wonderful pastimes and Vishwa Rupa Darshana*.


* Note I have said we'll be able to see, because Shri Krishna is always helping us, with Vayudevaru's anugraha we can realize this and bask in his complete bliss and causeless mercy.

* Katha Upanishad 1.3.3
3. Know the body for a chariot and the soul for the master of the chariot: know Reason for the charioteer and the mind for the reins only.
4. The sense they speak of as the steeds and the objects of sense as the paths in which they move; and One yoked with Self and the mind and the sense, is the enjoyer, say the thinkers.
5. Now he that is without knowledge with his mind ever un-applied , his senses are to him as wild horses and will not obey their driver of the chariot.
6. But he that has knowledge with his mind ever applied, his senses are to him as noble steeds and they obey the driver.
7. Yea, he that is without knowledge and is unmindful and is ever unclean, reaches not that goal, but wanders in the cycle of phenomena.
8. But the that has knowledge is mindful and pure always, reaches that goal whence he is not born again.
9. That man who uses the mind for reins and the knowledge for the driver, reaches the end of his road, that highest seat of Vishnu.
10. Than the senses the objects are higher: and higher than the objects of sense is the Mind: and higher than the Mind is the faculty of knowledge: and than that the Vayu is higher.
11. And higher than the Vayu is the Unmanifest(AVyakta Tatva: Mahalakshmi) and higher than the Unmanifest is the Purusha(Sri Hari): than the Purusha there is none higher: He is the culmination. He is the highest goal of the journey.
12. He is the secret Self in all existences and does not manifest Himself to the vision: yet is He seen by the seers of the subtle and perfect understanding. ( Description of Divya Drishti and VishvaRoopa Darshana )
13. Let the wise man restrain speech in his mind and mind in self, and knowledge in the Great-Self, and that again let him restrain in the Self that is at peace.
14. Arise, awake, find out the great ones and learn of them: for sharp as a razor`s edge, hard to traverse, difficult of going is that path, say the sages.
15. That in which sound is not, nor touch, nor shape, nor dimmunition, nor taste, nor smell, that which is eternal,and It is without end or beginning, higher than the Great-Self, the Stable, that having seen, from the mouth of death there is deliverance. ( Moksha, residence in Vaikunta !!!)


BharatiRamana Mukhyapranantargata Shri Krishnarpanamastu !

Srinivasa Kalyana

Jai Hanuman

Jai Bedi Anjaneya Swami

Jai Vijayaraya

Jai VyasaRaya

Jai Laxmi Padmavati Sameta Venkatesha

Sri Srinivasa Kalyana... Glory of the Venkatachala Hills

The story of Srinivasa Kalyana appears in 12 puranas. The mahima Sri Ventachala hills comes in two puranas, viz. Varaha Purana and Bhavishyottara Purana ( upa purana for Bhavishya Purana).

The narration in Bhavishyottara Purana is what is generally narrated for this purpose.

The story Srinivasa Kalyana is for the kalyana of everybody. As mentioned by Sri VijayaDasaru in his deveranama "Olidu bakaturigage maduve havanisikonde sulabha devara deva Vijaya vitthalaraya"

Sri Laxmi Narayana have nitya kalayana no vigoya (no seperation) at all even for an instant.

It was first narrated by Sri VedaVyasa to his disciples

Later by Sri Soota muni to Sri Shuka muni, the munis request Soota muni; now that you have narrated the mahima(importance) of Sri Ranga, Kadagiri, Sri Kalahasti ; we wish to know the importance of Sri Venkatachala mountains. Please tell us the importance of Sri Venkatachala hills.

Sri Soota Muni replies that, previously Shatananda muni had narrated this story to Janaka Maharaja, I shall narrate the story as told by him now.

The munis request Sri Soota muni to tell them the context of the narration.

Sri Soota Muni replies, Janaka Maharaja was the father of Janaki Devi. He was enjoying his royal life, his brother Kushadhwaja was taking care of the administration of the kingdom. After 80,000 years of royal luxury, one day he felt like it was based on his power that he was enjoying such luxury. Thus a little pride entered into him. That night he had a dream that his brother Kushadwaja died and his wife commited self immolation. Jankaraja was left with taking care of the kingdom, one of his own daughter, three daughters  and one young son of Kushadwaja . He also had to get the four girls married into the same kingdom.

Once he woke up from this dream, he was perturbed. At the same time, by arrangement of Sri LaxmiVenkatesha, Shatananda Muni happened to visit Janaka Raja. Janaka Raja welcomes him respectfully and after the muni is relaxed, he places his fearful dream in front of him.

Shatananda Muni mentions that the remedy for all problems is to listen to Sri Venkatesha Kalyana story and starts the narration.

The importanace of Sri Venkatachala hills:
Shatananda Muni starts by descriing the importance of Sri Venkatachala hills, if you understand the importance of Sri Venkatachala hill range it is like understanding the importance of Sri Venkatesha.

This hill range has four names during four yugas viz.
a) Kruta Yuga - Vrishabachala
b) Treta Yuga - Anjanachala
c) Dwapara Yuga - Seshachala
d) Kali Yuga - Venkatachala

Upon inquiring, by Janaka Raja; Shatananda Muni describes the glory of each name in detail

a) Kruta Yuga - Vrishabachala

Synopsis - Asura named Vrishabasura was killed by Sri Vishnu here

During Kruta Yuga, there was an asura named Vrishabhasura he used to trouble the muni's in the hill and he used to worship a Narsimha Saligrama. The method of worship was however tamsic, everyday after finishing his worship; he would cut his head and offer it to the Saligrama like a Shira-pushpa. The head would get rejoined immidiately. After doing this for 10,000 years, the sages in the hills requested Sri Vishnu to kill him. Sri Vishnu agreed; appeared before Vrishabasura and asked him for a boon. Vrishabasura asked for war with Sri Vishnu as his boon. Sri Vishnu laughed at his stupidity, others do penance for getting long life; but this asura has done penance to die at my hands. A grim battle ensues and finally when Sri Vishnu is about to kill him, he asks for his final wish. Vrishabasura mentions that he is Sri Vishnu's dasa and requests that the hill be named after him. Sri Vishnu agrees and uses his Sudarshana chakra and sepreates his head from his body for the last time. Hence the mountain is called Vrishabachala in Kruta Yuga.

b)Treta Yuga - Anjanachala

Synopsis - Anajana Devi gave birth to Anjenaya here

Matanga muni advised Anjana devi to appease Vayu devarau on Vrishabachala near Akasha Ganga. Kesari kapi had obtained the same boon from Bharadwaja Muni. Kesari killed Shankasabhala rakshasa in Gokarna, thereby making the trip for Bharadwaja Muni very pleasing.Anjana devi fasted and worshiped Vayu devaru on this mountain for one year. Then Vayu appeared before her and gave her a fruit and that's all she would eat for that day. This process continued for twelve years, one fruit each day. Then finally Lord Vayu gave her a special fruit and as soon as she ate that fruit, Anjaneya was born.

* Birth of Anjaneya is symbolic of birth of Jnana and Bhakti, also the subtle message of Ekadashi is also embedded here. Ekadashi is the fast dedicated to Shri Hari observed on the 11th day of every fortnight. Praying to Vayu Devaru means fasting on ekadashi surviving on just Vayu and praying to Vayu Devaru. If we perform ekadashi with this intention and dedication Anjaneya will be born to us ( as explained earlier )
c) Dwapara Yuga - Seshachala

Synopsis - On request of Seshadevaru, Vayu named it Seshachala after Sesha was defeated by Vayu in the contest

During Dwapara Yuga, Adishesha was gaurding the gates, when Vayu came to see Shri Hari. Sesha refused to let Vayu in, his logic was since Shri Hari always reclines on him; he is superior to Vayu. Vayu's counter logic is even if a cat is always in the house, if the king wants to go out of the palace he summons his elephant. Hearing the commotion Shri Hari comes out and asks Sesha devaru for the cause of the commotion. When Sesha explains the situation; Shri Hari suggests a contest. Sesha wraps his hoods around the Anandagiri peak of Meru parvata and protects it from Vayu, Vayu in turn has to blow away the peak. No sooner the contest starts, Vayu easily blows away the peak along with AdiShesha for 51,000 yojanas and finally gently lets it down at the eastern side of the Swaranamukhi river.AdiShesha then asks for forgiveness and Vayu blesses him that Shri Hari will rest on the peak brought down by him in KaliYuga.

d) Kali Yuga - Venkatachala

Synopsis - To highlight the fact that even the most gravest of sins are burnt up by merely climbing up these hills

A brahmana named Madhava lived with his wife and aged parents during Kali uga. One day he desired sensual pleasure from his wife. His wife objected mentioning that it was daytime, the agnihotras were burning, his aged parents were at home. But his mind was bent on it, she asked him to meet her near the lake close to their home. On his way there, he saw a chandala girl by the name Kuntala and decided to go after her. He sent his wife back home and he sought out Kuntala. Kuntala refused, saying that his body was purified by vedic chanting and pure customs. He refused to listen to reason, ran after her and forced himself on her. Kuntala was angry at him on this and demanded that he cut his tuft, drink liqour, eat cow meat and never go back home again. He readily agreed and stayed with her for twelve years, after which she died. Madhva became crazy on her death and was roaming and wandering aimlessly. By chance one day, he joined a pilgrim group travelling to Seshachala. The group halted at Kapil Theerta to offer obliations to their ancestors, Madhava just mindlessly imitated their actions. They began to climb the hills, Madhava too accompanied them. While climbing the hills, Madhava started vomiting all the way. All his sins were being purged by vomiting. Before long, Lord Brahma appeared before him and advised him to take bath in Swamy Pushkarni and leave his body. Brahma devaru assured him that Lord Vishnu would be his son-in-law in his next birth. For the sin he had commited, leaving his body was the only way to be released for it. To highlight the importance of the hills, it was renamed as Venkatachala ( Destroyer of mountains of sins and troubles )

Madhava brahmana in his first janma was Kushadhvaja Mahaaraja, and in his second janma, he was Kushakeshu, Bheeshmaka Raaja in his third, Madhava Brahmana in his fourth Janma and finally as Akaasha Raaja in his fifth janma

Thus this how the mountains got four names in four yugas.

Hearing the reasons for these names is enough to burn down the gravest of sins.

Vrishabhachala - means one who is steady in dharma ( virshba means bull symbol of dharma )
Anjanachala - means one who is steady in bhakti and jnana
Seshachala - means one who is steady in pancharata agma ( essence of Bhagavad Gita )
Venkatachala - means one who is steady in burning up mountains of sins

So if one incorporates all these qualties, Sri LaxmiVenkatesha will always stand in such a person.

Another intresting point to note is
Vrishabachala proves Hari Sarvotamma
Anjanachala proves Vayu Jeevothamma
Seshachala proves Vayu Jeevothamma
Venkatachala proves Hari Sarvothamma

so Hari-Vayu, Vayu-Hari :)

Just the names of the hills itself echo the tattva of Hari Sarvothamma Vayu Jeevothamma !!!

BharatiRamana Mukhyapranantargata Shri Krishnarpanamastu !