Mantralaya-2000

(Sri Vijayeendrateertharu Part 3. Journey of  Sri Vijayeendrateertharu)

Date : July 25, 2024

Background

Dear Devotees : Namaskara.

| Sri MannMoolaRamastu Mannmathe Moolamahasamsthhaana Mantralaya Sri Rayaramathe||
|| OM SRI RAGHAVENDRAAYA NAMAHA||
SATYAMEVA   JAYATI NA ANRUTA

Background

Sri Vijayeendrateertharu Part 3. Journey of  Sri Vijayeendrateertharu is described in Mantralaya(2000).

Meaning

On this auspicious day of Jayatheerthara Aradhana, we mark the 2000th Mantralaya article. This significant milestone has been achieved due to the blessings and teachings of my father, Sri Raghavendra Patwari, and my brother, Srinivas Patwari, who instilled in me a deep devotion towards Sri RaghavendraTeertharu. I remember and honor them every day. My heartfelt thanks go to Rajaraman for encouraging me to continue writing these articles. I also extend my gratitude to all of you, the readers, for your continuous support and encouragement each week. Lastly, I express my heartfelt appreciation to my wife and mother for their unwavering support and encouragement in writing this series.

It is my great fortune and privilege to write the 2000th article on the revered Sri VijayeendraTeertharu. I humbly surrender to Sri RaghavendraTeertharu, who has been with me at all times and has blessed an ignorant person like me with the ability to share these teachings.

In the last article, we explored how Sri VishnuTeertharu transformed into Sri Vijayeendra Teertharu.

Now, let’s delve into the journey of Sri VijayeendraTeertharu.

A renewed vigor coursed through Sri Vijayeendraru’s entire being as he received guidance from his guru Vysarajaru. Immersed in deep devotion, Sri Vijayeendraru prostrated before his guru and then proceeded with Sri Surendratheertharu.

In his final days, Sri Surendratheertharu conferred sanyasa upon Sri SudheendraTeertharu through VijayeendraTeertharu before ascending to his heavenly abode. Following this, Sri SudheendraTeertharu, with the blessing of his guru, set off towards Vijayanagar.

Sri VijayeendraTeertharu,following his guru's instructions, traveled to Kumbhakonam. Kumbhakonam, governed by Mandalika of Tanjavoor and under the domain of the Vijayanagar emperor, was a prosperous and affluent region. Renowned for its scholars, it was celebrated as the Dakshina Kashi for its educational excellence.

Sri Vijayeendra Teertharu established Madhwa Philosophy in Kumbhakonam. He was renowned as one of the greatest scholars , having triumphed in debates against Krishna Sharma, Yemme Basava, Appayya Deekshita, and Lingarajendra.

In Kumbhakonam, many temple priests entrusted the keys of their temples to Sri Vijayeendra Teertharu, confident that under his guidance, everything would be safeguarded and protected.

Sri VijayeendraTeertharu mastered the 64 Kalas, encompassing a diverse range of professions from music to art. Blessed abundantly by Sri Achar Madhawaru and Sri Hari, Sri VijayeendraTeertharu performed numerous miracles, each demonstrating how to lead a virtuous and fulfilling life.

To create discord between the followers of Shiva and Vishnu, certain troublemakers from outside Kumbhakonam devised schemes to undermine the rising fame of Sri Vijayeendra Teertharu.

Behind the Sri Sarangapani temple lies a pushkarani (sacred water lake), with the Sri Kumbeswarar temple situated at its front. The pure water from this pushkarani serves both the Sri Sarangapani and Sri Kumbeswarar temples. Certain troublemakers attempted to stir conflict by insisting that this water should be exclusively used for Sri Kumbeswarar temple.They approached Sri VijayeendraTeertharu, who advised that the water rightfully belongs to all and should not be used to create divisions between followers of Shiva and Vishnu. Nonetheless, the troublemakers insisted they would prove that the water belonged solely to Sri Kumbeswarar temple. Sri Vijayeendra Teertharu agreed to their challenge and proposed that swimmers could be sent into the pushkarani the following day to collect proof.

That night, one of the mischief-makers devised a plan to place a large number of Nandi idols and Shiva Lings into the pushkarani, hoping to influence the outcome.

The next day, Sri VijayeendraTeertharu, with deep devotion, prayed to both Vishnu and Shiva, sprinkling the mantrakshate (sacred rice) over the pushkarani. He then instructed the swimmers to begin collecting the evidence from the lake. As the swimmers pulled out the idols one by one, the mischief-makers anticipated finding Nandi and Shiva Linga idols. To their astonishment, however, every idol they retrieved was either of Lord Hanuman or Vishnu.The mischief-makers were stunned to witness the transformation of what they had hoped would be Nandi and Shiva Linga idols into those of Hanuman and Vishnu.

Sri VijayeendraTeertharu approached one of the mischief-makers, placing his hand on the man's head. In a trance-like state, the man confessed the truth that he had placed the idols in the pushkarani the previous night.With the truth revealed, the crowd turned against the mischief-makers and celebrated with the exclamation, "Sri Vijayeendra Teertharu Gurubhyo Namaha!" Sri Vijayeendra Teertharu decreed that the pure water from the pushkarani should be used for the rituals of both the Sri Sarangapani temple and the Sri Kumbeswarar temple, ensuring harmony between the two temples.

The Shodasha bahu Narasimha icon a very unique and magnificent icon of Lord Narasimha, that was discovered by Sri VibhudendraTeertharu in Ahobila. It is an awe-inspiring icon of the Lord with different weapons in fourteen hands. Like other ascetics in the Raghavendra matha Sri VijayIndraTeertharu too had the privilege of worshipping this icon in person.

Once, a malicious magician attempted to harm Sri VijayeendraTeertharu by poisoning the naivedya (offering) meant for Sri Moola Rama Devaru. However, how could poison affect the Lord, who is the very essence of creation, sustenance, and destruction of the universe? How could such a divine force be impacted by such an act, especially when it concerns a great devotee like Sri Vijayeendra Teertharu?. Sri VijayeendraTeertharu seized this as an opportunity to showcase the immense power of the Narasimha mantra to the world. With profound devotion, he composed a unique stotra dedicated to Lord Narasimha, filled with sacred bīja mantras (primordial syllables). This stotra was recited with unwavering faith and devotion.The poison, intended to harm, had no effect whatsoever. Instead, the nectar that flowed from Sri Vijayeendra Teertharu’s devotion-soaked lips gave birth to the sacred Sri ShoDashabhu Nrusimha Ashtaka, a revered hymn extolling the power of Lord Narasimha.

Anyone who chants this mantra daily with devotion, while maintaining a pure and disciplined body and mind, will be protected from the effects of all poisons and will also fulfill all their desires. This revered icon continues to be worshipped in the Sri Mutt to this day.

Sri VijayeendraTeertharu extended an open invitation to anyone willing to challenge him on the mastery of the 64 Kalas, a domain he had perfected with the blessings of Sri Hari.

In another remarkable episode, a renowned sculptor named Ramanarashimna from Pandey, known for his exquisite brass idols, challenged Sri VijayeendraTeertharu to a competition. Ramanarashimna proudly showcased his intricate carvings of Krishna and Rama, along with other captivating brass idols. Impressed by the artistry, Sri VijayeendraTeertharu expressed his admiration and then requested a piece of wax and a dry stem of Tulasi.

With these simple materials, Sri VijayeendraTeertharu began to create detailed impressions of various deities, demonstrating an extraordinary level of craftsmanship. Within a short time, he had produced numerous detailed impressions, all made with just wax and Tulasi stems.

Astounded by the precision and beauty of these creations, Ramanarashimna fell at Sri VijayeendraTeertharu’s feet, acknowledging that he had never seen such remarkable art achieved with such minimal resources. He then took these impressions and transformed them into brass idols. Many of these remarkable pieces can still be found in Sri VijayeendraTeertharu’s Brindavana in Kumbhakonam, serving as a testament to his divine artistry and skill.

Madurai's Vishwanatha Nayaka, Tanjore's Shivappa Nayaka, Vijayanagara's Sri Krishna Devaraya, and his son-in-law Rama Raya were all ardent devotees of Sri VijayeendraTeertharu. These esteemed rulers performed a grand Ratna (diamond) Abhisheka to honor Sri VijayeendraTeertharu. In a gesture of profound generosity, Sri VijayeendraTeertharu redistributed these precious gems to those in need and utilized them to establish robust Vedic centers in Kumbhakonam and Tanjore.The enduring grandeur of Tamil Nadu's temples still reflects the legacy of this era, singing praises of the past. The temples stand as a testament to the divine grace and the lasting impact of Sri VijayeendraTeertharu's contributions.

In a remarkable display of his protective duties, Sri VijayeendraTeertharu demonstrated how a swamiji’s role extends to safeguarding the nation.

Once, Tanjore was under threat from Muslim rulers who launched a coordinated attack with two separate armies—one positioned outside the city and the other concealed within. The king, unaware of the trap, led his forces to confront the external army, leaving the city vulnerable to the hidden invaders. As soon as the king and his army left, the concealed forces moved swiftly towards the Tanjore temple, aiming to seize it along with its treasures.

In this critical situation, the king’s followers approached Sri VijayeendraTeertharu, imploring him to protect Tanjore, the temple, and its valuable assets. With calm assurance, Sri VijayeendraTeertharu told them not to worry, revealing that he had already taken measures to handle the situation. He explained that he had rendered the enemies’ minds inactive, ensuring they would circle around the temple aimlessly for the next six hours.

Curious about the plan for after the six-hour period, the followers listened as Sri VijayeendraTeertharu led them to a large storage area. There, he provided a substantial amount of coconuts, having prayed to Lord Sri Hari. He instructed the followers to have each devotee break a coconut inside the temple when the invaders attempted to enter.

The strategic use of the coconuts, coupled with divine intervention, effectively protected the temple and its treasures. Sri VijayeendraTeertharu's guidance ensured the safety of Tanjore, illustrating his profound ability to combine spiritual insight with practical action.

Following Sri VijayeendraTeertharu's instructions, the enemies circled the temple for six hours. When they finally attempted to enter, the devotees began breaking coconuts as advised. Each time a coconut was broken, it seemed as if the enemies' heads were being struck, causing them to shout and retreat in distress. They were unable to breach the temple.

Meanwhile, Sri VijayeendraTeertharu meditated deeply, influencing the king’s thoughts. The king, feeling a sudden urgency to return to Tanjore, came back to find the enemies still struggling to enter the temple. Taking charge of the situation, he successfully drove the attackers away and secured victory.

Grateful for the salvation of Tanjore, the king thanked Sri VijayeendraTeertharu profusely. The Tanjore temple, still standing today, remains a testament to the swamiji’s divine intervention and protective power, with the community forever indebted to Sri VijayeendraTeertharu for preserving their sacred sanctuary.

Here are some fascinating aspects of Sri VijayeendraTeertharu:

During the journey of Sri SudheendraTeertharu and Sri VijayeendraTeertharu together, they encountered a young boy named Venkatanatharu, who would later become Sri RaghavendraTeertharu. Both seers recognized that this child was destined to succeed Sri SudheendraTeertharu as the next great leader of the tradition.

Sri VijayeendraTeertharu was a disciple of his Guru, Sri Vyasarajaru, and later became the Guru/teacher of Sri RaghavendraTeertharu. Thus, Sri RaghavendraTeertharu holds the unique distinction of being both the Guru as Vyasarajaru to Sri VijayeendraTeertharu and the disciple of Sri VijayeendraTeertharu.

Once, Purandaradasaru remarked to Sri VijayeendraTeertharu, "Esu Janama bandru veekar hogalila" (ಏಸು ಜನ್ಮ ಬಂದ್ರೂ ವೀಕರ ಹೋಗಲಿಲ್ಲ), which translates to "Despite taking many births, you couldn't change." This puzzled everyone present, as it seemed to imply a lack of transformation.Purandaradasaru then clarified that "Vikar" refers to "V-kaara," representing the progression of Sri VishnuTeertharu's incarnations. He explained that Sri VishnuTeertharu became Vitthalacharya, then VishnuTeertharu, and finally Sri VijayeendraTeertharu. Thus, "V-kar" symbolizes the letter 'V,' indicating the continuity and evolution of his spiritual journey.

Sri VijayeendraTeertharu, having entrusted the Mahasamsthana to Sri Sudheendratheertha—whom his guru had appointed for sanyasa—fulfilled his duties by passing on the leadership of the Sri Mutta to his successor. Subsequently, Sri VijayeendraTeertharu entered his brindavana in Kumbhakonam, Tamil Nadu, on Jyeshta Krishna Trayodashi in the year 1641.

We express our deepest gratitude and reverence to Sri VijayeendraTeertharu, whose profound contributions and divine presence have left an indelible mark on the history of the Mantralaya Sri Raghavendra Swamy Sri Mutt. It is with great respect that we bow our heads to honor not only Sri VijayeendraTeertharu but also the esteemed lineage of saints associated with the Sri Mutt.

Their lives, steeped in wisdom, devotion, and selfless service, have been a beacon of spiritual guidance and inspiration for countless followers. The legacy of these godly figures has shaped the teachings, practices, and the very essence of the Sri Raghavendra Swamy Sri Mutt.

Their profound impact continues to inspire and uplift the spiritual community, and we are profoundly grateful for their enduring influence. The respect we hold for the Sri Raghavendra Swamy Sri Mutt is a testament to the exemplary lives led by these saints, whose guidance and blessings continue to illuminate our path.

The devotion towards Sri Raghavendrateertharu is the ultimate truth and is the most simple and effective way to reach Sri Hari  - "NAMBI KETTAVARILLAVO EE GURUGALA"! “Those who have complete faith in this Guru will never be disappointed.”

   || BICHALI JAPADAKATTI SRI APPANACHARYA PRIYA MANTRALAYA
   SRI RAGHAVENDRATEERTHA GURUBHYO NAMAHA||