Mantralaya-284

( Rayaru Teertha Yatra - 15)

[GuruRayaru participation in the historic debate of Dwaita Adwaita with Bhairavabhatta and Veerabhadra]

Date : April 02  2009


 

Background

The Aradhana of Sri Kaveendrateertharu falls on Chaitra Shukla Navami Friday April 03.2009.at NavaVrundavana(Anegundi). The eighth pontiff from Sri Madacharya, very noble and able personality in our Acharya Peetha Parampara. In Vellore Sri Raghavendrateertharu was welcomed with great honour by king Nalvadi Sri Ramadevaraya. The way in which our GuruRayaru participated in the historic debate of Dwaita Adwaita and won the unconquerable great pandits, stalwarts of Shaiva and Adwaita Bhairavabhatta and Veerabhadra are described in Mantralaya(284).
 

Meaning

When Sri Raghavendrateertharu was in the palace of Nalvadi SriRamadevaraya in Vellore Sri Bhairavabhatta and Veerabhadra two great stalwarts, pandits, scholars of Shaiva and Adwaita, so far they were not defeated by anybody in Vaada Vivaada. They came to see Rayaru and impressed by Rayaru. They both invited Sri GuruRayaru for the debate - Vaada. Rayaru agreed with smile. Bhairavabhatta and Veerabhadra were very proud about their scholarly knowledge of Adwaita and Shaivism and were confident of their victory, as no one has defeated them so far. Bhairavabhatta and Veerabhadra came along with their shishyas, they were more than one hundred in number. The audience of Vellore looked at Rayaru, amazed to see the divine bliss, glittering eyes, broad forehead, the total personality of our Rayaru impressed the sajjanas, they were simply gazing and filled in their hearts the Divine Chetana and thus became punyavantaru! Rayaru shined and shined like a star during the utterance of Sri Harisarvottama and Vayujeevottama.The Mandasmita - MeluNage - Smile of Rayaru really pleasing and the sajjanas,satvikas in the Sabha of Vellore forgotten the whole world.

Purnamadaha Purnamidam Purnaat PurnaMaduchyate
Purnasya Purnamaadaaya Purnamavaava Shishyate

As Rayaru was in the realm of Purna - Sri Hari. The sentence of Upanishada.

Amrutyuhu Sarva Druk Simhaha Sandhaata Sandhimaan Sthiraha
AjoDurmarshaneheShaastaa Vishrutaatmaa Suraariha

Rayaru completely immersed in the realm of Narayana. The world famous 35th.shloka of Sri VishnuSahasranaama.

Rayaru now ready for the historic debate of Dwaita Adwaita. To upheld the philosophy of our Sri Anandateertharu. Sri Raghavendrateertharu looked round the audience with a smile and raised the right hand to start the proceedings. Rayaru ripe in Bhakti -Gnyana and Vairaagya. Sarvatantra Swatantra, mastery on all the Shaastras.

Bichali Sri Appanacharyaru fully knew all these things said in Sri RaghavendraStotra Gurustotra:

SarvatantraSwatantrosowSriMadhwaMataVardhanaha
VijayeendraKaraabjothhaSudheendraVaraPutrakaha

The Varaputra of Sri Vijayeendra Sri Sudheendra Sri Raghavendrateertharu has attained mastery in all the branches of Knowledge.So Sarva Tantra Swatantra and Rayaru is our Uddhaarakaru Sri Madhwa Mata Vardhanaru. Rayaru was born in the family of Vaishnavas and through out his life did and still doing sitting in the Brindavana the noble task of propagation of Acharya Philosophy with multifarious activities.

Bhairavabhatta opened the debate about NyaayaShaastra as per the author of Chintamani and went on describing the poorva paksha. Sri Raghavendrateertharu clarified the whole thing as per TarkaTaandava and ponited out several mistakes - Doshas in the grantha Chintamani. Bhairavabhatta was fainted. Again put forth his ideas about Adwaita, Rayaru with a smile defeated his argument within no time. Bhairavabhatta became silent and the audience praised the knowledge of Rayaru and made Jayakaara. At this juncture Veerabhadra became furious and said that Dwaita Siddhanta is against the Vedas. Quoted several examples of Adwaita. Rayaru with patience, tolerance and smile argued the Dwaita Philosophy is not against the Vedas, but it is in accordance with the Vedas and clarified the Siddhanta as per the NyaayaMouktikamaala of our Parama Guru Sri Vijayeendrateertharu.The style of debate was appreciated by the audience, they went shouting the Jayakaara to Sri GuruRaghavendra Yativarenya.Veerabhadra knew that he is going to be defeated, but even then continued the debate for two more days. But was defeated and the judges announced that Sri Raghavendrateertharu has won the Debate. Veerabhadras postion was nothing but the dried leave flying to the storm.

Seeing the fate of Veerabhadra Bhairavabhatta came forward and went on arguing the Tatva of Shiva Sarvottamatva and Adwaita. Rayaru smilingly said look Bhairavabhatta here is the answer for your argument, quoted the examples from Sri Vijayeendrateerthaas ParaTatvaPrakashika and Tureeya Shiva Khandanam and defeated the Poorva Paksha completely, this lasted for five to six days though they were defeated.

Bhairavabhatta and Veerabhadra openly praised and accepted the superb knowledge of GuruRayaru. The whole Vellore city praised Rayaru like anything.The world famous undefeated scholars of Adwaita were defeated by Rayaru. So we call it as historic and a historical record. The king of Vellore offered abundant gift including movable and immovable assets to Rayaru and the whole city of Vellore accepted the suzerainty of knowledge of Rayaru.

So when Bichali Sri Appanacharya came to know that his Guru is sitting in the Brindavana, could not control his grief, the immediate concern of Sri Appanacharya was who will be the next to perform the argument pertaining to PoorvaMeemaamsa and UttaraMeemaamsa. It means Sri Raghavendrateertharu is second to none. At the beginning only said in the Gurustotra through Ashu Kavita while crossing the river Tungabhadra from the Bichali Japadakatti which was in full spate:

SriPurnaBodhaGuruTeerthaPayobdhiPaara
KaamaarimaakshaVishamaakshaShirahaSprushantee
PurvottaraAmitaTarangaCharatsuHamsa
DevaaliSevitaparaanghriPayojaLagnaa

World devotees the abundant knowledge, efficiency and perfection of literature, Vedas, Shastras, Music and art of our Sri Raghavendrateertharu cannot be described in words. In Gurstotra the sentence SriMadhwaMataChandra is quite appropriate to our GuruRayaru.
 
 
 

Poem

GuruRaghavendraru Velloreina
Aramaneyaliruvaaga Bhairavabhatta Veerabhadra
Yemba Ibbaru Ajeya Panditaru
Vaada Patugalu Gurugala Darushana Padedu
Dwaita Adwaitada Vaadakke Kare Needalu
Rayaru Nagu Naguta Avashya Aagali
Yendu Vappidaru!
Iduvarege Tammannu Yaroo Solisilla
Yemba Aham Bhaavadali Beegi Mattaraadavaru
Vaadake Yendu Tamma Nooraaru Shishyara Sameta
Velloreina Nalvadi SriRamadevarayana Asthhanake
Bijaya Maadisidarandu!
Yatiraat Yati Shiromani Gurusarvabhoumara
Divya Bhavya Gambheera Vyaktitva Teja Ojavanella
Yeve Ikkade Noduta Hrudayadali Andu Sabheyali
Tumbikondavareshto! Velloreina Sabhikaru MantraMugdharu
Andu Sarva Tantra Swatantra Gurugalaada
Sri Raghavendrateertharu Harushadalidali
Vaadakke Siddharaagi Baddharaagi Sri Hariya
Neneyutta Kulitaaga Rayara Mukhada Teja Punja
Belaguva Agalavaada Kannugalu Oudaarya
Dyotaka Vishaala Yede
Sakala Shaastravanella Tilidudara Sanketa
Agalavaada Hane Hrudayavanu Sooregolluva
Roopa Sri Raghavendra Nagu Moga
Niluvu Mahima Chetanarendu
Punya Purusharu Yendu Tiliyitu Jagakella.
 

Sri Sharadadeviya Divyanugraha Kale
Shobhisuvadanu Nodi Sabhikaru Mai Maretu
Bayateredu Notadali Magnaraadaru
Talleenaraadaru!
Bhakti Gnyana Vairaagya Paripurna Rayaru
 

Purnamadaha Purnamidam
PurnaatPurnamaduchyate
PurnasyaPurnamaadaaya
PurnamevaayaShishyate
 

Yemba Upanishada Vaakya
 

AmrutuyhuSarvaDrukSimhaha
SandhaataSandhimaanSthiraha
AjoDurmarsheheShaasta
Vishrutatma Surarihaa
 

Yemba 35neya VishnuSahasranaama Shlokadali
Helidolu Rayaru Sri ManNarayanana Aradhakaru
Krutaachyutajapaha
 

SarvagnyaPurnara Tatvavanu Mandisalu
Balagai Yetti Tumbida Sabheyali Mugulu
Nageyali Abhayavanu Tori Vaakyaarthake
Siddharaadaru Sannaddharaadaru!Velloreina
Asthaanadali Vishwakhyatiya Padeda
Charitrrarha Vaadavu Shuruvaayetu!
Ee Vishayavanu Aamoolaagradi Tilida
Bichali Sri Appanacharyaru Sri Raghavendra Stotra
GURUSTOTRAda Hattaneya Shlokadali :
 

SarvaTantra Swatantrosow Sri Madhwa Mata Vardhanaha
VijayeendraKaraabjothhahaSudheendraVaraputrakaha
 

Sri Raghavendrateertha Yativarenya
Samasta Shaastragalaloo Swatantra
Prabhutva Ullavaru Sri Vijayeendra Sri Sudheendrara
Varaputraru Rayaru Nijakoo Namma
Sri Madhwa Mata Vardhanaru Vardhakaru!
Madhwa Vamshasthharu Acharya Madhwara
HariVayu Matada Sarvatomukha Abhivruddhi
Shreyokaanskshi Chetanaru!
 

Bhairavabhattaru Nyaaya Shastradali
Chintamanikaarana Granthaanureetiyali
Balavaagi Purva Pakshava Mandise Rayaru Adanu
Tarka Taandava Ukta Reetiyali Anekaaneka
Doshagalanu Spashtadali Vivarise
Bhairavabhattara Mukha Sappeyetu Ditadi!
Hatamaaritanadinda Matte Vaadavanu Balapadise
GuruRaya Nasu Naguta Koodale Adanella
Khandisi Niruttaragolisidaru Bhairavabhattaru
Rayarige Samanjasa Uttarava Needade Tadabadise
Sabheyali Nereda Shrotrugalu Bhale Bhale Vidya Matha
Yativarenya Sri GuruRaghavendra Yendella Hogalidaru
Aaga Kopavadu Nettige Yere Veerabhadraru
Dwaita Siddhanta Veda Viruddha Mata Yendu Helutta
Aneka Adwaita Pramaanagala Saraniyane Udaaharisidaru Andu!
Sri Raghavendrateertharu Atyanta Samaadhaanadali
Sri Vijayeendrateertha Mahaanubhaavara
NyaayaMouktikaMaaleya Aneka Vishayagalanu
Rayaru Tamma Vaak Vilaasada Vaibhavadi
Veerabhadraranu Mookavaagirisidaru
Idu Illige Nillade Veerabhadra Rayarodane
Matterdau Dina Vaada Vivaada Munduvarisi
Sampurna Sota! Rayara Vaada Saranige Satvika
Sabhikaru Mechchi Taledoogi Harshodgaarava
Maadi Trupti Padedaru Velloreinali Andu!
 

Aaga Sittigedda Bhairavabhatta
Sri Shiva Sarvottamatva Shaiva Adwaita
Mata Balapadisi Poorva Pakshava Mandisalu
Rayaru Nagu Naguta Nodi Bhattare Uttaravido
Siddha Yendeuta Sri Vijayeendrateerthara Amogha Kruti
ParaTatvaPrakashika Tureeya ShivaKhandanam
Granthagala Uddharisi Poorva Pakshavanu
Khandisidaru Rayaru !
Sri Raghavendrateerthara Asaadhaarana Pratibhe
Paanditya Nodi Dangaagi Solu Khachitavendu Tilidaroo
Matte Aidaaru Dina Munduvarisi Sampoorna
Sotu Sharanaadaru Ajeya DiggajaruIdee Vellorege
Vellorae Rayara Vaada Shylige Manasotu
Rayara Maate Yelledgoo!
Rayara Paanditya Pratibheya Meruvarita Bichali
Parama Bhakta Aapta Rayaru Brindavanadali
Kulitaru Yenalu Innaaru Vaadiparu Poorvapakshake
Yendu Dukhkhadali Muluge Modala Shlokave AshuKavitvadi
Mooditu:
 

SriPurnaBodhaGuruteerthaPayobdhipaara
KaamaarimaakshaVishamaakshaShirahaSprushantee
Poorvottara AmitaTarangaCharatsu Hamsa
DevaaliSevitaparaanghripayojalagnaa
 

Vishwada Bhaktare Rayaru Shaastra
Paanditya Saahitya Sangeeta Kalaa Parinataru
Sri Sharadadeviya Vara Putraru Adakende
Rayaru Sri Madhwa Mata Chandraru Nijadi.