Rama Lalla's idol, Saligrama Mala and Swarna Peeta Prabhavali at Ayodhya : A divine prayer by Shrimad Varadendra Tirtha Swamiji in Ramachandra Astaka answered by Lord

Let me first confess the below article and above header are thoughts that came to me as I dwelled in divine composition of Ramachandra Astaka and I do feel many of you feel the same at end of this article which I worte by grace of Hari Guru with only intention to praise them and get blessings.

There is a beautiful verse at end in the phalashruti of Shri Guru Parampara stavanam composed by Paramapujya Shrimad Sudhindra Tirtha Swamiji on Guru Parampara of Shri Kashimath Samsthan. The shloka is as below :

गुरुप्रसादाल्लभतेत्रमानवो

हरिप्रसादंतपसापिदुर्लभम् ।

Simple meaning of above verse is, that boon or prasada from Lord Shri Hari which is utmost difficult to get from high form of penance or tapas can be easily obtained once Guru showers thy's blessings on devotees or human beings. 

Now why the above verse holds its importance is because after 500 years of relentless, selfless, fight penance and various religious congregations and countless blessings of many sages who led the fight for right from word go on this divine land called Bharath we or this generation finally got to see Bhavya Rama mandir at his very holy place of birth called Ayodhya  which we proudly believe and call Shri Rama janma bhoomi.With the introduction above you all must be clear that I am going to write, yes a very  beautiful connection between Shri Kashimath and Ram Mandir at Ayodhya.

By the time this article is written four historical things have taken place that is Ram lalla pran pratista, samarpan of Saligrama Mala, samarpan of Silver palanquin to Lord Ram and samarpan of Swarna peeta prabhavali to Lord Ram from Kashimath all the three samarpana happened by divine hands of Paramapujya Shrimad Samyamindra Tirtha Swamiji through divine hands of Paramapujya Shrimad Vishwaprasanna Tirtha Swamiji of Pejawar math who is heading Mandalotsava at Shri Ram Mandir Ayodhya. This samarpan is very historical and will always be an important event in years to come.

Now was this samarpan a answer to prayers  by Lord Rama to one of the most powerful sages who came in the lineage of Shri Kashimath, Paramapujya Shrimad Varadendra Tirtha Swamiji ? Did prayers made centuries ago from the then Supreme pontiff of Kashimath made this most difficult task of carving divine Saligrama mala, divine silver palanquin and Swarna Peeta  Prabhavali  so easy that it was ready in no time ?  Let's dwell into my claim and let me put my humble effort to prove in further paragraphs.

Description of Paramapujya  Shrimad Varadendra Tirtha Swamiji by Paramapujya Shrimad Sudhindra Tirtha Swamiji in Guru parampara stavana

Let us first see how is Shrimad Varadendra tirtha swamiji described

विधीशमुख्यैर्ववरदेशदेवैः

सम्पूजितेव्यासरघूत्तमाङ्घ्री ।

समर्चिषुर्येतिमुदाचभक्त्या

वन्देगुरूंस्तान्वरदेन्द्रतीर्थान्

Simple meaning of above verse is

"Prayers to Varadendra Tirtha who in great spiritual poise did pooja of Lord Vyasa and Lord Rama the god who is ever worshipped and sung by Brahma Rudra and numerous devatas."

Shrimad Sudhindra Swamiji could have described Shrimad Varadendra Tirtha Swamiji as a sage who did pooja to Lord Krishna, Lord Narasimha etc but specifically chose Lord Rama and Lord Vedavyasa and interestingly two most beautiful composition Vyasaastaka and Ramachandra astaka are from Shrimad Varadendra Tirtha Swamiji.

Description of Lord Rama and how he is worshipped in own words of Shrimad Varadendra Tirtha Swamiji in holy Ramachandra astaka

There are two verses in holy composition Ramachandra astaka which look as Varadendra Tirtha  Swamiji's prediction of what happened on this date at Ayodhya.

You all know how Ramachandra Utsava idol or Rama Lalla's Shila idol at Ayodhya looks to us, the idol is adorned by beautiful crown, garland type jewel made from precious stones on whole upper body, a small garland type jewel again from precious stones and metal near chests (Vaksha sthala), his body color resonates to that of pleasent clouds, and he wears a most clean cloth made of silk or pitambara and holds divine bow and arrow and above all these features Lord Ram Lalla's idol adorns a jewel that looks like a Garland made from Gold which also has divine stone Saligrama (which hosts permanent sannidhana of Lord Vishnu).

Now lets see how Shrimad Varadendra Tirtha Swamiji describes Lord Ramachandra in  holy astaka in verse six.

श्रेष्ठरत्नवारचारुहारशोभिवक्षसं

वारिवाहकान्तिदेहरम्यगौरवाससम्|

सत्किरीटरत्नकङ्कणाङ्गदप्रभूषितं

रामचन्द्रमाश्रयेऽमरेन्द्रवृन्दवृन्दवन्दितम्

Simple meaning of above verse is

Prayers to Lord Ramachandra who is ever prayed by devatas who adorns garland on the body carved out of precious stones, one whose pleasent body color resonates pleasent clouds, one who wears cleanest and pure cloth, and who is also adorned with  divine crown on his head, ear rings on ears.

 

If you just felt fascinated by reading this then there is more to enhance your spiritual fascination but before that lets dwell into how Swarna Peeta Prabhavali  which was donated by Paramapujya Samyamindra Tirtha Swamiji as a seva from Shri Kashimath Samsthan to Rama mandir at Ayodhya.

Brief description of Swarna Peeta Prabhavali

The Golden seat or Swarna Peeta  Prabhavali  is made out of Gold and partly silver, also has precious stones fixed around it, near the peeta or seat where Lord Rama will preside it has Lord Hanuman on right and Lord Garuda on left, the peeta also has carving of emblem of Kashimath, that is divine conch or panchajanya or shanka. Let me reiterate again the entire Swarna Peeta  Prabhavali  is offered by none other than our Paramapujya Guru Shrimad Samyamindra Tirtha Swamiji 

Now lets see how Shrimad Varadendra Tirtha Swamiji describes Lord Ramachandra in holy astaka in verse number eight :

साधुस्वर्णमण्टपस्थरत्नपीठराजितं

पार्श्वभागसङ्गताञ्जनेयतार्क्ष्यसेवितम्|

कादिशीमठीयभिक्षुवृन्दसम्प्रपूजितं

रामचन्द्रमाश्रयेऽमरेन्द्रवृन्दवृन्दवन्दितम्

Simple meaning of the above verse is

Prayers to Lord Ramachandra who presides in seat made of Gold which also has carvings filled with precious stones, who is ever served by his obedient servant Lord Mukhyaprana and Lord Garuda and also the one who is ever worshipped by Gurus who come under the holy lineage of Kashimath Guru parampara.

Aren't you excited as myself now on how this prayer from most powerful pontiff in lineage of Kashimath parampara is been answered today by Lord Rama himself by resembling the same in divine features of Rama lalla idol, by adorning Saligrama mala and in Swarna peeta prabhavali. I am pretty sure nothing was planned based on what is written in Ramachandra astaka but whatever was carved and donated miraculously resembles to what is written.

That is why we have to just bow down our head and completely agree to what Paramapujya Sudhindra Swamiji said in Guru Parampara stavana that is : " That task of pleasing god to get his boon which looks impossible and most difficult gets seamlessly easy and goes absolutely as wished just by having Guru prasada or blessings from Guru".

A prayer made by a most powerful pontiff centuries ago is resembling a divine reality that gave me lots and lots of goosebumps. The sole intention behind this article was numerous followers of Shri Kashimath Samsthan feel this divine goosebumps and start reading Ramachandra astaka unfailingly whenever possible which will please not only Lord but also the great saint who composed it.

Chaitreya Gopal Pai, Mani

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All right words in the above article wholely and solely belong to Lord Ramachandra and his greatest Aradhakas Shrimad Varadendra Tirtha Swamiji, Shrimad Sudhindra Tirtha Swamiji and current Mathadipati of Kashimath Shrimad Samyamindra Tirtha Swamiji. All faults mistakes and unknowing errors belong to me for which I ask mercy from Lord and my Gurus. Let me submit this article to lotus feet of all Swamijis of Kashimath samsthan and their antaryami Mukhyaprana antargata Shri Vyasa Raghupati Narasimha dev.

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Excerpts from Vamana Stavana by His Holiness Shrimad Sudhindra Tirtha Swamiji

 Salutations to the cutest and most beautiful vatu Lord Vamana

Excerpts from Vamana stavana by His Holiness Shrimad Sudhindra Tirtha Swamiji by "Chaitreya" Gopal Pai Mani.

The exemplary style of writing which was possessed by His Holiness Shrimad Sudhindra Tirtha Swamiji is always seen in HHs compositions which is collected and processed in one beautiful book called Namana for benefit of devotees who can use it for Vyasopasana. One of the stuti or stavana which is composed by HH is on Lord's avatara Vamana, the cutest, the attractive vatu rupa. Let me jot down some points in summary form below for benefit of sadbhaktas on auspicious ocassion of Dadhi Vamana jayanti 

Birth of Vamana

First two stanzas speaks on Vamana's birth and how he looked different from other new born.

The pious couple who we find in many stories in puranas are sage Kashyapa and his wife Aditi, they are worshipped and thanked even by devatas for their devotion towards Lord and both of them wanted Lord as their child, getting a child today is task for many couples in this fast track era just imagine the task of getting Lord as child but undeterred in their aim the couple with utmost devotion conducted payovrata that is only consuming milk throughout until they get lord as child. After a particular point of time the compassionate Lord who became mighty pleased with devotion of Aditi and Kashyapa descended down as a cute vatu or kid called as Vamana the son of Aditi and Kashyapa. His color was as radiant as purest form of Milk.

The child looked different from other new born in this world as he had four arms, had beautiful marks of Chakra and Lotus on his feet and by witnessing such divine child even the sage couple instead of cuddling the child or new born did salutations with utmost humility as both of them knew its Lord who has blessed them  

Vamana who is indifferent from Vishnu

We do know the story of Vamana avatara but here Swamiji has clearly stated how Vamana is indifferent than what he is in Mula roopa as Vishnu. To prove this Swamiji makes the following Salutations :

* salutations to Vamana through whose navel Chaturmukha Brahma was born.

*salutations to Vamana through whose blessings Kashyapa became respected.

* salutations to lord Vamana through whom Indra named Purandara got back his lost seat or esteemed position.

Now comes salutations to Ganga Janaka or one who gave birth to Mother Ganga the holy river :

*Salutations to Lord through whose lotus feet mother Ganga was born and the same lotus feet was worshipped by Brahma.

* Ganga the river Jhanavi who resided on head or hair locks of Lord Shankara, who descended to earth through sage  bhageerata's holy efforts I submit my salutations to such vamana who is indifferent than the Ganga Janaka.

With the above two salutations Swamiji makes one point very clear that Vamana is no different than vishnu in mula rupa.

The Objective behind Lord taking Vamana avatara

Swamiji in one stanza gives objective behind Vamana avatara HH says -

Salutations to Lord Vamana the Indirapati (husband of Bhu devi) whose persona is excellent and pleasantly attractive, whose objective is to be a roadblock and suppressor to enemy of Indra named Bali, by whose attractive persona the powerful Yajnikas ( priests conducting Bali's Ashwamedha yaga) have accepted defeat

Beautiful portrayal of Lord Vamana

The next three stanzas Swamiji dips and submerges us into thought provoking  portrayal of Lord Vamana's beautiful and resplendent looks :

portrayal of radiant but a very beautiful pleasant body

His Holiness writes

-Salutations to Lord Vamana who made Moon shy by his resplendent and pleasant looks.

-Salutations to the Lord whose beautiful and handsome body made Manmatha accept the defeat

- Salutations to the Lord whose radiance made the ever limitless radiant galaxy look dull and dark.

portrayal of Lord Vamana's magnetic presence

Salutations to Lord Vamana whose divine, magnificent, innocent vatu rupa who kept the great sages of devata and asuras wondering on the same and whose magnetic presence ensured they kept watching him again and again without any boundaries of satisfaction.

portrayal of distinct appearance of Vamana rupa

In this stanza Swamiji doesn't miss a divine opportunity to describe appearance of Lord Vamana -

Salutations to beautiful Lord who has come as small Vatu holding Umbrella (Chatra) in one hand, and holy club (danda) and Ajana in other, whose face is filled with radiance of Brahma Teja, who can rule and prevail, who is also the giver of boons.

Vamana turns into Trivikrama and defeat of Bali

The next two stanzas Swamiji talks about how Vamana turned himself into Trivikrama and defeat of Bali.

- Salutations to magnificent Lord Vamana who measured the three lokas by three mighty steps

- Salutations to one who made the three lokas holy by descending himself as Trivikrama

- Salutations to the one who showed his infinite prowess to the whole world by the above two divine acts.

The very next stanza Swamiji talks on Bali Nigraha and his anugraha 

Salutations to Lord Vamana who defeated the mighty Bali by placing his feet on Bali's head, one who gave back the power to Indra through which he showed limitless compassion he showers on Hari Bhaktas.

The Conclusion

remembering Guru and phala shruti of reciting Vamana stavana

One of the salient feature of any stotra composed by His Holiness Shrimad Sudhindra Tirtha Swamiji is submitting the divine work to HHs Guru Shrimad Sukratindra Tirtha Swamiji and then giving brief the immense result (phala shruti) it has one devotees who chant it. Here Swamiji concludes Vamana Stavana as below

This work called Vamana Stavana is composed by us after having immense blessings from our Guru Shrimad Sukratindra Tirtha Swamiji of Shri Kashimath Samsthan, a devotee who chants and submits the same daily to lotus feet of Lord shall get unblemished devotion towards Lord

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All the right words and right things mentioned above is submitted at lotus feet of His Holiness Shrimad Sudhindra Tirtha Swamiji and HHs antaryami Lord Vamana abhinna Vedavyasa and all mistakes and errors in it are mine for which I humbly apologize. Let the radiance of Lord Vamana shed away the darkness of Ignorance and lighten up the lamp of knowledge in us and shower in us the Jnana Bhakti Vairagya.

References for above article :

- Namana book published by BKVS Bangalore

- Genius named Sudhindra Tirtha by Shri Girish Prabhu

Gurucharitra: Srimad Raghuchandra Thirtha Sripad Vader Swamiji - मराठी

 श्रीरामदेव-वीरविट्ठल-मुख्यप्राणाः सुप्रसन्नाः सन्तु ।

ब्रह्मान्ताः गुरवः साक्षादिष्टं दैवं श्रियः पतिः ।

आचार्याः श्रीमदाचार्याः सन्तु मे जन्मजन्मनि ॥

गोकर्ण-पर्तगाळी-जीवोत्तम मठाचे आठवे पीठाधिपति श्रीमद्रघुचन्द्र तीर्थ श्रीपाद वडेर यांचे आज पुण्यदिन. या निमित्ताने त्यांच्या विषयी थोडे जाणून घेवूया :

श्रीरघुचन्द्र तीर्थ श्रीपादांचे गुरु श्रीमद्दिग्विजयरामचन्द्र तीर्थ श्रीपाद वडेर हे थोर तपस्वी होते. त्यांच्याच कारकीर्दित पर्तगाळीला रथोत्सव सुरु झाला. त्यांनी काही काळ ऋषिवन (सद्य रेवण/रिवोणा) येथे राहून तिथल्या गुहेत तपश्चर्या केली आणि अंकोल्याला समाधिस्थ झाले.

अशा दैदीप्यमान गुरूंचा वारसा घेऊन श्रीरघुचन्द्रतीर्थ श्रीपाद वडेर स्वामी महाराज ख्रिस्त शक १६६९ च्या मार्च महिन्यात गुरुपीठावर आले. त्यांनी काही काळ गोकर्ण येथील मठात निवास करून श्रीजीवोत्तमतीर्था श्रीपादांनी स्थापन केलेल्या तेथील भूविजय विट्ठल तसेच संस्थानाच्या वीरविट्ठलाची उपासना केली आणि पुढे तीर्थ यात्रेसाठी उत्तरेकडे प्रयाण केले.

उत्तरेत ते पोहोचले ते वाराणासी (काशी) क्षेत्री, जिथे मठाचे आद्य गुरु व पहिले ‘वडेर’ असलेल्या श्रीमन्नारायणतीर्थांनी स्थापन केलेल्या मूल मठाची वास्तू आजही आहे. त्या पुरातन वास्तूचा श्रीस्वामींनी त्याकाळी जीर्णोद्धार केला. काशीत निवास करत असताना स्वामींनी भागिरथीत स्नान करून श्रीबिंदुमाधवाचे नित्य पूजन केले. तदनंतर वाटेत अनेक तीर्थक्षेत्रांस भेट देत व सिद्धांताचा प्रचार करीत स्वामी गोकर्णास परतले.

गोकर्ण क्षेत्री आल्यावर स्वामीजींनी मठाच्या इतिहासात अभूतपूर्व असे कार्य आरंभिले. उडुपीत श्रीमदाचार्य, म्हणजे श्रीमध्वाचार्यांनी जसे अष्ट मठ उभारले, तसेच अष्टमठ उभारण्याचा श्रीमद्रघुचन्द्रतीर्थ गुरुवर्यांचा मानस होता. त्यानुसारे त्यांनी ४ सुयोग्य वटूंना संन्यास दीक्षा देऊन आपले शिष्य करून घेतले. परंतु ईश्वराची इच्छा वेगळीच होती. परमात्मा श्रीहरिनें स्वप्नात दर्शन देऊन स्वामींना हे कार्य पुढे न नेण्याचा आदेश दिला आणि स्वामींनी त्याचा अवलंब केला‌. कालांतराने चौघांतील एक शिष्य हरिपादी विलीन झाले. तिसरे शिष्य श्रीसंयमींद्र तीर्थ पुढे काशीच्या मूल मठी राहिले आणि काशीच्या राजाने त्यांचा सत्कार केला.

स्वामींचे द्वितीय शिष्य श्रीव्यासतीर्थ यांनी गुरु स्वामींना त्यांच्या ज्येष्ठ शिष्य श्रीलक्ष्मीनारायण तीर्थांना पुढे गुरुपीठाचा अधिकार देण्याची विनंती केली आणि स्वतः आजन्म पर्तगाळीत राहून स्वसाधना, अध्यापन सुरु ठेवून मठाचा कार्यभार सांभाळत राहिले. पर्तगाळीलाच त्यांचे वृंदावन आहे. यानुसार श्रीस्वामींनी निजशिष्य श्रीलक्ष्मीनारायण तीर्थांचा पट्टाभिषेक केला. याच श्रीलक्ष्मीनारायणतीर्थांनी पुढे मठाच्या गुरुपरंपरेस कसे नव्या उंचीस नेले व बडोद्यातील त्यांच्या कार्याविषयी आपण वाचलेच असेल.

शिष्याच्या पट्टाभिषेका नंतर लोक कल्याणार्थ, धर्म प्रचारार्थ व समाज सशक्तीकर्णार्थ स्वामी श्रीमद्रघुचंद्र तीर्थ श्रीपाद वडेरांनी प्रवास सुरु ठेवला. अशाच एका प्रवासात उत्तर कन्नडातील होन्नावर गावी राम मंदिरात निवास करत असताना ईश्वर इच्छा झाली आणि श्रीशके पौष शुक्ल १५ दुंदुभी नाम संवत्सरात (ख्रि. शके २-१-१६८३) स्वामींनी वृंदावन प्रवेश केला. सद्भक्तांचा उद्धार करत आजही ते वृंदावन होन्नावर ला आहे.

गुरुवर्यांचा महिमा व थोर व्यक्तिमत्त्वाविषयी थोडक्यात जाणून घ्यायचे असेल, तर कोंकणाभ्युदयकार श्री सागर रामाचार्यांचे पुढील श्लोक निश्चितच स्मरणीय ठरतात. हे श्लोक श्री. गिरीश प्रभु यांनी इंग्रजी व कानडी अनुवादासहित पुरवले यासाठी त्यांचे विशेष आभार. मला प्राप्त झालेल्या अनुवादाचा आधार घेऊन इंग्रजी अनुवादाचा पुन्हा मराठीत शाब्दिक अनुवाद न करता थेट मूल संस्कृत श्लोकाचाच यथाबुद्धी भावानुवाद पुढे देत आहे. जाणत्यांनी दोषांचे निवारण करून माझे मार्गदर्शन अरावे अशी विनंती.

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१) सागर रामाचार्य रचित सुनिती भागवतात आलेले गुरु श्रीरघुचंद्रतीर्थांचे वर्णन—

गोकर्णसत्क्षेत्रवरेऽनवद्यः श्रीविट्ठलं कोङ्कणविप्रवन्द्यः।

अपूजयद्यो रघुचन्द्रतीर्थः सञ्जुष्टगङ्गादिसमस्ततीर्थः ॥

यतीश्वराद्योऽखिललोकहृद्यो विरक्तिभूषः परिभूतदोषः ।

शास्त्राब्धिचन्द्रो हरिभक्तिसान्द्रो भवेत्प्रसन्नः परमो गुरुर्नः ॥

जो दोषरहित असून सर्व कोंकणी ब्राह्मणांसाठी पूज्य आहे, जो गोकर्ण या पुण्य क्षेत्रात राहून श्रीविट्ठलाचे पूजन करीत असे, ज्याने गंगादि समस्त तीर्थक्षेत्रांना भेट दिली, जो संन्यासांमधे श्रेष्ठ आहे, ज्याच्या साठी अखिल लोकाच्या हृदयात प्रेम भरलेले आहे, ज्याच्या साठी त्याची वरक्ति हेच त्याचे भूषण आहे, ज्याने (काम, क्रोधादि) सर्व दोषांना पराभूत केले आहे, जो शास्त्र सागरात चंद्राप्रमाणे झळकत आहे, ज्याची भक्ती श्रीहरि ठायीं एकनिष्ठ आहे, असा तो परम गुरु श्रीरघुचंद्र तीर्थ आमच्या वर प्रसन्न होवो.

२) सागर रामाचार्य रचित सन्नीती रामायणात आलेले गुरु श्रीरघुचंद्रतीर्थांचे वर्णन—

सन्तापं शमयन्तमांस्यपहरन्गोभिर्जगज्जीवयन्

सत्कामं परिपूरयन्खलगणान्विद्रावयन्मायिनः ।

शान्तिं साधु भजन्ननन्तकुमुदाद्यार्तिं च सन्नाशयन्

पूर्णश्रीरघुचन्द्रउत्तमगुरुर्नित्यं हरेन्मे तमः ॥

जो सर्व ताप-दुःखादींचे शमन करतो, अंधःकार पळवून लावतो, स्वप्रकाशाने जगाला चेतना प्रदान करतो, सज्जनांच्या मनोकामना पूर्ण करतो, दुष्ट-भ्रमिष्ट-मायावींना पळवून लावतो, जो शांती देतो आणि अनंत कमळाप्रमाणें असलेल्या सद्भक्तांचा संसारातील दुःखांचा नाश करतो असा तो सर्व गुणैश्वर्य युक्त (चंद्रा प्रमाणे असलेला) उत्तम गुरुवर्य रघुचन्द्र तीर्थ माझ्यातील (दोष आणि दुर्गुणरूपी) अंधःकाराचे नित्य हरण करो.

__________

अशा या महान गुरुवर्यांच्या पुण्यदिनी त्यांचे स्मरणपूर्वक त्यांचा हा संक्षिप्त चरित्ररूपी महिमा वाचून आम्हा सर्व भक्तवर्गावर हरि-वायु-गुरूंची कृपादृष्टी होवो अशी श्रीचरणीं नम्र विनंती.

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स्रष्टुमष्टौ मठान्येन महान्यत्नः कृतोऽपि सः ।

विष्णुना चोदितस्त्यक्तो रघुचन्द्रगुरुं भजे ॥

__________

विष्णुः सर्वोत्तमः सेव्यो।

वायुर्जीवोत्तमोऽपि वः ।

✒️मूळ इंग्रजी लेख: श्री. विष्णु वेंकटदास शानभाग, कलबागकार, कुमटा

✒️मराठी लेख: विजयेंद्र आचार्य, मुंब‌ई

Gurucharitra: Srimad Raghuchandra Thirtha Sripad Vader Swamiji

 श्रीमद् हनुमभीममध्वांतर्गत रामकृष्णवेदाव्यासात्मक श्रीलक्ष्मीहयग्रीवाय नमः

श्रीसीतारामचंद्रभ्यां नमः श्रीवीरविट्ठलाय नमः

Vrindana of Srimad Raghuchandra Thirtha at Honnavar

गुरुर्नारायणो व्यासः |  गुरुर्जीवोत्तमो मध्वः | 

द्वारकानाथ तीर्थार्यो | विद्यादानपरायणः|

गुरुर्विद्याधिराजो मे । विद्याधीशो गुरुर्मम।।

Punyadina smarana of Srimad Raghuchandra Teerth Sripad Vader Swamiji, 8th Peethadhipati of Sri Samsthan Gokarna Parthagali Jeevotham Matha,

सृष्टुमष्टौ मठान्येन महान्यत्नः कृतोsपि सः ।

विष्णुना चोदितस्त्यक्तो रघुचंद्रगुरुं भजे।।

Aradhana/punya dina: Pousha Shukla 15, 1604 dundubhi samvatsara, corresponding to Tuesday, 2-1-1683

Guru: Sri Digvijaya Ramachandra Tirtha

Shishya: Sri Vyasa Tirtha (did not ascend the peetha) and Sri Lakshminarayana Tirtha

Vrindavana: Honnavar

Srimad Raghuchandra teerth Swamiji was an erudite person and we can get a glimpse of  Swamiji's great personality from two verses written by Sri Sagar Ramacharya (of Konkanabhyudaya fame). 

Sri Girish Prabhu, K. has kindly given us these gems with translations into Kannada and English. I will begin with them 

1)

गोकर्ण-सत्क्षेत्र-वरेऽनवद्यः श्रीविठ्ठलं कोङ्कण-विप्रवन्द्यः |

अपूजयद्यो रघुचन्द्रतिर्थः संजुष्ट्-गङ्गादि-समस्ततीर्थः ||

यतीश्वराद्योऽखिल-लोकहृद्यो विरक्तिभूषः परिभूतदोषः |

शास्त्राभि-चन्द्रो हरिभक्ति-सान्द्रो भवेत्प्रसन्नः परमो गुरुर्नः || 

One, who is faultless, worshipped by Konkana brahmanas (Gauda sarasvata brahmanas); one who worshipped Sri Vittahala in the holiest place of Gokarna; one who visited Ganga and all other tirtha kshetras; the foremost among saints, the one loved by everyone; who wears desirelessness as a jewel; one who has conquered all passions; the one who is like the moon the ocean of shastras; the one in whom devotion towards Lord Hari is saturated; may such Raghuchandra Tirtha, the supreme saint, be pleased with us.

--Sagar Ramacharya in Suniti Bhagavath

2 

सन्तापं शमयन् तमांस्यपहरन् गोभिर्जगज्जीवयन् 

सत्कामं परिपूरयन्-खलगणान्-विद्रावयन्-मायिनः |

शान्तिं साधु भजन्-अनन्तकुमुदाद्यार्तिं च सन्नाशयन् 

पूर्णश्री रघुचन्द्र उत्तमगुरुनित्यं हरेन्मे तमः ||

The one who removes heat/grief and dispels darkness; the one who wakes up people through aphorisms/teachings; the one who fulfils the desires of sajjanas; the one who shoos away Maayins (Mayavadins); the one who removes the endless pain and afflictions related to this samsara; the one who is full of auspiciousness; let such best of the Gurus, Sri Raghuchandra, dispel my ignorance. 

(This verse compares Sri Raghuchandra Tirtha to the full moon with similar auspicious attributes. The moon removes heat and dispels darkness; moon keeps people awake through its moonlight and increases the best of the desires/helps in growing Kaama in our minds; moon removes the pain of kumudas/night lotus; the one who is full of brightness; let such best of the entities, the moon, dispel my ignorance.)

--Sagar Ramacharya in Sanniti Ramayana

Life history based on  the Guru parampara book of our Sri Math.

Guru Swamiji Srimad Digvijay Ramachandra teerth was a great tapasvi and Siddha purush and during His time rathotsava began in Partagali. Srimad Digvijay Ramachandra teerth spent His time in Rishivan (present Revan, Goa) where there is a guha (cave) for tapas. 

After Guru attained moksha in Ankola Sri Raghuchandra teerth stayed in Gokarna, worshipping Bhuvijaya Vittala along with samsthan Veera Vittal. After some time HH Sri Swamiji went on teertha yatra to the north and reached Varanasi mula math. 

Sri Swamiji spent some time bathing in Bhagirathi and worshipping Bindu Madhava. The renovation of this first math built by Adya Guru Sriman Narayana teerth was also done by Swamiji during the stay.  

From there  HH Sri Swamiji started journey back to Gokarna. On the way Swamiji visited many teerth kshetras and siddhanta prachara was done. 

After returning to Gokarna Sri Swamiji gave sanyaas deeksha to four vatus planning to make ashta mathas like Udupi Krishna mathas. But the plan was given up as Lord appeared in Swamiji's dream not to proceed further. 

One Shishya attained Haripada. The third shishya, Sri Samyamindra teerth went to our mula math in Varanasi and was honoured by the King of Kashi and the Shishya stayed there. 

Second Shishya Sri Vyasa teerth requested Guru that the adhikara to continue gurupeetha should rest with the eldest Shishya, Sri Lakshminarayan teerth. (We have read the life history recently about HH who went to Baroda). 

Sri Vyasa teerth spent His time in Partagali looking after the affairs of the math, adhyapana and sadhana. HH attained moksha in partagali and we can see the Vrindavan there. 

Sri Raghuchandra teerth swamiji handed over the Patta Shishya adhikara to Sri Lakshminarayan teerth and was travelling around the society for dharma prachara and welfare of the weaker sections. 

It was on Pousha Shukla 15, 1604 dundubhi samvatsara, corresponding to Tuesday, 2-1-1683 HH Sri Swamiji attained mukti when He was camping in Sri Ram Mandir , Honavar, Uttara Kannada, where the Vrindavana is present. 

May Sri Ramachandra-VeeraVittala bless us all with jnana, bhakti and Vairagya on reading this guru guna mahima on this auspicious day of Sri Swamiji's Aradhana 

Sri Krishnarparmastu

Ever in service of Sri Gurus 

✍️

Vishnu Venkatdas Shanbhag, Kalbagkar, Kumta.

Gurucharitra - Srimad Vasudeva Thirtha Shripad Vader Swamiji

श्रीमद्धनुमभीममध्वान्तर्गत रामकृष्णवॆदव्यासात्मक श्रीलक्ष्मीहयग्रीवाभिन्न

श्रीसीतारामचन्द्रवीरविठ्ठलाः प्रसीदन्तु

श्रीमद् वासुदेव थिर्थ श्रीपाद वडॆर् स्वामीजी 

2nd पीठाधिपति श्रीसंस्थान गॊकर्ण पर्तगाळी जीवॊत्तम मठ

***
Vasudevagurum vande raagadosha vivarjitam |
Puutagaatram mahaayaatram 
Naaraayana karodbhavam ||
***

Sri Vasudeva teertha swamiji ruled the peetha after Adya Guru Sriman Narayan teertha attained Lord's feet on Srisaka 1439 Ishwar samvatsara chaitra shukla amavasya. Sri Swamiji was on gurupeetha fora very short time. When HH was in Pandharpur He attained mukti on Srisaka 1440 bahudhanya samvatsara vaishakha shukla tritiya. (Akshaya tritiya) ( May 1517 to April 1518) HH was shishya of Adya Guru Sriman Narayana teertha for a long time. It is a miracle whereby Sri Swamiji discovered the Vatu who later became very famous in the parampara. So much so that the name was added to the title of Sri matha. This incident has been published in a book from the Math based on records found. We will see it next. 

**

The political and social environment of Goa was highly inflammatory and it was very difficult for the Hindus in general and (Brahmanas) GSBs in particular.  

Portuguese stepped in this small state in 1510. Soon afterwards the forcible conversion started . The Gowda Saraswat Brahman society could not face the cruelty of the invaders. Migration started in small batches to the nearby Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra along with the Pratimas of the family deities mostly in small boats.  One such batch had  30 boats with many families. And 3 to 4 boats  reached Kundapura in Dakshina Kannada. But the local people resisted them and did not let them in the village/town. 

It was a very strange and new environment for the new arrivals who did not even know Kannada language thereby it was tough to communicate. 

To the east of the place where the boats reached was the cremating ground and a thick forest beyond . Even in day time wild carnivorous, fierce animals were seen wandering there .   But these people had no alternative but to build small huts near the forest and live there with the kids and aged.  

To procure the daily food they sold whatever valuables were with them and whatever they had which fetched value. Many became targets for the wild animals and succumbed to the injuries. When future seemed very bleak they remembered Guru. Elderly able persons left for Bhatkal (at the time the headquarters were in Bhatkal known as Wader math) with a vinanti patra narrating the plight of the people of the community in Basroor.  Reading the letter and hearing the pitiful situation HH Srimad Vasudeva Teertha swamiji left for Basroor at the earliest possible  moment.   

Reaching Basroor, Swamiji called the local leaders and narrated the reason for the migration of the GSB people. Swamiji explained the basic decency of the GSB community people present there and the cruel forceful conversion by Portuguese. The physical and social hardship imposed by the invaders on Hindus was also narrated.  

HH Sri Swamiji convinced the local leaders about the high morals, hardworking attitude and socially responsible behaviour of the GSBs. These people will not be a burden on the local community. Rather they will work honestly with their endowed skills and will contribute gainfully.  HH Sri Swamiji asked the local people to allow the migrant GSBs to live among them. HH assured that they will contribute to the overall up-liftment of Basroor with their hard work. 

Listening to HH Sri Swamiji and impressed by the Divine personality, the local leaders decided to allow the GSB families to live in the town and work for their daily earnings.  

HH Sri Swamiji then selected a place in town and built a Dharmashala for shifting the families from the huts in the forest on an emergency basis.

 Also HH Sri Swamiji advised the GSB families to work honestly and gain a footing in the local society which has given them a livelihood. HH Sri Swamiji blessed them and said He was sure that they will come up in Basroor and will be important and gainful members and that the future is bright for all of them with their hardworking background . 

The people followed HH Sri Swamiji's advise and over time earned name and fame in Basroor. 

When Srimad Vasudeva teerth swamiji was in contact with the families He observed a young bright person in the archaka family among them. 

Prodded by Divine impulse HH asked the parents for permission to take the boy along with  Him. With the parent's permission the boy was brought to the math and Sanyasa deeksha was given on Srisaka 1439 Magha shukla chaturthi.

He was named Sri Jeevottama teertha.

Soon afterwards HH Sri Swamiji left for teertha yaatra and when in Pandharpura kshetra attained mukti which is famous for the Vitthal temple.  

Sri Swamiji's reign as peethadhipati was about a year as majority of the life was spent as shishya under the founder Guru Sriman Narayana teertha. The incident narrated above which is recorded in the math history lays the love and concern Swamiji had for the GSB society before us.

May we be blessed by the greatness of Guru and Lord's blessings and protect us in our life. Also may it speed us on our way to earn their grace doing our saadhana. 

*****

ಶ್ರೀ ವಾಸುದೇವ ತೀರ್ಥರು ತಮ್ಮ ಗುರು ಶ್ರೀಮನ್ನಾರಾಯಣ ತೀರ್ಥರ ವೃಂದಾವನ ಪ್ರವೇಶ (ಶ್ರೀ ಶಕ ೧೪೩೯ ಈಶ್ವರನಾಮ ಸಂವತ್ಸರ ಚೈತ್ರ ಅಮಾವಾಸ್ಯಾ)

ನಂತರ ಗುರುಪೀಠಾರೋಹಣ ಮಾಡಿದ ನಂತರ ಅಲ್ಪಕಾಲವೇ ಇದ್ದು ಪಂಡರಪುರ ಭೀಮಾನದೀ ತೀರದಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಶಕ ೧೪೪೦ ಬಹುಧಾನ್ಯ ಸಂವತ್ಸರದ ವೈಶಾಖ ಶುಕ್ಲ ತೃತೀಯಾಗೆ ( ಅಕ್ಷಯ ತದಿಗೆ) ವೃಂದಾವನಸ್ಥರಾದರು. ಅಂದರೆ ಗುರುಪೀಠದಲ್ಲಿ ಕೇವಲ ಒಂದು ವರ್ಷಮಾತ್ರ ಇದ್ದರು. ( ಮೇ ತಿಂಗಳು

೧೫೧೭ ರಿಂದ ಅಪ್ರಿಲ್ ತಿಂಗಳು ೧೫೧೮). ಆದ್ಯ ಗುರುಗಳಾದ ಶ್ರೀಮನ್ನಾರಾಯಣ ತೀರ್ಥರ ಜತೆಯಲ್ಲೇ ದೀರ್ಘಕಾಲ ಶಿಷ್ಯರಾಗಿದ್ದರು. ಇವರೇ ಶ್ರೀಮಠದ

ಶಕಪುರುಷರಾದ ಜೀವೋತ್ತಮ ತೀರ್ಥರನ್ನು ಜಗತ್ತಿಗೆ ನೀಡಿದ್ದು. ಅದೂ ಕೂಡ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಚಮತ್ಕಾರಿಕ ದೈವೀ ಘಟನೆ. ಇದರ ಮೊದಲು ಗೋಮಾಂತಕದ ರಾಜಕೀಯ ಸ್ಥಿತಿ ಮತ್ತು ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಅದರಿಂದಾದ ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ತುಮುಲತೆಯನ್ನು ಶ್ರೀಮಠವು ೧೯೯೯ ರಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಕಾಶಿಸಿದ ಯುಗಪ್ರವರ್ತಕ ಶ್ರೀ ಜೀವೊತ್ತಮ ತೀರ್ಥರು ಎಂಬ ಪುಸ್ತಕದಲ್ಲಿ ವಿವರಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಅದರ ಆಧಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ಚಿಕ್ಕದಾಗಿ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ನೋಡೋಣ.

೧೫೧೦ನೇ ಇಸವಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಪೋರ್ಚುಗೀಸರು ಗೋಮಾಂತಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಲಿಟ್ಟರು. ಶೀಘ್ರದಲ್ಲೇ ಬಲಾತ್ಕಾರಿಕವಾಗಿ ಮತಾಂತರ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭವಾಯಿತು. ಸಾರಸ್ವತ ಸಮಾಜವು ದಿಕ್ಕೆಟ್ಟು ತಮ್ಮ ಕುಲದೇವತಾ ಪ್ರತಿಮೆಗಳ ಸಂಗಡ ದೋಣಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕರ್ಣಾಟಕ, ಕೇರಳ ಹಾಗೂ ಮಹಾರಾಷ್ಟ್ರದ ಹಲವು ಪ್ರದೇಶಗಳಿಗೆ ವಲಸೆ

ಹೋಗತೊಡಗಿದರು. ಇದರಲ್ಲಿ ವರೇಣ್ಯಪುರದ ಒಂದು ಪರಿವಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ಅರ್ಚಕ ಕುಟುಂಬವು ಜತೆಗೆ ಒಟ್ಟೂ ಮುವತ್ತು ದೋಣಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾಗುತ್ತ ದಕ್ಷಿಣಕ್ಕೆ ಹೊರಟಾಗ ಅವುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ೩-೪ ದೋಣಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ಜನರು ಕುಂದಾಪುರದ ಹತ್ತಿರ ದಡ ಸೇರಿದರು. ಅನ್ನ ನೀರಿಲ್ಲದೇ ಕಂಗೆಟ್ಟ ಅವರು ಸೇರಿದ ಪ್ರದೇಶದ ಸ್ಥಾನಿಕ ಜನರು ಅವರನ್ನು ಹತ್ತಿರ ಬರಲು ವಿರೋಧಿಸಿದರು. ಭಾಷೆಯೂ ಬರದೇ ಅವರೆಡೆ ಸಂಭಾಷಣೆಯೂ ಕಷ್ಟವಾಗಿತ್ತು. ದೋಣಿಗಳು ಬಂದು ಸೇರಿದ ಪೂರ್ವಕ್ಕೆ ಸ್ಮಶಾನ ಅದರಾಚೆ ಘೋರ ಅರಣ್ಯ. ಹಗಲಲ್ಲೂ ಹಿಂಸ್ರ ಪಶುಗಳ ಗರ್ಜನೆ ಕೇಳಿಸುತ್ತಿತ್ತು.  ಕೊನೆಗೂ ದಾರಿಕಾಣದೇ ಆ ಮೂರು ನಾಲ್ಕು ದೋಣಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ಶಿಶುಗಳಿಂದ ಮುದುಕರ ಸಂಗಡ ಅವರು ಅಲ್ಲೇ ಅರಣ್ಯದಲ್ಲೇ ಗೂಡುಕಟ್ಟಿ ಇರಲಾರಂಭಿಸಿದರು.

ಹೊಟ್ಟೆಯ ಹಸಿವಿಂಗಿಸಲು ಅನ್ನ, ದಿನಕಳೆಯುವದಕ್ಕೆ ಆವಶ್ಯ ವಸ್ತುಗಳನ್ನು ತರಲು ಮೈಮೇಲಿದ್ದ ಬಂಗಾರದ ಒಡವೆಗಳನ್ನೂ , ಪಾತ್ರಪರಿಕರಗಳನ್ನೂ ಮಾರಿ ಕೆಲಸಮಯ ಕಳೆಯಲಾಯಿತು. ಇತ್ತ ಬಂದವರಲ್ಲಿ ಕೆಲವರು ಹಿಂಸ್ರ ಪಶುಗಳಿಗೆ ಬಲಿಯಾದರು. ಅಂತೂ ಮುಂದೇನು ಎನ್ನುವ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆ ಭೂತಾಕರವಾಗಿ ಎದುರು ಬಂದು ನಿಂತಾಗ ಗುರುಗಳ ಸ್ಮರಣೆಯಾಯಿತು. ಕೂಡಲೇ ಕೆಲವರು ವಿಜ್ಞಾಪನಾ ಪತ್ರವನ್ನು ಬರೆದು ಭಟಕಳಕ್ಕೆ ಓಡಿಬಂದು ಬಸರೂರಿನ ಹತ್ತಿರ

ಅರಣ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ಗೌಡಸಾರಸ್ವತ ಕುಟುಂಬಗಳ ದೀನಪರಿಸ್ಥಿತಿಯನ್ನು ನಿವೇದಿಸಲಾಯಿತು. ತತ್ಕ್ಷಣ ಶ್ರೀ ವಾಸುದೇವ ತೀರ್ಥರು ಬಂದವರಿಗೆ ಅಭಯವನ್ನುನೀಡಿ ಬಸರೂರಿಗೆ ಹೊರಟರು.

ಬಸರೂರು ಮುಟ್ಟಿದ ಶ್ರೀ ವಾಸುದೇವ ತೀರ್ಥರು ಅಲ್ಲಿಯ ಸ್ಥಾನಿಕ ಜನರನ್ನು ಒಟ್ಟುಗೂಡಿಸಿ ಗೋಮಾಂತಕ ಪ್ರದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ವಿದೇಶೀಯರಿಂದ ನಮ್ಮ

ಸಮಾಜದ ಮೇಲಾಗುತ್ತಿರುವ ಆಕ್ರಮಣ, ಬಲಾತ್ಕಾರದ ಧರ್ಮಾಂತರ ಇತ್ಯಾದಿಗಳನ್ನು ಮನಮುಟ್ಟುವಂತೆ ವಿವರಿಸಿ ಹೇಳಿದರು. ಮತ್ತು ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಬಂದು ಸೇರಿದ ನಿರಾಶ್ರಿತರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ತಿಳಿಸುತ್ತಾ ಈ ಗೌಡಸಾರಸ್ವತ ಸಮಾಜದ ಜನ ನಿರುಪದ್ರವಿಗಳು ಅಷ್ಟೇ ಅಲ್ಲ ನೈತಿಕ ಮತ್ತು ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಪ್ರಜ್ಞೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಉನ್ನತ ಸ್ಥಾನವಿದ್ದವರಾಗಿ ಅವರನ್ನು ಬಸರೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಸ್ಥಾನಿಕರು ತಮ್ಮ ಜನರ ಸಂಗಡ ವಾಸಿಸಲು ಅವಕಾಶ ಕಲ್ಪಿಸಿಕೊಡಬೇಕು.

ಈ ಸಮಾಜದ ಜನರು ಸಮಾಜಕ್ಕೆ ಯಾವುದೇ ತರದ ಹೊರೆಯಾಗದೇ ತಮ್ಮ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಕಷ್ಟಸಹಿಷ್ಣುತೆ ಮತ್ತು ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ಷಮತೆಯಿಂದ ಇಡೀ ಊರಿನ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿಗಾಗಿ ದುಡಿದು ಬಸರೂರಿನ ವೈಭವವನ್ನೇ ಮೆರೆಸುತ್ತಾರೆ ಎಂದು ಆಶ್ವಾಸನೆ ಕೊಟ್ಟರು. ಶ್ರೀ ವಾಸುದೇವ ತೀರ್ಥರ ವರ್ಚಸ್ಸಿಗೆ ಒಳಗಾಗಿ, ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಬಂದು ಸೇರಿದ ಗೌಡಸಾರಸ್ವತ ಕುಟುಂಬಗಳ ನೈಜ ಪರಿಸ್ಥಿತಿಯನ್ನು ಅರ್ಥಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡ ಸ್ಥಾನಿಕಜನರು

ಸಾರಸ್ವತ ಜನರಿಗೆ ಪುನರ್ವಸತಿಯನ್ನೂ ಜೀವನೋಪಾಯಕ್ಕೆ ಅವಕಾಶವನ್ನೂ ಕಲ್ಪಿಸಿ ಕೊಡುವದಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಆಶ್ವಾಸನೆಯಿತ್ತರು. ಶ್ರೀ ವಾಸುದೇವ ತೀರ್ಥರು   ಒಂದು ತುರ್ತು ಧರ್ಮಶಾಲೆಯನ್ನು ಕಟ್ಟಿಸಿ ಅರಣ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ಜನರನ್ನು ಸುರಕ್ಷಿತ ಸ್ಥಳಕ್ಕೆ ಇರಲು ಅವಕಾಶ ಕೊಟ್ಟು ಗೌಡಸಾರಸ್ವತ ಸಮಾಜದ

ಜನರಿಗೆ ಆಶೀರ್ವಚವನ್ನಿತ್ತರು. ನೀವು ಈಗಿದ್ದ ಸ್ಥಳದಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಜನರೊಡನೆ ಹಾಲು ಸಕ್ಕರೆಯಂತೆ ಬೆರೆತು ಕಷ್ಟಪಟ್ಟು ದುಡಿದು ಭೂಮಾತೆಯ ಸೇವೆಯನ್ನು ಮಾಡಿ. ಮುಂದಿನ ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಮಗೆಲ್ಲ ಉಜ್ವಲ ಭವಿಷ್ಯವಿದೆ ಎಂದು ಭವಿಷ್ಯವಾಣಿಯನ್ನು ನುಡಿದರು. ಕಾಲಕ್ರಮೇಣ ಅದುನಿಜವೂ ಆಯಿತು.

ಆಗ ಅಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಅರ್ಚಕ ಕುಟುಂಬದ ಒಬ್ಬ ತೇಜಸ್ವೀ ವಟುವಿನತ್ತ ಶ್ರೀ ವಾಸುದೇವ ತೀರ್ಥರು ಆಕರ್ಷಿತರಾಗಿ ಅವನನ್ನು ಪರೀಕ್ಷಿಸಿದರು. ತಂದೆ ತಾಯಿಗಳ ಸಮ್ಮತಿಯನ್ನು ಪಡೆದು ದೈವೀ ಪ್ರೇರಣೆಯಂತೆ ಅವನನ್ನು ತಮ್ಮ ಸಂಗಡ ಕರೆದುಕೊಂಡು ಬಂದು ಶ್ರೀ ಶಕ ೧೪೩೯ ಮಾಘ ಶುದ್ಧ ಚತುರ್ಥಿಯ ದಿನ ಸುಮುಹೂರ್ತದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂನ್ಯಾಸದೀಕ್ಷೆಯಿತ್ತು ಶ್ರೀ ಜೀವೋತ್ತಮ ತೀರ್ಥರೆಂದು ನಾಮಕರಣ ಮಾಡಿದರು. ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಮತ್ತೆ ಪುನಃ ತೀರ್ಥಯಾತ್ರೆಗೆ ಹೊರಟು ಪಂಢರಪುರದಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀ ವಿಠ್ಠಲನ ಪದದಲ್ಲಿ ವೃಂದಾವನಸ್ಥರಾದರು

 ಕೇವಲ ಒಂದು ವರುಷಕ್ಕಿಂತಲೂ ಕಡಿಮೆ ಪೀಠಾಧಿಪತಿಗಳಾಗಿದ್ದರೂ ಈ ಮೇಲಿನ ಒಂದೇ ಒಂದು ಸನ್ನಿವೇಶವು ಶ್ರೀ ವಾಸುದೇವ ತೀರ್ಥರು ತಮ್ಮ ಸಮಾಜದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಹೊಂದಿದ ಕಾಳಜಿಯನ್ನೂ , ಅವರ ಕರ್ತವ್ಯ ನಿಷ್ಟೆಯನ್ನೂ, ವರ್ಚಸ್ವೀ

ಪ್ರಭಾವವನ್ನೂ ನಮ್ಮೆದುರು ತೆರೆದಿಡುತ್ತದೆ.

ಈ ಶ್ರೀ ವಾಸುದೇವ ತೀರ್ಥರ ಜೀವನ ಚರಿತ್ರೆಯ ಕಿಂಚಿದ್ದರ್ಶನವು ನಮ್ಮೆಲ್ಲರ ಶ್ರೆಯೋಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿಗೆ ಕಾರಣವಾಗಲಿ

ಇಂತೀ ಗುರುಚರಣಾಂಬುಜದಾಸ- ವಿಷ್ಣು ವೇಂಕಟದಾಸ್ ಶ್ಯಾನಭಾಗ. ಕಲಬಾಗಕಾರ, ಕುಮಟಾ

✍ हरिगुरुचरणांबुज दास  Vishnu Venkatdas Shanbhag, Kalbagkar, Kumta.

Srimad Sukratindra Mahima Stuti by Sri Bhadragiri Achyuthdas - English Translation by K Girish Prabhu

 

English Translation of Sri Sukratindra Mahima Stuti by Sri Bhadragiri Achutdas 

H.H SHRIMATH SUKRATHINDRA THIRTHA SWAMIJI 

Young Sukrathindra Yati, his education incomplete, was nervous about taking on the responsibilities of Shree Kashi Math Samsthan. He prayed and praised Vyasa Raghupati to protect the fame, wealth and prestige of the Math. He also prayed to Sri Madhavendra Thirtha, - “There is no one to help me and You are my Saviour”. The next three years were difficult.

Although young He had the knowledge and learnt everything by the grace of the Lord Vedavyasa. He went to Kashi (Varanasi) and the people there were very pleased to get the darshan of their new Guru Sukrathindra Thirtha. It was their good fortune that He was young and not interested in worldly desires. The scholars of Kashi said that this Yati would certainly be a saviour to protect the Veda Dharma. He studied the Parampara. He cried as he looked at the river Ganges, remembering his Gurus, and bowed with respect.

He gave a talk to the Kashi community that his first plan was to renovate and develop religious centres such as the temple and Math. He told the audience that businessmen should earn wealth with honesty and use it for good causes. He described to them the rules for the Moola Math in Kashi and how to make arrangements for pilgrims who had to be looked after well. He told them that there would be Satsangs and havans in the Math every day. The people of Kashi heard

Swamiji and were happy. He further said that since Knowledge was the beauty of Kashi, the schools would be protected.

Swamiji left Varanasi for Bombay and went to Shri Kashi Math there. The Goud Saraswath community was very happy to know about Swami’s arrival. Righteous people of Chatrapura (Kodial, Mangalore) invited Swamiji to come to Kodial. He sent Rayas Patra through them. He travelled with his disciples by train and reached Kodial (Mangalore). The assembled people were very happy to get the darshan of the young Yati and listen to the Veda Mantras and musical instruments. The children were also very happy. Everyday there was a festival in Mangalore. One was fortunate to personally experience the worship performed by our Swamiji. He gave religious discourses, Mantra and Mudra Dharana,Prasad and organized community meals.

This was the Kali Age and people were not virtuous; they always fought and quarrelled. There was no mutual understanding between each other. Goud Saraswaths neglected their duties.Now, they were educated, imitated the West,spoke English and wore western-style clothes. English people convert many Goud Saraswaths to Christanity. Goud Saraswaths ate and enjoyed non-vegetarian food. We behaved like Westerners and our minds became polluted ( brashta ).Once, there was a lawyer Prabhu who was very proud of himself. He had relations with other communities. He complained to Swamiji that Goud Saraswaths were eating with people of the lowest caste and that those who did must be excommunicated. He got Swamiji, who trusted him, to sign a statement to that effect. Prabhu’s actual (hidden) intention was to take Swamiji to the court of law in Mangalore and have people disrespect Swamiji and the Math. The court asked Swamiji to attend the hearing in person. To protect the prestige of the Math, Swamiji and some of His disciples left Mangalore that night for Kerala without telling anyone. He worried and prayed to Lord Vedavyas to save and preserve the integrity and reputation of the Samsthan. He passed through Ullal and Kumbla. He worshipped the Lord during the day and travelled during the night. It was all God’s will. At that time, it was Guru’s wrath and His tears flowing from the eyes that flooded the river Netravati in Bantwal which became submerged in water.

They eventually reached Alleppey, Kerala. Prabhu won the case and the court fined Swamiji Rs.101. But Swamiji went to the higher court of law and after ten years won the case on appeal. The court of law said, “Prabhu must pay all the money Swamiji spent on the case”. However, Swamiji rejected the money because He then stated, “Prabhu was also one of our disciples of Shree Kashi Math Samsthan”. The opposing party surrendered to the holy feet of Swamiji. Prabhu became sick and when he went to take darshan of Swamiji, He forgot Prabhu’s wicked actions,blessed him with love and gave him Akshata. He kept his head on Guru’s feet and prayed for forgiveness. Prabhu got his health back and he was happy thereafter.

Sukrathindra Thirtha Swamiji was determined to renovate the temples of Varanasi (Kashi), Rameshwar, Moodabidri, Kodaganur, Mulki, Kapu, Bantwal, Mangalore, Kumbla, Karkal, Munkoor and Panambur. Swamiji was very simple, yet very powerful in thought. He was quiet and did not get angry with anyone. He was not jealous and befriended His enemies. He was always patient and everyone respected Him. He was the king among ascetics. He said that one must be content to serve food to a hungry man as that action was Hari pooja. Thus, during festivals He would send provisions to poor Brahmins who were very lucky to get it as Prasad from Swamiji. One young student surrendered to Swamiji and asked. “I have no time to do Sandhya Vandhana three times a day. Is it wrong if I do all three Sandhya Vandhanas at one time”? Swami said “Child, if you eat three dinners at one time you will not be able to digest it, so you must do it three times a day”.

Sukrathindra Swamiji practiced Astanga Yoga (eight types of dicipline of Patanjali). They are

1. Yama : to abstain from killing, untruths, theft and passion of property. Practice of celibacy.

2. Niyama : to observe purity and practice of Tapasya, the study and knowledge of scriptures with surrender to the Supreme Lord.

3. Asanas : to be practiced regularly to steady the mind for concentration and to discipline the body

4. Pranayama : to do breathing exercises, which improve the condition of the lungs, heart and nervous system, and bring about good health.

5. Prathyahara : to look inward while shutting out all outward impressions from the mind.

6. Dharana : to concentrate on any object, which could be a light within the mind or a form or image of God used in prayer.

7. Dhyana : to meditate involving an unceasing flow of thoughts and ideas towards this object. Such meditation leads to the final state known as Samadhi.

8. Samadhi : when the subject of the meditation and the object become one. Sanyasis who ignore the Siddhis (powers) and progress further attain superconsciousness or Nirvikalpa Samadhi. When the mind is in full union with God, the individual becomes a liberated soul.

(Numbers 3 (Asana), 4 (Pranayama) and 5 (Prathyahara) are preliminary steps to Yoga. The last three steps Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi comprise Raja Yoga.)

Yatis of all Ashta Mathas of Lord Krishna temple in Udupi, the Gokarna Parthagali Mutt and the Chitrapur Math respected Sukrathindra Thirtha Swami. He walked everyday on the sea shore and breathed the air of the sea breezes. He rode horses in the afternoon. He loved to go to the great pilgrim centre Anantha Narayana Pura (Trivandrum)in Kerala.

Some elderly people once came to visit Swamiji to ask Him questions about family life. Swamiji smiled and said, “It is enough talk about the worldly life. You had sons and grandsons, so now it is the time to think of God and Spiritual knowledge”. 

One elderly rich person King of Cochin, held on to Guru’s feet and asked Him kindly, “Swami, I have got lots of wealth to spend for the temple”. Swami replied, “Offer it to the community so that Lord Venkatesh will protect your family. I am a Sanyasi and I am detached from desires. All the wealth and vehicles are only for Lord Vyasa Raghupati. I am His Dasa and He is our refuge”. The King was pleased, did salutations to Swamiji and offered all his wealth to the Lord. It is also known that disciples such as one Keshav (a fruit seller), and businessmen Kamath and Manjunath became wealthy by the grace of Swami.

One day Swamiji was reflecting in His mind that He should take a Shishya who would take care of the Dharma Peeta and all the responsibilities. Swamiji told His intimate to his well wisher Subba Bhatt (a priest well versed in the Vedas) that He longed to take a Shishya. Subba Bhatt said, “There is a young good boy called Sadashiva, the likes of whom it is difficult to find”. Swami asked Bhatt to get all information about Sadashiva. Bhatt found that the boy Sadashiva (born March 31, 1926) was intelligent in Sanskrit and English; that he performed Sandhya Vandhana and Saligrama Pooja, chanted Dwadasha Nama, and looked beautiful with the Mudra and a Tilak. He studied well, preferred to be alone and went to the temple every day. Bhatt told Swamiji that first they would check the horoscope of Sadashiva. Then Bhatt met the Sadashiva’s father Sri Ramdas Shenoy in Ernakulam.

All the people in Ernakulam knew Sri Ramdas Shenoy. Bhatt told him that Sukrathindra Thirtha Swamiji wanted the horoscope of Sadashiva. Ramdas Shenoy became motionless, thinking, “He is my loving son, without mother’s love ( Sadashiva’s mother passed away when he was 4 years of age.). What can I tell the messenger of Swami? I must obey the orders of Swami as I am His disciple”. So, he gave Sadashiva’s horoscope to Bhatt. The horoscope had all the qualities of Sanyas and the wealth of renunciation. Subba Bhatt met the young boy who got frightened when he knew Subba Bhatt’s mission. Sadashiva Shenoy said to Bhatt, “I am not able to tell you anything, ask my father”. Ramdas Shenoy was confused and thought how could this young boy look after the Dharma Peeta ? Both father and son were very virtuous. Father and son agreed to his future as Shishya. Then they went to meet Sukrathindra Swami who was elated at the decision. Sukrathindra Swami said, “It is all the will of Lord Vyasa Raghupati”. Then He sent the Rayas Patra to all His disciples to come to Mulki 

The people of Mulki were very happy that our Swami Sukrathindra was going to initiate a Shishya-, they felt blessed and their town was holy. They decorated the town and offered coconuts, vegetables, grain, rice and money. They tied green colour festoons and decorated the town with banana trees, areca nut bunches, sugarcanes and flowers. There were so many powerful lights one could not determine if it was day or night. Houses were filled with guests.

When the day for initiating a Shishya was fixed, Swami Sukrathindra Thirtha arrived in Mulki. They performed all the ceremonies on the bank of river Shambhavi. The sounds of Veda chanting,instrumental music, Bhajans, dance, crackers and fireworks reached the skies.

Sukrathindra Swami initiated the Shishya on May 24, 1944 with Ashtakshari Maha Mantra andcalled him SRI SUDHINDRA THIRTHA. All the people were very fortunate with the darshan of the two Swamis, Sukrathindra and Sudhindra. Then the devotees offered kanike (currency), peetamber (silk clothes) and multicolour garlands to Swamis. Scholars gave religious discourses and praised both Swamis. Then everyone had a sumptuous dinner. It is true that one who chants the name of the new Swami Sudhindra Thirtha will get everything one desires and live without fear or worry.

Both Swamis Sukrathindra and Sudhindra highly treasured the images (idols) of Ugra (Fierce) Narasimha of Mulki, Lakshmi Narasimha of Ullal and Bhadra Narasimha of Manjeshwar. Both Swamis did the Kumbhabhisheka to Bhadra Narasimha in Manjeshwar and stayed there further for Chathurmasa.

Swami Sukrathindra inaugurated the gold Dwaja Stambba (golden flag post) in Tharavoora (Kerala). Both Sukrathindra and Sudhindra Swamis travelled together for four years and renovated the Maths.

When they were in Cochin Swami Sukrathindra was not doing well. His disciples called the best doctors for treatment. However, He was not cured. Because of His illness, Sukrathindra Thirtha one day said, “Today our Shishya will worship Lord Vyasa and Rama”. That day He took the Prasad from the Shishya. Swami Sukrathindra asked Swami Sudhindra to recite the Upanishads. Swami Sukrathindra heard the recitation with the single-pointed concentration and chanted the name of Lord Narayana. Guru Swami was notdestined to live longer and Swami Sukrathindra Thirtha attained Mukti in Cochin, on Sunday July 10, 1949. 

He left all the responsibilities of Shree Kashi Math Samsthan to the young Swami Sri Sudhindra Thirtha.

Multitudes of people from various cities arrived by the thousands in Cochin to take the last darshan of Swami Sukrathindra Thirtha. They

constructed the Vrindavan and an image of Lord Hanuman was installed on it. Swami Sudhindra Thirtha praised Guru and gave large donations and dakshina to many Brahmins. Devotees who remember Sukrathindra Thirtha’s holy feet will not suffer in the cycle of birth and death and they will be liberated.

Here ends the sixth chapter of GuruCharitamrutha  : Sri Kashi Math Parampara

Sri Krishnarpanamastu

(Kannada) Srimad Indirakantha Thirtha Stotram by Kumta Narayana Acharya - Commentary by Shri Vishnu Shanbhag, Kumta

 ।।श्री हरिवायुगुरुभ्यो नमः।।

।। ಶ್ರೀ ಹರಿವಾಯುಗುರುಭ್ಯೋ ನಮಃ. ।।

||ಶ್ರೀ ಇನ್ದಿರಾಕಾನ್ತ ತೀರ್ಥಾಷ್ಟಕ||

ಶ್ರಯಾಮೋ ವಯಂ ಶ್ರೀನ್ದಿರಾಕಾನ್ತತೀರ್ಥಾನ್ ಸ್ಮಿತಜ್ಯೋತ್ಸ್ನಯೇನ್ದೂಕೃತಾ- ಸ್ಯಾಮ್ಬುಜಾತಾನ್| 

ಯತೀನ್ದ್ರಾನ್ ಮಹಾತೀರ್ಥಯಾತ್ರಾನ್ ಕೃತಾರ್ಥಾ ಯದ್ಯಙ್ಘ್ರ್ಯಬ್ಜ ಸಂದರ್ಶನಾಪ್ತ್ಯಾ ಸಮಸ್ತಾಃ ||೧||

ಯಾರ ಮುಖಕಮಲವು ಹುಣ್ಣಿಮೆಯ  ಬೆಳದಿಂಗಳನ್ನು ಚೆಲ್ಲುವ ಚಂದ್ರನಂತೆ ಸದಾ ಆಹ್ಲಾದಕರವಾಗಿರುತ್ತೋ,

ಯಾರು ಯತಿಧರ್ಮಪಾಲನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಕುಟಪ್ರಾಯರಾಗಿ ತಮ್ಮಲ್ಲೇ ಸಕಲ ತೀರ್ಥಕ್ಷೇತ್ರಗಳ ಸನ್ನಿಧಾನವಿದ್ದರೂ ವ್ಯಾಪಕವಾಗಿ ತೀರ್ಥಾಟನೆ ಮಾಡಿದರೋ,

ಹಾಗಾಗಿ ಯಾರ ಪಾದಕಮಲಗಳ ದರ್ಶನ ಸೇವೆಗಳಿಂದ ಧರ್ಮ ಅರ್ಥ ಕಾಮ ಮೋಕ್ಷಾದಿ ಚತುರ್ವಿಧ ಪುಣ್ಯ ಪುರುಷಾರ್ಥಗಳು ಸಿದ್ಧಿಸುತ್ತವೆಯೋ

ಅಂತಹ ಶ್ರೀಮದ್ ಇನ್ದಿರಾಕಾನ್ತತೀರ್ಥ ಶ್ರೀಪಾದರ ಪೂಜ್ಯ ಚರಣಗಳನ್ನು ನಾವು ಆಶ್ರಯಿಸುತ್ತೇವೆ ||೧||

ನಮಾಮೋsಧುನಾ ಶ್ರೇಯಸೇ ಚಿತ್ಕಬನ್ಧಂ ಮುನೀನ್ದ್ರೇನ್ದಿರಾ-ಕಾನ್ತತೀರ್ಥಾಖ್ಯ ಸಿನ್ಧುಮ್ | ಸುಶಾನ್ತಾದಿರತ್ನಂ ಸಸದ್ವಾಕ್ತರಙ್ಗಂ ಸದ್ಯೋದ್ಯನ್ಮುಖೇನ್ದುಂ ಸುವಿದ್ಯಾಪಗಾಙ್ಗಮ್ ||೨||

(ಸ್ತೋತ್ರಕಾರರು ಈ ಎರಡನೇ  ನುಡಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀಗಳವರನ್ನು ಮಹಾನ್ ಸಾಗರಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋಲಿಸಿ ವರ್ಣಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ)

ಶ್ರೀಮದ್ ಇನ್ದಿರಾಕಾನ್ತ ತೀರ್ಥ ಶ್ರೀಪಾದರೆಂದರೆ ಒಂದು ಮಹಾನ್ ಸಾಗರವಿದ್ದಂತೆ.

ಈ ಸಾಗರದ ಜಲವು ಜಡವಾದ ನೀರಲ್ಲ ಅದು ಪೂರ್ಣಜ್ಞಾನರೂಪ.  ಶಮ, ದಮ, ಉಪರತಿ, ತಿತಿಕ್ಷುಗಳಂತಹ ಅಗಣಿತಗುಣ ಸಮೂಹಗಳೇ ಅಂತಹ ಸಾಗರದಲ್ಲಿರುವ ರತ್ನಗಳ ರಾಶಿಗಳು

ಶ್ರೀಗಳವರಲ್ಲಿ ನಿತ್ಯ ಸಿದ್ಧವಾದ ನಿಗ್ರಹ ಮತ್ತು ಅನುಗ್ರಹಗಳೇ ಈ ಸಾಗರದ ಭೋರ್ಗರೆಯುವ ಅಲೆಗಳು.

ಇಂತಹ ಸಾಗರದ ಮೇಲೆ ಸರ್ವದಾ ಉದಯವಾದ ಪ್ರಸನ್ನ ಮುಖವೆಂಬ ಚಂದ್ರಮನ ಕಾಂತಿ ಎಲ್ಲ ಕಾಲದಲ್ಲೂ ಹರಡಿಯೇ ಇದೆ.

ವೇದ ವೇದಾಂಗ ಮತ್ತು ಇತರ ಸರ್ವ ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರಗಳೆಲ್ಲ ಈ ಸಾಗರಕ್ಕೆ ಬಂದು ಸೇರುವ ನದಿಗಳು.

ನಮ್ಮೆಲ್ಲರ ಕಲ್ಯಾಣಸಾಧನೆಗಾಗಿ ಇಂತಹ ಈ ಮಹಾಸಾಗರಕ್ಕೆ ನಮಸ್ಕರಿಸುತ್ತೇವೆ. ||೨||

ಭಜಾಮೋ ಭವವ್ಯಾಧಿಭಙ್ಗಾಯ ಭಾನುಂ ವಿರಕ್ತೇನ್ದಿರಾಕಾನ್ತ- ತೀರ್ಥಾಭಿಧಾನಮ್ | ಧರಾಚಾರಿಣಂ ಹೃತ್ತಮೋನಾಶಶೀಲಂ ಶ್ರಿತಸ್ವಾಂತ- ನೇತ್ರಾಬ್ಜ-ಸನ್ತೋಷಮೂಲಮ್||೩||

ನೋಡುವವರ ಕಣ್ಣುಗಳಿಗೆ ಆನಂದವನ್ನುಂಟು ಮಾಡುತ್ತ ,

ಸೇವಿಸುವವರ ಹೃದ್ಗುಹೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ದಟ್ಟವಾಗಿ ತುಂಬಿದ ಅಜ್ಞಾನಾಂಧಕಾರವನ್ನು ನಾಶಪಡಿಸುತ್ತ ,

ಧರೆಯೊಳು ಜ್ಞಾನಪ್ರಕಾಶವನ್ನು ಬೀರುತ್ತ ತಿರುಗುವ ಶ್ರೀಮದ್ ಇನ್ದಿರಾಕಾನ್ತ ತೀರ್ಥರೆಂಬ ಸೂರ್ಯನನ್ನು ನಾವು ಭಜಿಸುತ್ತೇವೆ.

ಪಿಬಾಮಾತ್ರ ವಾಕ್ಕೌಮುದೀಂ ತಾಮಮನ್ದಾಂ ಸಮೇತ್ಯೇನ್ದಿರಾಕಾನ್ತ ತೀರ್ಥಾಖಿಲೇಂದುಮ್ | ದ್ವಿಜನ್ಮಾನ್ತರಾಣ್ಯಾ- ಶ್ರಿತಾನನ್ತಮೇನಂ ಯಯಾ ಸ್ಯಾನ್ಮನಸ್ತಾಪಹಾನಿಃ ಸಮಾನಮ್ ||೪||

ನಮ್ಮ ಜನ್ಮಜನ್ಮಾಂತರದ ಪುಣ್ಯದಿಂದ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣರಾಗಿ ಹುಟ್ಟಿದ್ದೇವೆ. (ಆಗ ನಮ್ಮ ವಿಶೇಷ ಕರ್ತವ್ಯವೇನು? ಎಂದರೆ ಹೇಳುತ್ತಾರೆ.)

ನಾವೆಲ್ಲ ಚಕೋರ ಪಕ್ಷಿಗಳು. 

ಗಗನದಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀಮದ್ ಇನ್ದಿರಾಕಾನ್ತ ತೀರ್ಥರೆಂಬ ಚಂದ್ರಮನು ಉದಯಿಸಿದ್ದಾನೆ.

ಶ್ರೀಗಳವರ ಸಜ್ಞಾನಪ್ರದ ವಾಗ್ವಿಲಾಸವೆಂಬ ಬೆಳದಿಂಗಳನ್ನು ಸಂತತ ಕುಡಿಯುತ್ತಿರೋಣ. 

ಅದರಿಂದ ನಮ್ಮ ದೇಹಕ್ಕೂ ಮನಸ್ಸಿಗೂ (ಈ ಜನನ ಮರಣರೂಪೀ) ತಾಪವು ಶೀಘ್ರವೇ ಪರಿಹಾರವಾಗುವದು.

 

(ಚಕೋರ ಪಕ್ಷಿಯು ಚಂದ್ರನ ಬೆಳದಿಂಗಳನ್ನು ಮಾತ್ರ ಕುಡಿದು ಜೀವಿಸುತ್ತದೆ ಎಂದು ಆಖ್ಯಾಯಿಕೆ ಇದೆ.)

ಶುಭಾಯೇನ್ದಿರಾಕಾನ್ತತೀರ್ಥಾಖ್ಯ ಮೇಘಃ 

ಸುಶಾಸ್ತ್ರಾಮ್ಬುಧೇರ್ಲಬ್ಧ- ಸಂವಿಜ್ಜಲೌಘಃ | 

ಹರಿಪ್ರೇರಿತೋ ಧೀರನಾದೋsಸ್ತು ನೋsದ್ಯ 

ಸ್ಮಿತೇರಂಮದೋ ಭಕ್ತಕೇಕ್ಯೋಘಹೃದ್ಯಃ ||೫||

ಸಚ್ಚಾಸ್ತ್ರವೆಂಬ ಸಮುದ್ರದಿಂದ ಹೊರಟ ಜ್ಞಾನರೂಪವೆಂಬ ಸಂವಿಜ್ಜಲದಿಂದ ತುಂಬಿದ. (ಸಂವಿಜ್ಜಲ ಎಂದರೆ ಆ ಜಲ ಜಡವಲ್ಲ.)

ಆ ಮೇಘವು ಶ್ರೀಹರಿ ಮತ್ತು ಪ್ರಾಣರೂಪಿ ವಾಯುವಿನಿಂದ ಚಲಿಸುತ್ತಿದೆ. 

ಧೀರ ಗಂಭೀರವಾದ (ಶ್ರೀಮನ್ನಾರಾಯಣನ ಗುಣೋತ್ಕರ್ಷವನ್ನು ಸದಾ ಬಿತ್ತರಿಸುವ) ವಾಣಿಯೆಂಬ ಮೇಘನಾದ ಹೊಂದಿದ. 

ಶ್ರೀಗಳವರ ಮುಖದಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಮಂದಹಾಸವೇ ಆ ಮೋಡದ ಮಿಂಚು 

ಆ ಮೇಘಧ್ವನಿಗೆ ಹರ್ಷಿತರಾಗಿ ಎದ್ದು ಕುಣಿಯುವ ಭಕ್ತವೃಂದವೇ 

ನವಿಲುಗಳ ಗುಂಪಾಗಿದೆ. (ಮಳೆಯ ಸೂಚನೆ ಸಿಕ್ಕ ಕೂಡಲೇ ತಮ್ಮ ಗರಿಗೆದರಿ ನವಿಲುಗಳು ನರ್ತಿಸುತ್ತವೆ, ಅಲ್ಲವೇ!)

ಅಂತಹ ಆ ಶ್ರೀಮದ್ ಇನ್ದಿರಾಕಾನ್ತ ತೀರ್ಥರೆಂಬ ಮೇಘವು ಸದಾ ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಪೋಷಿಸುತ್ತ ಕಲ್ಯಾಣವನ್ನು ಮಾಡಲಿ. ||೫||

ಕರೋತ್ವಿನ್ದಿರಾಕಾನ್ತ - ತೀರ್ಥಾಭಿಧಾನಂ ಸರೋಜ್ಞಾನವಾರ್ಯ - ಶ್ರಮಾನ್ನೋsಕ್ಷಿಮೀನಮ್ | ಅರಾಗೋರುನಕ್ರ ಮಹಾಕ್ಷೇತ್ರಯಾನಂ ಕರಾಸ್ಯಾಙ್ಘ್ರಿಪದ್ಮಮ್ ದ್ವಿಜೈಃ ಸೇವ್ಯಮಾನಮ್ ||೬||

ಸಚ್ಚಾಸ್ತ್ರಜ್ಞಾನರೂಪಿ ಜಲದಿಂದ ಪೂರ್ಣವಾದ 

ಸುಂದರವಾದ ನಯನಗಳ ಕೃಪಾದೃಷ್ಟಿಯೆಂಬ ಮೀನುಗಳಿಂದ ತುಂಬಿದ 

ಐಹಿಕ ವಿಷಯಗಳೆಂಬ ಘೋರವಾದ ಮೊಸಳೆಗಳೇ ಇಲ್ಲದಿರುವದರಿಂದ ಯಾರಿಗೂ ಭಯವನ್ನು ಉಂಟು ಮಾಡದ 

ತೀರ್ಥಕ್ಷೇತ್ರಗಳೆಂಬ ಹೊಲಗಳಿಗೆ ನೀರುಣಿಸಿ ಸಮೃದ್ಧವನ್ನಾಗಿ ಮಾಡುವ 

ಯಾರ ಮುಖ, ಕೈ, ಕಾಲುಗಳೆಂಬ  ಸುಂದರವಾದ ಕಮಲಗಳಿಂದ ಶೋಭಾಯಮಾನವಾಗಿದೆಯೋ

ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣರೂಪಿ ಹಂಸಪಕ್ಷಿಗಳು ಎಲ್ಲಿ ಆಶ್ರಯಪಡೆದು ಸೇವೆಯನ್ನು ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿರುತ್ತಾರೋ 

ಅಂತಹ ಆ ಶ್ರೀಮದ್ ಇನ್ದಿರಾಕಾನ್ತ ತೀರ್ಥರೆಂಬ ದಿವ್ಯ ಸರೋವರವು ನಮ್ಮ ಜನ್ಮಜನ್ಮಾಂತರಗಳ ಶ್ರಮವನ್ನು ನಾಶಮಾಡಲಿ ||೬||

ಅಲೋಲೇನ್ದಿರಾಕಾನ್ತ ತೀರ್ಥೇನ್ದ್ರಶಾಲಃ ಸುಭಕ್ತ್ಯಾಲವಾಲೋ ವಿರಕ್ತ್ಯಾದ್ಯಮೂಲಃ | ಕ್ಷಮಾತ್ವಕ್ ಶಿವಾಯೈಷ ಭೂಯಾತ್ಪ್ರಶಸ್ಯಃ ಪ್ರಮಾಸತ್ಸುಮೋ ನೋsಮೃತೋತ್ಕೃಷ್ಟ ಸಸ್ಯಃ ||೭||

(ಶ್ರೀಮದ್ ಇನ್ದಿರಾಕಾನ್ತತೀರ್ಥ ಶ್ರೀಪಾದರನ್ನು ಕಲ್ಪವೃಕ್ಷವೆಂದು ಇಲ್ಲಿ ವರ್ಣಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ)

ಶ್ರೀಹರಿಗುರುಗಳವಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀಗಳಿಗೆ ಇರುವ ಅಖಂಡ ಭಕ್ತಿಯೇ ಈ ವೃಕ್ಷಕ್ಕೆ ಇರುವ ಭೂಮೂಲ. (ಗಿಡವನ್ನು ನೆಡುವಾಗ ಮಣ್ಣು ಗೊಬ್ಬರ ಹಾಕಿ ಹಸನಾಗಿ ಮಾಡುತ್ತೇವೆ. ಆ ಭೂಮೂಲ) 

ಶ್ರೀಹರಿಯನ್ನು ಬಿಟ್ಟು ಉಳಿದ ವಿಷಯಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಇರುವ ವಿರಕ್ತಿಯೇ ಬೇರು. 

ಕ್ಷಮೆಯೇ ಆ ಮರದ ತೊಗಟೆ ಅಥವಾ ಕಾಂಡ 

ಜ್ಞಾನವೇ ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತವಾದ ಸುಂದರ ಸುಗಂಧ ಪುಷ್ಪಗಳು 

ಸುಧೃಢವಾದ ಇನ್ದಿರಾಕಾನ್ತ ತೀರ್ಥರೆಂಬ ಈ ಕಲ್ಪವೃಕ್ಷಕ್ಕೆ ಮೋಕ್ಷವೆಂಬ ಸ್ವಾದಿಷ್ಟ ಫಲವು ಶ್ರೀಗಳವರನ್ನು ಸೇವಿಸುವವರಿಗೆ  ಸಿದ್ಧವಾಗಿದೆ .

ಮಠೇಶೇನ್ದಿರಾಕಾನ್ತ ತೀರ್ಥಾಃ ! ಪರೇsಪಿ ಸ್ಥಿತಾನ್ನ್ಯಸ್ಯ ಮಾಠೇಶ್ಯಮದ್ಧಾವರೇsಪಿ | ಶ್ರಿತಾನಿ ಪ್ರಧಾನಾನಿ ವಶ್ಚಿದ್ವಿರಕ್ತೀ ಕ್ಷಮಾ ಶಾನ್ತಿದಾನ್ತೀ ದಯಾದಿಷ್ಟ ಭಕ್ತೀ ||೮||

ಅಹೋ! ಶ್ರೀಮಠದ ಪೀಠವನ್ನು ಅಲಂಕರಿಸಿದ ಶ್ರೀ ಇಂದಿರಾಕಾಂತ ತೀರ್ಥ ಮಹಾಸ್ವಾಮಿಗಳವರೇ!! 

ನೀವು ಶಿಷ್ಯ ಸ್ವಾಮಿಗಳವರಲ್ಲಿ ಮಠಾಧಿಕಾರವನ್ನು ನೀಡಿದ್ದರೂ 

ಜ್ಞಾನ, ಶಾಂತಿ, ಇಂದ್ರಿಯನಿಗ್ರಹ, ಸಂತುಷ್ಟಿ, ವೈರಾಗ್ಯ, ಕ್ಷಮೆ, ದಯೆ ಮತ್ತು ಶ್ರೀಹರಿಗುರುಗಳವರಲ್ಲಿ ಆಚಲಭಕ್ತಿ ಎಂಬ ಈ ಎಂಟು ಶಕ್ತಿಗಳೇ ತಮ್ಮ ಅಷ್ಟ ಪ್ರಧಾನಿಗಳಾಗಿದ್ದರೂ,  ಇವು ಕೂಡ ತಮ್ಮಲ್ಲೇ ಆಶ್ರಯವನ್ನು ಪಡೆದಿವೆ.

ಶ್ರೀನ್ದಿರಾಕಾನ್ತತೀರ್ಥಾನಾಮಿದ-ಮಷ್ಟಕಮಿಷ್ಟದಮ್ | 

ತಚ್ಛಿಷ್ಯ ಕುಮಟಾ ನಾರಾಯಣಾಚಾರ್ಯೇಣ ನಿರ್ಮಿತಮ್ ||೯||

ಶ್ರೀಗಳವರ ಶಿಷ್ಯರಾದ ಕುಮಟಾ ನಾರಾಯಣಾಚಾರ್ಯರು   ಶ್ರೀಮದ್ ಇನ್ದಿರಾಕಾನ್ತತೀರ್ಥ ಪೂಜ್ಯಚರಣರ ಈ ಎಂಟು ನುಡಿಗಳ ಸ್ತೋತ್ರವನ್ನು ಸಕಲರಿಗೂ ಅವರವರ ಇಷ್ಟಸಿದ್ಧಿಗೋಸ್ಕರ ರಚಿಸಿದರು.

ಶ್ರೀ ಮಧ್ವೇಶಾರ್ಪಣಮಸ್ತು 

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ಶ್ರೀಗಳವರ ಅಸಾಧಾರಣ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿತ್ವವನ್ನು ನಾನಾ ಉಪಮಾನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ವರ್ಣಿಸಿ ಆ ದಿವ್ಯ ಮೂರ್ತಿ ಕಣ್ಣೆದುರು ಬಂದು ನಿಲ್ಲುವಂತೆ ಅದ್ಭುತವಾಗಿ ವರ್ಣಿಸಿದ ಶ್ರೀ ನಾರಾಯಣ ಪೈ ಅವರಿಗೂ ನಮ್ಮೆಲ್ಲರಿಂದ ಸಾಷ್ಟಾಂಗ ನಮಸ್ಕಾರಗಳು.

ಕುಮಟಾದಲ್ಲಿ ಪೈ ಎಂಬ ಗ್ರಹಸ್ಥ  ಕುಟುಂಬದಲ್ಲಿ ಜನಿಸಿ ಶ್ರೀಮದ್ ಇಂದಿರಾಕಾಂತ ತೀರ್ಥ ಶ್ರೀಗಳವರ ಪೂರ್ವಾಶ್ರಮದ ತಂದೆಯವರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ನರಸಿಂಹ ಪುರಾಣಿಕರಲ್ಲಿ ವೇದ, ವೇದಾಂಗ, ವೇದಾಂತಾದಿಗಳನ್ನು ಕಲಿತು ತಮ್ಮ ಅಪ್ರತಿಮ ಪ್ರತಿಭೆಯಿಂದ ಆಚಾರ್ಯ ಎಂಬ ಬಿರುದನ್ನು ಶ್ರೀಗಳವರಿಂದ ಪಡೆದು ನಾರಾಯಣ ಪೈ ಅವರು ನಾರಾಯಣ ಆಚಾರ್ಯರೆಂದೇ ಮುಂದೆ ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧರಾಗಿ ಮಠದಲ್ಲಿದ್ದು ಜೀವನ ತುಂಬಾ ಸೇವೆಯನ್ನು ಮಾಡಿ ಧನ್ಯರಾಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ.  

ಇಂತಹ ಮಹಿಮಾನ್ವಿತರು ಬರೆದು ಇಟ್ಟ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯದ ಮಾರ್ಗದರ್ಶನದ ಪಡೆದು ಆ ಮಹಾನ್ ಯತಿವರ್ಯರ ಗುಣಗಳನ್ನು ಕನ್ನಡೀಕರಿಸಲು ಸುಸಂಧಿಯನ್ನಿತ್ತ ನಿಮ್ಮೆಲ್ಲವರಿಗೂ ಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳನ್ನು ಅರ್ಪಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ