Professional Documents
Culture Documents
PREFACE and enlivened our culture. In this age of party power, we may fail to
comprehend the resplendence of their personality. Our Paragons of
1. The Place Of History In Education Dharma were taking the country, the language and the people to
India, the land of Dharma attained freedom. In this new age, greater heights through inspiration and vigour. They lived an
revolutionary changes are required in many fields. During our illustrious life, and their talk used to be mellifluous. Their preachings
freedom movement, one of the leaders wanted our history to be were supreme. Their reminiscence is invigorating. They built and
rewritten. In the post independent era, what has come to occupy a ruled monarchies; they trounced the invincible enemies. Through
pre-eminent position for all round development is education. In this their powers of asceticism the entire universe stood amazed. With
task, history plays a very important role in presenting us a vivid their mystic powers, they created a heaven in the world. They
and comprehensive picture of the past besides inspiring our thoughts foreordained our future and enriched our language. They
about the present and the future. Education sans knowledge of manifested God through the powers of Bhakthi, blissfully dancing,
history is like expecting a blind to behold beauty. Every branch of singing, weeping, laughing, goading others to weep and laugh
knowledge like Science, Philosophy, Art, Music has a history and religioso. They endowed the universe with the wealth of the
above all the history of History. Today a historian tries to Shastras, gave the world their valuable preachings. Their deeds
understand the past, present and the future as did an ascetic and words, lives, inspiration and expiration were filled with sanctity,
through clairvoyance. The fact that Indians held the view that which culminated in the greatest service to mankind and served
history had more to do than the famous Mahabharatha and as panacea. They were not power hungry nor overbearing nor
the Vedas, corroborates the pre-eminence attached to history. egoistic nor selfish. They showed how a man can scale great
heights if he becomes well versed in culture, embraces the perfect
CÌiÉWûÉxÉmÉÑUÉhÉÉprÉÉÇ uÉåSÇ xÉqÉÑmÉoÉ×ÇWrÉãiÉç | “ has been a widely accepted
Dharma. Their entire life pivoted on love and affection. They were
view.
embodiment of kindness. All their acts and deeds were motivated
by devotion. It is with this, they saw the God gyrate to the pluck of
2. Special Features Of Dharmic History
their monochord. They were totally detached from mundane
History is multifaceted. It may be said that the history of saints allurements. Even though such divine souls could bestow
has occupied a special place. In India, there is hardly any difference invaluable wealth abundantly on the universe, they were
among Saints, Philosophers, Mystics, Devotionalists and themselves in penury. They were great scholars but taciturn.
Religionists, whereas elsewhere the word Saint means Devotionalist. Though kings and rulers respected them greatly and looked to
It is because each is not only interdependent on the other but also them for guidance, they remained insulated from power. This is
is complementary. As Dharma which is vital for the Society has how they led their lives.
been the very foundation of all the above whether it is literature,
life; all are governed by the principles of Dharma. Therefore history This is what conferred supremacy on our culture. It is through
of our Dharma and history of the saints become very important. their divine influence that our country could emerge as a guiding
What is needed to understand the essence of our culture is a correct spirit for the world. They established peace in the world through
knowledge of these. Thus in India, only history of Dharma took very their spiritual power. Thus it became to be called a ‘Dharmic Age’
strong roots and flourished. The Mahabharatha became a unique (Dharmayuga). Their ascetic powers instilled high thoughts even in
history of Dharma amongst all the books of history in the world. the profligate. The very tiger known for its ferocity eschewing its
3. Dharmic People instinctive traits revelled in the company of its own prey peacefully.
A gory indulgence like war did not transgress Dharma. Love
Let us consider some of the important aspects of the history of pervaded the entire world. Co-operation, courtesy, demeanour, the
Dharma. Our Dharma has evolved into a live institution. It is the quintessence of Society made life wholesome. Now the country,
Dharmic people who often rejuvenated the institution of Dharma
It is Dharma, which integrates everybody’s prosperity on the 3. The words religion, law, legal obligation are derived from Latin roots having allied meanings
ligare, legere, lex, legis. That which holds a thing together makes it what it is, prevents it from
one hand and on the other compliments individual attainment. The breaking up and changing it into something else, its characteristic function, its peculiar property,
fundamental principle of Dharma is ‘Practice’, its very pulsation. its fundamental attribute, its essential nature is its Dharma, the law of its being primarily.
-S.S.O
Dharma is like the thread of a garland. Man devoid of Dharma like Dharma is that which uplifts to heights of honour and greatness, Dharma is that scheme, that
network of the duty of each which holds together all the children of Manu in organic cohesion
_________________ and prevents them from falling apart in pieces, in ruin and destruction.
1. The storing up of personal and communal possessions, nay, the very forming and holding -The Science of Social Organisation
together of a social organisation at all, would be wholly impossible if the inherent selfishness of Dharma really means something more than religion. It is from a root word which means to hold
the individual were not restricted and restrained by Dharma, if rights were not controlled by together! it is the inmost constitution of a thing, the law of its inner being. It is an ethical
Duty, if the production and distribution of wealth were not governed by Law, and the liberty of concept which includes the moral code, righteousness, and the whole range of man’s duties
each were modified by the needs of all. -The Science of Social Organisation and responsibilities. -The Discovery of India, P.51
1. bYkPr^Zkh bkPPg l^kaOknh l^kbYkPr^Zkkv TkHkkPnlFkP~ bk^kvr l^klSk lTkakvSkkh bZknh .PZkkv@v^kzAùAù@kh‹ 1. SZkklTkAùg bk^krYkv^kwPP~ ZkRvPRlXk#k†WRPYk~‹
2. Wk|ñk^kWkkvSklSkakOkYk~ YkTknHkYk~ l^kSkkZkYknRYkkURv^kh -XkkCk^kPYk~ Tk»ZkTkSZkk’Ykl^kP~ Aù†#FkP~ lÓùZkkVú\kYknUk#TknPv‹‹ -YkTkn 6. 82
Prajnatheertha’s guru understood everything through his mystic The bliss Prajnatheertha derived from the manifestation and
powers. There was a generous flow of affection towards his disciple. the preachings of his guru was inexplicable for him. A new energy
He himself averred – “My son! I am aware of your difficulties. You pervaded his body. It aroused great enthusiasm in him and he
really deserve to enjoy my blessings. You are endowed with the _________________
grace of God. The course you were forced to choose under the 1. Tkk@kZkOkh U@bb^kkYkm bk’ZkekkTkklR bkßnOkh‹
most trying circumstances was not wrong. I am overwhelmed by PbZk RkbkkvbYZkcYk~ bk’ZklYk’ZknUkbkkÉk^kPrPkYk~‹‹ -YklOkYkgHkl@ 8-26
everything would be looked upon with derision just as a feat of 1 Rv^kkTk~ Xkk^kZkPkTkvTk Pv Rv^kkXkk^kZkgPn ^kh‹
magic. For a common man there needs to be a solid support to U@bU@Yk~ Xkk^kZkgPh ÌkvZkh U@Yk^kk¶bZkQk ‹‹
come alone…..The allegory about Prahlada narrated by you during 1l\klBkPYkv^k UnTks\klBkPYk~ AnùPh ‹‹
(2) Anuvyakhyana
VIII. Stotras and Others
(3) Nyayavivarana
(1) Dwadasha Stotra
(4) Anu Bhashya
(2) Nrusimha Nakha Stotra
(4) Jayantee Nirnaya By then Acharya thought that the era of his presence before
the eyes of the people was coming to an end. As ordained by him,
(5) Yathi Pranava Kalpa Sri Naraharitheertha brought the idols of Sri MoolaSeethaRama
(6) Sadachara Smrithi from the treasury of Gajapathi and handed over them to Acharya.
Acharya had worshipped these idols in his earlier two incarnations.
Now after worshipping these very sacred idols along with the idol
Thus, Acharya wrote and taught thirty seven sacred books.
of DigvijayaRama, being worshipped by him daily, for a period of
One day when he was teaching, it got dark. Acharya pointed his
two months and twenty days, handed over them to
toe forward. Immediately there sprang a beam of light as brilliant
Padmanabhatheertha together with Mahasamsthana.1
as that of Sun.
Earlier while giving sanyasa to his younger brother
Acharya being a great prophet, had the omen that vice would
Vishnutheertha, he had also bestowed sanyasa on seven others
be rampant in the world owing to the loss of his works caused by
so that each in bimonthly terms performed the sacred rituals for
the vicious influence of Kali. He knew that incarnation of Goddess
the idol of Krishna installed by him at Udupi.2 Acharya gave the
Durga was inevitable to destroy the wicked. He thought of
idols to them as set out below:
protecting Dharma before such incarnation. He had all his works
etched on copper foils, hid its capsule under the ground at a place
called ‘Kadatala’ and installed an idol of Lord Krishna on it. As Name Idol Mutt
Vishnutheertha, younger brother of Acharya was in deep meditation 1. Vishnutheertha Bhoovaraha Sode
at Kumaraparvatha, Acharya issued a mandate that it should be
his brother’s mission to recover the hidden capsule and propagate 2. Ramatheertha Vitthala Shirooru
the philosophy again.
3. Hrishikeshatheertha Rama Phalimaru
As would behove a saint, Acharya while touring places walked
distances along with an ox carrying his works. It is needless to 4. Vamanatheertha Narasimha Kanooru
say that the ox carrying Acharya’s sacred works was most
fortunate. 5. Adhokshajatheertha Vitthala Pejawara
Eagerly desiring for such a fortune, the angel Indra guised as
ox had always been beside Acharya. Poornaprajna had great 6. Narasimhatheertha Kaleeya Mardana Adamaru
affection for the ox. While he was teaching, the ox used to hear
7. Janardhanatheertha Kaleeya Mardana Krishnapura
very advertently. One of the students of Acharya, wondering how
intricate Acharya’s works were, asked “Is there any one competent 8. Upendratheertha Vitthala Puthige
enough to render his commentary on them?” With a smile, Acharya
pointed at the ox. Responding to Acharya’s fun, that student also
for fun cursed the ox with death. When the curse spelt death on
Acharya entrusted the tradition of his guru to his devotee
the ox, Acharya recited Dwadasha Stotra efficacious enough to _________________
save one from the jaws of death, and brought back the dead ox to 1 ¢TkmPYk~ Tk@cl@lXkdknOkkbkbkmPYk~ Ìkm@kYkYk~ BkCkHklRTkklTk UolHklZk’^kk ‹
life. It was this Indra in the guise of ox who incarnated as Sri îìbbkTk~ l^kUn\k îRWHkTkkXkPmQkr’^kYk~ UoHkkYk~ AnùéYkcPmlYklPò^kkRmP~ ‹‹ - Tk@cl@bPkvÇkYk~
Jayatheertha and became popular as Teekakritpada with his 2. Later Sri Vadiraja popularly known as ‘Bhavisameera’ extended the period to two years in
commentaries on Acharya’s works. keeping with the change in times. The same system is in vogue now.
9. Vageeshatheertha
_________________ (Pramathi of 1398 – Sarvajith of 1406)
1 bknSkk ^kk ULTkmZkk ^kbknSkk ^kk Uk\kTkmZkk ‹
Raghunathacharya was his name in poorvashrama. It is evident
2 Tk #kWRkWSkkw CkkNkh Tk Fk lTkCkYkFkFkkrbkn FkPn@kh from the Charamashloka on him that he was a great scholar. He
Tk Fk TZkkZkv ÉkkwNkh Tk Fk l^klRP ^kv<k ¢lU ^kZkYk~ ‹ was at the helm of affairs of Mahasamsthana only for a period of
U@Yk~ ÌkmYk’UoOkrÉklYklPCknéAùkéOZkbk@lOkYk~ _________________
ÉkUÆkkYkkTZkkhbYkh lAùYklU Fk ^kRgPkvlU YkcPkYk~ ‹‹ There is one more text UÉeÉã Ç S ì q ÉÑ Ì lÉSæ Í vÉMüqÉç |
consented to sanyasa. He was renamed ‘Vibudhendratheertha’ 1 ¢Qk Aùk#kmYk~ Ékl^kìbZk l^kWknSkxæbZk SkmYkPh ‹
after formal bestowal of sanyasashrama. This name became Hk\UhÉk^kPrPkTk\Ukv Wkcnekw^kkrlRlXk†#Fk@g ‹‹ - ¢FkkrCklPÓùYkh
meaningful. Though Digvijayarama inherited from Acharya had been 2 This is narrated as follows in Gurukathakalpatharu written by a disciple of Uttaradi Mutt
the main idol of the Mutt, as the idols of MoolaSeethaRama which PPbPn @kYkFkgækBZkPmQkkr bkkYk|kHZkYkkCkPYk~ ‹
Naraharitheertha brought from the treasury of Gajapathi of Kalinga Apù’^kkYknRkRRnh ÌkmYklçWknSkxævXZk .^k Fk || 23||
state were very ancient, worshipped by Chathurmukha Brahma, lTkZkkrOkbkYkZkv ÉkkÈkv @kYkFkgæ YknTkm#^k@kh ‹
those which had passed all the four yugas, they became the Zk@Ckkv\kYknUkCk’Zk PÇkbQkklTkRYkWk|^n kTk ~ ||29||
presiding deities of Mahasamsthana, its symbol. Xkkv SksYklOkYknBkkh bk^kvr ÌkoZkPkYkbYkRk#kZkh‹
After being bestowed ashrama, Vibudhendratheertha himself was l^kWknSkxækYkckgPkvsbYkTYkLv YknBZkklXkYkklTkTkh ||30||
_________________ Anù\kAùOZknUr TkkYkvP bYkkPrSkYkrOOkYkglR@v ‹
* It is learnt from the tradition that this Raghunatha Bhatta was Ramachandra lTkdkm¶Zk Rv^kYkgHkoakkYk~ lTkSkkZkkvUbAù@kTklU ||31||
theertha’s nephew in his poorvashrama.
Proceeding from there, and after completing several pilgrimage *5. Honnamatti in Kushthagi region.
tours, the swamiji came to Vijayanagar in A.D.1513 and set his *6. Herakallu in Tekkalakote region (banks of Tungabhadra).
camp on the southern side of Vijayavitthala temple. Then Ramaraya,
*7. Tholali in Lakshmeeshwara region (banks of Tungabhadra).
the grandfather of Aliya Ramaraya was enjoying preponderance in
*8. Kammarakatte of Mallur in Basavapatna region.
the state. He extended his hearty welcome and hospitality to swamiji.
The delighted swamiji blessed him. Sri Ramanavami was then just *9. Chikkamorate of Rettehalli region on the banks of Kumudvathi.
a few days away. Mahabhisheka was to take place at the Mutt. The whole gathering wonderstruck at the wisdom of the king in
Ramaraya who learnt about this approached swamiji and requested offering the gift so magnanimously to the right person greatly
with due reverence “I understand that Mahabhisheka is to happen admired him. — “Why such great gifts for me?” asked swamiji.
in the Mutt. This is my great fortune. Your Holiness should grace “Your Holiness, it is not for you but for my good.” “It is alright.
an ordinary mortal like me with the great opportunity of doing such Whatever given to coffer of Raghupathi will not be without fruit.
rare service. Your Holiness must celebrate SriRamanavami here The benefit to you will be many fold”. So saying, swamiji blessed
only. Let the prosperity and wealth swell in this empire of Karnataka him.
through Mahabhisheka of Moolarama. This is all I beseech swamiji After a brief stay there, the swamiji continued his tour. The
to bless”. Pausing for a moment, the swamiji consented. The swamiji was a great ascetic, an ocean of knowledge, a worshipper
swamiji thought that it is appropriate to perform Mahabhisheka of through his inner soul. His routine circumscribed the philosophy
Moolarama in the precincts of Vijayavitthala at Pampakshetra the that “conduct itself is the divine pilgrimage, expression – the chant
sacred land of Hanumantha on the banks of Tungabhadra popular of Lord Hari’s name, waters drunk – ablution, the daily feeding of
as Kishkindhapattana for three yugas. the stomach – oblation”. Wherever he saw groves verdant with
The preparations for Ramanavami went on hurriedly and in all fruits and flowers, he just used to dedicate them to the Almighty.
_________________ So, in all moments he was in Divine rapture.
1 Zk#FkAùk@kvU^kkbkvTk lÇk^kk@Yk~ XkoÉkRldkOkYk~ ‹ _________________
lÇk^kk@YknU^kkbkvTk XkoÉkRldkOk Aùkl@OkkYk~ bkn@æx ZkkvlCkTkkYk~ -Arc.Report 1944, P.139. *. Mysore Arc.Report 144.p.92 - 103
_________________ 1. PRAHLADA
1 EjYDjAuÑ~|:j‰Aj"DoÚj;j +à;j" d|Dj=j;jÇ;jbš !AjÚj" e|Ôu Eu|f;oŠÚu :
#Új?oT <jÚjDzGÇ=z:jÈ<o:j<j Dj":j<j" TYBjAj"~ úPÓoP =jû:jÈYÚj;u iÈ|Dj"]k|à;jÈÚj The Almighty told the Devathas that there needs to be a
AjÚj] Dj=j‰Dj":jÚj =jÛu;jåååå presupposition of a situation where Prahlada is made to pass
_________________ _________________
1 ¤RZkkbP UKm@cvYk UpQ^kmSk@UZk‰PSk@kFk@wHkrTkkwDkwh‹ ¢lXk^kg< 1 l^kl\kBZkXkoYkkw ÉkQkYkgAùn Ykk@Yk~ @vBkklYkYkkYk~ ¡ £lP bkgULvlP‹
£Pm^k Wkk\kAùbZk ^ZkPTkkvçxAùKTkkQk TkkYk PkPYk~‹‹ -@k.l^k 3-48 lUÇkklTkZkn‘Ph UnTk@Wk|^kmÅkkYk\UvAùQkYk~ bkk CknOkUoOkrbkgekk‹ - @k. l^k 3-55
Venkanna by then had completed learning Amara, Shabda, 5. Family Life, Penury
Poems. His disposition underwent a lot of transformation particularly
after his return from the Mutt which looked strange. He always let Venkannacharya lived happily with his wife for sometime in his
his mind dwell on the Divine thought as a daily routine. He wished village. But the financial embarrassment got severe. When the royal
that he too performed poojas like swamiji did. He had special patronage seized, his father himself had suffered from extreme
devotion for the idol of Lord Moolarama placed in the middle and poverty in his last days. After the demise of his father, his elder
being worshipped at the Mutt. Having learnt about the Lord’s powers brother Gururajacharya was hardly managing the affairs of the family
and having heard about the story of the idol, he used to believe with the help of his brother-in-law. Venkata Bhatta’s worry became
that the idol too had such powers. two fold particularly after his marriage. While the woes of looking
after himself were difficult to sustain, there came another to depend
Gururaja celebrated the Upanayanam of his younger brother
on him. With sufficient knowledge he had acquired having studied
Venkanna. After his Upanayanam, Venkanna too went along with
under his brother-in-law; carving a niche for him as a scholar in the
his elder brother for studies under his brother-in-law
eyes of the society, taking recourse to teaching and seeking support
Lakshminarasimhacharya. His studies began just as the Lord
from families to earn a living would have been the natural course
Krishna was studying under Sandeepanyacharya. Besides the
for Venkata Bhatta. But the run-of-the-mill kind of life little suited a
endearing Venkanna used to play with other boys in close
unique soul like him. He developed great penchant for acquiring a
association. He used to be the first among all the boys in every
still higher level of scholarship. That apart there arose in him intense
game. His dexterity was quite conspicuous in the particular game
desire to universally propagate the intricacies of Madhwa
of touching his fellow players, with his breath on hold. Even the
philosophy, the eloquence of Teekakritpada and the powers of the
elders were getting surprised noticing the fine coordination he
Lord. Further yearning to constantly worship the Lord, God of all
displayed in his inspiration and expiration. After the study of literature
the worlds, deeply entrenched in his heart. But his poverty became
in histrionics, grammar, logic and philosophy also were studied.
_________________
Venkanna expertised in study of the Vedas too. Finally, he acquired
1 l^k^kvAùTkwUnOZkl^kTkmlPRkldkOkm UPm#kXkk^kÉkYknBkk lTkHkkCknOkkh‹ bknHkkP
proficiency even in music. YkkÇkk ¢lU #kkvXkTkkApùPvh bkYkvP@kbPv bkVú\kk £^kkbkTkv‹‹ -@k. l^k 4-42
Famine:- After some years of swamiji’s sanyasa, political turmoil 16. Tour and Miracles
overtook Cholamandala. In A.D.1642 Vijayaraghavanayaka, the
nayak of Tanjore had to encounter the invasion of the kings of In olden times in spite of absence of convenient modes of
Madurai, Vellore, Mysore, Bijapur. Besides suffering the defeat, transport it was incumbent on the exponents of Dharma to
he had to enter into a treaty to save his life. All the hoard of grains undertake tour all over the country with the mission of spreading
and the treasure of the state were plundered. At this juncture, the _________________
draught stricken state was gripped by famine owing to the withering 1 ;oº;jBjAjCo~<ur‹|;jù Djbd;u Au"|]^=j\Ôu Aj"Eo;jO"Ajà:o‹ - IÔj<o‹;nkj;oDjÚj"å
crops. Vijayaraghavanayaka was very generous like his ancestors 2 Ej":jAE j búO" R›\=jÔu :jà]:j"‰èjA"j eAj"<u‹
j j Ôj"@d;j Új:"j <jAt
_________________ _________________
1. He too was poorvashrama brother of Sri Sumatheendra. His younger brother was
2 Xkk^Zkbkg#kZkYkckv Ckné^kg#kv R#krTkÌknlPU@kbbknYkP{ækh‹ Garudavahana Lakshminarayanacharya. He has composed Vibudhendravijaya.
PbZk bkkQkrAùlYkRYk~ bkAù\kYk~ bZkklR’Zk^kv’Zk ApùP^kkTk~ ApùlPbkkQkrYk~‹ -@k. l^k 8-13 - Publisher
The Sameera Samaya Samvardhinee Sabha held at The festivities of Navarathri went on with pomp and geity at
Kumbhakonam deserves to be etched in golden letters in the history Gadwal. When the swamiji was at Manvi, Sri Gururaja appeared in
of the Mutt. All the famous scholars of 1930 in South India had his dream and ordained him to return to Mantralaya.
converged at the conference. Towering scholars such as Elathur Accordingly, the swamiji arrived at Mantralaya. He took ill a few
Krishnacharya, Kapisthalam Deshikacharya, Virupaksha Shastri days after his arrival at Mantralaya. Instead of improving, his
(who later became the pontiff of Koodali Sringeri Mutt), Abhinava condition turned severe. The swamiji purported that Sri Gururaja
Bhanabhatta, R.V.Krisnamacharya, Doddaballapuram wanted him to return to Mantralaya only to grace him with place in
Vasudevacharya, Tiruvadi Vijayeendracharya, Vaidyanatha Shastri, his sacred vicinity. On the fourth day of Vaishakha Shuddha in
Chakravarthi Iyengar had adorned the conference. Sreemukha Samvatsara, the swamiji bestowed sanyasa on Dewan
The arrangement for Mahasamaradhana had been done well Srinivasamurthyacharya, a scholar of the Mutt. Next day the swamiji
under the supervision of Srinivasamurthyacharya. administered Pranava Mantra to him and named him
‘Suyameendratheertha’. Blessing his disciple, the swamiji said, “You
All the three days of the conference witnessed special debates will have the absolute blessings of Sri Gururaja and you will have
in Nyayashastra. The phrase mÉzÉÑ l ÉÉ rÉeÉå i É in Vyuthpatthivada the fortune of doing special service to Sri Gururaja. Be here in
became the topic for debate. When the discussion became hot, Mantralaya only and continue doing your service. Let your
the swamiji intervened and gave apt and acceptable interpretation. endeavours be fruitful always”.
Even Kapisthalam Deshikacharya lauded the grand and majestic
eloquence and style of interpretation of the swamiji. Though he
*****