Ramabhatta and Gowri were a pious couple living in Huvinakere near Udupi. Desirous of a child, they sought the blessings of Sri Vagisha Tirtha, the pontiff of Sode Math of Udupi. The saint blessed them and told them that their first-born will be a son who would belong to the Math! The couple were taken aback! However, the saint consoled them saying that if the child was born inside the house he would be with them; but if the child was born outside the house, he would belong to the Math. The couple agreed. Soon Gowri became pregnant. Great care was taken to make sure that she never stepped out of the house. Mysterious are the ways of the Lord! One day, when Ramabhatta was having his meal, a cow strayed into their agricultural land and started destroying the crop. Gowri went outside and while trying to drive it away, she moved far away from the house. Totally exhausted, she rested under a tree. And in the field, outside her house she delivered a male child!
When Vagisha Tirtha was informed, he asked them to bring the child. The Acharya blessed the child and named him Bhuvaraha. He pointed the auspicious signs with which the child was born indicating its glorious future ahead. The parents were worried that they might have to leave their child in the Ashram. Vagisha Tirtha consoled the parents saying that Bhuvaraha would join the Math and get initiated into sanyasa only after their second son was born. When the couple was blessed with another son, Bhuvaraha, eight years at the time was initiated by Vagisha Tirtha and given the sanyasa name VADIRAJA TIRTHA. He started his studies under his Guru.
Vadiraja Tirtha was exceptionally brilliant in his studies. Once Vagisha Tirtha wanted to test his students. Silken clothes and variety of delicious dishes were laid out and the students were asked to choose whatever they wanted. All the students rushed forward and each took whatever he wanted. Vadiraja stood in a corner silently, far away from them all. The Guru asked him lovingly, “my child, you don’t want anything? What do you want?” Vadiraja burst forth with a beautiful verse: “Devotion to Guru I seek! Blessings of elders I seek! Constantly listening to the glories of Sri Hari I seek! True dispassion I seek! Worship of Sri Vishnu I seek! Constant Japa of the Lord’s Mantra I seek! Intense Tapas to reach the Highest State I seek! Control of Sense-organs I seek! Lord Sri Hayagriva’s Blessings I seek!” Vagisha Tirtha was overwhelmed at the young student’s extreme dispassion and total devotion along with his poetic abilities. After his studies, Vadiraja travelled extensively across the country and documented his experiences under the title “Tirtha Prabandha”. Wherever he went, he met scholars and participated in conferences, discussions and debates and upheld and established the supremacy of Madhva’s Dvaita Philosophy.
Sri Vadiraja worshipped Lord Hayagriva (Lord Vishnu with the face of a horse). A goldsmith living nearby was trying to cast a panchaloha idol of Lord Ganesha. However to his surprise, the idol took the shape of Lord Hayagriva. He tried again and again, but each time the idol cast itself in the form of Lord Hayagriva. That night, the Lord appeared in his dream and asked him to hand over the idol to Vadiraja. Next day the goldsmith along with others of his tribe met the Acharya and handed over the Hayagriva idol to him. Vadiraja was overwhelmed to see his Ishta-devata. On hearing the difficulties and hardships they were undergoing, Vadiraja brought their entire community into the folds of Bhagavatha-dharma. Every day, Sri Vadiraja Tirtha would offer a sweet dish made with channa dhal, jaggery, ghee and dry fruits as Naivedya to the Lord. Vadiraja would place a tray filled with the sweet on his head and sit down. On invoking the Lord Hayagriva, the Lord would appear in the form of a beautiful white horse, place both its fore-legs on Vadiraja’s shoulders and partake the sweet. This sweet dish is also known by the Lord’s name as “Hayagriva!” Vadiraja would sing his composition known as Dashavatara Stuti set to “Ashva-dhati” – tuned to the trotting of a horse! The Lord would dance while Vadiraja sang and then the horse would disappear into the idol!
While on tour, Vadiraja reached Pune where scholars from all over the country had met for a Vidvat Sabha. “Sishupala Vadha” by the great poet Magha was adjudged as the best literary work: a MAHAKAVYA. Vadiraja told them that there was a far more superior literary work and asked them to wait for a few days before coming to any conclusion! They agreed. In 19 days, Vadiraja composed “Sri Rukminisha Vijaya” in 19 cantos and presented it to the sabha. The entire sabha unanimously agreed that this was a literary work par excellence! Even the title “Sri Rukminisha Vijaya” was more auspicious than “Sishupala Vadha”. The manuscript was taken on an elephant in a procession round the city. Sri Vadiraja was duly honoured as the best amongst the poets.
Sri Vadiraja Tirtha reached Pandharpur. He visited the famous Vittala temple and stayed there for a few days. Nearby was a field where lentils were sown. The owner of the field noticed a white horse entering the field and grazing. He tried to chase it away. After grazing it went into the Math premises where Vadiraja was staying. The landlord came to the Math and complained to Vadiraja that his horse had eaten and destroyed his crop. Sri Vadiraja told him that he did not own any horse but the landlord was not convinced. Vadiraja realised that it was none other than Lord Hayagriva himself who had visited the field and asked the landlord to go to the field the next day and especially check the places where the horse had grazed. When the landlord did so, he was surprised. Wherever the horse had grazed, he found golden lentils in place of the consumable lentils. He surrendered to Vadiraja and gifted the land to the Math.
Sri Vadiraja Tirtha composed many stotras and contributed to the Haridasa (Bhakti) movement. He authored many philosophical texts, both in Sanskrit and Kannada. Vadiraja Tirtha introduced the Paryaya system at Udupi Sri Krishna temple and also consecrated Sri Manjunatha (Shiva-linga) at Dharmasthala. Sri Vadiraja Tirtha entered the Brindavan alive after living a full 120 years.
“Jnananandamayam Devam Nirmala Spatikakrithim, Adharam Sarva Vidyanam Hayagrivam Upasmahe!”
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