Vishvagunadarsha Champu

 A couple of years ago,   Text Book in Sanskrit  for  BBM II Semester  Classes, Bangalore  University,  was supposed to teach my  Students prescribed by the Bangalore University, Vishvagunadarsha Champu, written by by Venkatadhvari of 17^th century,   appeared very sectarian and partisan in its content and  presentation. Such a book is most unwelcome in a University Syllabus. I had made  some  of my observations as below: . 

VENKATADHVARIN   

History records that  Venkatadhvari,  or Venkatesha  Deekskhitar  was born in  Adayapalyam, a small village near Kancheepuram in Tamil Nadu in the family of  noted scholar Appayya Deekhitar. He later served   in the Court   of a Mughal King, in about 1650 A.D.( Probably Jehangir)   There are many anecdotes on his powers of Bhakti to mother Piratti, Mahalakshmi. Once, some miscreants tied stone to his neck in jealousy against his scholarship. He composed Lakshmee Sahasranama stotram and got relieved of the hardship.  He is believed to have travelled widely across India and visited many Pilgrim centers, in India. 

CONTENT 
The Champu has two imaginary characters, Krishanu and Vishvavasu, travelling in sky visiting and in conversation, record their observation in  various pilgrim centers in  South India and commenting on its people and their behavior. One is praising the place of visit  and  people  there,  and  the  other deplores the same, citing their drawbacks and short comings.  There are some derogatory comments on the State of Karnataka and  its people, particularly the Madhva sect of Brahmanas.

The Book opens with a statement by a narrator: 

 हन्त! कथमभिनन्दयसि निन्दनीयमिदं देशं? 
 Hanta kathamabhinandayasi Nindaneeyamidam desham? …
The land  of Karnataka is highly deplorable. How can you praise it?  The Chapter has a title  Karnaataka Desha Varnanam !

The Book has 2 sections. The First Chapter is about Karnataka, followed by Kancheevarnanam , where the poet is highly respectful and  mild. But when he comes to the description of Rajatapeethapuram, present Udupi,  in Karnataka, he is highly derogatory about the Mathadhipatis there  and describes them as rich and luxurious:
 graavavyoodamate sthitijusho dhanyaa hi sannyaasinah  

ग्रावव्यॊढ मठे स्थितिजुषो धन्या हि संयासिनः! 
-  He gives a report that they have built strong stone buildings, blessed are they  and  common people  are seen begging on streets !! I doubt whether Venkatadhvarin, a great scholar ever visited Udupi at all !! He might have mistaken Haridasas, saints of Karnataka as beggars. He spits venom on people of Udupi, for reasons best known only to him, as a Tamilian. 

He says, people of Karnataka, fail to differentiate between a Pandita and a fool!!

I am not aware of such a poverty in Udupi, anytime. This might be a sarcastic reference to Haridasas of Karnataka.  He also feels that sanyasis  in Udupi  travel in carriers, carried by men. That was the custom of those days of every king or swamiji. Even swamijis of Advaita and Vishistadvaita tradition  were travelling this way. Walking was always there, when they visited Temples & Pilgrim Centers.

Alongwith this, he passes personal remarks on Ekadashi, a fasting day once in 15 days, till today for pious Madhwas. Venkatadhvari concludes the chapter with a remark:  व्रात्या इहात्र अमी - vraatyaa ihatyaa amee, People all are devoid of Vedic customs (Heretics!)  in  the state of Karnataka! He says they do not even offer  Morning and Evening  prayers to Sun God.  ( Sandhyavandanam) 

The champu itself has a weird ending! When one of the narrators  comments on  several malpractices at Sri Venkateshvara Temple at  Tirumala, both of them lose their eyesights. It was later regained by prayers to Goddess Mahalakshmi. 

The events what  might have happened in Seventeenth  century in South India, among different sects of Brahmin community  and others are  totally irrelevant to the present day Students. They do  not convey any Social Message to them  either. 
They only tell us how people of different sects quarrelled each other which later lead to the British to rule us for nearly 300 years! !!!

Sri Raghavendra Swamy

Sri Raghavendra Swamiji  is a magnetic force to many devotees even if they have not heard of Him. He is not just a  a Guru of a sect of Madhva Vaishnavites. He is Jagadguru for all who seek his grace and blessings. His Brindavan is situated on the banks of river Tungabhadra, Andhra Pradesh,  on his own selection. It is not easy to put in words the greatness of Swamiji who has blessed and cured millions of devotees around the world. He only likes child-like faith in him   and Sri Rama, his adorable God.

EARLY LIFE

Sri Raghavendra was born in a poor Brahmin Family endowed with great Scholarship and piety. As per tradition, he was a great devotee of Sri Vishnu, as he was  King Prahlada in his previous birth.  All the virtues he has earned in that avatar, is being gifted to faithful devotees as Raghavendra Swami  even now. Earlier he was Sri Vyasarajaru, who was an advisor to Krishna devaraya , the celebrated ruler of Vijayanagar empire and saved him from death.

He was born as Venkatanatha to Timmanna Bhatta and Gopikamba in Bhuvanagiri of Tamilnadu. His date of avatara is 1598 A.D. As a child prodigy, he learnt all subjects with ease and perfection. As all great people are put into difficulty and poverty by God, to  test their intensity of Bhakti, pure Devotion,  Venkatanatha lost his parents. He was educated by his brother- in law Sri Narasimhacharya, a great Scholar.  
 Venkatanatha's Upanayanam was celebrated in 1606 A, D. He became a versatile scholar in all branches of spiritual learning. He was married to Saraswati in 1616.

Venkatanatha was well known as a scholar. But poverty was his companion. That is why he is so kind to help people who are suffering from many ailments, sometimes incurable by doctors even now. He had a pair of Dhotis to wear and and an old house to live in. But as a man of self-respect, pious and firm believer in God, he never sought anyone’s help. He did not approach any Swamijis of those days for help, as he believed in Karmayoga.  Meanwhile,  a son was born to the couple who was named Lakshminarayana, who later wrote Sri Raghavendra Vijayam in Samskrit.


One day, as any home maker would do Saraswati Bai advised her husband to approach Sri Sudheendra Tirtha Swamiji, well known to the family,  for help. Hence, the family shifted to Kumbhakonam, where Sudheendra swamiji was running a Gurukulam. As a fast learner, Venkatanatha understood even a difficult concept in Philosophy, was  called Ekasandhigraahi in those days. He could easily defeat stalwarts in Grammar, Logic, Philosophy and was always a winner. He got a title Mahabhashyacharya, a master in Samskrit Grammar.  He was an authority on Memamsa, a Science of Karma, and wrote Bhatta samgraham later. The King of Tanjore Raghunatha honoured him profusely. 

A poor boy was now rich by  the grace of Sri Rama whom he always worshipped. Now, Sri Sudheendra yati was getting old and decided to nominate Venkatanatha as his successor to the Madhva peetha, then called Purvadi Mutt. . Though Venkatanatha was not interested in heading  the Mutt,  he was given all assurances and help to perform Upanayanam to his only son. Now Venkatanatha entrusted the family responsibility to his brother Gururajacharya.

INITIATION INTO SANYASA

Sri Sudhindra yati performed Pattabhishekam to Venkatanatha, near Tanjavuru  as his successor in 1621 A.  D. He named him as Raghavendra tirtha. Sri Raghavendra soon after started touring and preaching Madhva’s Philosophy.  Wherever he went,  he got innumerable disciples due to his compassion, knowledge, accessibility to all devotees and gifting away to the needy whatever he had. In fact he supplied grains for a year to Bijapur when there was  severe drought there. Many instances and innumerable miracles by the grace of God made him nearer to devotees. Indeed he was not resting at all. His routine started at 3.30 am,  followed by bath in the river, japa, teaching disciples, meeting farmers, public, scholars, performing Pooja to Sri RAMA-NARASIMHA-VEDAVYASA idols and meditating for the welfare of the state. He received many gifts even from Muslim rulers, Nayaks, Shivaji and many rulers of Mysore also. But he did not store anything. Whatever he got, he offered it to God in deserving people.

SOCIAL SERVICE

Sri Raghavendra did not confine himself to Mutt administration. He built ponds and canals where there was scarcity of water and taught people the simple, holistic spiritual way of karma yoga. He wrote 41 Works on Dvaita Philosophy, Tippanis  on  Sri Jayatirtha,  in his inimitable style and made it popular in South and North of India. There were many disciples to him in North, South, East & West of India. 
 His masterpiece, Srimanyayasudha  Parimala, made devotees call him Parimalacharyaru. His simplest works are Rama Charitryamanjaree & Krishna Chaaritrryamanjaree, Pratahsankalpa Gadyam, a must read for all Vaishnavas, Commentary on Sumadhvavijayam, and several stotras. 


MIRACLES 
 He saved the life of a boy in Hubli, helped shishyas to get married, and saved many from snake bite, like the son of nawab of Savanoor, to list out his miracles is near to impossibility. He made a literate Venkanna, the Diwan of Adoni, and many things which are to be remembered by us till today. He is a celestial Tree giving away whatever you want if you deserve in a shortest possible time. He is called Kamadhenu and Kalpavriksa by devotees. In Sri Raghavendra Stotram, composed by his dear disciple Appanacharya, it is said that a recital of this Stotram, 108 times can cure any illness of Mind & Body, which has come true many times to many Devotees. his Miracles are those of God, as he was blessed as King Prahlada in his previous birth. 


 Enters Brindavanam  

Sri Raghavendra Tirtha  thus ruled the spiritual world for 50 years from 1621-1671 and decided to call off his physical appearance. He chose a small village Manchale, where he had performed a yajna when he was Prahladaraja, and ordered a Brindavan to be made well before. He entered  alive Brindavan in August 1671 by giving charge of Mutt to Sri Yogeendra Tirtharu.

Now his Mrittika Brindavans are over  1.000 around the world,  worshipped regularly by devotees who are never disappointed. To us, who believe in him  he is a friend, Philosopher and Guide in the Spiritual Path of Life. Just remember Him whenever you are depressed, He is right there to help you. He is a messenger of God to save us from physical & mental worries, It only depends on our degree of Belief we have in Him. This year  happens to be his 339th Aradhana, a day to revere and follow his ideals of Bhakti, Jnana and Vairagya. 

Subhashchandra Bose

Subhash Chandra Bose, affectionately called as Netaji, was a born leader and one of the most prominent leaders of Indian freedom struggle. Though Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru have much of the credit for successful culmination of Indian freedom struggle, the contribution of Subhash Chandra Bose is no less. He has been denied his rightful place in the records of Indian history.


He founded Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) to overthrow British Empire from India and came to acquire legendary status among Indian masses.

EARLY DAYS & EDUCATION


Subhash Chandra Bose was born on January 23, 1897 in Cuttack, Orissa. His father Janaki Nath Bose was a famous lawyer and his mother Prabhavati Devi was a pious and religious lady. Subhas was the ninth child among fourteen siblings. He was a brilliant student right from the childhood. He topped the matriculation examination of Calcutta province and graduated with a First Class in Philosophy from the Scottish Churches College in Calcutta. He was strongly influenced by Swami Vivekananda’s teachings and was known for his patriotic zeal as a student. To fulfill his parents’ wishes he went to England in 1919 to compete for Indian Civil Services.


In England he appeared for the Indian Civil Service competitive examination in 1920, and came out fourth in order of merit. However, Subhash Chandra Bose was deeply disturbed by the Jallianwalla Bagh massacre, and left his Civil Services apprenticeship midway to return to India in 1921.
HIS POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
After returning to India, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose came under the influence of Mahatma Gandhi and joined the Indian National Congress. On Gandhiji's instructions, he started working under Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das, whom he later acknowledged his political Guru. Soon he showed his leadership qualities and gained his way up in the Congress' hierarchy. In 1928 the Motilal Nehru Committee appointed by the Congress, declared in favour of Domination Status, but Subhash Chandra Bose and Jawaharlal Nehru opposed it, and both asserted that they would be satisfied with nothing short of complete independence for India.


Subhash also announced the formation of the Independence League. Bose was jailed during Civil Disobedience movement in 1930. He was released in 1931 after Gandhi-Irwin pact was signed. He protested against this and opposed the suspension of Civil Disobedience movement especially when Bhagat Singh and his associates were hanged.
PARTICIPATION IN FREEDOM MOVEMENT
Netaji Subash Chandra Bose was soon arrested again under the ugly Bengal Regulation. After an year he was released on medical grounds and was banished from India to Europe. He took steps to establish centers in different European capitals with a view to promote politico-cultural contacts between India and Europe. Breaking the ban on his entry to India, Subash Chandra Bose returned to India and was again arrested and jailed for a year.


HIS POLITICAL LIFE


After the General Elections of 1937, the Indian National Congress came to power in seven states and Subash Chandra Bose was released. Shortly afterwards he was elected President of the Haripura Congress Session in 1938. During his term as Congress President, he talked of planning in concrete terms, and set up a National planning Committee in October that year. At the end of his first term, the presidential elections to the Tripuai Congress session took place early 1939. Subhash Chandra Bose was re-elected, defeating Dr. Pattabhi Sitaramayya who had been backed by Mahatma Gandhi and the Congress Working Committee


ESTABLISHING INA


Clouds of World War II were on the horizon and he brought a resolution to give the British six months to hand India over to the Indians, failing which there would be a revolt. There was much opposition to his rigid stand, and he resigned from the post of president and formed a progressive group known as the Forward Block.


Subhas Chandra Bose now started a mass movement against utilizing Indian resources and men for the great war. There was a tremendous response to his call and he was put under house arrest in Calcutta. In January 1941,


AN EXTREMIST IN PATRIOTISM


Subhas Chandra Bose disappeared from his home in Calcutta and reached Germany via Afghanistan. Working on the proverb that "an enemy's enemy is a friend", he sought cooperation of Germany and Japan against British Empire. In January 1942, he began his regular broadcasts from Radio Berlin, which aroused tremendous enthusiasm in India. In July 1943, he arrived in Singapore from Germany. In Singapore he took over the reins of the Indian Independence Movement in East Asia from Rash Behari Bose and organised the Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army) comprising mainly of Indian prisoners of war. He was hailed as Netaji by the Army as well as by the Indian civilian population in East Asia. Azad Hind Fauj proceeded towards India to liberate it from British rule. On the way, it lliberated Andeman and Nicobar Islands. The I.N.A. Head quarters was shifted to Rangoon in January 1944. Azad Hind Fauj crossed the Burma Border, and stood on Indian soil on March 18 1945.


LAST DAYS


However, defeat of Japan and Germany in the Second World War forced INA to retreat and it could not achieve its objective. Subhash Chandra Bose was reportedly killed in an air crash over Taipei, Taiwan (Formosa) on August 18, 1945. Though it is widely believed that he was still alive after the air crash not much information is known about him. Indeed he is the unsung hero of Indian Independence.

Sri Madhvacharya's message for all ages

Sri Madhvacharya was born near Udipi,  at Pajaka, a rocky place now called Belle a small village in 1238 A.D. to Nadillaya Bhatta and Vedavati, a poor and pious couple. There were three Brahmin families in that small village called Odippe, those who had migrated from Udipi, Parpadane, Preistly Brahmins who lived by being Archaks and Kabekode, who  lived by agriculture. Sri Madhva was born in Odippe family, his father was a scholar and a Public speaker of repute on Puranas particularly Srimadbhagavatam.
Madhva was named Vasudeva by his parents and was a child prodigy. He never learnt from his first teacher as he knew better than him. The father himself taught to some extent and performed Upanayanam. Vasudeva was not convinced with Advaita  of Shankara prevalent then and wanted to clear doubts which no one did. As believed he is an Avatar of Hanuman, he was dipped in the milky ocean of Bhakti yoga, from birth.  He set off  to Udupi to seek blessings of Achyutaprajna,  a swamiji there and prostrated before him seeking  Sanyasa Deeksha. The Guru was reluctant and at last had to oblige. When Madhva’s Father came to know about this,  he begged him touching his feet. Poornaprajna as he was called now said a father salutes a son only when he becomes a Yati. Hence permission was predestined by Sri Hari and promised he will be blessed with another son soon. Only later he would take up Sanyaasa. The father has to agree and return home. After an year a son was born and Vasudeva was anointed as Poornabodha.

At the age of 16 he decided to propagate his thoughts as he was not convinced with Advaita, which his Guru half mindedly followed, amidst much trouble and resistance from people, mainly scholars.  He sought his permission to go on tour and presented to him his commentary written on  on Geeta. The Guru has to oblige. Poornaprajna toured till Himalayas, visited the shrine of Narayana there. Nara & Narayana, the dual form of Vishnu, blessed him on his tour. It is believed that Badarinaryana Temple was as seen now, is installed by Shankaracharya. This is because the priest there is a Namboodiri.




He later visited upper Badari, keeping away all his disciples down the mountain, as only Madhva was supposed to meet Sri Bhagavan Badarayana Vyasa.  Before he set out, Acharya wrote on the white sands of Himalayas, like this:

नेदृशं स्थालमलं शमलघ्नं नास्ति गाम्गसद्रुशंखलु वारि 

नास्मदुक्ति सदृशं खलु वाक्यं नास्ति विष्णुसद्रुषं खलु दैवं || 

- There is no place like this which removes all your sins, there are no waters equal to those of Ganga, there is nothing equal to my words of advise to you all, there is no God equal to Lord Vishnu. What else you can expect from Sri Mukhyaprana himself? He just says, listen to me, worship Bhagavan Krishna, you are on the right track of Life.

  Sri Madhva learnt the  real purport of Brahmasutras, Upanishads and the Geeta, in their  right prespective from their own Composor Vyasadeva , showed his unique  commentary Geeta  bhashyam , which was duly appreciated by Vyasadeva himself  and was asked  to write commentaries on   Mahabharata and  Srimad   Bhagavatam also.
The task was completed successfully. Madhva , was his nome de plume,  (a man of sweet talk), now returned to Udipi with blessings of Vyasadeva. His Guru was proud to have such a Shishya. He had to face tough opposition from Advaitic and Jain monks as well. Vadisimha and Buddhisagara ran away half the debate.
One day, as tradition has, Madhva, when meditating near the sea shore, found a lump of Soil which was used to balance a small ship. To his yogic eyes he could see two idols of Krishna and Balarama. He installed Balarama, there called odabhandeshvara and brought Krishna idol singing Dwadasha (12) Stotras on Krishna. The idol was installed in a small temple with all rituals under the leadership of his brother, on a Makara Sankranti Day.  Now Udupi became a temple town, though earlier there were Ananteshvara and Chandramouleesvara temples which were very old.

Sri Krishna installed at Udupi 

Soon Madhva was called Ananda Teertha since anyone who came to his fold was happy. His teachings were practical way of Karmayoga. Kuru bhumkshva svakrama nijam niyatam, Haripada vinamradhiyaa satatam…. Do your ordained duty and leave the result to God you will enjoy Life here and after this Life. Soon many scholars,  who came to refute him became his disciples. He organized Pooja at the Temple regularly and gave Deeksha to 8 boys as Sanyasins. They were supposed to worship Krishna 5 times a day from 3.30 am to 8.30 pm. 
Works of Madhvacharya
Sri Madhva composed 37 or 39 Books on Tattvavaada, his explanation of vedic thoughts applicable even today. He appointed 8 yatis to worship Krishna and ordained 4 disciples to propagate his Tattvavaada.

1. Sri Padmanabha Tirtha who hailed from Punatamba ( Shobhana Bhatta a great scholar)

2. Narahari Tirtha, a minister to king of Orissa.

3 Akshobhya teertha from Gulbarga (Govinda Bhatta)

4. Madhava Teeertha from Andhra Pradesh (Krishna shastri)

Each one of them was sent to different directions to preach Bhakti Vedanta. After assigning responsibilities to his scholarly disciples, he left to Badari in Himalayas to be with Sri veda vyasa muni in 1317 AD, The Day is celebrated as Madhva Navami all over the World with Devotion. ISKCON also respects Sri Madhva as their Adi Guru.
 The Biography  of Madhva can be read in  Sumadhva Vijaya authored by his junior contemporary, Sri Narayana Panditacharya,  son of Trivikrama Panditacharya whom Madhva had defeated in debate and subsequently accepted them as his disciples. This is the most authentic work on Madhvacharya available.

Message of Acharya Madhva 
He says- Do your ordained Duty and leave the results to the Lord.
Social Service is a part of service to God.
Have satsanga, the company of good natured people, who possess positive feelings on this life.
Hari, is the ultimate Truth. Try to worship him, your own way.
Have belief in whatever you do. Then it shall yield positive results. Do not bother about what others think of you, if you are in the right path of spiritual path.
Never think you will become God. You are always under his control & protection of mother's love.
A Guru's help is needed to take you on the Right Path of Bhakti Yoga. He will lead you to Sri Hari. ( Mukndabhatai Haribhaktijaayaayai)
Each person in this Universe is diversified, as it is natural.
This life is real, not permanent.
Enjoy the fruits of your good work and remember Him always.

Acharya Madhva's words are like guiding lights on the spiritual path.The Message of Madhva is not as popular as  that of Shankara, since it has not been well presented in English & other languages. Another reason might be that in Madhva's Philosophy,  Salvation is possible only through the royal path of Bhakti. Bhakti is the ultimate step and not an elementary one, as in Advaita.
     Acharya Madhva, a  rational thinker,  also  in philosophy, realised the in- built, natural  differences in all  beings similar to a much later theory in Physics,  Pauli's Exclusion Principle which sees difference between two electrons in a Single atom. Many understood it otherwise, that in his school of thought, there is no salvation for all and it is partial to  only Vishnu Bhaktas!! Hence his thoughts did not cross the sea, as was that of Shankara till recent years. That is the case with every thinker, from the time of Socrates. But Madhva's thoughts are unparalleled, pithy and rational. Is not blind Bhakti  Yoga, it is Bhakti, with complete faith in Him, Sri Hari. 
February 12, 2011 Saturday  happens to be Madhva Navami,  this year. This is the day Acharya set off  to Badari from Udupi. Let us all remember him, who breathes for us, guides us all and takes care of us, without being asked for.

 व्यासाय भवनाशाय श्रीशाय गुणराशये ।

हृद्याय   शुद्धविद्याय मध्वाय  च नमो नम: ॥ 

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