Thursday, November 24, 2011

Sri Padmanabha Tirtharu




Sri Padmanabha Tirtharu has a special place among Madhwa Yatis of outer Udupi region, as first Disciple of Srimadacharya. He met Acharya Madhva,  probably in Godavari Region on his way back to Udupi after his  first tour from Udupi to Badari,. Shobhana Bhatta, was a Scholar which Madhwavijaya calls  him,  Vidvat Timingila: ' a great Scholar par excellence in Shastraic Learning.
When he met Acharya he was much older than him, debated with him for a fortnight & was silenced by Young Madhwa. He fell at his feet and requested to accept him as Diciple. Madhva gave him Sanyasa Deeksha, probably on the banks of Godavari or Udupi.
Except his name, not much is known about him. He is known to be a Karnataka. Those days, Karnataka had a large geographical area, from Godavari Belt down South. He was from Punatatamba or settled there. Paithan, as is called now , was famous for scholars of reputation. He was deeply impressed by Charisma, Debating style & a vast knowledge of Acharya.
Sri Padmanabha Bhattaraka as he was called with respect studied under Madhva, his new interpretation of Vedic lore, Gita & Brahma Sutra. He was commissioned by Acharya to compose Teeka on some of his works, but only a few are available in full or printed.
He is respected as first successor- Prathama Shishya of Acharya. Vedaantabdhi na yo jatu jahou vidvat timingila: - says Madhwavijaya. Sattarka Deepavali, Sannyayaratnavali, & Gita Bhashya Bhavadeepika are well known in his commentaries. His style is lucid & Poetical in nature with full praise for his Guru.


गुणगणनिलयं प्रणम्य कृष्णं जगदघहननं च वासवीसूनुम् ।

मुनिकुलतिलकं सुपूर्णबोधं गुरुमपि विवृणोमि गीतिका भाष्यम् ॥

Sri Jayatirtha had profusely thanked him for making Acharya's thoughts clearly. In his Nyayadeepika he says:

स पद्मनाभतीर्थार्य गोगणेषु दृषे मम ।
न तत्त्वमार्गगमनं व्ना यदुपजीवनम् ॥
-  I always view with respect the words of Sri Padmanabha Tirtha, without whom it is difficult to interpret Srimadacharya in the right perspective, we owe him a lot. Gitatataparyanirnaya Prakashika was published long back. It is high time his works need Publcation, a it has historical importance as Books from the First disciple of Acharya. All Mutts prefer to worship his Brindavan one after theother, but his Books are ignored. It is a pity, like so many other issues.
He has been quoted by all Madhva stalwarts.
His Aradhana is tomorrow at Nava Brindavanam, Anegondi.
1348- 1324, is determined as his Peethadhipatya time. He gave Peetha to Sri Narahari Tirta as his successor. His direct lineage is from Sri Lakshmidhara Tirtha who is first Yati of Sripadaraja Mutt at my home town Mulabagilu, Kolar District.