Venu Gopala Krishna, Vyasaraja Matha, Mulabagilu.

 VENUGOPALA KRISHNA, MULABAGILU.

( Photo Courtesy: Vyasaraja Anjaneya, Bengaluru)

Sri Vyasatirtharu was a student of Sri Lakshminarayana Yogi ( Sripadarajaru) at Mulabagilu, before he moved to Kanchipuram. There are at least 3 monuments related to Vyasarajaru at Mulabagilu. he has consecrated Sanjiva Rayaru at Sripadaraja Matha, and at Narasimha tirtha also, There's a cave in Narasimha tirtha vicinity next to Narasimha srine, where he did daily ahnika and manana.

He had a Mutt at the town where he appointed one Sri Prajna tirtha to manage a Gurukulam for students, being one among 9 he started. A beautuful statue of Venugopala is inside the Matha in the town.

ನಮ್ಮೂರು ಮುಳಬಾಗಿಲಿನ ಒಳಗೆ ಮತ್ತು ಹೊರವಲಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಹಲವಾರು ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನಗಳಿವೆ; ಕೆಲವಕ್ಕೆ ನಿತ್ಯ ಪೂಜೆಯಿಲ್ಲದೆ ವಾರ ಪೂಜೆ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತದೆ. ಪ್ರತಿ ಭಾನುವಾರ ಗುಡಿ ಸುತ್ತುವುದು ನಾವು ಕೆಲವರ ಕೆಲಸ. ನಮ್ ಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಹಿಸ್ಟರಿ ಓದುವುದು, ಬಿಎ ಮಾಡುವುದು ತೀರ ಶ್ರೀಮಂತರ ಸೋಮಾರಿಗಳ ರೀತಿ; ಸೈನ್ಸು ಓದುವರು ಬುದ್ಧಿವಂತರು, ಬಹುಶಃ ಈಗಲು ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಇದೆ. ಇಂಜಿನೀಯರಿಂಗ್ ಓದಿದವರು ಪರಮ ಬುದ್ಧಿವಂತರು! ಮ್ಯಾಥ್ಸ್ ನಲ್ಲಿ ಅವರನ್ನು ಹಿಡಿಯೋರೇ ಇಲ್ಲದ ಹಾಗೆ!

ಹೀಗಿರುವಾಗ, ದೇವಾಲಯ ಸುತ್ತುವವರಲ್ಲಿ ನನ್ನ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಎಂಜಿಕೆ ( ಅವರಿಲ್ಲ), ಕುರುಡುಮಲೆಯ ನರಸಿಂಹನ್ ( ಕಾಲೇಜು ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ ಇಲಾಖೆ ಉಪನಿರ್ದೇಷಕರಾಗಿ ಈಗ ನಿವೃತ್ತ, ಆದರೆ ಕಾರ್ಯ ನಿರತ) , ಪ್ರಭಾಕರ ರಾವ್, ಹೀಗೆ ಹಲವರು ಇರುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ನಾವು ಪರಮ ಕುತೂಹಲಿಗಳಾಗಿ ಅಲ್ಲಿಗೆ ಹೋದಾಗ, ಬಾಗಿಲು ಮುಚ್ಚಿಯೋ, ಯಾರೋ ಒಬ್ಬ ವೃದ್ಧ ಬೀಡಿ ಸೇದುತ್ತಾ, ತೆಲುಗುನಲ್ಲಿ ಆ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ತನಗೆ ಗೊತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಕಥೆ ಹೇಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದ. ಶಾಸನಗಳು

ಒಗೆಯುವ ಕಲ್ಲುಗಳಾಗಿ ಅದರ ಮೇಲೆ ಬಟ್ಟೆ ತೊಳೆಯುವ ಸಾಧನಗಳಾಗಿದ್ದವು. ಅಕ್ಷರ ತಿಳಿಯುತ್ತಲೇ ಇರಲಿಲ್ಲ.

ನಮ್ಮ ಮನೆಯ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ದೂರದಲ್ಲಿ ವ್ಯಾಸರಾಜ ಮಠವಿತ್ತು, ಅಲ್ಲಿನ ವೇಣುಗೋಪಾಲ ಕೃಷ್ಣ ಅತಿ ಸುಂದರ ವಿಗ್ರಹವಾಗಿ ಪೂಜೆಗೊಳ್ಲುತ್ತಿದ್ದ. ಅಲ್ಲಿ ತುಳಸೀ ಕಟ್ತೆಯೋ ವ್ರುಂದಾವನವೋ ಇದ್ದು, ಅದರ ಮುಂದೆ ಕರವ ಮುಗಿದ ಮುಖ್ಯಪ್ರಾಣ ವಿಗ್ರಹ ಮುದ್ದಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಶ್ರೀ ವ್ಯಾಸತೀರ್ಥರು ಮುಳಬಾಗಿಲಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀಪಾದರಾಜರ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಯಾಗಿದ್ದಾಗ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ವಾಸ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದಿರಬಹುದು. ಈಗ ಕಟ್ತಡ ಹಳೆಯದಾಗಿದ್ದರೂ, ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ದುರಸ್ತಿಯಾಗಿ ವೇಣುಗೋಪಾಲನ ಸ್ಥಳ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಬದಲಾವಣೆಯಾಗಿದೆ; ಮುಂಭಾಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಪೀಠದ ಹತ್ತಿರ ಮುಖ್ಯ ಪ್ರಾಣನಿದ್ದಾನೆ. ಸುಮಾರು 1550-80 ರ ಅವಧಿಯ ಈ ಸುಂದರ ವಿಗ್ರಹ ಸುಮಾರು ಜನರ ಕಣ್ನಿಗೆ ಬಿದ್ದಿಲ್ಲ. ಯಾಕೆಂದರೆ ಇದು ಮಠದ ಒಳಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿದೆ.

ಫೋಟೋ ಕೃಪೆ: ಶ್ರೀ ವ್ಯಾಸರಾಜ ಆಂಜನೇಯ . ( ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು)

My tryst with our Swamiji

Sri Satyapramoda Tirtha swamiji has left a very strong impression on me as a small boy at Mulabagilu. He used to visit our town quite often enroute Chennai/Tirumala. As young boys learning Stotras, Madhvavijaya, Manimanjari and Tirthaprabandha at that age, we at least me, was very curious to recite what i knew and get blessings from Swamiji like him.

Uttaradi math has a very large shishya following since most of Madhvas from Uttara Karnataka are dedicated Shishyas since long. Since other Mathas like Raghavendra Matha is at Mantralayam, out of Karnataka, those who lived in Bellari area and Raichur, Bagalkote, Vijayaur were distributed among UM and SRM. Old Mysore Madhvas folowed Vyasaraja matha, Sripadaraja Matha, and we had no link with Udupi Mathas.

Once it so happened that Sri Satyapramodaru was expected at Mulbagal on his way back from Tirumala. He never visited the town as it was not his territory of North Karnataka Shishyas. Strange enough, many of us were taken to Uttaradi Matha fold long ago, for some reason of being Deshasthas, some of whom spoke Marathi at home. We visited Sripadaraja Matha, regularly but have to take Mudra only at bengaluru from UM Swamiji.

Those who did not follow this, were ostracized for transgressing UM. As a boy naturally, I was unaware of this. My father was a disciple of Sri Dayanidhi Tirtha Swamij of Sripadaraja Matha, as his Vidyaguru.

I was very eager to recite what Iknew before 'Our' Swamiji, who did not com inside the town, waiting at the outskirts. He arrived in a small Jeep with few disciples and our Guru Sri Vattangadu Hayagrivacharya, his disciple took us before him. Each of us prostrated before him. my Guru prompted me to recite Shlokas I knew, in fact, i had known by memory all 1008 shlokas of Madhva Vijaya. He asked me at random, which I could promptly recite, which made him happy. He smiled and asked our Acharya as to who I was. He reported I am the son of so and so... Immediately, his face turned red and gave me some Mantrakshata and a grand dakshina of 50ps coin! My batchmate was asked to recite, he blabbered and got a royal Rs. 5/ as dakshina.

I was about to cry at the insult, and returned home. Later, my father related me how he was served Bahishkara, for not taking Shastra Patha from UM pandit, insted SPM Swamiji! Another blunder he made was following Ekadashi at Udupi as per local Panchangam. Laer he was asked to pay a sum to some project at Hospete. He as a devout person romptly sent 800/ per month, a royal sum then in 1965, till a sum of RS 25000/ was fulfilled. Later, after my MA degree my father took me to him, he smiled and enquired about my further plan, I still wonder why he behaved like 2 JIvas in one frame I am yet to get an answer from Sri Hari, only Him!

KANCHI SUBBARAYARU

I was attending annual Sabhas at SMSO Tiruchanur, till my PUC. It was a lovely experience to face tests given by Panditas on Madhvavijaya, Shastra texts, Grammar and Nyaya. In fact i had won I prizes two years, 1961, 1963. When asked to repeat Slokas from Madhvavijaya and Tirthaprabadha, I could repeat them error free!

Aa a beneficiary, I must mention the name of Sri Kanchi Subbarao, a donor who founded SMSO in 1881. Though he had diffrence of opinion with Uttaradi Matha, during Sri Satyaveera swamiji, by banning SMSO for Matha students/ scholars, he continued his Scheme to help merited/poor students of Madhva commnity, after paying Matha a fine of 2000/ for his sin in the eyes of those who complained about him. Sadly enough nobody remembers him except people like me who cannot forget him , when I see the Prices from SMSO,a silver set for Sandhyavandanam! Public Memory is hopelessly short indeed!

MADHVAS IN MY MEMORY

 

I lived in my hometown Mulabagilu, Kolar district, till 1979, later shifted to Bengaluru. It was very painl to leave the place where I lived more than two decades. By then many of my friends and school mates had migrated either to the nearby Kolar Gold Fields or Bengaluru. Like many other small towns, our town had minimum facilities, no water resources except underground water during rainy season. Our lands were sold for a pittance for a neighbouring farmer.
Education and employment were only our life’s goals, settling down elsewhere was inevitable. Brahmins here with social groups of Smartas and Madhvas, with floating polulation of Iyengars, numbered about 50 houses, of which many youngsters had already migrated.
In a town where 500 Madhva families lived, by 1970s it was reduced to about 55. Surprisingly and shamelessly I would confess we never felt what is poverty, as we thought struggling for two square meals a day might be that! In the Agrahara where we lived, we had several stories to share and boast of. Ghosts well dressed speaking Telugu would dole away with some gift like a bronze vessel or a copper pot, two with me now.
We spoke about greats like Sripadarajaru, Vyasarajaru walking in our streets about 400 years ago speaking in chaste Sanskrit. Among Madhva Brahmanas, we had more of Shastikas ( Aruvattoklu) than Deshastas. While there is no clear cut differences, we Deshastas, once Marathi or to be specific Maharashtra was spoken in houses, had a misnomer of selling Bharat Khanda for few lumps of Shrikhand!!
Though there was Sripadaraja Matha, direct lineage of Padmanabha Tirtha, direct disciple of Acharya Madhva existed, many here were affiliated to either Vyasaraja Matha or Uttaradi Matha, as their Pontiffs frequently visited the town. Apart from regular schooling some of us, went to have Patha on basic Madhva texts, like Stotras and Sandhyavandane, after Upanayana. Since the scholars of Sripadaraja Mutt were not available, we had to depend on Uttaradi Matha scholars only, very puffed up, foul speaking men of either Tamil Nadu or Dharwad area, who gave compliments like … Magane… affixed by all sorts of equivalents to a widow’s son.
However, I never received any compliment like this as a quick learner! For reasons well known to my ancestors, we belonged to the dreaded U Matha! The lean, sharp looking Swamiji would invariably arrive at our town, on his way to either Madras/ Tirumala. We had to assemble there and chant what we knew. He was highly short tempered. I along with others, was taken to the Swamiji like goats for Bali, by our Guru Vattangad Hayagrivacharya, a great soft spoken scholar, but poor when he came to our town.
The Swamiji looked at me, and asked to chant what I knew, I had memorised easily entire Madhva Vijaya of 10006 slokas, Vayustuti, and more. He was looking somewhere, when I recited some shlokas from Madhva Vijaya, and asked my Guru who I was, and my father’s name made known to him. His facial expression changed and he reluctantly thrust a .050 coin in my hand and moved to the next aspirant, who was son of a person, later turning a Swamiji. The boy muttered something which none of us could hear, he was given a silver rupee and an angavastram. I returned home crying for the insult which others did not make out.

However, I never forget those Gurus who taught Samskrit Grammar, Shlokas and Kavyas before I studied them at school. Sri Vyasacharya, disciple of Satyadhyana Tirtharu, Vattangadu Hayagrivacharya, Subbu Narasimha Shastry, and other scholars who came in my life thereafter.

MADHVA SECTS - SHASTIKAS

 Madhvas in Karnataka are mainly comprised of Deshastha and Aruvattokkalu sects. While some Deshasthas spoke Marathi in those areas, others spoke onlly Kannada. Shasthtikas are 60 families of various Gotras migrated to Karnataka from Ahichatrapura, Punjab, during Pre-Vijayanagar period.

ಷಾಷ್ಟಿಕ ವಂಶ ಪ್ರದೀಪ ( Aruvattu Okkalu) of Dr Ranya Raja rao, published in 1981 says Madhva Gurus like Sri Akshobhya tirtha, Jayatirtha, Sripadaraja, Vyasaraja, Vijayindra, Vibudhendra- Raghavendra Tirtha  (Bigamudre - of keeping keys ) were  born in the celebrated families of Ministers of Jamakhandi Province, ruled by various rulers. 

The ancestors of Yatis, belonging to 27 Gotras were highly intelligent, wise, some warriors, finance advisors, Commandants of the Empire. Sri Akshobhya was paternal uncle of  Jayatirtha, Rajendra Tirtha,  Sripadaraja, Brahmanya Tirtha, Vyasatirtha were born in matrilineal line of the family. The 227 Page book is now relegated to the background.

Sri Vedavyasa Avatara.

 

वेदव्यास गुणावास विद्याधीश सतां वश |

मां निराशं गतक्लेषं कुर्वनाशं हरेनिशम् ||

Sri Madhvacharya describes Vyasa Avatara in 10th chapter of MBT. nirnaya. Sage Vasishta had 100 sons, of which Shakti is one who is the father of Parashara. He performed Tapas to get Sri Hari himself as son. He married Sattyavati, daughter of chief of fishermen. Varna system in Dwaparayuga was different. Satyavati is the daughter of Vasu, hence called Vaasavi. Sri Hari was born to her as Dvaipayana. He was dark in complexion, called Krishna, born in an island, hence the Name Krishna Dwaipayana. Some call him as a Virgin's child, Kaaneena, which is incorrect. HeVedavyasa revealed himself amidst river Yamuna.

Krishna was a bright child and he immediately asked his father Parashara to perform Upanayana. His Upanayana went on for 7 days, which was graced by all Rishis.Soon after, the LOrd went to Meru, with Brahma and Rishis and immediately began arranging Vedas which were distorted by Asuras. HEnce called Arranager- Vyasa. He composed Vedanta Sutras, Mahabharata, Bhagavata and Puranas.All DEvatas learnt these from the LOrd. Vedavyasa toured along three worlds to enlighten noble people.

Meanwhile Rudradeva performed Tapas to be born as his son, as SEva to Him to preach noble thought on the world for mortals. he was granted the boon, and Rudra is born as Shuka to Vyasadeva. He was born to Vyasa without contact of a women. Vayudeva entered him and is the driving force to preach Shastras to all deserving Souls. Hence Vyasadeva could directly impart the core knowledge of Vedic lore directly to him. Similarly the 4 shishyas of Vyasadeva are inspired by Sesha, Garuda, Brahmaa, and Indra in Paila, Sumantu, Vyashampayana and Jaimini.

The Lord began putting Puranas straight by editing them. Based on their content, they were classified as Satvika, Rajasa and Tamasa Puranas. THere ae 6 Satvika Puranas- Vishnu, Narada, Bhagavata, Garuda, Padma and Varaha. 6 Rajas Puranas- Brahma, Brahmanda, Brahmavaivarta, Markandeya, Bhavishya and Vamana puranas. Matsya, Kurma, Linga, Shiva, Skanda and Agni Puranas are Tamasa Puranas based on their content. Satvika Puranas are based on Pancharatra, Rajasa on suerficial referenes in Vedic lore and Tamasa ones are based on Pashupata Agama.

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Sri Jayatirtha ( Teekakritpaada) ( 1365- 1388)

 

Anyone desirous of keeping thoughts of Madhvacharya intact, will have to be highly grateful to his second generation successor Sri Jayatirtha. He is the Master Commentator on 18 works of Acharya Madhva which are the only source now to us to understand the cryptic style of Madhvacharya, unlike other Acharyas.

We have only some stories about the great Saint’s life. Though we have 3 Vijaya Granthas, two by Vyasatirtha, his disciple(?) and another by Chalari Sankarshan Acharya have more fiction than facts. Even his place of birth is not properly recorded, Mangalvedhe, near Pandharpur or  as Vrishtiketha instead of Manyakheta! He is believed as son of a local ruler, and himself a horse rider. He is said to have got married at about 17 to two girls from rich families. We have to believe it as a story and move on!

Sri Jayatirtha is author of 22 books, out of which 18 are commentaries on Madhva texts. Nyayasudha,  Vadavali and Padyamala are his independent works. He is a master logician, grammarian and presenter of Madhva thought of all times, honoured rightly as Teekacharya. He is remembered with utmost respect by Sri Vyasaraja as:

चित्रैः पादैस्च गंभीरैः वाक्यैः मानामखन्दितैः  

 गुरु भावं व्यञ्जयन्ती भाति श्री जयतीर्थवाक् |

( Nyayamritam)