Meeting Dr BNK Sharma

 

It was a great opportunity in 1990 April, for me to meet one of the greatest scholars of our time, when I had an opportunity to interact with Dr BNK Sharma when I was working with newly formed Dvaita Vedanta Sudies & REserach Foundation, based in a single room at RR Choultry, near Bangalore Medical college. , I had heard, but not personally interacted earlier. He had retired from his Professorship at Ruparel College, Mumbai, devoting himself fully for research and writing. He was given a separate room at Vyasaraja Matha, Basavanagudi. The task before him was getting 2 of his books translated to Kannada. I was fortunate to take up the task of translating some portion of his Engish book on HIstory of Dvaita school.

My relative Sri VB Murty was assisting him. I was introduced to the great Professor by Prof KT Pandurangi and VB Murthy. Clad in simple white shirt and dhoti, speaking Coimbatore's Kannada, he was jovial yet much attentive to his work on hand. he would ask the translator to read out to him twice to ascertain the quality. He never wasted a minute in doing work and getting work done either. . I was fortunate to translate about 50 pages of his Magnum Opus HDVL , it was a wonderful experience to work with a renowned scholar worldwide, unfortunately ignored by traditional scholars for reasons best known to them!

I could even meet him at his house in Raja street, Coimbatore after sometime. my dream of showing my Synopsis on Vaishnava TEmple Architecture. Those were days of no camera/ whatsap or social media to record all that. But my memory is filled with useful moments I spent with this magnanimous professor of all times!

ಪೂಜ್ಯ ಬನ್ನಂಜೆ ಗೋವಿಂದಾಚಾರ್ಯರ ನೆನಪು......

ವರ ಹತ್ತಿರ ನಾನು ಕಳೆದ ೫ ವರ್ಷಗಳು ಹಾಗು ಈಗಲೂ ಕೇಳುವ ಅವರ ದನಿ ಸದಾ ಜೊತೆಗಿದೆ. ಮಣಿಪಾಲಕ್ಕೆ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ಮಾಕ್ಮಿಲನ್ಅ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಯ ಉದ್ಯೋಗಿಯಾಗಿ ವರ್ಗವಾದಾಗ ಅವರ ಕಾದಂಬರಿ ಹಾಗು ಕೆಲವು ಲೇಖನಗಳನ್ನು ಮಾತ್ರ ಓದಿದ್ದೆ. ಆಕಾಶವಾಣಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾತು ಆಲಿಸಿದ್ದೆ, ಆದರೆ ನೋಡಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಎರಡೇ ದಿನದಲ್ಲಿ ಅವರು ಆತ್ಮೀಯರಾದರು. ನಮ್ಮಣ್ಣನ ವಯಸ್ಸು, ಗಂಭೀರ ಆದರೆ ಗಡಸು ಅಲ್ಲದ ಮುಖ, ಮಗುವಿನಂಥ ನಗೆ, ನಿರರ್ಗಳ, ವಿದ್ವತ್ಪೂರ್ಣ, ಸ್ನೇಹಮಯ ಮಾತು, ಹರಟೆಯಲ್ಲೂ ಕಾವ್ಯ ಸೌಂದರ್ಯ ಅವರತ್ತ ದಿನವೂ ಸೆಳೆಯುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಕಾಮತ್ ಹೋಟೆಲಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಚಹಾ ಕುಡಿಯುವಷ್ಟು ಆತ್ಮೀಯತೆ ಬೆಳೆದು, ಅಂಬಲಪಾಡಿಯ ಮನೆಗೂ ಆಗಾಗ ಹೋಗುವ ಭಾಗ್ಯ ಒದಗಿತು. ಅವರಲ್ಲಿ ನಾನು ಮಾತನಾಡದ ವಿಷಯವೇ ಇರಲಿಲ್ಲ.

ಎರಡೂ ಬದಿಯ ಬೆರಳುಗಳಿಂದ ಸುಂದರವಾಗಿ ಬರೆಯಬಲ್ಲ, ಸ್ವಾರಸ್ಯಪೂರ್ಣವಾಗಿ ಹರಟೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾಗವಹಿಸುತ್ತಲೇ ತಮ್ಮ ಬರವಣಿಗೆ ಕೆಲಸ ಮುಗಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಗೋವಿಂದಾಚಾರ್ಯರು ನನ್ನ ಹಿರಿಯ ಗುರು- ಮಿತ್ರರಾದದ್ದು ಹೀಗೆ.
ಅವರು ಆ ಮೊದಲು ಪ್ರಕಟಿಸಿದ್ದ ಆನಂದಮಾಲಾ- ಶ್ರೀ ಮಧ್ವರ ಅನುಭಾಷ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ವಾಮನ ಪಂಡಿತರ ವ್ಯಾಖ್ಯಾನ ನನ್ನ ಹತ್ತಿರ ಇದ್ದಿತು, ಓದಲು ಪ್ರಯತ್ನಪಟ್ಟಿದ್ದೆ. ಇದರಿಂದ ಅವರಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯದಷ್ಟೇ ವೇದಾಂತದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಚರ್ಚಿಸುವ ಅವಕಾಶಗಳು ಒದಗಿದ್ದವು. ಎಂಥಾ ಮೂರ್ಖ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆ ಕೇಳಿದರೂ, ನಗುತ್ತಲೇ ಉತ್ತರಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಅವರ ಬಗೆ ಸದಾ ಅನುಕರಣೀಯ. ಅವರಿಗೆ ಕೋಪ ಬಂದದ್ದು ನಾನು ಕಾಣೆ. ಯಾವ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಗೂ ತಡವರಿಸದೆ, ಪುಸ್ತಕ ನೋಡದೆಯೇ ಅದ್ಭುತ ಸಮಾಧಾನಕರ ಉತ್ತರ ಅವರಿಂದ ಬರುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಬಗೆ ಸ್ಮರಣೀಯ. ಡಾ. ನರಸಿಂಹಸ್ವಾಮಿ, ಪ್ರೊ, ಬಿವಿ ಕೃಷ್ಣಮೂರ್ತಿ ( ಮಧ್ವಾಚಾರ್ಯ ಚಿತ್ರದ ಅಚ್ಯುತ ಪ್ರಜ್ಞರು), ನಿಟಿಲಾಪುರ ಕೃಷ್ಣಮೂರ್ತಿ ಇವರು ನಮ್ಮ ಹರಟೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹಲವೊಮ್ಮೆ ಭಾಗಿ.

ಶ್ರೀ ಗೋವಿಂದಾಚಾರ್ಯರ ಪ್ರವಚನ ವೈಖರಿ
ಸರಿಸುಮಾರು 1980 ರವರೆಗೆ ಅವರು ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿಗಿಂತ ಮುಂಬೈ, ಚೆನ್ನೈ, ಮಂಗಳೂರು ಸುತ್ತಮುತ್ತ ತಮ್ಮ ಪ್ರವಚನಗಳಿಗಾಗಿ ತೆರಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ಮಂಗಳೂರಿನ ಟಾಗೋರ್ ಪಾರ್ಕಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಅವರ ಗೀತಾ ರಾಮಾಯಣ, ಭಾಗವತ ಪ್ರವಚನಗಳಿಗೆ ಟಿಕೆಟ್ ಪಾವತಿಸಿ, ಸ್ಥಳ ದೊರೆತಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಂತು, ಕುಳಿತು ಕಿಕ್ಕಿರಿದು ಜನರು ಅವರ ಮಾತನ್ನು ಆಲಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ಕೆಲವರಿಗೆ ಅವರ ಅಂಗಿ ತೊಟ್ಟು, ಅಕ್ಷತೆ ಅಂಗಾರ ಇಲ್ಲದ ಹಣೆ ನೋಡಿ ಬೇಸರ ಆದರೂ, ವಿಚಾರ ಪರಾಮರ್ಶೆ ಸತ್ಯನಿಷ್ಠುರ ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ಸಹಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು, ಎನಿಸುತ್ತಿತ್ತು
ಅವರು ಆಗಾಗ ಪ್ರವಚನ ಪ್ರವಾಸಕ್ಕೆಎಂದು ಮುಂಬೈ, ರಾಯಚೂರು, ಹುಬ್ಬಳ್ಳಿ, ಧರ್ಮಸ್ಥಳ ಇಲ್ಲಿಗೆ ತೆರಳಿದಾಗ ಅದು ದುರ್ದಿನ ಎನಿಸುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಅವರ ಮಾತು ಎಂದಿಗೂ ಬೇಸರ ತರುತ್ತಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ತಮ್ಮ ಬರವಣಿಗೆಯ ಜೊತೆಜೊತೆಗೆ ನಾನೇ ಅವರ ಅಮೂಲ್ಯ ಸಮಯ ವ್ಯರ್ಥ ಮಾಡುತಿದ್ದೇನೋ ಎನ್ನುವ ಅಪರಾಧ ಪ್ರಜ್ಞೆ ಆಗಾಗ ಕಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದರೂ, ಅವರು ನನ್ನ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆ, ಮಾತುಗಳನ್ನು ಆಲಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ರೀತಿ ಇನ್ನು ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಮಾತು ಮುಂದುವರೆಸಲು ಪ್ರೋತ್ಸಾಹಿಸುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಮುಂದೆ ಇದೆ ಅವರು ನನ್ನನ್ನು ಉಪನಿಷದ್ ಪಾಠಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋಗುವ ಅನುಮತಿಗೆ ಕಾರಣವಾಯಿತು.

Manishe - Vasudhendra's Stories.

 

Manishe is a collection of short stories by Vasudhendra, a promising writer of our times. It is a collection of 6 stories by the author in Kannada. Two are really outstanding for a reader like me. Manishe- a story of two class mates, one an IT employee, another a vocalist, both from Bellary, a border district in Karnataka- Andhra Pradesh. They meet up after 20 years in Bengaluru. The vocalist has risen high in his profession, while the other has made a good career, but finding himself very much dissatisfied.

Huligevva- Story of two batchmates at High School, one a street beggar’s grand daughter, another a middle class Madhva brahmin. They have missed each other for a long time. The boy ends up an IT engineer, who is yet to get married, the Girl now a technocrat, meet up under strange circumstances, of she turning out the boss of him. Though the story line is very common, narration of 

the author is highly commendable. Huligevva is his boss!

Prof. LS Seshagiri Rao

 

 

Professor Lakshmeshvara Swamy Rao Seshagiri Rao, an important figure in the field of Kannada literature, has been a witness to the growth of Kannada Literature from the Navodaya period onwards. He taught us English literature at Government College, Kolar for 3 years. Affectionately called by his students as LSS,  he showed us a model of how language could be taught by using simple words avoiding glamour and fanfare. I still remember him quoting FR Leavis, ‘Shakespeare crated tragedy by dropping a handkerchief’’. In a career spanning over 5 decades, his books have educated generations about not only some of the best works in Kannada but also in English literature. Lakhs of students in Karnataka, including me would have referred to the English-Kannada dictionary put together by Prof. LSS Rao. History of English Literature in Kannada and English Drama are some among his Works. His translation of Bhagavadgita in Kannada is popularly read. Prof. LSS was awarded Sahitya Akademi Award, and also presided over Kannada sahitya sammelana at Udupi. 

He was a simple man, brimming with scholarship and curiosity and was ever happy to guide youngsters in fields of translation, editing of books and paly witing both in Kannada and English. he taught English at Govt. Colleges, Kolar, Madikeri, later at Bangalore University, where he retired from service. He was with Kannada University, Hampi.  He was first Chairman of Book Authority, Karnataka. had he lived now, he would have turned 100. 

Prof. SK Ramachandra Rao (Sep4 . 1925- Feb 2, . 2006)

 

It was during summer of 1998 I met Prof. Rao, to seek his blessings and guidance to bring out monthly Magazine, Sugunamala in  English from Puttige Matha, Udupi, while a Kannada Edition was already available since 1985. Sri Sugunendra Tirtharu of Puttige Matha, Udupi directed me to meet Prof. SKR for guidance. He received me with a smile in his Jayanagar home in the afternoon. He put me at ease and heard about what exactly I need. He was attentively listening to me on what I plan for this as its Editor.

After taking a brief from me, he pulled out a part of an inland letter, artistically tore it and began scribbling in his neat and small writing. Prof. Rao has very neatly jotted down all points to guide and help me out to bring out a Religio-cultural Magazine with limited readership, yet come out with interesting reading material. He could easily decipher requirements of such a magazine, not very scholarly, yet getting articles from experts in related fields like Madhva Philosophy, Vedic lore, Puranas in simple, yet highly readable in English language, which he said ‘Challenging’ task. In fact, he politely said: he has no time to speak in detail on this, due to his prior commitments on an ensuing Kosha Project, which he showed me.

I knew he had already published a book, ಪೂರ್ಣಪ್ರಜ್ಞ ದರ್ಶನ on the content of Madhva thought, with inputs on origin and historical background of Udupi Mathas, which had stroked a controversy.  We never spoke about it either. After thanking him, I came out quite satisfied.

Prof. Saligrama Krishna Rao Ramachandra Rao was born in 1925 at Hanasoge, near Mysore  had his education in Nanjanagudu and  Mysore, with specialisation in Psychology and Philosophy, he knew Sanskrit already through his father and other Gurus. He began his career as researcher with Indian Institute of Science, later worked with NIMHANS, prestigious institution for study of Psychology, even medical aspects and treatment thereon, where he taught and trained researchers. Later, he was with Bangalore University before he began contributing to National and International Journals on Indian Psychology, Yoga and incidentally books on various topics related to Indian thought, Chinese and Japanese counterparts, made Aanand Coomaraswamy accessible to local readers in India. I cherish  enlightening memories of meeting this great scholar.  

Worship in Linga form of other deities

 

Sri Narasimha swamy, Seebi, near Tumakuru. 

There are,  several temples dedicated to divinities other than Shiva worshipped in Linga form in South and North of our land. Narmada Linga is worshipped in a temple in Madhya Pradesh where the river goddess is worshipped in Linga form. Down South, Durga Parameshvari in Kateelu, Bappanadu and elsewhere in Dakshina Kannada district are worshiped in the form of Linga, with an outer cover of metal. Out of 9 famous Durga Parameshvari shrines near Udupi-Mangaluru, 4 are in the form of a dome or mound, looking like Shiva linga.

It is very difficult or unclear why of this type of statues there. These statues are lost in a nearby river due to intermittent floods in the coastal area. Worship of Divinities in the form of Ant-Hill or mound is somewhat primitive in nature, replaced later by beautiful sculpted images of Devi, Subrahmanya generally in this part of South. Even Ananteshvara form of Vishnu, in Udupi is in Linga form, worshipped as Anantasana  Vishnu, who in fact is Parshu Rama Avatar. 

Sri Vadirajatirtha,  noted Madhva saint of Udupi writes in his travelogue Tirtha Prabandha: 

  शिवान्तर्यमिताम् स्वीयां प्रियान् प्रति निबोधयन् |

दया वारिधिनिधिः शैवीं शिलामाश्रित्य शोभते ||

Sri Vishnu, as if reminding his Antaryami ( indweller )  in Shiva, is present here in form of Shiva linga. 

Anantasana is the reclining posture of Padmanabha, a form of Creation also known as Sesha Shayana, reclining on Ananta the Sesha, his bed.  This temple is pre-madhva built by local rulers of Hoyasala/ Alupa dynasties which ruled this area for over 250 years.

Sri Mukambika Sannidhi, Kolluru. Kundapur Tq. 

Kartaviryarjuna

  Yadu dynasty is very ancient family of Kings, Chieftains and warriors, and naturally finds a prominent place in Mahabharata and Bhagavata. Several great kings were born in this lineage. While king Yadu had five sons, the family continued later with great names up to Bhagavan Sri Krishna.

Arjuna, better known as Kartaviryarjuna, belongs to this family. He was born as one among grandsons of Kanaka, whose forefathers were rulers of cities of Vranaasi and Mahishmati on the banks of Ganga.  They belonged to Hehaya clan of Yadus. Arjuna was a brave son of Kritavirya. Hence his name Kartaviryarjuna.

Arjuna was born brave and adventurous, mastered art of warfare and other branches of learning, which prepared him to be a worthy successor of his father. He was a great devotee of Bhagavan Dattatreya, an avatar of Sri Vishnu. He observed  severe penance to have blessings of Dattatreya. He was granted one thousand arms whenever  he needed to attack an enemy. Lord Dattatreya blessed him with 4 boons. He was already blessed with one thousand arms. Apart from this, he requested another strange boon:

अधर्मे वर्तमानस्य सद्भिः तत्र निवारणं

‘Adharme vartamanasya sadbhih tatra nivaranam’-

whenever he went against Dharma, by any means, some noble soul should correct him’.

The third boon was:

सङ्ग्रामान् सुबहून कृत्वा  हत्वा वीरान सहस्रशः

‘ I need to rule the entire earth keeping my subjects happy and peaceful’, by  waging wars and if necessary, killing other heroes who obstructed my way’ .

The fourth boon he requested the lord was:

संग्रामे वर्तमानस्य वधं चाप्यधिकद्रणे

‘in case I die during a war, that killer  person shall be very much stronger than me’.

Bhagavan Dattatreya granted all four boons requested by him. Hence, Arjuna grew up as strongest warrior prince of his times. He would get 1000 arms whenever he needed them. By this, he could win over all 7 dvipas ( great island states), known for prosperity in his time.  He successfully conducted 100 yajnas there for the good of his subjects, pleasing various dieties.

Arjuna the great, was known for his generosity towards the poor, scholars, brahmanas, the weak and helpless. He was a household name in provinces he ruled, due to his benevolent nature.

There was a saying during his time:

न नूनं कार्तवीर्यस्य  गतिम् यास्यन्ति पार्थिवाः

यज्ञैः दानैः तपोभिर्वा विक्रमेण श्रुतेन वा||

• None can equal Kartvaveeryarjuna in performing either yajnas, giving gifts, tapas, and bravery and knowledge indeed’.

Kartavirya Arjuna, even threatened Ravana, great ruler of Lanka, humiliated him taking him a captive to his city of Mahishmati.  Later Pulastya, grandfather of Ravana, and a great Rishi has to get him released  from this captivity. Arjuna,

though a great Yogi-warrior against cruel kings of his times, once did a grave mistake of burning the Ashrama of great Rishi, Vasishta.

Vashishta cursed him: ‘You might have done several good deeds ,since  you have burnt away my Ashrama, you will certainly be killed by another braver person’. He also predicted who will kill him!

रामो नाम  महाबाहुः जामदग्न्यः प्रतापवान 

तपस्वी ब्राह्मणश्च त्वां  वधिष्यति स भार्गवः ||

‘Arjuna! know for sure, you will be killed by a brave Brahmana warrior by name Rama,  very soon’.

After some time, Arjuna the great was killed by Bhagavan Parashurama, son of Jamadagni, and an avatar of Mahavishnu,  when the latter started killing all Kshatriyas on earth’.