Sri Vyasatirtha- and Sri Vadiraja Swamy

Sri Vyasatirtha and Vadiraja are two stalwarts who enriched Madhva literature both in Samskrit and Kannada. They lived during the  same time. While one was Rajaguru of Vijayanagar kings, the other is a well known reformer,  and rejuvenator of Krishna Matha,   Udupi. They were contemporaries, but neither verbally recognise each  other!  Both were Balasanyasins, living for long years. Very strange enough, Kanaka Dasaru was known to both. Even Vyasa Tirtha is believed to have spent some time in Udupi. Vadirajaru is one among Bala Sanyasins, heading Sri Vishnu tirtha Mutt, later called Sode Matha. 

Date of Vyasa Tirtha-1460-1539,     Vadiraja Tirtha - 1480-1600. 

There is enough oral tradition, through Kritis of Haridasas  to say that Vadiraja studied under Vyasa Tirtha for sometime. However, Vadiraja in none  of his works identifies Vyasatirtha as his Guru or a senior Madhva Guru or his Mentor. Both are reputed commentators on Madhva and Jayatirtha works. While Vyasatirtha has given us excellent commentaries by way of Tatparya Chandrika, Nyayamrita, Vadiraja has more. Both have commented on Nyayasudha of Jayatirtha. Both commented on Upanishad Bhashyas of Madhva. Anuvyakhyana and Brahma Sutra Bhashya have been widely commented by either; in fact adding much to the treasure of didactic literature. Sri Vadiraja Guru charitamritam by Raghunatha Acharya claims that Vadirajaru had come to Vyasatirtha, to procure Vyasamustis given by Vedavyasa to Madhvacharya, in pretex of learning under him, returned when he got them!

Sri Vadiraja has not written by way of introductory stanzas in praise of Vyasa Tirtha, However, he profusely respects his Guru Vagisha Tirtha, Vidya Guru Vidyanidhi, and directly Madhvacharya, repeatedly, and had travelled widely, None of Mangalacharana Slokas in Vadiraja texts have any reference to Vyasa Tirtha as his Guru or inspirer. Yukti Mallika, a treatise written by him based on arguments and replies with other 5 schools of thought, does not refer to Vyasatirtha or his works. However, a close reader will surely find influence of Nyayamrita on the work. Since they were close contemporaries, one senior and the other younger, Vadiraja Swami might have not mentioned him, as the usual custom is! But the question remains, why he did not quote Vyasatirtha in his scholarly works at least  once? There is no doubt that Vyasatirtha was elder to Vadiraja!