Madhvacharya's younger brother- Sri Vishnutirtha. ( c. 1250)

 Sri Madhvacharya was visible for 79 years to all, and left for Badarikashrama when he was about 79 years of age. He is believed to be in an invisible form at Sri Ananteshvara temple, Udupi and visible in upper himalayas- Badarikashrama. He had a brother, whom he gave sanyasa deeksha, when the latter was struck by ill fate, death of parents as Vishnu Tirtha, head of Sonda Vadiraja Matha later. 

Nothing is known about Sri Vishnutirtha, except his Sanyasa Paddhati now published, earlier copied by one Dasacharya, Udupi, available in print format from 2008. Madhva Vijaya has some elaborate information on his character as a Saint, Tapasvi disciple of SRi Madhva. 

Sri Vishnutirtha was away from Udupi, engaged in meditation and Silence, and came back to Udupi after Madhva left the place on request of his disciple Aniruddha Tirtha.  श्रवणेन अनुवादेन मननेन अव्रुथा करोत् |

कालं वेदान्त शस्त्रस्य वेदान्त गुरुसोदरः |

प्रेमामृत प्रसन्नास्य स्मितन्गपङ्ग पूर्वकं 

श्री विष्णुतीर्थ नमास्मै प्रीति तीर्थः प्रदत्तवान् 

चतुरोसौ प्रवचने मनुसम्सिद्धिमान् मनः 

संख्या मां पूरणी मागान् मध्व दासमिति व्यधात् 

( म. वि. १५, ९८-१०२) 

tena samprartitho yatam Rupyapithamimam punah |

Krutajnam Kripaya sveshu sampraptam menire Prajaah ||

it is very difficult to track the history of Vishnutirtha, once he was back and disappeared from there again to the hills of Kumara Parvata. 

About 10 slokas are available in Madhva Vijaya of Narayana Panditacharya, but nothing personal information is known about him. 

His only available text has practically no information about him , his family lateron, as is the case with any sanyasi from a Matha. 

Sanyasa Paddhati - Sri Vishnutirtharu,

A view of Kumara Parvata, where Sri Vishnutirtharu is believed to be in Tapas. 

 

Image of Laksminarayana worshipped by Sri Vishnutirtharu at Sri Samputa Narasimha Swami Mutt, Subrahmanya.

आनन्दतीर्थं विभुमप्रमेयं विद्यासुपूर्णं परतः परेशं |

नारायणं दैवतवन्द्यपादमनन्तभोगे शयितं नमामि ||

श्यामं नितंबार्पित तन्तुमेखलं विद्यानिधिं ज्ञानमहा गुनाड्यं 

निर्देशित ज्ञान महा सुमार्गं व्यासं मुनीनामहमानतोस्मि ||

( सन्यास पद्धतिः - श्री विष्णु तीर्थाः )

Sanyasa Paddhati is a text written by Sri Vishnutirtha, younger brother of Sri Madhvacharya. He is the first pontiff of Sonda- Subrahmanya Mutts. Sanyasa Paddhati deals with the rituals of recieving Sanyasa Deeksha, qualities of a disciple initiated into the 4th Ashrama.

It is a Manual for Madhva Yatis, brahmacharins, Grihasthas and Viraktas. there are 4 Chapters, 158 topics, running to 113 pages . In this Book, recently published ( 2008) by Sri Tirumala Kulkarni, PPVP. Bengaluru. it is an elaborate text on selection of a disciple by Guru, his qualities, tests to be conducted, preparedness for Sanyasa, Vaishnava Deeksha, Sri Madhva's philosophy neatly summarised,

The routine of new pontiff, Pujas to be conducted, fasting rules, types of food to be consumed, not to be consumed, rules for travel outside a Mutt, up to Brindavan rituals after death , to be observed, conducted by his by disciples.

Surprisingly, there is no shloka dedicated to Sri Krishna at Udupi, but Vedavyasa, Madhva are prayed respectfully. Maybe it was written before Krishna Pratishta, at Udupi.