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!