- A thesis on Shri Madhwacharya’s life and history by B.N. Venugopal
- Read the previous part here
Life:
Sri Madhvacharya is the only philosopher who has been mentioned in the Vedas. Sri Vishnu, the supreme Almighty commissioned Mukhyaprana to redeem the world from the antagonistic Mayavada.
Sri Narayana Panditacharya’s magnum opus Sri Madhva Vijaya, which has also been the most authentic biography of Sri Madhvacharya, gives a clear picture of his life. This biography is held in great esteem both as a historical text and a sacred poetical work.
Sri Madhvacharya – also known by many other names – Poornaprajna, Ananda theertha, Dashapramathi, Poornabodha, Sarvajna theertha, Anumana theertha was born in a Tulu brahmana family residing at a village in Pajaka kshetra, eight miles to the southeast of the town Udupi. This kshetra was known for the temples of Sri Parashurama and Sri Durgadevi. His father was Madhyageha Bhatta and mother was Vedavathi. Madhyageha Bhatta was well versed in the Vedas and its related scriptures. He had great proficiency in the Ithihasas and Puranas too.
Madhyageha Bhatta also had a high level of philosophical knowledge but the lack of agreement in them struck a blow to his line of thought. His mind was full of confusion as the concepts like Mayavada, Brahma being Nirguna (having no qualities), Nirakara (having no form) were capable of confusing and misleading even the most learned ones. The philosophy which aimed at providing a solution to the philosophical questions itself had led series of problems and unresolved questions. That was not only the problem of Madhyageha Bhatta. Rather, the entire nation was
encountered with this grave problem. The 13th century, which witnessed the Avatara of Sri Madhvacharya, was a period of grave cultural unrest and political turmoil in Indian History. The entire nation was passing through a catastrophic period. The Hindu Kingdoms were not united and they were torn by internal wars. Destruction of temples and forcible conversions to an invading faith were seen everywhere and the people of this nation did not have the dynamic urge to fight against the atrocities of the invaders. It was also due to the reason that the prevailing philosophy of that time had not fuelled in people the dynamic urge to unite to resist external aggression at the most critical juncture in the history of the nation. Mayavada had resulted in the unconscious pessimism of spirit. The nation had to be awakened from the sleep-inducing effects of a world negating philosophy which was devitalizing the nation.
Mayavada had been the source of inner weakness of the country at the political level and contradictions at the spiritual arena as it had shadowed the real essence of the Vedas and related scriptures. The whole nation was looking forward to a great visionary who could liberate the Vedic scriptures from the clutches of the wrong as well as misleading interpretations. The genuine seekers were eagerly awaiting an able percepter who could reestablish the Vedic truth by eliminating all contradictions and incompatibilities that were prevalent an account of the wrong interpretations. It was during this critical juncture that Sri Madhva appeared on the philosophical scene.
Madhyageha Bhatta and his wife were practicing austerities and prayers at the temple of Ananteshwara, the presiding deity of Udupi for long and by the grace of God, Mukhyaprana appeared on the earth and Madyageha Bhatta and his wife were blessed with the boon to be considered as parents to that divine child. Madhyageha Bhatta named the child Vaasudeva to indicate that the child was born to bestow knowledge to the whole world and he would ever be devoted to Lord Vaasudeva. The name is also significant in another way. Lord Vaasudeva is that form of Lord Vishnu which gives Moksha or solace to the souls and the great Acharya who showed the souls the Moksha marga was also named Vaasudeva.
