Glimpses of Madhwacharya in Shri Vadiraja

• This article is ascribed as a salutation to Shri Vadiraja Teertha on the occassion of his aradhana.
• Reference: Article by Vidwan Bannanje Gopalkrishna Upadhyaya, Tattva Mallika Year 2000  
• Author: Smt Vaishnavi Bankalgi

If one were to list the prominent pontiffs who decorated the famed seat of Dvaitha philosophy, undoubtedly, two of the most knowledgeable and prominent seers would find themselves mentioned foremost.

As the reader would have guessed by now, they are none other than Acharya Madhwa and Sri Vaadirajaru. While the former was active from the year 1199-1278, the latter was active from the year 1480-1600. So while there is a gap of almost 2 centuries among them, one can see many glimpses of Sri Madhwacharya in Sri Vadiraja Swamigalu.

For instance, both incarnated upon the divine orders of Sri Narayan and Sri Hayageeva, both forms of Vishnu, with both having the primary duty of respectively establishing and publicising Dwaita mata. They also had the larger good in mind, including purification of the sinful souls as goals of incarnation.

Both meditated and obtained the grace of Sri Vedavyasa, Acharya Madhwa by penance of 48 days and Sri Vadiraja by penance of 6 months.

Acharya Madhwa has composed many tomes prominently, the Anuvyakhyana his commentary on Bramhasutras, Mahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya on Mahabharat and Yamakabharata the story of Krishna. Similarly, Vaadirajaru has composed Yuktimallika, Mahabharata Lakshalankara and Rukmineesha Vijaya dedicated to the aforementioned scriptures and forms of Vishnu.

Both the stalwarts shine in their knowledge, an instance would be that Sri Madhwacharya debated with Sri Trivikram Panditacharya while Sri Vadiraja debated Sri Bhootarajaru.

Both the Gurus, have been tutors of Sri Shesha and the lords of the  direction, Dikpalaakas at various points of time. Continuing further, Acharya Madhwa served Sri Vishnu in his form as Hanuman helping Rama meet Sita, Sri Vadiraja served Vishnu in his form as the message bearer of Rukmini to Krishna. This is a clear indication of similarities between them.

Both the Gurus have shown similarities in my performing superhuman feats be it moving boulders or reducing their weight so much as to be able to ride piggyback on a small child (Acharya Madhwa) and to be able to float on a banana leaf (Sri Vadiraja).

Even poison failed to have an impact on these prominent devotees as Vadiraja escaped unharmed in Ahobilam whereas Madhwacharya swallowed poison in his form as Bheema.

Ultimately both the pontiffs have made prominent contribution to continued devotion of Sri Krishna. While Acharya Madhwa established the Ashta Mathas and gave each of the pontiffs a form of Vishnu for their ardent worship, Vaadirajaru, streamlined the bi-annual Krishna worship ritual, Paryaya and gave the eight monasteries (7 excluding Sode Matha and Bheemanakatte Matha) an idol of Sri Hayageeva for worship.

Lastly, both left for higher devotion with their physical forms intact. While Acharya Madhwa simply left for Badariksharma for pursuing knowledge from Sri Vedavyasa, Vaadirajaru continues to bless devotees from the Vrindavan as also gifted his followers with his footwear, the Paadukaa and his shawl which is still preserved and shown during his Aradhana.

Such stark similarities are rarely seen, thus, one can conclude that several glimpses of Madhwacharya are seen in Vadiraja Swamiji and providing adequate proofs of the Rujutva of Vadiraja Swamiji and the grace of Hari Vaayu Guru bestowed upon him.

Vaishnavi Kulkarni Bankalgi

Software Engineer by profession and a learner of Madhwa Siddhanta by passion.

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