Hari Sarvothama Vayu Jivothama
Sri Sripadaraja Gurubyo namaha
ತಂ ವಂದೇ ನರಸಿಂಹ ತೀರ್ಥ ನಿಲಯಂ ಶ್ರೀ ವ್ಯಾಸರಾಜ ಪೂಜಿತಂ
ಧ್ಯಾಯಂಥಾಂ ಮನಸಾ ನೃಸಿಂಹ ಚರಣಂ ಶ್ರೀಪಾದರಾಜ ಗುರುಂ ||
Tham Vande Narasimha Theertha Nilayam Sri Vyasaraja Pujitham
Dhyayantham Manasa Nrisimha Charanam Sripadaraja Gurum ||
About Sri Sripadaraja Tirtha:
Lakshmi Narayana yathi, also called as Sri Sripadaraja, was seventh from parampara of Sri Padmanabha tirtha. His holiness was disciple and successor of Sri Svarnavarna tirtha, and his vidya guru was none other than Sri Vibhudendra Tirtha of Tirunelveli.
His holiness learnt all 64 arts from his guru, composed many holy granthas but we have traced only one so far “Vagvajra” , an commentary on Sriman Nyayasudha far excellence. Not stopping there, Sri Swamiji revived Hari Dasa literature and after a long gap of nearly 100 years after brindhavana of Sri Narahari tirtha, brought to limelight of great tradition of Hari dasas literature to the World. His holiness has composed thousands of golden songs with the name as “Ranga vitthala”.
The very auspicious work what Swamiji brought to the greatest santhana dharma was bringing his disciple “Sri Vyasa Tirtha”, being a vidhya guru taught all vedanta secrets to his shishya’s, who later became a lion of Sri Madhva philosophy.
King Saluva Narasimha specially honored great Swamiji and infact wanted Swamiji to take care of pooja at Chandragiri(Tirumala) but Sri Swamiji chose Sri Vyasa tirtha. Rest is the history which we all know. Tirumala is now one of the richest temples in the World, because of great governance of Vyasa tirtha. He brought many development, adopted 27 villages which gained revenue for the temple. Sri Vyasa tirtha then handed over and returned back to Hampi.
Sri Sripadaraja Tirtha – an avatara of Dhruva maharaja:
Sri Sripadaraja is sakshath avatara of Sri Dhruva maharaja, and lord blessed giving dharshana both inner and also outside. Dhruva raja proved that bhakthi plays a role in attaining the enlightenment. Sripadarajaru proved in many of his songs referring the same. Rajaru songs tastes like Honey, and brings essence of gyana, bhakthi and vairagya. His vairagya songs has attracted many other Hari dasas like Sri Purandara Dasaru, Sri Kanaka Dasa etc. All were attached/attracted to every divine song of Rajaru.
Revived the system of Hari Dasa tradition:
As said earlier, it was Sri Sripadaraja who through his songs reached nook and corner of the World, which was passionate and brought devotion within all. Venugita, Gopi Gita are important work of him. All his songs are heart touching even now, if we know the inner meaning. Sri padaraja stayed for many years at Srirangam and composed most of the divine songs on Rangathana Swamy.
In one of the songs, Rajaru gives us a way to attain the mukthi. He emphasises that we must develop Bhakthi, detachment, and tapa shakthi(keeping our soul and mind clean from thoughts).
His popular composition “Madhva nama” is considered to be auspicious, which narrates the three avatars of Sri Vayu deva. It is sung by thousands of rajaru devotees till now around the World. His knowledge, tapa shakthi, vairagya cannot be compared with anyone. If a one can bring shishyas like Sri Vyasa Tirtha, Sri Vadhiraja, Sri purandara dasa etc then what would have been the level of knowledge he would have gained on sastras,vedas. Sri Swamiji brought the concept of University during his period, where it was taught all Vedas and Vedanta to many students. what a guru we have got in this human birth!!
About Sri Sripadharajaru by his shishya Sri Sri Vyasa Tirtha:
(Sri Keshava Tirtha Swamiji of Sripadharaja Mutt doing samasthana pooja)
Sri Vyasa Tirtha in his pancha ratnamalika beautifully describe the greatness of his guru Sri Sripadharajaru. His shishya says that Guru always does the meditation of Lord Shri Harih, one who has no bad qualities in him, who looks majestic and has won all debaters easily through his vast knowledge on Sri Madhva philosophy.
He adds saying that, the one who performs seva to the holy brindhavana at Narasimha Tirtha(Mulbhagal) gets pure knowledge, and attains enlightenment with his grace, and attain holy feet of Lord Sri Harih. In one of the songs, Sri Vyasa Tirtha sung the great qualities of Sri Swamiji(“mahime saaladhe?”).
After living the saintly life of 98 years, Sri Swamiji attained holy brindhavana at Mulbhagal, and handed over the pooja idols of Gopinatha and other deities to Sri Hayagreeva Tirtha. For the year 2024, his aradhana is celebrated in a grand manner at all over India especially at Mulbhagal on 21st June 2024.
Google Map location of Mulbhagal:
Let Sri Rajaru bless all of us with Gyana/Bhakthi and Vairagya.
Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu
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