Bilva mangalah SadhuH
बिल्व मंगलः साधुः
This sentence of seven letters, Bilva Mangalah sadhuH – बिल्व मंगलः साधुः is considered as one of the works of Sri Madhvacharya, the works known by the general name “ Sarva Moola Granthas “ . This is also considered as the last work in the Sarva Moola Grantha series. Sri Satya Parayana Tirtha of Uttaradi Mutt has written a tika for this work. He has given eighteen different meanings for this short sentence. He has openly said that this sentence forms part and parcel of Sarva Moola Granthas. सर्वमूल ग्रन्थाः
बिल्व मंगलः साधुः इति सर्वज्ञोक्तं वाक्यं सर्वमूल अन्तर्भूतं इति संप्रदायविदः ॥
(bilva maMgalaH sAdhuH iti sarvajJoktaM vAkyaM sarvamUla antarbhUtaM iti saMpradAyavidaH ||)
Ther are some anectodes associated with this sentence. There was a Krishna Bhakta by name “Lila Suka “ . He was also known as “Bilva Mangala”. One day some disciples of Madhvacharya enquired about Biva Mangala with Madhvacharya himself. At that time Sri Madhvacharya told that “ Biva Mangalah SadhuH ( Biva Mangala is a holy good person ). That formed his last sentence in Sarva Moola.
There was a Smarta Pandit by name “Bilva Mangala” and he counted all the letters (Granthas) in all the Sarva Moola granthas and told Acharya that there are 18 lakh (eighteen lakh) letters in all the Sarva Moola Granthas. But Acharya Madhva quickly retorted by saying that the Sarva Moolas lack seven letters to complete eigteen lakh letters. He also said ‘ you add the sentence Bilva MangalaH SadhuH to the Sarva Moola Rasi. Then Sarva Moola becomes 18 lakh lettered book series’. So, this seven lettered word forms as the last work of Sarva Moola Grantha.
But the great Yati of Uttaradi Mutt Sri Satya Parayana Tirtha whose Aradhane falls on Ashvina Sukla Saptami interpreted this sentence in such a way that it shows the greatness of Sri Hari in eighteen different ways. Paucity of space prevents from giving all the meanings as interpreted by the great Swamiji .
|| zrI kRSNArpaNamastu ||
॥ श्री कृष्णार्पणमस्तु ॥