uploaded on 3-8-2011
Sri Raghavendra Tirthaswamiji- A true Madhva Mata vardhanah:
Mantralaya Mahan Jagadguru Sri Raghavendra Tirtha Swamiji ( 1595 AD – 1671 AD ) is a true Madhva Mata Vardhanah as eulogised by Sri Appannacharya in his Raghavendra Stotra .Sri Raghavendra’s fifth successor to the Peetha Sri Vadindra Tirtha ( 1728 – 1750 AD ) in his “Gurugunasthavana “ has praised the the greatness of Sri Raghavendraswamy’s most of the literary works which contributed to the growth of the Maadhva Philosophy.As per the Granthamalika Stotra, Sri Raghavendraswmy has been ascribed with writing nearly 51 works These works show clearly that he is a Madhva Mata Vardhanah indeed! A very brief survey is made here for the above statement.
In his poorva Ashrama, as Venkatanatha , he wrote a brief commentary on “ Anumadhva Vijaya “ “Prameya Navamalika “ “ it is called Gooda Bhavaprakasika “ . The impact made on him by Anumadhva Vijaya is very great. That work influenced him to compose works in Sragdhara metre in later days and his three works ,Sri Ramacharita Manjari, Sri Krishna Charita Manjari and Srimanmahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya were composed on the same lines. For these three works his poorva ashrama son Sri Lakshminarayana wrote commentaries.These commentaries are on the same line as Sri Venkatanatha’s commentary on “ Anumadhva Vijaya “.It has been said that Venkatanatha started writing notes on Nyayasudha from his poorva Ashrama days and it culminated later into a magnificent work called “ Parimala “ . He earned the titke “ Parimalacharya “ also.
On Vedic literature he wrote works called “ Vedatrya Vivritis “ in three volumes on Rig, Yajur, Sama Vedas. Unfortunately these three works are not available to us. We lost valuable commentaries on the Vedas . The existence of the above works are known from Gurugunasthavana. Someone has to make a research on this work at the earliest.
He wrote vyakhyanas on Pancha Veda Suktas Viz., Purusha Sookta, Ambhrini Sookta , Balitta Sookta, Sri Sookta and Ratri Sookta or Hiranya Garbha Sookta. Purusha sookta Vyakhyana is avaoilable in print. Othera have to see the light of the day. Recently, Vyasanakara Prabhanjanacharya has brought to light the Vyakhyana of Ambhrini Sookta written by Rayar.
He produced Rigartha Manjari, a commentary on Rig Bhashya and Mantrartha Manjari. His poorva ashrama son Sri.Lakshmi Narayanachar wrote a commentary on the above.There is a doubt on the above two works.( whether they are one or two is the doubt ).
On all the ten Upanishads commented by Madhva, he wrote Khandarthas or direct word for word meanings based on Madhva Bhashyas. Out of these, Khandartha on Aitrya Upanishadis not available. However, another work known as Aitreya Mantrartha containiing meanings of 47 Mantras of Aitreya Upanishad by name “ Mantrartha “ is available
On sootra literature he has written six works . They are:
(1). Srimannyayasudha Parimala , a tippani on Nyayasudha which is in turn a theeka on Anuvyakhyana of Madhva. This is an important work to know the greatness of Anuvyakhyana cum sudha.
(2). Tattvaprakasika Bhavadeepa, a tippani on Tattva Prakasika which is teekha on Madhva’s Brahma sootra Bhashya.
(3). Tantra Deepika, an independent work on Brahma Sootras giving almost word by word meaning of Sootra as per Madhva Bhashya.
(4). Nyayamukthavali,an independent work on Sootra literature giving all the Nyayas and vishaya vyakhyas contained in the Sootra literarure
(5).Chandrika Prakasa , a tippani on Tatparya Chandrika of Vyasaraya. Here a critical study is made on the three Bhashyas of Sankara, Ramanuja and Madhva with their tikas and tippanis and finally proved how Madhva Bhashya is the only Bhashya conducive to the ideas of Sutrakara etc,.
(6). Anubhashya Tattva Manjari, a tika on Anu Bhashya ,a small work of Madhva in 32 verses. In this work Raghavendraswamy has shown how these 32 verses depict all the 223 Adhikaranas and 564 Sutras of Badarayana saareeka sutras.
On Geetaprasthana Sri Rayar has written three works :
(1). Prameya Deepikia Tippani, ( Tippani on Tikacharya’s Prameya Deepika Tika.)
(2). Nyaya Deepika Tippani. ( Tippani on Sri Jaya Tirtha’s Gita Tatparya Nirnaya Tika , Nyaya Dipika )
(3). Gita Vivriti, a word by word meaning of Bhagavadgita based on Madhva’s works. A great work indeed !
On Madhva’s 10 Prakarana Granthas he wrote Tippanis called “ Bhavadeepa “. Out of these 10 , three Khandana Grantha Tippanis, Tattva Viveka tippani and karma nirnaya Tippanis are not available now. What to do ? That is our fate !
He wrote Vyakhyanas on JayaThirtha’s vaadavali,Pramana Paddati, Vyasaraya’s Tarka Tandava. He composed “ Bhatta Sangraha “, a work on Meemamsa sastrabringing out the ideas of Jaimini,Sabaraswamin and Kumarila Bhatta in a lucid way.He wrote Pratasankalpa Gadya , a monumental prose work in two sentences only containing all the ideas of Madhva Philosophy. He composed an Adi Taratamya Stotra based on Bramhanda Purana. Two works called Sarva Samarpana Gadya and Prameya Sangraha .are also ascribed to him. But some orthodox Madhvas do not accept these two as the works of Sri Rayar.
Apart from these works in Sanskrit language it is said that Sri Rayar have composed a number of Devara Namas in Kannada language under the Ankita “ Venugopala”. Out of these ,one song “ Indu Enage Govinda “, in Bhairavi / Mukhari raga is popular and widely sung. One Suladhi on “Vayadeva “ has also come to light. apart from thses two, other Davara Namas are not available now. But, due to his influence , Haridasakoota was blossomed after his Brindavana pravesa under the leadership of Sri Vijayadasa. All the subsequent Dasas after Sri Vijayadasa have composed a lot of songs on him and others. So, Rayar encouraged both Vyasakoota and Dasakoota.
Now, 340 years has elapsed since the Brindavana pravesa of Sri Raghavendraswamy.In the present age, most of the people do not show any interest in Madhva Philosophy and Madhva Sampradayas. But there are a lot of Mrittika Brindavanas of Rayar developing all over India ,nay , the world.These Beindavanas now serve as the focal points for the spread of Madhva Philosophy and Madhva sampradayas. That is why even now in absentia Sri Rayar serves as the “Madhva Mata Vardhanah” through his Mrittika Brindavanas . Sri Rayar’s “ Madhva Mata seva “ cannot be exhausted by this small writeup. We have to be always grateful to him for his monumental service to Madhva Mata.
Sri Krishnarpanamastu