Vadiraja Theertharu was one of the key saints who preeched Madhawa philosophy. Though my blog is more of Guru Raghavendra Swamy, I wanted to post this blog on Vadiraja theertharu as he is close to our Guru Raghavendra Swamy's previous incarnation of Vyasa Rajaru. Vadiraja Theertharu's guru is Vyasa Rajaru. Vadiraja Theertharu was born somewhere around 1480 AD near Udipi. He lived on this earth for 120 years and went into Jeeva Brindavana 70+ years before my Guru Raghavendra Swamy. He is also beleived to be an incarnation of Adhisesha.
We can also say that he was there in both the incarnations of Shanghu Karna Devatha as Vyasa Rajaru and Guru Raghavendra Swamy. He was shisya to Vyasa Rajaru and most likely when he entered Jeeva Brindavana Guru Raghavendra Swamy was born in the earth, though he did not personally seen Guru Raghavendra Swamy, he was living in the earth during that period.
Sri Vadiraja theertharu was born to Ramabhatta and Gowridevi.
Once Sri Vaagisha Theertharu of Sri Vishnutheertha Mutt happened to visit the Village Ramabhatta and Gowridevi Dampathigalu begged the shrigalu to bless them with a child. Sri Vaageesha Theertharu blessed him with a condition that the child born to be handed over to the Mutt for upbringing. However parents were not willing to do this and requested Vaagisha Theertharu to help them. By seeing this, theertharu told them if the child happens to born outside the house, then they shall hand over to the Mutt, if not they can raise the child with them.
The couple agreed wholeheartedly thinking that the child will be born inside the house.
Nine months completed. On one day, Gowri was performing Tulasi Puja early in the morning. She saw some cows entering the garden which they own, and the cows started eating and destroying the garden. Gowri took a stick and chased the cows, moved quite a distance from the house forgetting the agreement with the Sri Vageesha Thirtharu. Suddenly her pregnancy pain started and she could not return home and delivered the child in the field itself. Immediately Sri Vaageesha Thirtharu was informed of the birth of the child and a golden plate was sent from the Mutt and the child was brought to the Mutt. The baby never touched the ground until it reached the Mutt. The baby was fed with the milk that had been offered to the deity as naivedya; and the parents named the boy as “Bhoovaraha”. Child learnt all skills and studied well right from his early days itself. Sri Vageesha Theertharu told the parents that the services of the child is required for the prachara of Madhwa Tathwa.
Child learnt Veda, Vedanga, Madhwa Shastra etc from Sri Vageesha Theertharu. After seeing the child's vast knowledge and Bhakthi, he decided to give him Sanyasa at the age of 8 years and was given the name “Vaadiraja Theertha”. After some time, Sri Vageesha Theertharu entered Brundavana, then for further studies Sri Vadirajaru went to Sri Vyasarajaru ( previous incarnation of Guru Raghavendra Swami) in Hampi.
Sri Vadiraja theertharu established his mutt in Sode and this land was donated by a king. Hayagreeva Prasada was very famous and there is a history related to this with Sri Vadiraja theertharu. Once there was a land next to the mutt which was owned by a villager. He had sowed seeds in the land which had grown well and was ready for harvesting. One day when the villager came to his land, he saw some of the paddy field were destroyed. He was not sure and who did that and he thought to watch it on the night to see who is doing this. In the night, he saw a white horse coming from the Mutt to the field and had his food and moved back to the Mutt. The villager was suprised to see this and he was not sure whether to beleive his eyes and he tested this again on the following night and the same thing happened. Next day morning, he went to Mutt and informed Sri Vadirajar about this, Sri Vadirajar was suprised and he told the villager that there are no horses in the Mutt but he said Mutt will pay the damage to this since villager indicated the horse came from the Mutt. For this villager informed Sri Vadirajar that he will verify again tonight and come back to Mutt. What villager was stunned on what he saw that night. The same horse came and ate some of the dhal's planted in the field. However when the villager went there, he saw equal amount of gold in the field. He went back to Mutt to inform the same. Sri Vadirajar requested villager not to see this tonight and if he sees that he will loose his eyes. However villager did not heed to Sri Vadirajar's words and lost his eyes. Sri Vadirajar realized this was Hayagreevar who came in the form of horse and prayed to Hayagreevar to give back the eyes to the villager and requested him to have the food from him and not in the field. From this day, Hayagreevar will come in the form of a white horse and Sri Vadirajar will have the Hayagreeva prasadam on his head and Hayagreevar in horse form will place his front legs in the shoulders of Sri Vadirajar and have the food. You can also see this in the picture above.
Sode Mutt Website : http://www.sodevadirajamutt.in/home.html
[ஸ்ரீ கிருஷ்ணார்ப்பணம்]
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