TEERTHA PRABANDHA (ತೇರ್ಥ ಪ್ರಬಂಧ)

SRI VADIRAJA VIRACHITA “TEERTHA PRABANDHA” – STEP 13

ಶ್ರೀ ವಾದಿರಾಜ ವಿರಚಿತ “ತೀರ್ಥ ಪ್ರಬಂಧ”.

(The significance of Udupi is further substantiated in the following stanzas by Sri Vadirajaru. Reason for Udupi being called Rajatapeethapura has been explained. Please read, comment and share. Access all stories at:

https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3857926767002555602#editor/target=post;postID=7945312400418443064  SDN)

                 

ದ್ವಾರಾವತೀಂ ಸಕಲಭಾಗ್ಯವತೀಮುಪೇಕ್ಷ್ಯ

ಗೋಪಾಲಬಾಲಲಲನಾಕರಪೂಜನಂ ಚ|

ವಾರ್ಧಿಂ ವಧೂಗೃಹಮುಪೇತ್ಯ ಸ ಮಧ್ವನಾಥೋ

ಯತ್ರಾಸ್ತಿ ತದ್ರಜತಪೀಠಪುರಂ ಗರೀಯಃ||9||

DwArAvateem sakalaBhAgyavateemupEkShya

GopAlabAlalalanAkarapUjanam cha|

VArDhim vaDhUgruhamupEtya sa MaDhwanAThO

YatrAsti tadrajatapeeThapuram gareeyaha||9||

SUMMARY: Lord Sri Krishna left his pompous and glorious royal abode in Dwaraka, sacrificed the worship that the Gopikas were devoutly offering him every day and crossed the Ocean, which was the maternal home of his beloved wife Rama Devi, only to reach to his most beloved devotee Sri Madhwacharyaru, who was then staying at Rajatapeethapura or the present Udupi. Therefore, Udupi has a special spiritual significance.

Sri Vadirajaru states in this stanza as to why Udupi is one of the holiest places in the world. The incident being cited in this stanza is a well-known incident. He substantiates his stand further in the next stanza.

ರೂಪ್ಯಾತ್ಮಕಸ್ಯ ಭವತಸ್ತುಲನಾಂ ನ ಭೇಜುಃ

ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರಾಣಿ ಭಾರತಮಹೀರಚಿತಾನ್ಯಮೂನಿ|

ಈಶಾಚಲಂ ಚ ಜಯಸೀಶ್ವರಮಾತ್ರವಾಸಂ

ಶ್ರೀಮಧ್ವಹಸ್ತಕಮಲಾರ್ಚಿತಕೃಷ್ಣಮೂರ್ತ್ಯಾ||10||

RUpyAtmakasya BhavatastulanAm na BhEjuhu

KShEtrANi BhAratamaheerachitAnyamUni|

EeshAchalam cha jayaseeshwaramAtravAsam

SrimadhwahastakamalArchitakriShNamUrtyA||10||

SUMMARY: Oh renowned Rupyapeethapura, none of the innumerable holy places across India, which are shining like silver, have been able to match you; due to the presence of the idol of Lord Krishna, which has been worshipped by the lotus hands of Sri Madhwacharyaru, you have set aside the greatness of Mount Kailas, which is the holy abode of Lord Rurdra.

Several years ago, a Kshatriya king called Ramabhoja was plowing a piece of land in the present day Udupi with a yoke. At that time, a king cobra came under the yoke and died suddenly. The king was highly worried as he thought that he had committed a serious crime by killing the cobra. Lord Parashurama then consoled the king by stating that the cobra that had died was in fact a demon, who was roaming about there in the form of a serpent and therefore there was no need for the king to be worried. The king was not fully satisfied with the explanation. As suggested by Lord Parashurama, the king got four silver Peethas or divine seats, installed them in four directions and consecrated four idols of serpent on each Peetha and worshipped them. Lord Parashurama later told that at the end of Yuga, he would himself manifest there and that the place be known as Rajatapeethapura, where Rajata means silver and Peetha is the spiritual seat.