MADHWAVIJAYA PRATHAMAHA SASRGAHA - SHLOKAS 6 TO 8

TAm mantravarNairanuvarNaneeyAm sharvEndrapUrvairap vaktu kAmE|

SakShipnuvAkyE mayi mandabudhDhau santO guNADhyAya karuNAm kriyAsuhu||6|

May the pious, virtuous be empathetic and kind towards me as I am making a fool of myself by attempting to cryptically describe the mysterious powers of Great Lord Vayu, which even the most pious persons and deities, including Lord Rudra and Indra, have been yearning to describe through Vedic hymns.

MantravarNaihi means Mantra Varnas or hymns of Vedas. The various qualities, traits and deeds of Lord Vayu have been described in BalithThA SUkta.

By calling himself ‘Mayi mandabudhDhau” Sri Narayana Panditacharyaru has stated that the Leelas of Lord Vayu are worth describing in infinite terms. But by trying to compress those Leelas in “SankShipnuvAkyE”, the poetic persona feels that he is making an attempt at describing something that is beyond description.  

UchchAvachA yEna samastachEShTAha kim tatra chitram charitam nivEdyam|

KintUttamashlOka shiKhA maNeenAm manO vishudhDhyai charitAnuvAdaha||7||Since every minute thing in the universe happens due to the grace of Lord Mukhyaprana, which particular act of that Lord can I emphasise to be astonishing, mysterious or miraculous. Yet, is it not highly meritorious to narrate a part of the story of the great and virtuous in whatever little way we can?  

MAlAkrutastachcharitAKhya ratnaihi asUkShma druShTEhe sa kutUhalasya|

PUrvApareekAramaThAparam vA kShAmyantu mE hanta muhurmahAntaha||8||

My eyesight is certainly opaque and blurred as I am trying to make a garland out of the various gems and diamonds of the stories of such an astounding deity, Lord Vayu. Besides, due to over-enthusiasm or haste, I might not have recorded the stories in proper sequence. Something that could be narrated later might have been stated much earlier and vice versa. I beseech the virtuous and knowledgeable to pardon me every now and then due to such fallacies.     

(Due to space constraint and also factors like paucity of time for readers to fully understand and assimilate the beauty of this great work word by word, summary of only two-three Shlokas is given. Hope it will meet with your kind approval as ever. Further, appropriate images are not available for these Shlokas. Hence, different images of Sri Madhwacharyaru are given. Sorry if any image is repeated. Please read, re-read, comment and share. SDN)

VISHWAMITRA - TRISHANKU EPISODE

(This is Chapter 57 in Balakanda, Sri Madvalmeeki Ramayana related to Trishanku and creation of Trishanku Swarga. Please read, comment and share it. SDN)

Tataha santaptahrudayaha smarannigrahamAtmanaha|

Vinih(i)shwasya krutavairO mahAtmanA||1||

Sa dakShiNAm disham gatvA mahiShyA saha RAGhava|

TatApa paramam GhOram VishwAmitrO mahattapaha|

PhalamUlAshanO dAntashchakAra paramam tapaha||2||

AThAsya jajnirE putrAha satyaDharmaparAyaNAha|

HavihShyaNDO maDhuShyaNDO druDhanEtrO mahAraThaha||3||

PUrNE varShasahasrE tu BrahmA lOkapitAmahaha|

AbraveenmaDhuram vAkyam VishwAmitram tapODhanam||4||

JitA rAjarShilOkAstE tapasA kushikAtmaja|

AnEna tapasA twAm hi rAjarShiriti vidmahE||5||

The heart of Vishwamitra was severely pained by the defeat he suffered at the hands of Vasishtha. He became very sad¹. He was heaving long sighs of dejection frequently. Vishwamitra started treating Vasishtha as his enemy for the defeat he suffered. He again decided to do penance in a Tapovan (Tapa means penance and van means forest. Tapovn means a serene place in a forest most suitable to do penance) and went towards the south, along with his queen² and began the penance. Consuming only roots, herbs and fruits, exercising a restriction on sensory organs, he launched a very severe penance. During that period, four sons called as Havishyanda, Madhushyanda, Drudhanetra and Maharatha, were born to Vishwamitra couple. Impressed with the arduous and determined penance of Vishwamitra for one thousand years, Lokapitamaha Lord Brahma transcended from his abode, along with other deities, to Vishwamitra and told penance-rich Vishwamitra these sweet and kind words: 

“Vishwamitra, I have liked the fierce penance you have done. You have already secured whatever Lokas a Rajarshi can secure with your arduous penance. We feel that with your horrible penance, you have become a Rajarshi.”

Conveying this information, Lord of Universe Brahma went out of the hermitage of Vishwamitra, along with all the deities. While Brahma went to his Brahma Loka, other deities returned to the heavens.

MADHWAVIJAYA – SHLOKAS 3, 4 AND 5

(Please read, comment and Share. SDN)

Api TrilOkyA bahirullasantee

TamO harantee muhurAntaram cha|

DlishyAd druShTAm nO viShAdam jayantee

MaDhwasya keertirdinanATha deeptim||3||

SUMMARY: May the fame of Acharya Sri Madhwa, which shines inside as well as outside the three worlds, drives away the darkness of lack of knowledge from within the heart and is brighter than the sunlight, bestow upon me the light of realisation and knowledge.

Comment: By stating that the fame and reputation of Sri Madhwacharya is brighter than Sunlight, Sri Narayana Panditacharya has paid rich tributes to the former.

TamOnudAAnandamavApa lOkaha

TatwapradeepAkruti gO gaNEna|

YadAsya sheetAmshuBhuvA gurUmstAn

TrivikramAryAn praNamAmi varyAn||4||

I salute my most revered Guru Sri Trivikrama Panditacharyaru from whose moon-like face spontaneously overflew the sparkling speech called “Tattwapradeepa” that made all the people ecstatic and exuberant.

Additional information: Sri Narayana Pnditacharyaru has used the “GurUn” in this stanza. Sri Narayana Panditacharyaru was the third son of Trivikrama Panditacharyaru. The Shastras clearly mention that Father is the first Guru for everyone. Guru is a synonym of father too. However, the Shastras also mention categorically that the position of a Guru is more than that of the father. A father provides the being his or her physique, which becomes instrumental to acquire knowledge. A body or a being without knowledge is invalid.

Mukunda Bhadtyai guruBhaktijAyai

SatAm prasattayai cha nirantarAyai|

Gareeyaseem vishwagurOrvishdDhAm v

VakShyAmi VAyOravatAra leelAm||5||

SUMMARY: I will describe here the life history and the pleasant deeds of the holiest and astounding incarnation of Lord Vayu, which is symptomatic of my devotion to the Supreme Guru that creates devotion to the Lord and earns me the grace of pious, righteous and virtuous people.

VAyOravatAraleelAm: The word “LeelA” in this compound expression epitomizes several factors. It is a culmination of happiness, ease of action that ensures bliss to those who recite or hear Madhwavijaya. By stating VAyoho, Sri Narayana Panditacharyaru has emphasised the fact that Sri Madhwacharyaru is an incarnation of Lord Vayu and this fact is beyond questioning. Devotion to a Guru is earned by reading, knowing, understanding and assimilating the various activities of the Guru. With the devotion to the Guru sprouts the devotion to the Lord, which is the principal purpose of reading or hearing Shastras.  

VISHWAMITRA AGAIN ATTACKS VASISHTHA

(This is Chapter 56 of Balakanda in Sri Valmeeki Ramayana. After securing special Astras from Lord Shiva, Vishwamitra tries to hurl them at Vasishtha. Please read, comment and Share. SDN)

YEvamuktO VasiShThEna VishwAmitrO mahAbalaha|

AgnEyamastramutkShipya tiShTha tiShThEti chAbraveet||1||

BrahmadaNDam samutkShipya kAladaNDamivAparam|

VasiShThO BhagavAnkrODhAdidam vachanamabraveet||2||

KShatrabanDhO sThitO(a)smyESha yadbalam tadvidarshaya|

NAshayAmyadya tE darpam shastrasya tava gAdhija||3||

Kwa cha tE kShatriyabalam kwa cha Brahmabalam mahat|

Pashya Brahmabalam divyam mama kShatriyapAmsana||4||

TasyAstram gADhiputrasya GhOramAjnEyamudyatam|

BrahmadaNDEna tachChAntamajnErvEga ivAmBhasA||5||

When Vasishtha told “MooDha twam na BhaviShyasi”, meaning “You fool, you will not live long,” to Vishwamitra, who had become very powerful after securing the Astras, set the Agneyastra on his bow and replied to Vasishtha, “Stop, stop, this will punish you appropriately.”

Vasishtha, who was already very much angry, became most indignant, lifted the Brahmadanda, which was reminiscent of Kaladanda or the Fatal Cudgel of Yama, and said: “You, an abuse to Kshatriyas, do not be under the illusion that I will run away by seeing you. I am standing here. Display whatever power you think you have. I will instantly destroy the pride you have assumed due to the Shastras. What strength can you possess in front of Brahmabala (the power of a Brahmarshi)? Can there be a comparison between Brahmabala and the power of a Kshatriya? See it for yourself the real power of the Brahmabala.”

IS IT MADHWAVIJAYA OR SUMADHWAVIJAYA?

There have been quite a few arguments about the original name of this outstanding work of Sri Narayana Panditacharyaru. Some scholars categorically say that the original name is only MADHWAVIJAYA and not SUMADHWAVIJAYA. The reason for this argument is that Sri Narayana Panditacharyaru has himself used both titles, i.e. MADHWAVIJAYA and SUMADHWAVIJAYA. He has used the term “Swanandatirtha” in Madhwavijaya at some places. In his MANIMAJARI, he has called this work “MADHWAVIJAYAM”, in Bhavaprakashike he has said “KrutvA(a)pi Madhwavijayam” and in Prameya Malike he has said “SUMADHWAVIJAYABHIDHAM”. Sri Raghavendra Swamy of Mantralaya and Sri Raghuvarya Tirtharu have also referred this name as both MADHWAVIJAYA and SUMADHWAVIJAYA in different places. In almost all printed versions of this work, the concluding line at the end of each Sarga has been mentioned as “SreematsumadhwavijayE”. In his work titled Sumadhwavijayaprameya Phalamalika”, Sri Vishnu Tirtharu has begun with the work by mentioning “Sri Madhwavijaye” but ends it by saying:
ItTham SumaDhwavijayE pramEyaPhalamAlikA|
RachitA BhikShuNA BhUyAdviShNuvakShasThalAshritA|| 

Dr. Vyasanakere Prabhanjanacharyaru in his compilation of Sumadhwavijaya has discussed this subject at length and has concluded that there is no impropriety about adding a prefix “Su” for Madhwavijaya as it is not a recent development. Both the usages or variants have been there in the ancient versions of this outstanding, historically valuable, authentic narration of the life of Sri Madhwacharya. The author or composer of Madhwavijaya had no such bias about these variants and was in total agreement with the usage of both Madhwavijaya and Sumadhwavijaya. (PLEASE READ, COMMENT AND SHARE)

PERIOD OF SRI MADHWACHARYA

In the absence of any historical evidence or some document to categorically establish the period of Sri Madhwacharya, several historians, spirituous persons s and scholars have generally decided that he lived from about 1238 A.D. to 1317 A.D., though the earlier scholars believe that Sri Madhwacharya was visible from 1278 A.D. 

However, Sri Madhwacharya has indicated in his Mahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya, a treatise on Sri Vyasa virachita Sri Mahabharata, his incarnation can be guessed to have taken place in 1200 A.D. or Shaleevahan

a Shaka 1122 in Kalayukti Nama Samvatsara. According to the Kaifiat or statements or nations submitted by the Ashta Mutts to then then rulers or government in about 1806 A.D. also, the year 1200 A.D. appears to be reliable and justifiable. The stone inscription of Sri Sri Padmanabha Tirtharu in Belur, stone inscription of Sri Narahari Tirtharu in Sreekoormam, the copper inscription available at Sri Subrhmanya Mutt, the year of demise of the first lineage of the pontiffs of Ashta Mutts (Samvatsaras), some inscriptions available in Udupi that relate to the periods of Sri Vidyamurthy and others do all support this year as very near the truth. 

An august body of scholars and exponents of Dwaita Philosophy had participated in a workshop under the chairmanship of Sri Visvesha Tirtharu of Sri Pejavar Mutt in February 2004 and after a prolonged discussion and debate on the subject, it was decided that the following dates can be accepted as correct, though, it was also decided that the subject of chronology related to the period of Sri Madhwacharya is still open for analyses and discussion: 

Incarnation - Shaleevanaha Shaka 1121 (A.D. 1199) Kalayukti Nama Samvatsara Magha Masa Shukla Paksha Saptami day

Thread ceremony- S.S. 1128 (A.D. 1206) Krodhana Samvatsara Pushya Shukla Panchami day

Initiation into Sainthood – S.S. 1130 (A.D. 1208) Prabhava Samvatsara Vaishakha Shukla Truteeya day

Consecration of Sri Krishna idol in Udupi – S.S. 1160 (A.D. 1238) Hevilambi Samvatsara Magha Shukla Truteeya day. 

Departure to Badarikashrama - S.S. 1200 (A.D. 1278) Ishwara Samvatsara Magha Shukla Navami day

The stone inscription No. 1288 mentioned in Volume V of South Indian Inscriptions about Sri Narahar Tirtharu 

clearly mentions that he was one of the direct disciples of Sri Madhwacharya, which is considered to be the most 

reliable and strong indicator to the aforementioned dates.

VISHWAMITRA LAUNCHES LONG PENANCE

Vishwamitra launches long penance
(This is the Chapter 55 in Balakanda of Sri Valmeeki Ramayana. Here King Kaushika begins penance in pursuit of Brahmarshi status. Please read, comment and share.) 
TatastAnAkulAndruShTwA VishwAmitrAstramOhitAn|
VasiShThashchOdayAmAsa kAmadhuksruja yOgataha||1||

TasyA humBhAravAjjAtAha kAmBhOjA ravisanniBhAha|
OoDhasashchATha samBhUtA BarbarAha shastrapANayaha||2||

YOnidEshAshcha yavanAha shakruddEshAchChakAstaThA|
ROmakUpEShu mlEchChAshcha hAreetAha sakirAtakAha||3||

TaistanniShUditam sainyam VishwAmitrasya tatkShaNAt|
SapadAtigajam sAshwam saraTham RaGhunandana||4||

DruShTwA niShUditam sainyam VasiShThEna mahAtmanA|
VishwAmitrasutAnAm tu shatam nAnAviDhAyuDham|
ABhyaDhAvatsusankrudhDham VasiShTham japatAm varam||5||

HunkArENaiva tAnsarvAndadAha BhagavAnruShihi||6||

Rama, noticing that Yavanas had become anxious due to the incessant onslaught by most valorous Vishwamitra with his Astras, Vasishtha prompted Shabala to create many more soldiers with her mystic powers. As motivated by Vasishtha, Shabala made another roaring sound as “Humbha” to produce soldiers and immediately, soldiers called Kambhoja, who matched Sun for brightness. From her udder came a weapon-beholding army of Barbaras. From her vagina were born Yavanas and from the ass came out the Shakas. Accompanied by Kiratakas, the Mlechchas came out of the pores at the root of her hairs. All these forces instantaneously demolished the entire armed force of Vishwamitra, including the horses, chariots and elephant-mounted army. As soon as their whole army, which consisted of four different divisions, was precipitated by the forces created by Shabala, the 100 children of Vishwamitra, who became very furious, rushed towards Vasishtha, who was excellent, dedicated and committed to his meditation, recitation and penance, beholding different types of weapons. As soon as they came in front of him, Vasishtha, who was adorned with a divine radiation, burnt them into ashes by merely producing “hoom” sound from his throat. With his four divisions of the huge army and one hundred children having been completely destroyed instantaneously by Vasishtha without shaking a bit from his seat, highly successful Vishwamitra felt ashamed and began thinking seriously. At that moment, Vishwamitra was like a calm sea without waves, a snake with its tooth removed and he lost his shin like the Sun loses when he is gripped by Rahu. With all his one hundred children and the entire force of one Akshauhini army having been smashed to pieces by Brahmarshi Vasishtha, Vishwamitra became dejected and desperate like a bird whose wings had been cut. With all his strength, pride, self-esteem

, ego and head weight having been submerged, he became very unhappy. He instantly decided about his next course of action, summoned one of his sons, ordered him to look after the kingdom in accordance with the norms prescribed for Kshatriyas and went away to the forest to do penance. Passing from one forest to another, he finally reached Mount Himalaya, the abode of Kinnaras and Serpents. He launched a fierce penance at the bottom of the mountain with the sole purpose of securing a boon from Mahadeva. After a few days passed by, Lord of deities, Mahesha, whose flag bears the emblem of Bullock and the Lord who always bestows upon his devotees the desired boons, appeared in front of Kaushika and asked: 

“Maharaja, what is the reason for your penance? I am impressed with your penance and I have come here to give you the boon. Tell what boon do you want from me?”