Chaturmasya jnAnArjane saraNi - Madhwa Vijaya (a Gist in English) by Eminent scholars - Sarga 16 Part 2 of 2 - Conclusion

October 29, 2009

|| Sri Rama Krishna VedavyAsAya namaha ||

|| Sri Hanuma Bheema Madhwa MunibhyO namaha ||

namaste all,

Please find a brief on sarga #16, 2nd part today. This is the concluding part of this series which has been going on for last four months, since the begining of Chaturmasya.

Today being the auspicious day of last day of Chaturmasya and also the aradhane of Sri Vijaya Dasaru,

whose compositions have highlighted the greatness of Sriman Acharya Madhwa and Avatara Thraya Mukhya prANa dEvaru

and his anthargatha Sri Vijaya Vitthala through thousands of his keerthanes, suLAdis, mundiges etc.

Before we get on to the actual write up on the last part, some felicitations.

1. MYP thanks immensely all our Madhwa yathigaLu, Vidwans, Pandits, Scholars who have contributed to this ocean of knowledge thats in front of us, waiting to be embraced by all of us.

2. MYP thanks sincerely Smt Shobha Srinivasan for her tireless involvement, push and closures on this whole series inspite of her conditions. Its only through these kind of seva to larger mass that she has been able to recover so quick. Our best wishes are always with her and the family.

3. Thanks to VMS, ITMS and Vijayavittala groups for their patronage for accomodating this series.

|| shrI hari vAyu gurubhyO namaH ||

Madhwa Vijaya (a Gist in English) by sixteen Eminent scholars

Sarga 16, Part 2 by Sri C.K. Vasantharama Rao

DVAITA & OTHER SYSTEMS: A GENERAL STUDY

Book edited by Srimushnam V Nagaraja Rao

THE GLORY OF SRI MADHVA, THE VISVA GURU

THE UNLIMITED PHYSICAL STRENGTH

Next we are told of another instance where Sri Madhva had to exhibit his superhuman strength. To remove doubts in the minds of the people who were eager to test his physical strength, Sri Madhva asked a Dvija, Gandavata by name who had come with his brother for a trial of strength. Gandavata was a person of no mean strength as he was reputed to have carried from the temple of Sri Kanteswara a heavy flag post which could not be done by thirty strong men; and himself was capable, by one hit from the mace, of dislodging all the coconuts from the tree (verses 25-26). This powerful Gandavata & his brother together held the neck of Sri Madhva & found it growing tough the more they squeezed it.

They tried in vain & began to sweat with exhaustion. After getting refreshed by the breeze fanned by the Sishyas under orders of the Acharya, the two brothers tried again but the neck was like steel & the voice of the Acharya was coming out as eloquently as before. They tried & tried & finally, in exhausation, fell down helplessly (verse 27-28). Sri Madhva seeing the brothers who nevertheless had not given up their pride, asked them again, after they were refreshed, to lift his Angushtha (thumb) pressed against the ground. They were unable even to shake the thumb in spite of Herculean efforts (verse 29).

THE LAGHIMA SIDDHI

Then the poet gives an instance of the LaghimA siddhi of Sri Madhva. In the Toulava Mandala Sri Madhva, without any effort, say over the shoulders of a young Brahmachari who, with a joyous smile, carried him early to the temple of Lord Narasimha. The fame of the Acharya had spread far & wide like that of the most exciting & resplendent Ratnas (precious stones) which would catch the eye of people in the world. (verse 30).

OTHER SUPERHUMAN FEATS

Thereafter, a person called Purva vaata (mUDeMbADittAya) a man of great strength who was reputed to have carried a beam which could be done by fifty persons came for a trial strength. Sri Madhva addressed him saying â€“ â€œIf you are strong enough you better squeeze my neck as I am talking and stop my breath.â€ (S1. 31) This Purva-Vaata who was very eager to do this, found that the neck grew harder as he pressed and the voice of Sri Madhva was issuing forth louder than before. The people began to doubt whether he would be able to move even the little finger of the Acharya. (S1. 32)

Then another wave of strong men like Sivaagni and others came to have their trials but there was no lack of strength in Sri Madhva to meet them. The people then extolled the Acharya saying â€œVerily, you are Bheema.â€ Even by powerful and strong persons not a single hair of Sri Madhva could be plucked with a pincer; nor by punching at the top of his nose did his cool laughing face change color. So strong was he. (S1. 33-34)

Then Sri Madhva went to Paranti temple which was neglected and where Naivedya and Nivedana were not being offered to the deity. He, contacting the chieftain of the place, go all arrangements made within half a day for Bhuta Bali and consecration of the temple of the powerful Lord (S1. 36). Thus Sri Madhva after darshana of Lord Murari, mentally recalled how in his previous Avatar when as Bheema (with his brothers Dharmaraja, Arjuna and others) he installed the deity in the five forms while his wife Panchali (Droupadi) used to carry the holy waters for the puja and how he was extolled when by the Devatas. (S1. 37)

In grishma-ritu (months of Jyeshta and Ashada) coming to a place called Aridantara and being told of a dried up tank Sri Madhva called on the mass of clouds to pour water just to fill the tank only and thus caused surprise to the people (38). The chieftain of the village, a leader among the toiling class, having been prompted by a group of wicked men to kill the Acharya, when he accosted the Acharya, who was walking in the precincts of the village, got dazed by the Acharya who glowed like the bright morning sun. He then bowed at the feet of the Acharya and honored him (S1. 39)

CONTEXTS FOR kR^iShNAmR^ita maharNava AND karma nirNaya

The illustrious Sri Madhva, having gone to a well-known holy place where the deity is Lord Dhanwantari, composed the â€œKrishna-Mrita Maharnavaâ€ a collection of authoritative statements of truth for the sake of giving Gnyanopadesha to one of his Bhaktas. This is an example of how the Guru showers his grace on a Bhakta of the Lord (S1. 40)

xetrAgrayaM tribhvana vaidyanAtha nAthaM prasthAya prachuratarAntaraH prabhAvI |

shrIkR^iShNAmR^ita paramArNavA bhidhAnAM chakre sad.h vachana tatiM svabhakt bhUtyai || 40 ||

Then Sri Madhva went to another village called Uchcha-Bhuti to cut the pride of the people who were highly conceited and called at them saying, â€œWhere are the boasting learned men who are like frogs in the well? Why donâ€™t they come for a bout i.e., for discussion?â€ (S1. 41). The people of that place stricken with pride and conviction that Sri Madhva being a sanyasi would be ignorant of the procedure for the performance of sacrifices (yaGnya) asked him in the assembly, to give the gist of the difficult portion of a Brahmana-Text, with the intention of defeating the Acharya (S1. 42). Sri Madhva who was beyond doubts, clearly explained the text ChandasAM vai ShaShTenAhnA etc., of the Brahmanas in a scholarly manner with due regard to Chandas, Brahmana and other Vedic texts and

brought the essence of the beautiful Mantras beginning with nArAshaMsi and their characteristics fixed by Brahma for the sixth day (S1. 43).

Seeing the versatility and intellectual capacity of Sri Madhva in explaining the difficult texts, the disputants with agitated minds finding themselves unable to carry out any discussions, said helplessly, â€œSire, your meaning does not fit in.â€ But when they were asked what the exact meaning was, they being unable to say quickly walked out of the assembly (S1. 44).

Again the disputant group returned and asked Sri Madhva further about the essence of the texts beginning with mahAnAmnI etc. He explained their meanings and compiled the discussion then and there in the form of a book called Karma-Nirnaya for wider circulation among the learned public. Then the avarice-stricken disputants seeing that Sri Madhva was unchallengeable, got perturbed, lost courage and in front of Sri Madhva who was sitting far away, made incoherent noise. What was lost to the Moon-like Madhva, who was Ananda-Murthy? Nothing at all. It was in fact a discomfiture and defeat the people of pride and prejudice (S1. 45-46). The all-knowing, kind hearted Acharya, when he went to Bhiksha to a poor Bhaktaâ€™s house, the items cooked there for only a handful of

persons, somehow became sufficient to serve four-times the number. They were immensely happy. When Acharya visited a rich Bhaktaâ€™s house, the items prepared there for about thirty persons were consumed singly by Acharya himself. This Bhakta was also happy (S1. 47).

In this manner we hear of the miracles, in fact none too big for Sri Madhva who is the avatar of Mukhyaprana, i.e. Sameera who controls under the grace of the Lord the actions of the entire universe. Nevertheless they are described here but also by the Gandharvas in celestial courts for the ananda of the reputed Devatas (S1. 48-49).

The poet next describes how the Gandharvas sang in the celestial courts. The details given show that the author had deep knowledge of Sangeeta Sastra as well. Without the blemish of craking voice and in a tone which was pleasing and scintillating with Maadhurya and other gunas fit for the heavens and in symphony with the Gandhara grama and clearly heard tanas bringing out the Panchama and other swaras and Moorchhana blending in different ragas, they sang the glory of Sri Madhva in Gadya and Padya (S1. 50). This suggests that Sri Madhva Vijaya can be sung beautifully by persons trained in the art of singing. The text of the kavyais eminently suited for such rendering. Even now there are persons in South India who sing Sri Su-Madhva Vijaya in different ragas and talas most

pleasing to hear.

Thus the reputed Devataas like Indra and such others in great devotion with bent heads, and shining crownsand folded hands, beautiful like the rose and smiling face like the lotus, heard the song sung in glory of Sri Madhva (S1. 51)

PRAISE AND PRAYERS TO THE ACHARYA

After hearing the glorious deeds of Sri Madhva, the Devataas becoming very happy, came out in the heavens with Munis and Gandharvas and other lesser devantaas to see and felicitate Sri Madhva for his magnificent performance on Earth (S1. 52). The Devataas with their radiance, brightening the path of stars and staying there in the sky, saw as if through a mirror the magnificent work of Sri Madhva of fertile intellect, describing the infinite qualities of Lord Murari (S1. 53).

MADHVA VIJAYA IN GHANA-RAGAS

Sri Ramachar of Salem is a well-known Hari-katha expert (in Tamil Nadu) who presents many of the Madhva Vijaya Slokas in Ghana-Ragas with all the musical and artistic skills and with particular emphasis on the Bhaava of the Slokas.

Persons having sense of values would naturally admire Sri Ramachar when he bends even some of the stiff slokas so beautifully. He has mastered the subject in such a way, that he makes a splendid presentation of a set of slokas using them as pallavi and charana.

His renderings are really worth tape-recording.

AdarshaM guNa gaNa darshane murAreH sachChAstraM rachitamanena varNayantaH |

pradhotaiH uDupadavI prasAdayantaH (prakAshayantaH) praixanta prachuramano vilAsamete || 53 ||

The chief of the Devataas standing in the sky bowed to the Acharya who was on the earth greatly famed and was an ornament for the fourteen worlds, sitting amidst the illustrious sishyas drawn from various stages of life and expounding the great Aitareya Upanishad (S1. 54). The Devataas felt happy when they saw Sri Madhva of moonlike face and lotus-like eyesand endowed with thrity-two marks of divine beauty, Jnaana and Vairagya, fully engrossed in Veda-Gnana. In a deep and sonorous voice, they respected him with their pure hearts full of praise, indicative of Acharya having attained the cherished objective namely establishing of Tatva-Jnana on earth (S1. 55).

shrImantaMshashi vadanaM kusheshayAxaM gammIra svaramati divya laxaNaDhyam.h |

pashyantaH svaguru mathArchayan.h kR^itArthAH vANyA taM harirati pUrNa kAma mete || 55 ||

(The subsequent slokas are in different Vruttas)

How they extolled Sri Madhva is described by the poet. â€œOh, Poorna-Pragnya-Acharya, by your authoritative messages, you dispelled the darkness of the Durgamas and by your strong words (eloquence and writings) you have propounded the supremacy of Lord Mukunda of infinite qualities Who is Moksha-prada and by your blemishless knowledge and powers you have conquered the fourteen worlds (entire universe) i.e., you have excelled all and protected us.â€ (S1. 56)

Complete satisfaction of the Devatas is expressed by the verbal sense of coming first in the verse 57 rendered in the beautiful Shikarini Vritta which is very apt to the occasion. The Devataas said, â€œOh Pranesha the controller of the senses, you, who have come on Earth for giving Tatva-Jnana and other fortunes to the devotees of Lord, we salute. Oh, Pranesha the virtuous hanuman, the most beloved devotee of Sri Ramachandra, we salute you. Oh most powerful Bheema, we salute you. Oh Anandatirtha of limitless knowledge, we prostrate at your lotus feet. Victory be to you, Victory be to you.â€ (S1. 57)

namaste prANeSha praNata vibhavAyAva nimagAH

namaH svAmin.h rAma priyatama hanUman.h guru guNa |

namastubhyaM bhIma prabalatama kR^iShNeShTa bhagavan.h

namaH shrImanmadhvA pradisha sudR^ishaM no jaya jaya || 57 ||

iti nigadita vanta statra vR^indArakendrAH

guru vijayamahaM taM lAlayanto mahAntam.h |

vavR^iShu rakhila dR^ishyaM puShpavAraM sugandhiM

haridayuta variShThe shrImadAnandatIrthe || 58 ||

(These two are the concluding Slokas of Sri Su-Madhva Vijaya)

In this manner, the Devataas felicitating the glory of Sri Madhva the great and the foremost bhaktas of Lord Narayana, showered on him heaps of fragrant flowers in the presence of all people. It is said that when the floral heap was removed, Sri Madhva disappeared from mortal vision (S1. 58). Thus, in glory, lives in our memory Sri Madhva, singing the eternal glory of the Infinite Lord, the embodiment of all precious attributes./ May we sing in praise:-

na mAdhavasamo devo na cha madhvasamo guruH |

na tadvAkyasamaM shAstraM na cha tajj~nasamaH pumAn.h ||

PAARAAYANA PROCEDURE

Madhva Vijaya Parayana can be completed in four hours without much strain, if recited by a group of persons. The pundits sit in two rows facing each other. The first half of the Sloka would be chanted in chorus by the persons in one row and the other would be picked up and the cycle would continue till the end. At the conclusion of the Parayana, handful of flowers is showered on the picture of Sri Madhva, the idea of which is explained in page 275 (S1. 58). After concluding with S1. 58 the first Sloka of the first Sarga must again be chanted and concluded with the usual Mangala-harathi.

It is customary to first recite the Vayustuti in full and then to commence the Parayana of Madhva Vijaya.

It may not, perhaps, be out of context here to place on record that, there are even now persons who can recite the whole of Madhva Vijaya without seeing of the book.

Sri Swarna-Varna-Teertha-Swami-Brindavana premises (known as Mulu-Bagalu Mutt) in South Chithra Street and Sri Madhvanatha Teertha-Swami Brindavana premises in Amma Mantapam Road are the centers of attraction for Madhva Vijaya Parayana during the months of February at times in January every year in Srirangam.

THE MAHIMA OF THE TENTH SARGA

The Tenth Sarga is considered as the â€˜Crownâ€™ of Sri Madhva Vijaya. The penmenship of Sri Panditacharya is at its zenith particularly in Sloka six of this Sarga which is a towering example of the greatness of this Maha-Kavya. If the sixth sloka is perused with a little bit of interest, even laymen would be able to admire the fact that the entire Sloka is composed by using only one single letter â€˜naâ€™ in its different forms