Author: Bhama Devi Ravi
Publication: The Hindu
Date: May 30, 2003
Many may not be aware that a centuries
old rare commentary on the four Vedas is available in the libraries overseas.
The author of this exceptional body of work is none other than Sri Maadhava
Tirtha, one of the four direct disciples of Sri Madhwacharya, exponent
of the Dwaita philosophy. This preceptor expounded the Dwaita philosophy
based on the tenets of the Upanishad. This doctrine is founded on
the theory of separateness of entities, which retain their distinctiveness
but are dependent on God. Sri Maadhava Tirtha, with his command over
the Vedas was a favourite disciple of the apostle, and went on to found
the Maadhava Tirtha Samasthanam, at Thambiballi, near Kolar, in Karnataka
- a venerable institute of renown, now over 700 years old.
The present Head of the Math is
the 71 -year old Sri Vidya Sagara Maadhava Tirtha Swamy who is now in Chennai.
The twenty-fifth Head of the Peetam in an unbroken chain of command, the
present pontiff is an erudite scholar with consummate mastery over five
languages - Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Sanskrit and English.
His translation of Pampa's "Bharata"
in Kannada and Nannaya's work in Telugu has been hailed by the intelligentsia
and devotees. His treatise has opened a wide vista for scholars to
further research on Vyasa's work. The Pitatipathy's Telugu play,
"Devaram Priya", traces the story of Emperor Asoka, his earlier cruelty
and subsequent Satvik philosophic outlook, "Mahabharata Tatparya Niranya"
is the pontiffs commentary on the work of Sri Madhwacharya, written in
Telugu, in order to place it within the reach of the common man.
The entire philosophy of the Madhva
preceptor is encapsulated in the poetic work of "Harikata Mridusara" and
the head of the Math has translated these kritis too. Sri Vidya Sagara
Maadhava Tirtha also launched a trilingual magazine Dharmadeepika which
is a ready reckoner for one and all. He is also the author of over
50 short stories. He strongly believes that despite the influence
of Western fiction, the intrinsic self in devotees is always tuned in to
Indian ethos - spiritual and cultural.
In his one and a half year tenure,
Sri Maadhava Tirtha has been travelling extensively with the mission of
spreading spiritualism far and wide. "Peetams should attract devotees
by way of religious discourses and reinforce beliefs," says the Swami.
He delivered a series of lectures in English this week on the Mahabharata
to an enlightened audience. He also interacts with devotees who call
on him at the camp. Accompanying him are the idols of the Math, including
Veera Rama the presiding deity venerated by Sri Madhvacharya and subsequently
handed over to his favourite disciple, Sri Maadhava Tirtha. Other idols
include Digvijay Rama, so named after the idol, was found nodding His head
to Sri Maadhava Tirtha's resourceful arguments during a polemical debate,
Yoga Patika Nrisimha, the idol uncovered by Sri Maadhava Tirtha, at Ahobilam,
from an ant hill after Lord Nrisimha appeared to him in a dream.
Last but not the least is the Udipi
Krishna idol cast by Sri Maadhava Tirtha himself, a replica of the original.
The daily devotional rituals are observed even when he is at the camp.
Cautioning against the influence
of "skeptical literature" he feels "only our epics offer peace" to the
mind tormented by emotions.
Despite numerous invitations from
devotees in the U.S. and elsewhere, the pontiff declares that he "cannot
stay for even a day away from the air of the soil... and the water of this
earth," confining himself to travels within India and offering succour
to devotees. The hurdles are many, paucity of fund, being a major
cause of concern for the Math.
The Pitatipathy is focussing on
starting a gurukulam in Chennai, in order to initiate the young on the
right path. Resources are a challenge but he reposes total faith
in God and in the devotees.
