Pranam Mantra of Shri Padmanabha Tirtha
“Purnaprajnakritam bhashyam adau tadbhava purvakam.
Yo vyakraunnamah tasmai padmanabhakhya yogine”
The appearance of Sri Padmanabha Tirtha:
Sri Padmanabha Tirtha appeared on the banks of the Godavari in the northern part of Karnataka. His prior name was Shobhana Bhatta. Historians differ about the date of his appearance. But a generally accepted date of his birth is sometime between 1200 AD.
Previous Life of Sri Padmanabha Tirtha:
In his former life, Sri Padmanabha Tirtha was a famous Brahmin and an adherent of Rigvedic succession. He was a logician from a monastic school and a follower of Sri Shankaracharya. He successfully won many philosophical debates and refuted his opponents. His defeat at the hands of Madhavacharya led Sobhana Bhatta to take Sannyasa from him.
Padmanabha Tirtha’s meeting with Madhavacharya:
After traveling to North India, Madhavacharya came to Udupi for the second time and met Padmanabha Tirtha. He was an erudite scholar. However, Madhvacharya defeated him very easily. Padmanabha Tirtha was initiated and his name was changed. From then on, he was known as a renowned scholar.
As an intimate disciple and associate Madhavacharya:
Padmanabha Tirtha was foremost among the direct disciples of Madhvacharya. He was an erudite scholar and is widely known as the most favorite disciple of Madhvacharya.
Madhvacharya engaged him as the Acharya of Uttaradi Matha:
Within a short period, he became a faithful disciple of Madhvacharya. Because of his erudite scholarship, preaching skills, and seniority, Madhvacharya appointed Padmanabha Tirtha as the first Acharya and future Mathadhipati (head of the monastery) of his Uttaradi Matha after his demise.
Books authored by Padmanabha Tirtha:
Padmanabha Tirtha is known as the oldest commentator of the Madhva Sampradayabecause he commented on the Dasaprakarana of Sri Sampradaya, Anubhashya of Brahmasutra (Sutra Prasthan), and Gita Prasthana. The name of his commentary on Sutraprasthana is Sattarka Deepavali. He authored another extensive sub-commentary on Madhvacharya’s Anubhasya. Its name is Sannyasa Ratnavali. Bhava Dipika is his separate commentary on the Gita. A manuscript of
Gita-Tatparya-Nirnaya-Prakashika is attributed to Padmanabha Tirtha.
Tirobhava of Sripadmanabha Tirtha:
In 1324 AD, Padmanava Tirtha passed away at Nava Vrindavana near Hampi on the banks of the holy Tungabhadra river. His samadhi still stands there.
