Pranaam Mantra of Sri Vidyadhiraja Tirtha:
Maddya advaitya andhkara pradyotanam ahornisham
Vidyadhirajam Swagurum Dhyayami Karunakaram
Introduction of Sri Vidyadhiraja Tirtha:
Shripad Vidyadhiraja Tirtha was born in 1269 AD. He was the Acharya of Uttaradi Math from 1388 – 1412 AD. According to the Madhva-parampara, he was a senior disciple of Jayatirtha. and the future Acharya of the Matha. His earlier name was Krishna Bhatta. He was very adept in scriptures. His Guru named him “Nrsimha Shastri” and gave him sannyasa directly from the Brahmacharya ashrama.
Srividyadhiraja Tirtha’s scholarly genius and writings:
Sri Vidyadhiraja Tirtha was very adept in the scriptures. He traveled throughout India to propagate the Dvaita school of Vedanta. His works are Chandogya Bhasya Tika, Gita Commentary and Vishnu Sahasranam Bhasya. Among these texts, the Vishnu Sahasranama Commentary is the most important. This book occupies a very high place in the Madhva community. Sri Vidyadhiraja was the first commentator who invoked Lord Vishnu, Sri Vyasadeva, and Madhavacharya with great reverence at the very beginning of the commentary.
Sri Vidyadhiraja Tirtha’s Trip to North India and the Appearance of Gangadevi:-
Once, Vidyadhiraja Tirtha, along with some disciples, went on a journey to different parts of India. While traveling, he came to a place in Maharashtra on the banks of the Bhima or Chandrabhaga River. From there he was thinking of going to Kashi to bathe in the River Ganges. At that time, Goddess Ganga appeared in his dream and gave him various pieces of advice. She asked him to propagate the Vaishnava Siddhanta. She instructed that Vidyadhiraja Tirtha need not travel such a long way to reach Ganga. Only by bathing in the holy water of this Bhima river, would he attain the same benefit. This is where Goddess Ganga appeared before him again. The next day, when he bathed in that Bhima river with his disciples, Goddess Ganga appeared there. Sri Vidyadhiraja worshiped the Devi with devotion. He then traveled all over India to preach Dvaita Vedanta.
Tirovava of Sri Vidyadhiraja Tirtha:-
Shripad Vidyadhiraja Tirtha lived in this world for about 143 years. Once Vidyanidhi Tirtha was at Uttaradi Math. Suddenly he fell sick. Then he expressed his desire to appoint Rajendra Tirtha, one of his chief disciples, as the Acharya. But he recovered within a few days and the ordination ceremony was postponed. After some time, Vidyadhiraja Tirtha fell sick again. He realized that his death was near. But Rajendra Tirtha was absent there. Vidyanidhi Tirtha decided to anoint his other disciple, Kavindra Tirtha as the Acharya. In this way, Vidyanidhi Tirtha handed over the entire organization to him and passed away in 1412 AD.
