Vaadiraja Jayanthi
February 3
Today (February 3, 2023), is Vaadiraja Jayanthi or the day Vaadiraja was born. Vaadiraja Tirtha (1480 1600) was a saint, reformer and poet, considered as second only to Madhwaachaarya. The events that led to Vaadiraja’s birth are precursors to his great and long life (he lived for 120 years), and of his achievements to follow. He was born in 1480, a few kilometres away from Udupi in a village called “Hoovinakere”. Vaadiraja’s poorvaashrama* name was Bhoovaraha.
*The name of a saint given at his birth
The story behind Vaadiraja’s birth
When a pious couple met a saint called Vageesha Tirtha, they asked to be blessed with children. The saint said their wish would be fulfilled provided they promised to give up their first born male progeny to the matha*.
*A spiritual institution associated with a particular monastic order
Obviously the parents were not willing to do so. Then the saint laid a condition, which the parents felt would easily let them keep the child. The condition being, the child would belong to the parents if born indoors, and to the matha, if it was born outdoors.
Gowri-gaddhe
Once pregnant, Gowri*, remained indoors all the while, even as her husband tended to the crops which grew around their tiny house. This went on for nine months, till one day a herd of cattle appeared on the paddy field. Fearing damage to their crops, Gowri unthinkingly rushed out to shoo them away. The cattle led her further away from the house when she suddenly went into labour and gave birth right there, outside her house. This place is called “Gowri-gaddhe”** ever since.
*Vaadiraja’s mother
**Gowri’s field
The Matha lays claim
The saint Vageesha Tirtha sent for the newborn (on a gold plate, without letting the infant have any contact with earth) and fed it with milk, which was Krishna’s prasaada.* He sent the baby back with his parents, to live with them till the age of eight. At eight, the boy was initiated into sanyaasa.**
*Consecrated food that has been offered to God
**Life of renunciation
Bhaavi-Sameera
Vaadiraja Tirtha is known as “Bhaavi-Sameera*.” He belongs to a special class of beings called ‘Rujus’. The Rujus go through a hundred kalpas** of penance. In the 99th kalpa, a Ruju becomes Vayu and in the 100th kalpa he becomes Bramha. The present Bramha along with all other jeevas*** which have attained salvation go to Vishnu-Loka**** and remain there forever in a state of eternal bliss.
*Future Vayu devaru
**A cosmic period of time
***Living beings
****The abode of Vishnu. The three abodes of Vishnu are Anantaasana, Shwethadweepa and Vaikunta
An important tenet of Tattvavaada is that salvation/mukthi/moksha * is a subjective state. Each soul experiences bliss in a different way.