Vyaasa Tirtha Part 1
Krishna nee begane baaro
Vyaasa Tirtha (1460 – 1539)
Vyaasa Tirtha also known as Vyaasaraayaru or Vyaasarajaru, was the incarnation of another child devotee, Prahallada, like Sripadarajaru was the incarnation of Dhruva. Born as Bahlika Raja in the Dwaapara Yuga, he incarnated first as Vyaasa Tirtha in Kali Yuga and was later reborn as Raghavendra Tirtha, or ‘Rayaru’ for short.
Vyaasaraayaru may be unheard of by many but his most famous composition, Krishna nee begane baaro… has probably been heard by every South Indian ear. His ankitha is “Krishna”. His lasting legacy to the Haridaasa Sahitya is not only through his own songs and writings but through the tutelage of Purandara Daasa and Kanaka Daasa.
Bannur to Vijayanagara
Born as Yathiraja in Bannur, BramhanyaTirtha had laid claim to the child even before its birth. The parents brought the infant to the seer on a plate of gold without the infant doing “Bhoo sparsha”. This story is to be repeated in future when Vaadirajaru was taken on a similar gold plate to Vageesha Tirtharu without doing “Bhoo sparsha”.
Whether this was indeed a routine or whether the stories are mixed up, they are fascinating nonetheless.
The boy, Yathiraja had his upanayana performed at five and was ordained a sanyasi at the age of seven. This was followed by 12 years of study under Sripadaraja.
Vyaasa Tirtha was the patron sage of the Vijayanagara empire. He saved the famous Krishnadeva Raya from Kuhu Yoga*. As the king was to be affected by the malefic effects of Kuhu Yoga, he accepted the kingdom as donation from the king and ascended the throne (the third saint in a row to ascend throne). When the said danger came in the form of a serpent and rushed towards the throne, the saffron upper cloth of the saint laid on the throne reduced the snake to ashes and rid the king and his kingdom of danger.
*an unfavourable period of time predicted astrologically due to the placement of planets in certain houses (of the horoscope)
Nava-brindavana
Upon a tiny hillock, on an island surrounded by Tungabhadra, near Anegundi, are the brindavanas of nine seers of Tattvavaada, hence the name Nava-brindavana.
Padmanabham Kaveendramcha Vageesham Vyaadsaraajakam Raghuvaryam Srinivasam Raamatirtha Tataivacha Sudheendramcha Govindam Navavrindaavanam bhaje… … is an easy shloka that mentions the names of all the nine saints, and is chanted by the devout, every day.
It is believed that a truly spiritually attuned person can hear the songs sung by these saints along with their musical accompaniments even today, at Navabrindavana. And the evolved can also see that the hillock and every single thing on the island is made of gold. Therefore it is taboo to bring back even a tiny pebble from this hallowed place.
The mortal remains of Vyasaraayaru rest here, close to his beloved Praana devaru at Yantrodharaka.
Yantrodhaaraka
Yantrodharaka is a small temple situated close to the ruins of Hampi. The meeting between Hanuman and Rama & Lakshmana is believed to have taken place on the banks of Pampa. The story goes that Vyaasarayaru would draw a figure of Praana devaru on a boulder with a piece of charcoal but immediately after he worshipped it the figure would take flight every day, till Vyaasarayaru held it in place by drawing a “Yantra” around it.
He also composed a hymn in praise of Yantrodhaaraka Hanuman.
Namami Dootham Ramasya Sukhadam cha Suradrumam Peenavritha Mahabaahum Sarva Shathru Nivaranam || 1 ||
Naanaaratna Samayukta kundaladhi Virajitam Sarvadaabheesta Dhataram Satham vy drida Mahave || 2 ||
Vaasinam Chakratheerthasya Dakshinasthagirousadha Thungaambhodi Tharangasya Vathena Parishobhithe || 3 ||
Naana Desha Gatheih Sadbhihi sevyamaanam Nripothamaihi Dhoopa Deepadhi Naivedyai Panchakaadhyascha Shakthithah || 4 ||
Bhajaami Sri Hanumantham Hemakaanthi Samaprabham Vyasatheertha Yatheendranam Poojitham Pranidhanathaha || 5 ||
Thrivaaram Yah Patennithyam Sthothram Bhakthya Dwijothama Vanchitham labathebhistam shanmasabyantharekalu || 6 ||
Putrarthi Labhathe Putra Yashorthi Labhathe Yashaha Vidhyaarthi Labhathe Vidhyam Dhanaarhti Labhathe Dhanam || 7 ||
Sarvatha Maasthu Sandeho Harihi Sakshath Jagathpathihi Yah Karothyathra Sandeham Sayathi Narakam Dhruvam || 8 ||
Iti Shri Vyasaraja Virachita Yantrodharaka Praanadeva/Hanumat Stotram Sampoornam ||
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=LwHp-nLFKUE&si=9Ud93L1H7_3dfQ57
The tiny image of a seated Anjaneya amidst a star shaped yantra surrounded by the figures of 12 monkeys, each holding another’s tail, is the Yantrodhaaraka Hanuman.
The Yantrodhaaraka Hanuman was the first installation of Praana Devaru amongst the 700+ Hanuman temples that he is credited with installing across southern India.
He is also credited with the popularisation of the concept of a bell hanging from the tail of Anjaneya in the idols he established. This style of depicting Hanuman (Veera Anjaneya as opposed to Ramabhakta Hanuman) was intentionally chosen to inspire and instill confidence in people.
