Sudha and Parimala

Venkanna Bhatta (1595-1671)

Born to parents who did severe penance to Lord Venkateshwara, Raghavendra Tirtha’s (Rayaru) poorvashrama name was Venkanna/ Venkatanaatha. When the child was around three years of age, he accompanied his father to meet Sudhindra Tirtha, who would be his spiritual preceptor in the future. Having shifted from Kumbakonam to Bhuvanagiri, the family fortune was waning. Sensing Thimmanna Bhatta’s anxiety about his son’s future, Sudhindra Tirtha, remarked that on no account was he to worry about Venkanna, for he was under the divine protection of “Moola Rama”! The meeting made a lasting impression on the child who began to dress like Sudhindra Tirtha and perform pooje in a similar fashion.

Before Thimmanna Bhatta passed away, he gave the responsibility of educating Venkanna to his older son, Gururaaja. Gururaaja did his best, and then handed over the responsibility to their brother-in-law at Madurai. Venkanna completed his studies and wanted to learn the “Sudha”. He shifted to Kumbakonam to learn the Sudha under Sudhindra Tirtha. The other students considered him an outsider and unworthy.

Despite the inconveniences created by them, Venkanna resolutely attended classes by day and began to write the “Parimala” by night, in the light of a few burning leaves. Sudhindra Tirtha learned of the writings and was full of praise for Venkanna and his “Parimala”.

Venkanna accompanied Sudhindra Tirtha to Tanjavur where he defeated many an Advaitha scholar in debate. He finally returned to Bhuvanagiri fully accomplished in the scriptures, deeply knowledgeable, an articulate speaker, a melodious singer*, an exceptional Veene player**, physically strong and good looking. But, poverty was his inseparable companion.

*He composed songs with the ankitha “Venugopala”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UdgYts1Sd8

**He came from a family of Veene players, his great grandfather (‘Veene Krishna Bhatta’) being the Veene tutor to Krishna Devaraaya.

Anuvyakhyana and explanations

Madhwaachaarya wrote a commentary, on the writings of Veda Vyaasa called “Bramhasutras”. This commentary is the “Anuvyakhyana”. But alas, mere mortals required a further explanation of the commentary. This was written by Jayatirtha also called Teekachaarya. The name of his illustrious work is “Nyaaya Sudha”, usually referred to as ‘Sudha’. To learn and understand the Sudha was and is a stepping stone to understanding Tattvavaada. Even today, swamijis of all Madhwa mathas hold lessons on Sudha, for their students and for the general public. People call it “Sudha Paata” and those who claim expertise are called “Sudha Panditharu.”

The Nyaaya Sudha is believed to have a 100 commentaries written by various luminaries. “Parimala” or “Sudha Parimala” is the name of the grantha written by Raghavendra Tirtha. He is therefore called “Parimalaachaarya” (Sudha Parimalachaarya).

Jayatirtha (1365-1388)

An aristocratic man of 20, named Dhondopant Raghunath, fond of swordsmanship, archery and horse riding, once, came to the banks of the river Bheema, riding his horse. Thirstily, both man and animal bent down to drink up water. The fifth pontiff of the Madhwa order Akshobhya Tirtha, saw the spectacle of the young man drinking water like his horse and remarked, “Kim pashu poorva dehey?” (Were you an animal in your previous life?)

Young Dhondopant, in a flash, recalled his previous life as a bull carrying the holy granthas of Madhwaachaarya and listening to his teachings. When one of the students had asked Madhwaachaarya as to who among them would write an explanation of his philosophy, Madhwa had remarked, “This bull will.” Angered, one of them had cursed the bull to die of a snake bite. Madhwaachaarya is said to have altered the curse to mean that the snake which bites the bull shall die. And to prove his point, he made his students witness the supernatural phenomenon of the bull reciting the “Dwadasha Stotra”!

Dhondopant requested to be ordained a monk, giving up his life of luxury. He was given the name Jaya Tirtha, and he became the sixth pontiff of the Madhwa order. He left the world at the age of 43.

His works not only provided explanations to Tattvavaada and Anuvyakhyana but also contained incisive critiques (teeka) of Maayavaada (Advaitha), Mimamsa, Buddhism, Jainism and so on. He is therefore called Teekachaarya.

Jayatirtha was an avataara of Indra with an amsha of Adi shesha! This is the reason for the idol of the monk to have a five headed serpent with spread hoods above his head. (His parents, disturbed by his decision to embrace sanyaasa, tried to push him into consummating his marriage. When his young wife approached him, she is believed to have seen a snake in place of Dhondopant!)

The Nyaya Sudha (Nectar of Logic) consisting of 24,000 verses is Jayatirtha’s magnum opus.

This short and beautiful song has been written by Aigee Swamiji also known as Vyaasa Tatvagnya Tirtha, and sung with utmost devotion by Jayarayaru’s namesake, Pt Jayateerth Mevundi.