Madhwa Vijaya - 28

Sarga 14 Part 1

The dark clouds (the leaders of the village who had stolen Madhwa’s granthas) that had gathered in the sky during Kartika maasa (the reign of Jayasimha) were dispelled by the resplendent sun (Madhwamuni).

The leaders softly asked for forgiveness as they returned the granthas to Shankara Panditha. Rejoicing at his brother regaining the granthas, the celebrated poet Trivikrama Pandithaachaarya addressed everyone present, the repentant leaders and the ruler Jayasimha bowing to Poornapragnya, and the people who had gathered around to witness the incident…

“Oh sincere ruler… the dust under the feet of Ananda Tirtha is enough to grant one the reward equal to the title of Indra…”

Although Trivikrama Pandithaachaarya’s association with Ananda Tirtha was recent, it was no surprise that he could judge his greatness so well, just as it is no wonder that the bee instinctively recognises the best flower to suck nectar from.

Poornapragnya spent a couple of days at the Vishnumangala temple, where he provided ample opportunity for the tamoyogyas to increase their burden of sins, kindled the curiosity of the nitya-samsaaris and blessed and provided guidance to the muktiyogyas.

At the crack of dawn, Achaarya Madhwa, the paragon of virtue, would have completed his ablutions and would be seated in the aasana (pose) for meditating upon the supreme lord, Naarayana, with the upper cloth drawn across, for his undisturbed contemplation.

His disciples would be ready for this morning routine, having already polished their teeth with twigs and cleansed their bodies in the river, thus exhibiting their unwavering observance of the code of rituals to be followed.

These disciples would rise before the Achaarya and serve him through the day retiring only after the Achaarya did. How could they hope for salvation, if they did not immerse themselves in servitude?

Despite the intention the disciple who had stayed awake late, the ones who succumbed to sleep, stood a distance away from the river, when the Achaarya bathed, penitent and nervous.

The disciples who would remove the flowers that had been used in worship (nirmaalya) would encounter a thick liquid, and think it was ghee… Till they were told that it was nectar offered by the Achaarya (indicating the mighty power of Madhwa’s ardent devotion).

The sun capable of illuminating, burning and providing cheer; with six attributes (prosperity, potency, fame, wealth, knowledge, detachment); the one who changes form thrice every morning (dawn, day-break, sunrise); the one who reflects the brilliance of the supreme lord who dwells within him; the one who is worshipped by mantras; …

The sun enters this dark world unchallenged driving away the thick blanket of darkness that impedes the progress of the jeevas, with his golden rays.

The rays of the sun filtering through the windows, like a helpful friend, awakens the disciples. Hastily carrying out their prescribed tasks, they along with other devotees sat around the raised platform on which sat Madhwa, to eagerly listen to (shravana) his discourse.

The glistening manuscripts (the abode of the lord) full of meaning held together by a delicate string, unravelled to glisten in the minds of the listeners as fresh understanding of the shaastras. Some large letters (gaja-lipi) interspersed with tall narrow letters (ashwa-lipi), combined to form long lines on the paper which was neat, well-spaced, and with margins on both sides.

Some disciples, familiar with their studies, were quick to recognise the lesson that would be expounded on that day, while some were slow. As they sat in quiet readiness with bowed heads, Achaarya Madhwa emerged like the sun, lighting up the gathering with the blaze of his spiritual wisdom.

The Achaarya commenced his discourse with the three syllabled Aum (a – u – ma), representative of the three worlds (earth, sky, heaven), containing the knowledge of the three Vedas (Rig, Yajur, Saama), the essence of the three interjections (Bhu, Bhuva, Swaaha).

After the selected portions of the Upanishads were read out in chorus by the disciples, the Achaarya would commence his discourse par excellence. Like Karna, unhesitatingly offering riches to those who asked for them, Madhwa would promptly reply to genuine questions. The questions asked for merely heckling, were warded off by a volley of rebuttals, like the shower of arrows shot by Arjuna.

When the Achaarya went to the pond for his customary dip, post the discourse, Ganga and the other rivers, hastened to be present in the waters of the pond, to purify themselves. The waters of the pond, pure and clear while it still reflected the Achaarya about to take a dip, became like the Achaarya himself, after he plunged in it, like devotee meditating on the image of the lord, finally sees him face-to-face.

When he poured water from a conch to bathe the saaligraamas (the abode of bimba-rupi Lakshmi-Naarayana), they glistened with a multitude reflections of the Achaarya (prathi-bimbas*).

*Ref HKS for more on bimba--- prathibimba

To be continued…