ದಾಸ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ

Shri Shri Hrishikesha Teertha

shri gurubyO namaha...hari Om....

*mAgha shuddha sapthami is the ArAdhane of shri hrishIkEsha tIrtharu of palimaru maTa. He was the direct disciple of shrimadAnanda tIrtha bhagavadpAdaru.*

shri hrishIkEsha tIrtharu:

ArAdhane: mAgha shuddha sapthami

parampare:  palimaru maTa, #2

gurugaLu: shri shrimadAnanda tIrtharu 

shishyaru: shri samatmEsha tIrtharu 

brindAvana: Triveni Sangama - Prayaga Kshetra, 1289

The direct disciple of Shrimad Ananda Teertha Bhagavadpaada, Shri Shri Hrishikesha Teertha was the first seer of Palimaru Matha. He was the senior most among the ascetic disciples of madhwAcharya. This has been documented by Narayana Panditacharya in Madhva Vijaya. He is called as a distinguished disciple. Panditacharya in his commentary on Bhavaprakaashika states ' Nija śiṣyapravarēṇa hr̥ṣīkēśatīrthēna'. Through this, we infer that Hrishikesha Teertha was a senior ascetic.

While Narayana Panditacharya speaks of Hrishikesha Teertha, he refers to him as vaśīkr̥tahr̥ṣīkāśca. Hr̥ṣīkā means senses; one who has gained control over them. Abstinence is a virtue that every individual should posess. This is more so in the case of ascetics. Since Hrishikesha Teertha had gained absolute control over his senses, him being named thus by Acharya was most appropriate. We also need to know that all of Acharya's disciples had restraint over their senses.

The distinction of Hrishikesha Teertha is documented thus in Madhva Vijaya.

Avadat sa kathāṁ rathāṅgapāṇēḥ

bhagavān bhāgavatē bhavāpahantrīm |

anukūlaguṇasvarādibhājā

nijaśiṣyapravarēṇa vācyamānē ||

When Shrimad Ananda Teertha Bhagavpaada gave discourses on Bhagavata that enunciates the glories of Rathaangapaani and serves as a remedy for the troubles of samsaaraa, Shri Hrishikesha Teertha used to sing the Bhagavata verses in a pleasing manner to match the profoundity, eminence and such other attributes in the tone of his guru.

The recital of Hrishikesha Teertha and the discourse of Shrimad Acharya - thus, Shri Hrishikesha Teertha was immensely fortunate to render recital alongside the discourse of Acharya. Shri Madhvacharya bestowed his grace upon him by giving him immensely beautiful idols of Lord Ramachandra, Sita, Aanjaneya and Shri Lakshmana for his worship.

Shri Hrishikesha Teertha was the eminent seer who has scripted Shrimadhacharya's Sarvamoola Granthas with his hands and preserved them. We can still see the palm leaf manuscripts written by him at Palimaru Matha. Palimaru Matha must be credited for preserving these hand written leaflets dated 800 years. This lesson written by Shri Hrishikesha Teertha, a direct disciple of Acharya serves as the primary document for all of us.

Thus having undertaken several meritorious deeds during his lifetime, in Virodhi samvatsara, maagha shuddha saptami (Rathasaptami) meditating upon Maadhava at Prayaga, Shri Hrishikesha Teertha completed his wordly journey. Information pertaining to this is recorded at the matha as below:

Virōdhimāghārjunasaptamītithau

varō hr̥ṣīkēśamunistapasvinām|

puruprabōdhāryakarābjasambhavō

dharāsutēśāṅghrisarōjamēyivān ||

shri hrishIkEsha tIrtha varada gOvindA gOvindA... 

shri krishNArpaNamastu...