Experienced the Divine Presence @ Sode Mutt

Miracles do happen and yes, I say this with great pride as I was fortunate to experience the divine presense of Sri Vadirajaru right in front of his Brindhavana @ Sode mutt in Sonda - Sirsi District of North Karnataka.

Let me first brief about what and where is Sode Mutt and who is Sri Vadirajaru. 

About Sode Mutt:

The Vaishnavite saint Shri Madhwacharya in the 13th century founded the Dvaita school of Vedanta. Shri Madhwacharya installed Sri Krishna idol @ Udupi and it is headed and governed by Ashta Matha (Mutt) or Eight Monastries to date. Each of the Ashta Mathas perform temple management activities for two years in a cyclical order. They are collectively known as the Ashta Mathagalu in Kannada language. Sode Mutt is one of the Ashta Mahtas, dedicated for the worship of Sri Udipi Krishna. Sri Vadiraja Thirtha was the head of the Sode mutt in the 15th and 16th Century .

About Vadirajaru:

Sri Vadiraja thirtha occupies a very eminent place in Madhwa philosophy. He can be ranked next to the founder. His contribution to the Dvaita Vedanta , Kannada sahithya and Sanskrit literature is of a very rare and high order. Lord Sri Lakshmi Hayagreeva was the Ishta devatha for Sri Vadirajaru. In the year 1600, the great Vadirajaru who lived 120 years, terminated his divine mission and entered the Brindhavan with life and body . He was taken in a golden car to heaven. His spirit is still in the Brindhavan. Sri Bhootharajaru also has a place next to His Brindhavana.

Thousands of devotees visit Sri Vadirajaru's Moola Brindhavan @ Sode mutt in Sonda - Sirsi District to get His blessings. 

My visit to Sode Mutt:

From when I heard stories of Sri Vadirajaru and Sri Bhootharajaru, I have been wanting to visit this place. For some reason, the visit never happened for a long time.

Sri Vadirajaru has written a kannada hymn 'Lakshmi Shobane'. The hymn Lakshmi Shobana is highly meritorious which is believed to enhance the marriage prospects for the unmarried and bestow upon the unmarried girls the fortune of a good husband with long and happy married life. It is also believed to bring in peace, prosperity and auspiciousness at the home/place where it is recited and listened. From my college days, I used to recite Lakshmi Shobane and pledged that I will recite this in Sode Mutt in front of Sri Vadirajaru Moola Brindhavana one day. 

That one day finally happened in May 2016. Me, along with my husband Srinivas were fortunate to visit this place. In the morning hours, I found a comfortable place to sit right in front of Sri Vadirajaru's moola brindhavana and started to fulfil my desire to read Lakshmi Shobana. There were tens of people worshipping Sri Vadirajaru and I found a corner spot where I could recite with no disturbance. Lakshmi Shobane is quite a lengthy hymn, that, if read in full speed, it will take me at least 25 minutes from start to finish. Seva office opened and Srinivas went there to see what seva we can do for that day.

I did not want to hurry up reading the hymn as one of the main purpose of the visit was to read it there, plus the whole morning hours until Theertha prasada, there was nothing much to do in that Mutt. The later part of the day was planned to visit Thapovana, Sahasralinga and Vyasarajaru's Brindhavana etc. So, I had all the world's time to read it slowly and consciously with all devotion. I did notice that the number of people in front of the Brindhava increased.

When I was finished almost half of the hymn, I saw all the people gathering in front of the Brindhavana and I could hear the sounds of Jaangata. I was sure that they were taking Aarthi to Sri Vadirajaru Brindhavana. I was the only one seated since I was reading Lakshmi Shobane. I was fulfilling my long term desire to read without any break in between. I was confused whether to stop reading and see the Aarthi that was being performed or continue to read. My reading slowed down. I was not able to concentrate on the verses. I paused a bit and said sorry to Sri Vadirajaru that I could not see the aarthi because I was reading Lakshmi Shobane. Then, I continued reading. 

The Aarathi went on for another 5 minutes and then the sounds from Jaangatai stopped. The place was crowded and I could hear one of the priests shouting 'dhaari dhaari' - which in kannada means 'give way'. The sound was more audible now and I raised by head to see the priest right in front of me holding the Aarathi thattai (plate). Amidst all the people standing there, the priest directly came to me first. I didn't expect that I will get the Aarathi blessings of Sri Vadirajaru, as I was sitting in some corner reading the hymns. With all reverence, I cupped my down-turned hand over the flame and raised my palm to my eyes. The priest then moved on to other people in the crowd. I was shocked. I was taken aback. I was literally shivering. It took me sometime to reason what had actually happened. I was all goosebumps. Tears filled my eyes and I could hardly see the letters of the hymn in the book. With all devotion, I closed my eyes and thanked Sri Vadirajaru, who knew, I was sitting there reading Lakshmi Shobane and feeling guilty of not witnessing the Aarthi, and yet blessed me with the Aarathi.  I still wonder how the priest came to me first among all other devotees who crowded to take the Aarathi blessings. Its indeed a miracle. Slowly I finished the hymn. When Srinivas returned, I explained what had just happened. I don't know if have put in words, how much I really felt and still feel about this incident. 

One thing was very clear. In my own experience, I understood that, miracles do happen when bhakthi is pure. Whenever I recall this incident, I become emotional and tears fill my eyes. I am truly a blessed soul. Blessings of Sri Vadirajaru and Sri Bhootharajaru are always with me. This is one of the most unforgettable incidents that I have experienced so far and it will be etched in my memory forever. Certain experiences have to be felt and it cannot be described in words.   :Hari Sarvothama, Vaayu Jeevothama:

Sri Madhwacharya

Sri Madhwacharya regarded as an incarnation of Vayu, the Wind-God was born in the year 1238 A.D. He was born of Madhya Geha a Tulu Barhmin and Vedavati at Paajaka near Udipi in South Kanara district of Karnataka. The father gave him the name Vasudeva.

Madhwa distinguished himself in physical exercises and field games. He had a wonderful physique. He could wrestle, run, jump and swim. So people gave him the nickname Bhima. Madhwa took to the study of the Vedas and the Vedandas and became well versed in them. He was performed upanayanam in the age of five. He took Sannyasa in his eleventh year. Sri Madhwa was born or became a Sanyasi (in his 11th year) on Vijaya Dasami day of the Indian year, Vilambi. Mostly this day comes in October. Even today, Maadhwas celebrate Vijaya Dasami as Madhwa Jayanti also. Achyutaparajnyaacharya initiated him. Madhwa was now known by the name Purna Prajna.

Achyutaparajnyaacharya put Madhwa as head of the Mutt in his place. Madhwa received the name of Ananda Tirtha now. He went on an extensive tour in Southern and Northern India to preach his gospel of Bhakti. He had written thirty-seven gradhas like Geetha Bhasyam, Suthra Bhasyam, Anuubhasyam. Anuvyakyam. It is believed in pronouncing the names of those thirty-seven grandas itself one gets sanctified.

Sri Madhwacharya had performed many miracles. Then Sri Madhwacharya was camping in Srimushnam a place twenty-six Km from Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu, observing the Chathur masa vritha. To squelch the thirst of a pregnant lady he produced water with his Danda. The Danda Teertha in Srimushnam is a notable holy spot for Maadhwas. On an occasion he stilled the waves of the ocean when he went to take bath. On an another occasion he was on the beach of Malpe composing a hymn. He sighted a ship that was caught in the storm and by waving his hand, saved it from being capsized. The captain of the ship had offered him a lump of Sandal paste as a gift, which the Sri Madhwacharya took. When the Sandal paste was broke and disclosed the presence of the idol of Lord Krishna. Sri Madhwacharya had a pre-sentiment that this idol of Lord Krishna is the one, which was worshiped in Dwaraka by Shri Rukmani. He installed the same, at Udipi. He had established the eight mutts in Udipi to spread the Dvaita philososhy and to worship of the Lord Krishna in Udipi.

Sri Madhwacharya is the great exponent of the Dvaita School of philosophy. Dvaita is employed to indicate this difference between God's infinite perfection and the finiteness of everything else. His Vaishnavism is called Sad-Vaishnavism in order to distinguish it from the Sri-Vaishnavism of Ramanujacharya. According to his philosophy, the Supreme Being is Vishnu or Narayana. This universe is real and is not Mithya or an illusion. The finite beings comprising the universe are subject to a system of gradation, beginning with the Goddess Laxmi, followed by other minor gods, seers, human beings and undivine beings. The rank of any soul in this scheme of gradation depends on the degree of its devotion to God. God is an embodiment of all virtues and excellences and ever remains untouched by any kind of blemish (Dosha). He has countless Roopas and forms.

Every follower of the Madhwa School should have a firm belief in the Pancha-bheda—five real and eternal distinctions. The distinction between one Jiva and another Jiva (jeeva-jeeva), between the Jiva and matter (jeeva-jata), between one piece of matter and another (jata-jata), between matter and spirit (Jata-Deva), between the Supreme Being and the individual soul (Deva-Jeeva).

The worship of Vishnu consists in (i) Ankana, marking the body with His symbols, (ii) Namakarana, giving the names of the Lord to children and (iii) Bhajana, singing His glories. Sri Madhwacharya laid much stress on constant practice of the remembrance of God (Smarana). He says, "Form a strong habit of remembering God. Then only it will be easy for you to remember Him at the moment of death".

Renunciation, devotion and direct cognition of the Lord through meditation lead to the attainment of salvation. The aspirant should equip himself with the study of the Vedas, control of the senses, dispassion and perfect self-surrender, if he wants to have the vision of the Lord. These are some of the important teachings of Madhwacharya, the renowned exponent of the dualistic school of philosophy.

Sri Trivikrama Panditacharya, contemporary of Sri Acharya Madhwa had a unique sight of seeing Sri Madhwacharya worshiping Lord Krishna, and he was wonder struck to see the divine sight – Hanuman performing puja to Sri Rama, Bhima to Sri Krishna and Madhwacharya to Sri Vaashsta Krishna (Sri Veda Vyasa). . It seems that Sri Madhwacharya had reveled to Sri Trivikrama Panditacharya that he is the third avathara of Vayu, the Wind God.

It is believed that even now Sri Madhwa is ever residing in Bhadrinath and learning from Sri Veda Vyasa.

Works of Madhwacharya

During his lifetime, Madhva wrote 37 works in Sanskrit, mostly commentaries on Hindu sacred writings and treatises on his own theological system and philosophy. He insisted that knowledge is relative, not absolute.

suggesting that Madhva may have written works in other languages that are not mentioned here. These merely show that the person who wrote the piece on Madhva was as careless about his/her usage as about his/her research. Madhva's works include commentaries on the prasthaana-traya (the triad of Vedanta, consisting of the apowrusheya texts, the Brahma-suutra of Baadaraayana aka Veda Vyaasa, and the Bhagavad Gita). In fact, Madhva wrote two commentaries on the Brahma-suutra; one of them is called the Anu-vyaakhyaana, and is the one most often read and cited. The other, a mere four or so pages long, is called the An_u bhaashya (I use n_ in place of n to indicate that the 'na' sound as in 'Gan_apati' is appropriate). Madhva's commentary on the Mahaabhaarata is called the Mahaabhaarata-taatparya-nirn_aya.

Independent works by Madhva include the Vishnu-tatva-vinirn_aya, a text that starts from the very fundamentals, and goes on to establish Vishnu's supremacy in no uncertain terms. This text is referred to in the Sumadhva Vijaya as being akin to Arjuna, who was himself more than a match for a whole army that included several renowned warriors, during the battle to
save Viraata's cows. Another work of great importance is the Pramaan_a lakshan_a, which deals with the concept of pramaan_a, and which is a wonderful exposition of epistemology. Other works by Madhva include the Upaadhi-khandana, the Kathaa-lakshan_a, the Mithyaatva-anumaana-khandana, etc.

Back to 'Three Incarnations of Sri Vaayudeva'