Shishyas of Jayatirtharu

His direct Shishyaas –

1. Sri Vidyaadhiraaja Tirtharu (1388-1392) – He was not only his shishya but also was the uttaradhikari. Once he had the darshana of Bhaageerathidevi when he was near the Bheemarathi river.  Initially he gave ashrama to Sri Rajendra Tirtha, who went to Bangala region for tatvaprachara and stayed for more time.  Since he didn’t returned for a long time, Sri Vidyadhiraja Tirtha gave ashrama to Sri Kavindra Tirtharu.  As such, two parampare came into existence one with the Rajendra Tirtha parampare which subsequently became Vyasaraja Mutt.  Sri Kavindra Tirtha parampare was subsequently divided into another two fractions one Vibudendra or Rayara Mutt and another Uttaradi Mutt.

माद्यदद्वैत्यंधकारा प्रद्योतनमहर्निशं ।  विद्याधिराजं सुगुरुं ध्यायामि करुणाकरं ।

Poorvashrama name – Krishna Bhatta or Nrusimha Shastri.

He took ashrama from Brahmacharyashrama directly.  Ashrama taken at Prayaga

Vrundavana – Yeragola.  (Even Sri Rajendra Tirtharu entered vrundavana at Yeragola itself, but the Vrundavana is not traceable. Now, we can see only the vrundavanas of Sri Ramachandra Tirtharu and Sri Vidyanidhi Tirtharu at Yeragola.  It may be somewhere in Yeragola amongst some places nearby)

Granthas –Geetha Vivruthi – published by Sri Vyasamadhwa Pratistana in 2006 & Vishnu Sahasranama Vivruthi – published by Phalimaru Mutt in 1985

In Geetha Vivruthi manuscripts are now available in Devanagiri Lipi in and Nagari Lipi in Mysore Oriental Library.   Acharya Madhwa had not done the anuvada for all shlokaas of Geetha, Sri Vidyadhiraja Tirtha has written meaning for these shlokas as well.  He has followed Geetha Bhashya and Geetha Tatparya Nirnaya of Acharya Madhwa while giving the meaning.

It seems that Sri Vidyadhiraja Tirtha is the first amongst Dwaitha Vyakyanakaras who wrote the vyakyana for Vishnu Sahasra Nama.  In this grantha, it is observed that for “Vishwam” word itself, he has given not less than 12 meanings.

2.  Sri Vyasatirtharu (1370-1404) – He is another vidya shishya and ashrama shishya.  But he was not throned the peeta.  It is said that he was the first amongst Madhwas to write Tippani for Upanishad Bhashya.    His style is very simple and in his narration there is expertise.  His works are as follows :

a) Teeka for Dashopanishat Bhashya for the Vyaakyaana of Teekarayaru (except Shatprashnopanishat Bhashya).

b)   He wrote Bharata bhaavapanchika (vyaakyana for Mahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya).

c)  It is said that he has written vyakyana for Acharya Madhwa’s Tantrasara sangraha and “pramana maalika”.

d)  He has written “Jayatirtha Vijaya”(with 5 sargaas) Jayatirtha Vijaya is not complete.  It contains the life history of Teekarayaru only upto the blessings of Saraswathi to Jayatirtharu.  In the first two sargaas, he has narrated Acharya Madhwa and his four direct shishya and their works.  There is mention of vaakyartha with Vidyaranya and Vedantha Deshika’s decision.  The third sarga contains Jayatirtha’s poorvashrama history, his marriage.  The fourth sarga contains meet with Akshobhya Tirtha.  The fifth sarga contains Sanyasa deekshe of Jayatirtharu.

e)  “Anu Jayatirtha Vijaya” (34 shlokaas), which contain the full life history.  Here he has mentioned that Jayatirtharu is the avatara of Indra, and that he got the blessings of Durgadevi.  In Anu Jayatirtha Vijaya, there is mention of Vadeendra and other advaitee defeats and also has information on Vidyadhiraja getting pattabhisheka as uttaradhikari.

In the Anu Jayatirtha Vijaya the final shloka reads as follows –

चित्रं श्रीजयार्यै: कृतमतिविशदं विक्रमं को नु वक्ता ।
किंतु स्मृत्यर्थमल्पं गुरुभिरनुदिनं वर्णितुं वर्णितुं मे ।|

chitraM shrIjayaaryai: kRutamativishadaM vikramaM kO nu vaktaa |
kiMtu smRutyarthamalpaM gurubhiranudinaM varNituM varNituM mE |

It means that Vyasatirtharu narrated in Jayatirtha Vijaya, what Sri Jayatirtharu told personally to him.  As such, it is considered as a pramana grantha.  This grantha is written with the saakshat experience.  Vyasatirtharu has narrated that Akshobhyatirtha gave him paramahamsaashrama, taught Sarvamoola grantha, and sent him for Vishnu sarvottamatva and for the nigraha of other kubhashyakaars.

Sri Raghottama Tirtharu has quoted some of Vyasatirtha’s Teekaas in his granthas.  Sri Jagannatha Tirtharu in his “Bhashyadeepika” has also narrated some of his quotes.

His Vrundavana is at Malakheda itself.

3.  Sri Srinivasaacharyaru – He was one of the gruhasta shishyaru.  He has written vyakyana for “vande vishNum namaami” taaratamya stotra.

Vaadi nigraha – Digvijaya :-    A Peetadhipathi’s main duty is to ensure that Srimadacharya siddantha sthapana and paramatha khandana. If any Khandana is written on any Madhwa Grantha, the peetadhipathi must immediately do the Mandana condemning the Khandana with satisfactory documents.  The Sanyaasees used to go on Digvijaya to various places, wherein he has to invite pundits of other siddanthaas and do vaakyaartha and defeat them.