- Sri Vijayendra Tirtharu defeats Lingarajendra
Lingarajendra, a famous shaiva saint came to know that Sri Vijayeendra Tirtharu was a great Madhwa philosopher. He could not tolerate the fame, reputation Vijayeendraru had. He invited Swamiji for a debate and Kumbeshwara temple at Kumbakonam was fixed as the venue. Swamiji from his mutt to Kumbheshwar temple in a pallakki (palaquin) and the shaiva sanyasi also started from his mutt. They both met in one road corner. Now the shaiva sanyasi got down from his palaquin and told his shishyas to place the vyagraasana (tiger skin) on the wall of a compound of a house. The wall started moving towards the temple. Now, Sri Vijayeendra Tirtharu asked his shisyaas to take off their hands from the palaquin. Now the palaquin alongwith the Swamiji itself moved high in the sky and landed in front of the Kumbheswara temple. Now, it was the turn of the Shaiva saint to be shocked on this miracle. After reaching the Kumbeshwara temple, they fixed the bet for the debate, i.e.,
In case the Vijayeendra Tirtharu is defeated, he should leave vaishnavatva and should become a shishya of the saint.
In case the Shaiva saint is defeated, then he should surrender all his rights on the temple and should leave the village at once and for all. and that he will stop converting vaishnavaas to shaiva.
Debate with Lingarajendra –
Vijayeendra Tirtha – Whether you believe in the existence of god?
Lingarenjendra – Yes.
Vijayeendra Tirtharu – There are 3 modes of pramana viz., pratyaksha, anumana and agama. How to establish Ishwara? Lingarajendra – Through Anumana (Inference)Vijayeendra Tirtharu – You have told Ishwara can be proved by anumana. We can prove that through anumana, there is no “Ishwara”. How ? To build a temple, not a single person can build the temple. Then how can a single person build the entire world with huge earth, and many wonderful items in the world. It is illogical and impossible.
Lingarajendra – It is impossible to build a temple by a single person.
It was held with many issues like pratyaksha, yukti, shabda. Lingarajendra argued for yukthi, told Veda is apramanya, he questioned as to how is Veda Apouresheya, and told that Narayana is not the jagajjanmadi kaarana. He told that Shiva is sarvottama quoting “EkO rudrO na dvitIyOvatasthE shiva Eva kEvalaM”. He also quoted a story from one of the tamasa purana, wherein Shiva got bruhat lingaakara, and Brahma in hamsa roopa – Vishnu in Varaha roopa both failed to find the top and bottom of the linga and surrendered before Shiva.
Vijayeendra Tirtharu quoted the story is from taamasa purana and is not to be taken as Sri Vedavyasa has quoted that quotes from tamasa purana are only for asura jana mohanaartha. For all these Vijayeendra Tirtharu answered with suitable quotes.
He also showed the quote from Vedavyasaru which says “vaishnavam naaradIyam cha tathaa bghaagavatham shubham | gaaruDam cha tathaa paadmaM vaaraahaM shubhadarshanE | ShaDEtaani puraaNaani saatvikaani mataani vai | brahmaaMdaM brahmavaivartham maarkaMdEyaM tathaiva cha | AgnEyaM cha ShaDEtaani taamasaa nirayapradaa: | meaning – Satvika puraanaas are six – VaishNava, naaradIyak, bhaagavatha, garuDa, padma, and Varaaha. Raajasa puraanaas are six – BrahmaanDa, brahmavaivarta, maarkaMDeya, bhaviShyOttara, vaamana and braahma. Taamasa puraanas – matsya, korma, linga, Skanda, shaiva, Agneya.
- Shiva or Vishnu sarvottama – Jalandhara samhara issue :
Then Lingarajendra questioned – Even in Varaha purana, declared as saatvika Purana also Shiva sarvottamatva is proved – wherein – Once for killing Jalandhara named daithya, Srihari did penance to Shiva and was daily doing the archana with thousand Lotus flowers. Once Shiva made the lotus disappear, so Srihari offered his eye itself to Shiva in lieu of Lotus. Then Shiva gave him Sudarshana and eye to Srihari, so he became Pundareekaksha. Then Srihari killed Jalandhara daithya with Sudarshana given by Shiva. It proves that Shiva is supreme.
Vijayeendra Tirtha – Ofcourse this story is mentioned in the Varahapurana poorvakhanda. Just like Sathvika, raajasa, tamasa puranaas, even saathvika puranaas some portion are taamasa, in taamasa some portion are saathvika. As such this story is not acceptable, as Varahapurana poorva khanda is considered as taamasa portion. He also showed the proof for considering this portion as taamasa.
Shiva or Hari sarvottama – other issues –
| No | Lingaraja – Shiva Sarvottama | Vijayeendraru – Hari Sarvottama |
| 1 | During tripuravijaya – Shiva killed Tripurasura with Vishnu and Brahma as the saadhana | In Bhagavatha it is said that with the blessings of Srihari only Rudra defeated Tripurasura. Further Narayana is Rudrantaryami as per Mahabharata “Karna”parva |
| 2 | During Dakshayajna when Vishnu was running away, Shivavatara boota Veerabadra defeated Vishnu | Srihari & Brahma both were not present in Daksha yajna as per Bhagavatha, as such it is not acceptable |
| 3 | After the killing of Hiranyakashipu, when all the gods approached Shiva, he came in Sharaba roopa, attacked Narasimha, severely, Narasimha was bleeding and begged Shiva excused him and blessed Srihari. | As per Skanda purana Veerabadra defeated Narasimha. As per Shaivapurana Rudra himself came in as Sharaba and defeated Narasimha. Which is right, whether it is Rudra or Veerabadra? As there is differences between two taamasa puraanaas itself. There is no such evidence from any saatvika purana. How can it be justified? There are many puranaas which says that Nrusimha himself killed Sharabha. They are : |
- As per Padmapurana
- As per Vamana purana
- As per Koorma purana
4 Rama did the pratistapane of Shiva in Rameswara as per Koorma purana for Brahmahatya dosha pariharaJust because Rama did linga pratistapane, it doesn’t mean that Shiva is supreme. Srihari has blessed Rudra “ ahamapyavataarEshu tvaaM cha rudra mahaabala | taamasaaM mOhanaarthaM pUjayaami yugE yugE |.Rudra prayed Srihari “ anyadEvam varam dehi. martyO bhUtvaa bhavaanEva mama saadhaya kEshasva. maaM bhajasva cha dEvesha. Varam mattO grahaaNa cha. EnaahaM sarvabhUtaanaam pUjyaat pUjyarObhavaM. dEvakaaryaaMtarEshu maanuShatvamupEyivaan| tvaamEvaaradha- yiShyaami mama tvam varaObhava” as quoted in Varaha purana, Rudrageeta, korma purana, etc, Shiva prayed Srihari to bless him in his avataraas. Srihari does not have any punya-paapalepa. It was only done as per desire of Rudra. As such, it does not prove that Shiva is sarvottama.5When Vedavyasaru was telling in front of many sages as “satyam satyam punassatyam uddhrutyam bhujam uchaye” vedashaastraat param naasti na daivam kEshavaatparaM” – he lost his shouldersIt is said in Skanda purana kaashikanda. “avaidikatrayam jnaanam vaasiShtam sootra samhitaa. kaashIKandam parityaajyam vaidikasya virOdhata:”. As per the quotes, Kaashikanda is avaidika and tyaajya. As such, the instance wherein Vedavyasaru lost his shoulders is not acceptable