ShrI Dheerendra Teertha

- Dr.V.R.Panchamuki

Sri Dhirendratirtha is the eighth pontiff from Sri Raghavendratirtha in the lineage of Sri Padmanabhatirtha. In his purvashrama, his name was Sri Jayaramacharya and he is the greatgrandson of Sri Lakshminarayanacharya, who is the son of Sri Raghavendratirtha in his purvashrama. The lineage runs as follows.

Sri Raghavendratirtha

(Sri Venkatanathacharaya in Purvashrama)

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Sri Lakshmi Narayanacharya

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Sri Purushottamacharya

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Sri Srinivasacharya

(SriVadindratirtha)

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Sri Jayaramacharya

(Sri Dhirendratirtha)

Sri Raghavendratirtha, consecrated Sri Venkannacharya, grandson ofSri Gururajacharya (who is the elder brother of Sri Raghavendratirtha in his purvashrama) at the Peetham and named him as Sri Yogindra Tirtha (1671 - 1688 A.D.). Thereafter, three brothers of Sri Yogindratirtha, Sri Vasudevacharya, Sri Muddu Venkannacharya and Sri Vijayeendracharya came to the peetham in that order, with the respective names of Sri Surindratirtha (1688 - 1692 A.D.), Sri Sumatindratirtha (1692 - 1725 A.D.) and Sri Upendratirtha (1725 - 1728 A.D). It is well known that Sri Sumatindratirtha was the pontif for 33 Years (1692- 1725 A.D.) and was famous for his erudite scholarship and contributions in the form of various works such as Bhavaratnakosha - commentary on Prameya Dipika which is the Tika of Jayatirtha on the Gita Bhashya of Sri Madhwacharya.

After Sri Upendratirtha, Sri Srinivasacharya greatgrandson of Sri Raghavendratirtha came to the peetham in the name of Sri Vadindratirtha, After Sri Vadindratirtha, his purvashrama cousin brothers, Sri Purushottamacharya, and Sri Balaramacharya came to the peetham, in that order, in the respective names of Sri Vasudhendratirtha and Sri Varadendratirtha. After Sri Varadendratirtha we have Sri Dhirendratirtha coming to the peetham of Maha Samsthan. Thus Dhirendratirtha belongs to the direct lineage of Sri Raghawendratirtha both in the purvashrama and also in peethaparampara. Sri Dhirendratirtha was an erudite scholar in Nyaya, Vyakarana and Vedanta. In his purvashrama (Sri Jayaramacharya) he conducted the philosophical debate with Prabhune Ramasastry of Pune when Sri Varadendratirtha was engaged in the dispute - discourse (Vada) with the latter. It is authentically documented that Sri Ramasastry accepted his defeat and surrendered his whole palatial house and property, in recognition of the victory of Sri Varadendratirtha. Sri Dhirendratirtha is known to have authored a number of works.Unfortunately only some ofthese are available today. His works

viShayavAkyArthasaMgrahaH

kArakavAdaH

nArayaNOpaniShadvyAkhyA

puruShasUktavyAkhyA

manyusUktavyAkhyA

lakShmIsUktavyAkhyA

aMbraNIsuktavyAkhyA

guruguNastavanaTIkA

etc.,

stand testimony to the erudite scholarship of this great saint philosopher. Sri Dhirendratirtha was known for his renunciation and detatchment from wordly affairs. After performing puja of Mula Rama in the samsthana for some time, he relinquished the responsibility of the samsthana in favour of his disciple Sri Bhuvanendratirtha, and resigned himselffor doing tapasya at Hosartitti on the banks of the Varada river. He entered Brindavana at Hosaritti on Phalguna, Sukla Trayodasi (1785 A.D.). Those who perform seva at the sannidhi of Sri Dhirendratirtha Brindavan, receive the blessings and grant of boons just in the same manner as with the seva done at the sannidhi ofSri Raghawendratirtha at Sri Mantralayam.

-from History of Dvaita School of Philosophy

He was the pUrvashrama son of Vadindra and a very distinguished scholar in shastras. He is said to have participated in the debate between Varadendra and PrabhuNe Shastri. Later he became Sannyasin; but he did not succeed to the PiTa. He is the author of five works :

1. ac.on Vadindra's Gurugunastava which has been printed,

2.kAraka vAda and

glosses on

3.nArayaNOpanishad

4. manyusUkta

5.vishayavAkya-Sangraha

He passed away at Ritti near Haveri.