ShrI hrishIkEsha TIrtha

Sri Hrishikesha Tirtha was the first and foremost to be ordained with the Sannyasa by Acharya Madhva. This is why Narayana Panditacharya mentions in Sri Madhvavijaya about Hrishikesha with the words "nijashiShyapravarENa vAcyamAne" . And, this is why Palimaru Matha is counted in the seniority list in the first place and also is specified as "ashTOthkRuShTa". The cycle of the Paryaya also begins with Palimaru Matha.

Let us now know at least a few things out of many things about a few of twenty nine Yatis of this Matha.

Hrishikesha Tirtha : Written in his hand, we have still available a Sarvamula volume which is the oldest of all known volumes of Dvaita history. He used to chant the Mula Granthas

whenever Acharya Madhva was to give discourses on them. Only two independent small works are attributed to him. They are Sampradaya Paddhati and Anumadhvacharita. Both are very informative historically for the research scholars.

He spent second half of his life in the holy banks of River Ganga mostly and visiting Tirthakshetras. Probably when he thought his sacred mission as the close disciple of sri Madhva has been completed he, in Prayaga, meditating upon Prayaga Madhava, just did not bother that he is being drawn into by the sacred Triveni Sangama Vahini sitting at the bank. Thus, he, one Tirtha, was accepted by another Tirtha, the Ganga in the year 1290 A.D. This is recorded in the Shloka available in Palimaru Matha.

virOdhimAGArjunasaptamItithau varO hRuShIkEshamunistapaswinAnam |

..................................................... dharAsutEshAMgrisarOjamEyivAn ||