Shri Vijayeendra Theertharu

S Ananthapadmanabhan on Dwaita Parimalam

Vijayeendra Sri Charanaha belongs to 16th century. He is well versed in all darsanas. He is expert in 64 arts and has written 104 slokas. He is 14th pontiff after Sri Madhwacharya. He belongs to Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt. Sri Surendra theertha Sri Padaha is the Guru of Sri Vijayeendra Theerthar and in-turn He is the Guru of Sri Sudheendra Theertha. Sri Sudheendra theertharu is Guru of Sri Raghavendra Theertharu. Vijayeendra Sri Charanaha was a Bala Sanyasi and studied many sastras under the able Guidance of Sri Vyasarajaru. From Him only Sri Surendra Theertharu got Sri Vijayeendra theertharu. Saint Vadirajaru, Sri Purandara dasaru and Sri Kanaka dasaru all belongs to the same period.

Sri Charanaha, Appaya Dishita and Thathacharya decorated the court of Tanjore King Sevappa Nayak. In the court Sri Charanaha had upper hand. The King donated a village by name Arivili mangalam to our Swamiji. And also, Ramaraja - Son-in-law of Vijaya Nagara Emperor performed Ratnabhisheka to our Swamiji. Many scholars like Appaya Dishita in Kumbakonam, Shri Krishna from Navadveepa of Bengal, a lingayat from Karnataka and many others were defeated by our Swamiji. He earned a title "Ajayya Vijayeendra".

In Kumbakonam there are many temples. One among them is Kumbeswarar. In that temple, there is a circle mark in the ground in the Sannidhi of Sri Mangalambhika. It is believed that sitting in that place only, Sri Charanaha meditated Sri Mangalambika. And also there is a proof that he had been adorned with a garland as offered by Sri Mangalambhika deity Herself to denote in advance His victory over other scholars. I would like to share some interesting incidents, which took place in Swamiji's life.

Once He was going to Kumbeshwara's temple in a pallanquin for a debate with lingayat that lingayat was also going on in a palanquin to the same temple. In the midway, he saw our Swamiji and jumped out and got into a compound wall. That compound wall started moving. Immediately our Swamiji requested His palanquin bearers to keep that in the ground. To the surprise of everyone, the palanquin flow away in the sky and reached the temple before the arrival of lingayat. Our Swamiji defeated lingayat and drank poison, which was brought by lingayat to kill our Swamiji. The lingayat astonished as to how He came to know that poison was in possession of lingayat himself and he brought it to kill Swamiji. Then Swamiji started enchanting a sloka -

Bhookhandam, Varanandam ... on Narasimha Devaru. The poison did not do any harm to Swamiji, but that idol of Narasimha Devaru became black in his neck. That idol is still in Mantralaya.

The great pillar for Saivism the Appaya Dishita wrote some books condemning Madhwa matha and did not show those books to Swamiji out of sheer respect and friendship he maintained with our Swamiji. But Swamiji came to know this thro' his divine sight (Gyana dhrushty) and made the book box fly and come from Appayyas house to Mutt. Then he wrote books answering all the abnormalities shown by Appayya Dishita.

One day Appayya Dishita asked our Swamiji as to how he was able to control lust in spite of eating so many delicious foods. For which Vijayeendra Sri Charanaha answered, as though a mighty lion eats the flesh of elephant and other wild animals off and on, It has union with his female mate only once in a year. On the contrary, small birds like sparrows etc. eat very little but have their union with counterpart daily. It is not the food that counts, but the manas. I am like a lion and have controlled all the sense organs. On hearing this, Appayya Dishita praised Swamiji as that you have relegated to a high position - meaning - you are going to fall down - Athi unnathihi pathana Hetuhu - our Swamiji replied immediately as - Gagane Vyabhicharaha - meaning is - Sky is an exception. There by he proved that not all the thing at top or at highest level will fall down. There is an exception also like sky, which though at top will not fall down and I am like a sky and I will not fall down. Appayya Dishita a householder on hearing a befitting reply from Swamiji prostrated before Him.

Once a gold smith came to Swamiji whether He can make any idol (vigraha) as he does. Swamiji made a lot of idols on his own and silenced His opponent. Such idols are still in the Mutt in Kumbakonam. He has written many books such as

Chakra Mimamsa

Madhwa Siddhantha Sarodhara

Sarva Siddhanta Sarasara Vivechanam

Nyayamrtodahrta Jaimiyanyayamala

Naya Majari

Madhwa Tanthra Mukha Bhooshanam

Srimat Tatparya Chandrika Kuchodyakuthara

Laghvamoda - a brilliant and illuminating commentary of Sriman Nyayamrutha by Sri Vyasaraja theertharu

One day He protected the Sarangapani temple from the invasion of Mohal Kings. Hence Sarangapani comes to the Mutt and accepts the Honour of Mutt. It happens even today.

He did all the magic only to prove that Sri Hari is Supreme. His Brindavan is at Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, South India - Solayappan Agrahara near Kaveri river. He still fullfills the desire of His devotees. His Punya Day falls on Jyestha Month, Krihna Paksha, Dwadasi day. In this month i.e. 29/6/2000 is His Punya Dina. Hence we presented this article to all readers.

Considerable assistance has been derived from the following books in writing this article-

Sri Vijayeendra Guru's Stotram published by Sri M Rama Rao of Kumbakonam

Sri Madhwa Makarandam

We thank all the concerned. We dedicate this article to the lotus feet of Sri Vijayeendra Theertharu, with a famous sloka.

Bhankthanam Manasambhoja Bhanave KamaDhenave |

Namatham Kalpatharave Jayeendra Gurave Namaha ||

Salutaions to Sri Jayeendra Guru who is like a sun to the mind of lotus of Devotees and like a Divine cow

(Kama Dhenu) and wish yielding tree (Kalpa Tharu) to those who salute Him.