The Fifth Delight
Shri Raghavendra Gurusarvabhauma
112. Blessings upon Bidarahalli Śrīnivāsācārya
Śrī Gururājaru was a source of inspiration for both the Vyāsa tradition and the Dāsa tradition. Both traditions proudly regarded him as their leader. Rāyaru was the central pillar for the holistic development of Vyāsa, Dāsa, and Vālmīki traditions — a fountain of inspiration.
Through his generous patronage, Rāyaru nurtured and uplifted all, bringing joy to everyone. In that Ganges of divine knowledge, thousands of noble souls bathed and became purified in heart, rejoicing.
By the time this incident occurred, discourses on Vedānta Śāstra accompanied by Rāyaru’s commentaries were being conducted in an extraordinary manner across many places. Śrī Rāyaru’s globally respected works and encouragement to new authors had inspired a fresh tradition in scholarly composition.
Many scholars would approach Śrī Rāyaru to receive guidance for composing works. They would read their manuscripts before the Guru, receive clarifications on traditional interpretations, difficult passages, and doctrinal decisions, revise their works accordingly, and receive Guru's approval stamp, returning blessed and uplifted.
In the Dvaita school, there was a noble figure named Śrī Yādavārya, a celebrated author. He became well-known for delivering lectures using Śrī Rāyaru’s commentaries as a foundation. His younger brother was Śrī Bidarahalli Śrīnivāsācārya.
Śrī Yādavārya frequently shared with his brother the greatness and uniqueness of Śrī Rāyaru’s commentaries, wholeheartedly praising their invaluable service to the field of Tattva Śāstra, especially to Dvaita philosophy, and declaring openly that without the blessings and approval of that great saint, no scholar or author could truly gain renown.
These teachings from his revered elder brother left a deep impression on Śrīnivāsācārya. Thus, he too longed to be recognized as an author, to gain the appreciation and blessings of Śrī Rāyaru.
It seems that Śrī Rāyaru’s grace had already begun to manifest in him. After many days of sincere effort and dedicated study, Śrīnivāsācārya composed a few commentarial works on Madhva Śāstra, and showed them to Śrī Yādavārya.
After reviewing them, Yādavārya happily said:
“Śrīnivāsa, if you wish your works to gain fame and for you to be recognized as an author, you must receive the seal of approval from that emperor among commentators, the unparalleled master of knowledge, the greatly revered Śrī Rāyaru. You must become worthy of his complete blessings and grace.”
Śrīnivāsācārya accepted his elder brother’s command with reverence, and, longing for Gururājaru’s blessings, arrived at Śrī Rāyaru’s presence during the Chāturmāsya Sankalpa period.
Śrīnivāsācārya approached the Emperor of Gurus, Śrī Rāyaru, had his darśana, and respectfully offered the manuscripts he had composed at the Guru’s lotus feet, praying for blessings.
Rāyaru glanced through his work and, recognizing his sincere efforts, was pleased with a generous heart. Śrīnivāsācārya submitted humbly:
“Gurudeva! I have come yearning for your blessings. Kindly bless my work and grant me the grace to continue my service to Śrī Sarvajña (Madhvācārya). Please make me fulfilled.”
Respecting the learned scholar Śrīnivāsācārya, Rāyaru smiled gently and said:
“You have rendered service to Śrīmad Ācārya. Śrī Hari and Vāyu are pleased with your service. May you further contribute to the spread of this philosophy — we bless you with great joy. May you attain excellence.”
With blessings from this Jagadguru, the sovereign of the Dvaita realm, and treasure-house of knowledge, Śrīnivāsācārya was filled with boundless joy. He bowed down with a full prostration and said:
“I am fulfilled, Gurudeva.”
After the worship and offering of tīrtha and prasāda to Śrī Mūla Raghupati Vedavyāsa Devaru, Śrīnivāsācārya was seated for the meal (bhōjana) in the company of scholars before Śrī Rāyaru.
Since mustard greens (sāsuve) had been used in the cooking, Śrīnivāsācārya hesitated to eat, due to his scriptural convictions. Sensing this inner discomfort, the noble-hearted Śrī Rāyaru instructed the Pārupattēdāra (head of kitchen service) to prepare a separate meal without mustard greens specifically for Śrīnivāsācārya.
Although this behavior of Śrīnivāsācārya led to dissatisfaction among the scholars, the learned still praised Rāyaru’s generosity.
After the meal, Śrīnivāsācārya approached Śrī Rāyaru again. According to the traditions of the Śrīmad Ācārya Mahāsaṁsthāna, Rāyaru honored him appropriately for his scholarship and graciously bestowed the fruit, mantra-blessed rice (phalamantrākṣate), as a blessing.
As Rāyaru had bestowed even more grace than he had hoped for, Śrīnivāsācārya was overwhelmed with joy. He received the permission and blessing from Rāyaru and went back to meet Śrī Yādavārya.
But upon seeing the glow on Śrīnivāsācārya’s face, Yādavārya was disturbed. He anxiously unwrapped the mantrākṣate (blessed rice) that Śrīnivāsācārya had received from Śrī Rāyaru — but instead of being red (auspicious), the rice had turned black.
Yādavārya collapsed to the ground in grief, overcome with deep sorrow. Looking at his younger brother, he cried out in anguish:
“Śrīnivāsa! You’ve returned having earned the curse of the Guru! I feared this very thing when you went to the Guru Sārvabhauma (Universal Preceptor). I wondered if you might act without discernment — and now it’s happened! You are unfortunate. Hmph! Tell me — what offense did you commit there?”
Śrīnivāsācārya, filled with sorrow, said,
“As per your instruction, I had the darśana of Gururāja and offered my work. Śrīsvāmigal glanced through my text, was pleased, honored it, and blessed me. I committed no offense.”
Śrī Yādavācārya responded,
“Śrīnivāsa, yet you have somehow earned the disapproval of a great soul! Think carefully and tell me — what exactly happened there?”
At that moment, Śrīnivāsācārya recalled the incident with the mustard greens (sāsuve) during the meal, and explained it to his elder brother.
Hearing this, Śrī Yādavārya sighed deeply and exclaimed:
“Śrīnivāsa! What a serious misstep you have made!
Before the Guru Sārvabhauma — who is both a great jñāni and one deeply versed in tradition — what pride of discernment did you show?
Do you think you know better than such a great mahāpuruṣa about what is acceptable and what is not?
If you cannot understand how to conduct yourself in the presence of the wise, what kind of author are you?
Can one reject the prasāda of Śrī Mūla Rāma Devaru and the hastodaka of the Guru?
Go now! First beg forgiveness from that exalted being, obtain his complete grace, and only then return.
Otherwise, your wish to be a writer will never receive the blessings of Śrīmad Ācārya or Śrī Ṭīkācārya!”
Disheartened, Śrīnivāsācārya turned back. Seeing him return, Gururāja smiled and asked:
“Śrīnivāsācārya, did Yādavārya send you back?”
Upon hearing these words, Śrīnivāsācārya instantly realized that Śrī Rāyaru was indeed a mahātma, one to whom the past, present, and future were all as clear as an āmalaka fruit in one’s palm. Tears of sorrow welled up in his eyes.
Falling at the Guru’s feet, he said with great humility:
“Mahāsvāmi, I have committed a great offense. I have come to you now in full surrender. Please shower mercy upon me, forgive all my transgressions, and lift me up by your hand.”
Śrī Rāyaru, with a glance full of compassion, replied:
“Rise, Śrīnivāsācārya. ‘One should not grieve over that which is done’ (‘taṁ na śocayet pārth’). Forget what has happened.
Whether or not Śrī Mūla Rāma accepted the prasāda at that moment is not the issue — now that prasāda has indeed been offered and accepted by Śrī Mūla Rāma. Why worry so much about this?”
With folded hands, Śrīnivāsācārya replied humbly, “As you command.”
He then received the tīrtha-prasāda joyfully from the nectar-like hand of the Guru, and sat before him to partake in the meal joyfully — including the prasāda that had mustard greens (sāsuve) in it.
After the meal, Gururāja honored Śrīnivāsācārya with gifts and blessed rice (phalamantrākṣate), and handed him a separate mantrākṣate, saying:
“Śrīnivāsācārya, this is for Yādavārya.”
Śrīnivāsācārya returned to his elder brother and joyfully said,
“Gurusārvabhauma has blessed me as well!”
Yādavārya, pleased, accepted the mantrākṣate sent by Śrī Rāyaru with reverence.
This incident involving Bidarahalli Śrīnivāsācārya stands as a moral lesson for those who, in the face of challenges, difficulties, or obstacles in life, seek to proceed with proper discernment.
Even when the path we follow is clear, it is essential for human beings to understand time, context, and presence and act accordingly.
If we forget this, and in the presence of great jñānis, allow ego, pride, arrogance, or pretentiousness to take over in an attempt to show off our so-called superiority, it results in offense.
This incident shows that in the company of the great, we — as ordinary beings — must not exhibit our ego or cleverness.
Bidarahalli Śrīnivāsācārya's experience stands as a moral guidepost for humanity.