The Fifth Delight
Shri Raghavendra Gurusarvabhauma
77. Victory of Knowledge in Madurai
At the time of Shri Raghavendra Swami's arrival in Madurai, the influence of Neelakantha Dikshita was at its peak. Being the grandson of the world-renowned scholar Appayya Dikshita and a great scholar himself, Neelakantha Dikshita was well aware of the deep bond of friendship and respect that had existed between Shri Vijayindra Tirtha and Appayya Dikshita. Naturally, due to his scholarly inclination and reverence for the lineage of Shri Vijayindra, Shri Sudheendra, and Shri Raghavendra, he held them in the highest esteem.
Neelakantha Dikshita and the intellectuals of Madurai eagerly anticipated the arrival of Shri Raghavendra Swami, believing it to be a great blessing for the kingdom.
Shri Raghavendra Swami arrived in Madurai with his entourage from the Shri Matha. The entire royal court, ministers, scholars, and common citizens welcomed him with great reverence, receiving him with a ceremonial procession and a grand Purnakumbha (auspicious water-filled pot ritual).
Upon arrival, the Guru was taken in a procession with grandeur, and he was respectfully housed in the Saraswati Mandira for his stay.
The next day, upon the request of King Tirumala Nayaka, Shri Raghavendra Swami visited the royal palace, where he was honored with a grand ritual of Pada Puja (ceremonial worship of his feet). The king had arranged for an opulent Bhiksha (ritual offering of meals). After overseeing the worship of Shri Moola Rama Deva, Shri Raghavendra Swami accepted the sacred offerings (Tirtha-Prasada and Phalamantakshata), thus blessing the kingdom with divine grace.
That evening, after delivering an enlightening discourse, the Guru, upon Neelakantha Dikshita's suggestion, agreed to preside over a grand scholarly debate (Vidvat Sabha), to be conducted under the auspices of King Tirumala Nayaka.
The next morning, Shri Raghavendra Swami arrived at the royal assembly in a golden palanquin, accompanied by Vedic recitations and the sounds of auspicious musical instruments.
He was warmly welcomed by Tirumala Nayaka and Neelakantha Dikshita, who honored him with high reverence and seated him on a grand throne. The assembly hall was overflowing with scholars and dignitaries, eagerly awaiting the intellectual battle that was about to take place.
Under Shri Raghavendra Swami’s presidency, the Vidvat Sabha (scholarly debate) commenced.
Several distinguished scholars from Madurai's royal court engaged in rigorous debates on Vedanta, Nyaya (logic), Mimamsa, Dharma Shastra, and Vyakarana (grammar) with the erudite disciples of Shri Raghavendra Swami, including:
Narayanacharya
Venkatanarayanacharya
Lakshminarayanacharya (the son of Shri Raghavendra Swami’s elder brother)
Krishnacharya
Govindacharya
Over three days, these scholars engaged in intense philosophical debates and achieved spectacular victories, earning the admiration and reverence of the entire assembly.
On the fourth day, an Advaita scholar raised objections against Shri Madhvacharya's Nyaya Sudha, presenting an elaborate Purvapaksha (oppositional argument).
At that moment, Shri Guru Raghavendra Swami’s elder brother (in his pre-monastic life), Gururajacharya, who was also a disciple of Shri Sudheendra Tirtha, entered the debate.
With flawless reasoning, he meticulously countered every argument of the opponent and established the supremacy of Shri Madhvacharya’s Nyaya Sudha.
This remarkable intellectual battle lasted for nearly four hours, during which Gururajacharya conclusively demolished the arguments of the Advaita scholar.
The entire assembly erupted in cheers, with the scholars and attendees chanting victory slogans in praise of the Madhva school and Shri Raghavendra Swami’s disciples.
Neelakantha Dikshita, along with the esteemed scholars of Shri Matha and disciples of Shri Raghavendra Swami, enthusiastically celebrated the victory.
Tirumala Nayaka and his court expressed their joy through thunderous applause, marking the grand conclusion of that day’s historic intellectual gathering.