The Fifth Delight
Shri Raghavendra Gurusarvabhauma
91. The Commentator (Ṭīkākāraḥ)
At that time, Ālūr, near Sītimani on the banks of the River Kṛṣṇa, was a settlement of devoted, scholarly Brahmins. When the Guru arrived at Ālūr, the religious community warmly welcomed him. That peaceful and sanctified place, blessed by the Kṛṣṇa river, was considered ideal for scriptural composition. Guru Rājaru decided to stay there for a while.
Each day, Shri Shrīgala would perform ritual bath in the Kṛṣṇa, undertake austerities like japa, tapa, and other spiritual disciplines, offer daily worship to the deities, and immerse himself in scriptural writing.
Shri Gururājaru composed a brilliant, expansive commentary called Bhāvadeepa, full of light and wisdom, which revealed the very heart of the revered Ṭīkākāra—on the Tattvaprakāśikā, the commentary written by Shri Jayatīrtha on the Sūtra Bhāṣya. He also composed a commentary on the Aṇubhāṣya, with the approval of Shri Jayatīrtha Guru himself.
The inspiration to write a commentary on the Aṇubhāṣya from Ṭīkākāra himself is a matter of deep interest. On the night Gururājaru completed and offered his Bhāvadeepa to Shri Harivāyu and Shri Jayamuni, Shri Jayatīrtha Guruvarya appeared to him in a dream:
"O best among disciples! By your exceptional service in the form of these scriptural compositions, you have become worthy of the supreme grace of Harivāyu. Your Bhāvadeepa expresses our inner intent with great clarity and is of immense value to scholars and the establishment of Dvaita philosophy. According to the divine will of Shri Hari, the sacred wind-element (Pāvanāṁśa), Shri Sarvajña, who eternally resides and protects within you, will soon confer upon you the exalted title of Bhāṣyakāra! Before that, as per the wish of Shri Hari, we have already conferred upon you the honorific of Ṭīkākāra. Child! This is why we did not compose a ṭīkā on the Aṇubhāṣya ourselves! You shall write it, and become renowned in the world as Ṭīkākāra. Our Dvaita philosophy shall shine without hindrance through your work. May all auspiciousness be yours."
Having said this, the Guru vanished from the dream. Awakening at once, Gururājaru understood the meaning of the dream and experienced supreme bliss. With the special grace of Ṭīkākāra, he was greatly delighted.
From that very moment, as per the command of Ṭīkākāra, the Guru began composing a commentary called Tattvamañjarī—expansive and beneficial to the world—on the Aṇubhāṣya written by Āchārya, and completed it within a few days. He then offered it to Shri Harivāyu and Ṭīkāchārya and felt fulfilled.
From Ālūr, Shri Gurugalu departed, sanctifying the world with the dust of his holy feet, and graciously journeyed to Shriśaila. There he stayed for some time, had the darshan of Lord Rudra, and engaged in worship and salutations, attaining great fulfillment. From there, desiring the darshan of his family deity, Lord Vēṅkaṭēśwara of Tirupati, he set out towards Tirupati.