Blessings of Sesha Devaru
Kalpa Vriksha of Kali Yuga
Fourth Delight
Sri Vyasa Raja Yati Sarvabhouma
One day, Śrīvāsatīrtha was seated in padmāsana (lotus posture) within his “Vyāsaguhe” (Vyāsa's cave), meditating deeply on the Supreme Being, focusing his mind entirely on the divine presence within his heart. Immersed in a state of aṣamprajñāta samādhi (deep meditation beyond worldly awareness), he was completely detached from external surroundings.
Suddenly, an extraordinary event occurred. A huge serpent (nāga) appeared from nowhere, coiling itself around Śrīvāsatīrtha’s meditative body and placing its hood over his head as if offering protection. Śrīvāsatīrtha, unaware of the serpent's presence, remained undisturbed, engrossed in meditation.
At that moment, a scholar from the maṭha, who came to visit Śrīvāsatīrtha, witnessed this astonishing sight. Struck with terror, he ran out, trembling and unable to speak coherently. Stammering, he managed to cry out, “Snake! Snake! Our junior guru is in danger!” He rushed to inform Śrīlakṣmīnārāyaṇamuni, who was preparing for the daily worship.
Hearing the panic-stricken words, Śrīlakṣmīnārāyaṇamuni asked calmly, “Why are you so frightened? What is the matter? Speak clearly.” The scholar, regaining composure, explained what he had seen and pleaded, “Please save the junior guru!”
Hearing this, Śrīlakṣmīnārāyaṇamuni felt a mix of fear, concern, and curiosity. With deep affection for his disciple, he rushed toward the Vyāsaguhe, pushing aside those who tried to stop him, saying, “Great Swami, it is dangerous!” Determined to protect his disciple, he led the maṭha attendants armed with sticks and poles toward the cave.
Upon arriving, Śrīlakṣmīnārāyaṇamuni was struck by a strange sight. Śrīvāsatīrtha was seated peacefully in meditation, a serene smile gracing his face, while the serpent rested on his head, swaying gently, showing no signs of aggression. Śrīlakṣmīnārāyaṇamuni closely observed the scene and realized that the serpent meant no harm. Instead, it seemed to be protecting Śrīvāsatīrtha with affection.
Curious, Śrīlakṣmīnārāyaṇamuni meditated deeply to discern the true nature of the phenomenon. Through his spiritual vision, he discovered that the serpent was none other than Śrīpadmanābha Tīrtha, the original successor of the Dvaita lineage under Śrī Madhvācārya. Overwhelmed with joy, Śrīlakṣmīnārāyaṇamuni bowed reverently before the serpent and began a conversation in the nāga (serpent) language.
Dialogue Between Śrīlakṣmīnārāyaṇamuni and the Serpent:
Śrīlakṣmīnārāyaṇamuni: "Revered Guru! I am blessed by your presence. Why have you assumed this fearsome form? Has my disciple committed any offense for which you are chastising him?"
Serpent (Śrīpadmanābha Tīrtha): "O torchbearer of our sacred lineage! Seeing you brings me great joy. This form is my original nature. Your disciple has committed no offense."
Śrīlakṣmīnārāyaṇamuni: "Then why have you coiled around him?"
Serpent: "I have embraced him out of affection, that’s all. I am here to bless him."
Śrīlakṣmīnārāyaṇamuni: "Revered Guru, I do not fully understand your intent. Kindly elaborate."
Serpent: "Listen carefully. Śrī Vāyu Deva (Mukhya Prāṇa), in his form as Śrī Madhvācārya, revealed sacred truths through his śāstras. It is decreed that only divine entities like Garuḍa and Śeṣa are qualified to study and elucidate these śāstras. Long ago, I, in my incarnation as Śrīpadmanābha Tīrtha, was a direct disciple of Śrī Madhvācārya and learned Dvaita philosophy from him. By Śrīhari’s command, I was blessed with the authority to compose commentaries (ṭīkās) on his works. I became the first ṭīkākāra (commentator) of Śrī Madhvācārya’s śāstras.
"When I prayed to Śrī Madhvācārya for the honor of writing commentaries on all his texts, he replied, ‘Vākhyaspati aiṣa gorāt’ (Indra, in his form as Śrī Vijayīndra Tīrtha, will accomplish this task, and you must assist him). Accordingly, I inhabited Śrī Vijayīndra Tīrtha and contributed to the ṭīkās on Śrī Madhvācārya’s works, fulfilling Śrī Vāyu Deva’s command.
"Now, malicious critics are attempting to distort Śrī Madhvācārya’s philosophy by misinterpreting his bhāṣyas (commentaries) and Śrī Jayatīrtha’s ṭīkās. To counter this, Śrī Prahlāda, an extraordinary devotee of Śrīhari, has incarnated as your disciple, Śrīvāsatīrtha, endowed with Śrī Vāyu Deva’s special presence. He will refute these criticisms, establish the true meanings of Śrī Madhvācārya’s bhāṣyas and Śrī Jayatīrtha’s ṭīkās, compose unparalleled works, and uphold the supremacy of the Dvaita philosophy. The time for his unparalleled accomplishments is near.
"I have come to bless him for this monumental task. Through my embrace, I protect him from malevolent forces, celestial disturbances, or venomous creatures. As long as Dvaita philosophy endures, the names of you and your disciple, Śrīvāsatīrtha, will remain immortal."
Having completed his message, Śrīpadmanābha Tīrtha, in serpent form, offered salutations to Śrīlakṣmīnārāyaṇamuni and disappeared before his eyes.
Post-Event Reflections
Overwhelmed with joy, Śrīlakṣmīnārāyaṇamuni embraced his disciple, Śrīvāsatīrtha, who awoke from his deep meditation. Realizing what had transpired, Śrīvāsatīrtha prostrated before his guru, deeply moved by the divine grace he had received. The maṭha members, unaware of the mystical event, rejoiced to see Śrīvāsatīrtha unharmed, attributing his safety to Śrī Vāyu Deva’s complete blessings.
Later, when only the guru and disciple remained, Śrīlakṣmīnārāyaṇamuni shared the extraordinary event and Śrīpadmanābha Tīrtha’s divine message with Śrīvāsatīrtha. He added, "Beloved disciple, this incident confirms your destiny. The foundational teachings of Śrī Madhvācārya, the traditions of Śrī Vibudhendra Tīrtha, and the subtleties of Dvaita Vedānta are now complete within you. Soon, you will embark on your conquest of knowledge (digvijaya), defeat opponents, and establish Dvaita philosophy through your exceptional compositions. You will also lead the Vyāsa and Haridāsa traditions, bringing welfare to all of India. Śrī Vāyu Deva has shown us that this time is imminent."
Śrīvāsatīrtha, deeply moved, placed his hands on his guru’s feet and said, "Revered Guru, all of this is due to your grace. I owe everything to you for enabling me to receive the blessings of our lineage’s founding Gurus."
Both guru and disciple, filled with divine joy, then devoted themselves to performing the grand worship of the maṭha’s deities.