Sri Lakshmi Narayana Muni
Kalpa Vriksha of Kali Yuga
Fourth Delight
Sri Vyasa Raja Yati Sarvabhouma
A few days had passed since the previous incident. One evening, after the lamp worship was completed and the Guru and disciples were resting, Brahmanya Tirtha spoke:
"By the grace of Sri Hari and Vayu, we have taught you everything we could. You are now qualified to study the six philosophies, especially the profound texts of Dvaita philosophy. If this endeavor is successful, our efforts will be fruitful, bringing us satisfaction and joy."
Hearing this, Sri Vyasaraja Tirtha joyfully responded, "Revered one, I was not aware of this matter. I request you to kindly provide more details about the esteemed Sri Lakshmi Narayana Yogis."
Brahmanya Tirtha began to explain the story of Lakshmi Narayana Muni:
"We are four brothers. The eldest, Sri Purushottama Tirtha, and I became heads of this great institution. Our second eldest brother, Sri Swarnavarna Tirtha, became the head of the Vidya Peetha established by Sri Padmanabha Tirtha, a disciple of Srimadacharya. Our youngest brother, Sri Lakshmi Narayana Muni, was initiated into the Paramahamsa Ashrama by Swarnavarna Tirtha, who also taught him, just as we have taught you. Lakshmi Narayana Muni was made the successor of his institution. Swarnavarna Tirtha had high hopes that, just as we have, his disciple Lakshmi Narayana Muni would grow to become a world-renowned scholar and advance Srimadacharya’s philosophy. By divine grace, this aspiration was realized.
Sri Vibudhendra Tirtha, the head of the southern branch of Srimadacharya's two great institutions and a relative of our family, arrived at the place where Swarnavarna Tirtha was residing in Srirangam during his travels. Upon learning this, Swarnavarna Tirtha was filled with joy. He warmly welcomed Sri Vibudhendra Tirtha, treating him with great respect and hospitality, and expressed his heartfelt wish that Vibudhendra Tirtha teach all the scriptures to Lakshmi Narayana Muni to make him a great scholar. Vibudhendra Tirtha agreed, and it was under his guidance that Lakshmi Narayana Muni studied all the scriptures and the Dvaita philosophy. Through Vibudhendra Tirtha’s grace, Lakshmi Narayana Muni became a world-renowned scholar."
Sri Vyasa: "Guruji, you mentioned that the revered Lakshmi Narayana Muni became a world-renowned scholar after studying under Sri Vibudhendra Tirtha. Such a distinguished person must be extraordinary. I am curious to learn more about him. Please enlighten me."
Brahmanya: "We will now narrate the account of Sri Vibudhendra Tirtha. Listen attentively. After Sri Kavindra Tirtha, the one who succeeded him was his close relative, Sri Vagisha Tirtha. Sri Vagisha Tirtha then appointed Sri Ramachandra Tirtha, who was the son of Sri Vidyadhiraja's elder brother and a prominent figure of the Pashika clan, as the head of the great institution.
Sri Ramachandra Tirtha initially studied under Sri Kavindra Tirtha and later under Sri Vagisha Tirtha, mastering all the scriptures and the entire Dvaita Vedanta, and earning a reputation as an unparalleled scholar. He thoroughly studied all the scriptures and Dvaita philosophy in the traditional teaching and discourse method of the Srimadacharya lineage. He then initiated his nephew and the pride of the Pashika family, Raghunathabhatta, into the Paramahamsa Ashrama, naming him 'Sri Vibudhendra Tirtha.' He coronated him into Srimadacharya's Vedanta empire, bestowing upon him all the titles and honors, and entrusted him with the great institution of Srimadacharya. Feeling accomplished, he himself then dedicated his time solely to meditation, contemplation on the essence of Sri Hari, and other spiritual practices."
Sri Vibudhendra Tirtha took on the leadership of the great institution and remained in the presence of his Guru for a couple of years, serving with devotion and dedication, earning the supreme grace of his Guru.
During this time, scholars from opposing philosophies gained strength and began to attack Dvaita philosophy from all sides. This was a period of crisis for Madhva Siddhanta, raising concerns about its survival. The heads of all the mathas were deeply worried. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the visionary Sri Ramachandra Tirtha appointed his disciple Sri Vibudhendra Tirtha to undertake a mission to refute the opposing views and protect the long-standing Vedic philosophy. He sent Vibudhendra Tirtha on a Digvijaya Yatra (conquest of scholarly debates) to eliminate these obstacles and uphold the tradition.
Honoring his guru's command, Sri Vibudhendra Tirtha embarked on his victorious journey. He faced hundreds of scholars who were experts in various fields of philosophy and debate. With the supreme grace of Sri Hari and Vayu, Vibudhendra Tirtha courageously engaged in debates with scholars proficient in Nyaya, Vyakarana, Mimamsa, and other scriptures. His unparalleled debating skills, brilliance, and radiance caused his opponents to fall like moths into a flame. They were left without any counterarguments.
Particularly, Vibudhendra Tirtha refuted numerous fallacies posed by Shaiva and Advaita scholars. He upheld the true knowledge and principles as enshrined in the Vedas, defeating hundreds of opponents and reinforcing the Dvaita philosophy. As he traversed the length and breadth of India, the victorious sound of Madhva Siddhanta resonated, and his unchallenged brilliance shone brightly. He earned unparalleled fame as a world-renowned scholar, highly respected by all.
Sri Vibudhendra Tirtha defeated hundreds of powerful scholars and had their "victory certificates" engraved on 108 golden lotus petals. He then offered this extraordinary golden lotus victory garland to his family deity, Sri Srinivasa Deva of Tirupati, thus fulfilling his title as the supreme establisher of the Dvaita philosophy.
At the request of Sri Swarnavarna Tirtha, Sri Vibudhendra Tirtha accepted Sri Lakshmi Narayana Muni as his disciple. Along with his beloved disciple, he taught Lakshmi Narayana Muni various philosophies, especially the Vedanta philosophy of Acharya, while residing in Srirangam for a long time.
When our Lakshmi Narayana Muni began his studies under Vibudhendra Tirtha, the teaching and discourse tradition was in a state of flux, and differences in the tradition were beginning to emerge. This caused deviations in the uninterrupted teaching tradition, and the essence of the texts by Srimadacharya and Tikacharya was starting to fade. Recognizing the need to preserve and continue the proper teaching tradition of Srimadacharya and Tikacharya's texts, Vibudhendra Tirtha realized the necessity of having capable scholars to ensure the Dvaita philosophy would continue to shine brightly for future generations.
Understanding the need for such capable and knowledgeable individuals, Vibudhendra Tirtha began preparing his dear disciple, Sri Jitamitra, for this great task while searching for another highly intelligent disciple. At this time, Sri Lakshmi Narayana Muni came into his fold, bringing him great joy.
At first sight, Vibudhendra Tirtha realized that Lakshmi Narayana Muni was the disciple he had been hoping for. Impressed by Lakshmi Narayana Muni's talent, extraordinary grasping power, and the unique radiance on his face, Vibudhendra Tirtha was overjoyed. He felt that Srimadacharya, Padmanabha, and Tikakritpada themselves had provided this fortunate opportunity.
During their stay in Srirangam and throughout their travels, Vibudhendra Tirtha taught Lakshmi Narayana Muni with immense care, affection, love, and trust for twelve years. He imparted all his knowledge of various scriptures, debating skills, expertise in defeating opponents, literary composition, philosophical establishment, and profound insights to Lakshmi Narayana Muni. He meticulously instilled in him the secrets of Srimadacharya's teachings, traditional discourses, and the essence of the tradition, ensuring that Lakshmi Narayana Muni would become an unparalleled scholar and a world conqueror in knowledge.
Many heads of institutions, householders, and hundreds of disciples studied under Sri Vibudhendra Tirtha, becoming great scholars. Among all these disciples, Sri Lakshmi Narayana Muni became renowned as the true representative of Vibudhendra Tirtha in every aspect.
Sri Vibudhendra Tirtha's grace and continuous efforts resulted in our Sri Lakshmi Narayana Muni becoming renowned as the Acharya of the six philosophies and the sole leader in teaching and spreading the principles of Dvaita philosophy. He is highly respected by all scholars, kings, virtuous people, and devotees, gaining immense honor, recognition, and deep reverence. Today, he enjoys widespread fame and royal honors.
Dear disciple! We believe that these eminent individuals are capable of teaching you and making you a master of all scriptures.
Hearing these words from his Guru, Sri Vyasaraja Tirtha was deeply moved. He was overwhelmed with joy and felt his hair stand on end. He said, "Gurudeva! I consider it my great fortune to study under the illustrious Sri Lakshmi Narayana Yogi. I am blessed, Swami. How did the Guru move from Srirangam to Mulbagal? Kindly enlighten me."
Brahmanya Tirtha replied: "Lakshmi Narayana Muni was brought to Mulbagal by Suluva Narashima, the governor of Mulbagal-Penukonda Mandalas and the ruler of Chandragiri.
Suluva Narashima was a great warrior, a benefactor of the empire, a devout worshiper, a supporter of learning, and a ruler who was greatly loved by his subjects. Known for his political acumen and concern for his people, Suluva Narashima led many battles for the welfare of the kingdom, earning victories and instilling fear in his enemies. The people honored him with titles such as Mahamandaleshwara, Maharaja, and Prithvivallabha. He frequently visited Srirangam for political reasons and due to his deep devotion. Suluva Narashima was an ardent and uninterrupted devotee of Lord Srinivasa of Tirupati. Similarly, he often visited the Vishnu shrine at Srirangam to seek the blessings of Lord Ranganatha."
Whenever Suluva Narashima visited Srirangam, he learned about our Sri Lakshmi Narayana Muni, who was renowned as a great scholar and a highly respected figure, rich in knowledge, devotion, and renunciation. Being a devout Kannada, he met with Sri Lakshmi Narayana Muni with great confidence and received their blessings. From their first meeting, Narasimha developed a special devotion and respect for the Guru. As a devotee of God himself, he thought that having such a distinguished and knowledgeable Guru in the Karnataka kingdom, especially in his own realm, would not only ensure the welfare and spread of dharma in the empire but also provide him with frequent spiritual guidance.
Narasimha, who valued education highly, conceived the idea of establishing a prestigious educational institution in Karnataka with Sri Lakshmi Narayana Muni as its head. He believed that this would bring structured education in Indian sciences and bring worldwide fame to Karnataka as a center of knowledge. Around ten years ago, during one of his visits to Srirangam, he expressed his desire to Sri Lakshmi Narayana Muni and persuaded them to come to Mulbagal with all royal honors. There, he provided them with a village, land, revenue, residences, and buildings for the educational institution. He also ensured the necessary financial and material resources for the institution's maintenance.
Mulbagal had always been a haven for scholars and the descendants of the Shaashthik clan. After considering all this, Sri Lakshmi Narayana Muni decided that Mulbagal was an ideal place for permanent residence. They agreed to Suluva Narashima's request and settled in Mulbagal, where they established a prestigious educational institution. As its head, they taught various scriptures and held discourses for hundreds of students, quickly turning it into a renowned center of learning.
To ensure the institution's continued growth, Narasimha provided all necessary facilities and frequently visited Mulbagal to receive spiritual and moral guidance from the Guru. Following their teachings and advice, he governed his kingdom, earning a reputation as a beloved ruler.
As a result of the efforts of Saluva Narasimha Raya, who was both an advocate of education and a devotee of God, our Lakshmi Narayana Muni settled in Mulbagal. There, he became a prominent proponent of Dvaita philosophy, imparting knowledge to hundreds of students and serving as the spiritual guide to Saluva Narasimha. This led to his widespread fame.
Hearing this account, Sri Vyasaraja Tirtha was filled with joy and said, "I am overwhelmed with happiness, Guruji. If you permit me, I am ready to go to Mulbagal to study under Sri Lakshmi Narayana Yogi."
Sri Brahmanya Tirtha replied, "Dear disciple, this is a supremely sacred task. Therefore, we will personally take you to Mulbagal and entrust you to Lakshmi Narayana Muni, ensuring the commencement of your studies under him. We will make arrangements to depart for Mulbagal in a few days."