Sri Narahari Theertharu was illustrious, multi-talented and highly reputed disciple of Sri Madhwacharya. He had contributed to multiple fields along with philosophy and sanyasa, which include Arts, Economics, Politics, Social, Writer, Music, etc. His contribution to Madhwa parampare is immense and outstanding. Upon the order from Sri Madhwacharya, he brought Sri Moola Rama and Seeta Idols which were hidden in the Kalinga state treasury (Gajapathi’s) for centuries and had a legendary history. He was the initiator of Haridasa movement in Kannada literature. Hence, he is referred as the first Haridasa in Madhwa paramapre.
Poorvashrama Name: Sri Shama Shastry
Ashrama Guru: Sri Madhwacharya
Peetha Guru: Sri Padmanabha Theerhta
Pattaa Shishya: Sri Madhava Theertha (Pattabhiseka sishya)
Ashrama Sishya: Sri Purushottama theertha
Aradhana: Pushyamasa, Krishna sPaksha ,Sapthami
Vrundavana Place: Chakra thirtha – Hampi
Period: 1324-1333 AD
Shamashastry was an extradentary scholar who originally hails from Kalinga state (present Andhra and Orissa). Many literature indicates that he had a connection from Aravattokkalu family linage in Karnataka. He had a high position and reputation in the court of kings of Kalinga and was respected personality in the society in the pre aesthetic period.
Like Sri Padhmanabha theertha Shama Shastry met Sri Madwacharya during his tour to Badari and had a detailed discussion with him and finally accepted his philosophy and became his follower. He left his positions in Kalinga state and followed Acharya to Udupi, where accepted sanyasa and became named as Sri Narahari Theerth around 1262 AD. He spent much time with Acharya and became his beloved disciple. He also toured many places as instructed by Acharya to spread his message, especially in eastern parts in current Orissa and Andhra region.
During that period there was a special situation that arises at Kalinga state which demanded Sri Narahari Teertharu to take on the responsibility to govern the state. He took on the responsibility and protected the state and established peace in the state. After a period, he appointed an able king and handed over the administration to the new king. Even when he was the administrator, he continued his ashrama dharma and kept his close interaction with Sri Madavacharya. During his time as governor of Kalinga, he built many temples and took special care of the state to establish dharma and gave lot of land gifts to the temple to feed people of the region. There are many shila shasana’s which describe the works of Sri Narahari Teertharu during the period which are present Sri Kurmam village and simhachala village near Vishaka pattanam.
During this period Sri Madhwacharya gave a special task on him to bring Sri Moola Rama and Sita idols which were worshipped by Sri Rama himself and had a legendary history of being worshiped by many devata’s and kings which was laying in the treasury of Kalinga king. Sri Narahari Teertharu took those idols from the state as the fees for his service and left Kalinga and came back to Udupi on Pingala Samvatsara ashvija of 1317 AD (corresponds to October 23). Sri Madhwacharya worshipped Sri Moola Rama and seetadevi idols with high respect for next 80 days (Till his last day) before he handed over the peeta and the idols to Sri Padmanabha Teertharu and left to Badari.
Sri Narahari theertha continued his immense service to Srimadacharya and engaged in spreading tattvavada in different places in the leadership of Sri Padmanabha Teertharu and helped him to manage newly born school of philosophy post Sri madhwacharya.
Sri Padhmanabha theertha appointed Sri Narahari Teertharu as the head of the institution after him and handed over all the rights, all deities that were handed over to him by Sri Madhwacharya including Sri Moola Rama, Seeta, Sri Digvijaya Rama etc. along with the recognitions, the libraries and the shishya’s.
Upon ordained as the head of the institute Sri Narahari Teertharu being an able administrator initiated many steps to spread tattvavada along new Vijayanagar. He continued to stay in Vijayanagar but toured many places all allover the state.
As said Sri Narahari Teertharu invented many new methods to spread tattvavada. An oral tradition says that he used new media to spread Acharya’s Message. He started an unique folk dance and cultural art called “Yaksha Gaana” and Bayalata which flourished in Uttara Kannada and Dakshina Kannada Dist. in Karnataka / Kerala (Malabar region) which is still been performed in that region. He also believed to be the originator to introduce symbol for Acharya Madhwa followers to put Angaara and Akshate on forehead in a specific way.
Sri Narahari Teertharu was instrumental in the conversion of more than 6 thousand families of Kalinga and Andhra region (Which include Princely and Aristocratic families of the region). Sri madhwacharya gave them Vaishnava deekhe and they became followers of Madhwa traditions. This group who took Vaishanva deekhe is recognized as “Aravelu” bhrahmana families. The descendants of these families still flourish in coastal Andhra and adjoining states.
He introduced and encouraged to use Kannada language in spreading Sri Madhwacharya’s message to mass and composed many Kannada songs, Thus became the initiator of haridasa parampare in Madhwa’s which become very rich in the later days with special efforts of Sripadarajaru, Sri Vyasarajaru, ,Sri Purandara dasaru, Sri Vijaya dasaru and his followers. He composed songs in the pen name ” Narahari”.
In his period he also built many temples across the places that he visited to facilitate to spread tattvavada. They became the center of study of Srimadacharya’s siddantha.
§ Installed Hanuman idol opposite to Sri Varaha Narasimha Swamy at Simhachalam
§ Installed Sri Rama, Lakshmana, Sita, and Aanjaneya at Sri Koormam (Srikakulam)
§ Installed Lord SriManNarayana at Narayanadevarakere near Hospet in Bellary Dt.
§ Installed Sri Peta Aanjaneya Swamy temple at Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh.
Along with mass communication he also engaged in spreading tattvavada at the scholarly level. He wrote extensive commentary on Sri Madhwacharya’s works. Some of these works are as follows.
Vyasa Sahitya Kruthi’s
§ Commentary on Shrimad Ananda Teertha’s Geeta Bhaashya.
§ Commentary of Acharya’s Brahma sutra Bhasya
§ Commentaries on the ten Prakaranas.
§ YamakaBharata Tika
§ Karmanirnaya
§ Tattvadyota
§ Khandanatraya
Haridasa sahitya Kruthi’s
§ yanthu marulade nanenthu
§ hariye idu sariye
§ tiliko ninnologe neene
Sri Narahari theertha served 9 years as the head of the institution in many unique ways, took the newly formed siddantha to a new level and spread to common people. After glorious contributions he finally handover the responsibility as the head of institution with titles and rights to Sri Madhava theertha another great disciple of Sri Madhavacharya and entered vrundavana at chakratheertha, a place in hampi .
There is a tradition that Sri Narahari theertha gave Ashrama to another disciple named Sri Purushottama theertha and initiated another mutt at Simhachalam before he moved back to Udupi. That linage continued for few successions before it ceased due to unknown reasons.
