Preface
This is my sincere attempt to interpret the meanings embodied in Vishnusharasanama that comes in “Anushasana Parva” of Mahabharatha in English imparted by Pujya Guru, Vidya Vachaspathi, Padma Shri Bannaje Govindacharya via Kannada Discourse ‘Vishnu Sahasranama Chintane’ over a span of 10+ years.
For those who know Kannada, I would highly encourage you to listen to Acharyas Kannada Discourse, that is available on media and sold at various places including Vidya Peetha in Bangalore.
I believe, even if I am successful in interpreting .001% of Pujya Acharyar’s discourse to devotees, I am blessed. My sincere apologies for any errors or omissions - knowing that there are many…many such.
Pujya Sri Bannaje Govindacharya was born on August 3, 1936, in the Bannanje neighborhood of Udupi, in present day southern Indian state of Karnataka. He started his Vedic studies under his father, Tarkakesari S. Narayanacharya, and went on to study under Vidyamanya Tirtha Swamiji of the Palimaru Matha and Vidyasamudra Tirtha Swamiji of the Kaneyur Matha, both in Udupi. He later studied under Vishwesha Tirtha of the Pejawara Matha.
He wrote Bhashyas or commentaries on Veda Suktas, Upanishads, ShataRudriya, BrahmaSutra Bhashya, Gita Bhashya and was an orator.
Even though by birth he was the follower of Madhvacharya, he had studied Mayavada and other philosophies and then read Madhvacharya's Tattvavaada. He was a well-known philosopher, speaker in Sanskrit and Kannada. He has around 4000 pages of Sanskrit Vyakhyana to his name with 50 odd books and around 150 books, including those in other languages. He wrote screenplay for the Sanskrit films "Bhagavadgita" and Adi Shankaracharya and Madhvacharya. He was one of the greatest experts on the Madhvas Tattvavada or Madhva philosophy. He is best known for his pravachanas or discourses which are very popular among Tuluvas and Kannadigas all over the world. His speeches have covered almost all the philosophical texts and amount to more than 10,000 hours. His pravachanas (discourses) have made him a household name among Tuluvas and Kannadigas. He is very popular in Kannada literary world and hailed by Jnaanapeetha awardee Da.Ra.Bendre. He also wrote on this Naaku-Tanti. His literary achievements also include his translation and commentaries of the complete texts of Shri Madhwacharya. He was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2009.
He reached Bagwad Pada on 13 December 2020.
I pay salutations to Jagad Guru Sri Madhwacharya, Lord Hanuman, Sree Krishna, Pujya Bannaje Govindacharya, my Mother Prameela, my Father Mukundrao, my Grandfather Sri Hanumanth Rao Chebbi, my Kula Guru Huchacharyaru, and Bannanje Shishavrunda to give me the technical knowhow, desire, knowledge, efforts, and blessings to complete this work.
