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Aradhana Mahotsava of Sri Jayatirtha begins

T.V. Sivanandan

He was given the title "Teekacharya" for being the foremost commentator of Dwaita philosophy His commentary on Dwaita philosophy is considered to be one of the best

MALKHED (GULBARGA DIST.): The three-day 639th Aradhana Mahotsava of Sri Jayatirtha, considered to be the second greatest personality in the Madhwa community, got off to a colourful start with thousands of pilgrims offering obeisance at the Uttardi Mutt on the banks of the Kagina in Malkhed in Sedam taluk of Gulbarga district on Sunday.

On the inaugural day, special pujas and homas were performed to mark the beginning of the Aradhana Mahotsava of Sri Jayatirtha, which is considered an important event in the Madhwa calendar. On Monday, the head of the Uttaradi Mutt, Sri Satyatma Thirtha Swamiji, Sri Pandangalawar, will perform special pujas and rituals including the suprabhata followed by a discourse on the "Nyayasudha," a commentary on Madhwacharya's work, by Sri Jayatirtha. He will also participate in a procession of the silver chariot and the traditional wooden chariot on which the portrait of Sri Jayatirtha will be carried.

`Mudra Dharana'

The seer would also perform the "Mudra Dharana" on thousands of followers of the Madhwa philosophy. The swamiji will take part in pujas to the "Moola Rama Devaru," which was used by Madhwacharya.

Among the Uttardi mutts in the country, the Malkhed Mutt is considered important as the mortal remains of Sri Jayatirtha are buried here.

Sri Jayatirtha was given the title "Teekacharya" for being the foremost commentator of the Dwaita philosophy propounded by Madhwacharya.

His commentary, "Nyayasudha," on Madhwacharya's "Brahmasutra Basha" is the best commentary so far. To specialise in Dwaita philosophy, one has to compulsorily study the works of Sri Jayatirtha.

Superior

The first commentary on the "Brahmasutra Basha" was written by Sri Padmanabha Tirtha, one of the four disciples of Madhwacharya, in the "Sanyana Ratnavali". However, the "Nyayasudha," is considered a far superior work in academic circles.

Sri Jayatirtha, a favourite discipline of Akshobya Tirtha, one of Madhwacharya's disciples, had converted Malkhed into a centre of Madhwa study and acquired fame as a commentator on the works of Madhwacharya.

Sri Jayatirtha spent the later part of his life in Malkhed and was responsible for the spread of the Madhwa sect in the Hyderabad-Karnataka region. Sri Jayatirtha also penned two polemics, "Pramanapaddhati" and "Vadavalli".

Every year during the month of "Ashada," the Aradhana Mahotsava of Sri Jayatirtha is held at Malkhed at the "Brindavana."

A few years ago, Sri Satyatma Thirtha had taken the initiative to conduct the Aradhana Mahotsava in a big way by organising a "Koti Pushparchane" at the Brindavana of Sri Jayatirtha and constructing an "Indira Bhavana" at Malkhed to commemorate the contribution of the philosopher to the spread of Dwaita philosophy and the Madhwa sect.

The aradhana will conclude on Tuesday with an "Ashwavahanotsava" and a "Manyu Sukta Homa".

On all three days, music programmes and discourses will be held at the Malkhed Mutt.

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