There are many books which give the source for knowing the life of Sri Vyasa Theertha (also known as Vyasaraya). To name a few important works : “Vyasarajabhyudaya” which was written by Kumbakonam Vijayendra Theertha. This work is dedicated to Sri Surendra Theertha who was a disciple and contemporary of Sri Vyasa Theertha.

Second important work is “Gurunama Rathnamalika” written by Sri Sudhendra Theertha, the teacher of Vijayendra Theertha.

Thirdly, “Sree Vyasayogicharitam” by Somanatha Kavi and lastly, the Keerthanas of Purandaradasa and Vijayadasa etc.

During the fifteenth century, Venkatagirinayaka ruled over Bannur, a principality of Talakad. His minister was Ramadeva. Ramadeva was also a religious and spiritual guide to his chieftain. His ministrations, with wisdom and foresight, had earned him the little name “Sumathi” and “Acharya”. His wife was Lakshamma a well matched associate of his life. They had no issues for a long time. They prayed to all deities, performed rites and functions, yet they were denied progeny. They became sad and forlorn. At last, after 20 years of yearning, they begot a daughter.

Still their yearning for a male child remained unfulfilled. Then on benediction from Vedavyasa through the blessings of Sri Brahmanya Tirtha Swamiji of Abbur Matha, two male children were born to them. But Sri Brahmanya Tirtha had obtained a promise from the couple that the first child would be handed over to him. The Swamiji was eagerly waiting for the birth of such a child to succeed him to the Abbur Matha. The disciples of Sri Brahmanya Tirtha, waited with a golden basin to receive this child. This child was born in 1447 A.D. and was named Yathiraja as Brahmanya Tirtha could foresee the glory of his life. Brahmanya Tirtha took upon himself the task of rearing the child with all devotion and purpose playing all the three roles of father, mother and guru. To amuse the child, the swamiji would sing Sanskrit and Kannada Stotras. When Yathiraja was five years old, his upanayanam was performed. When he attained the 7th year, the Swamiji consecrated him with Pranava manthra, and gave him Sanyasa Deeksha. As Yathiraja’s birth had been blessed by Sri Veda Vyasa, he was named “Vyasaraja Tirtha”.

Education and Training

Vyasaraja Tirtha was sent for education to Mulabagalu under the tutelage of Sripadaraja. For 12 years, he received brilliant education and mastered all the Sastras. His scholarship and brilliance earned him the name of “Naveena Vyasa”. The Haridasa Deeksha which he obtained from his guru enabled him to inspire and mould the great doyens of Dasakoota Purandaradasa, Kanakadasa and Vadiraja and thus prepare the ground for the emergence of great creations in Karnatak music and literature. Sripadaraja, the guru of Vyasa Tirtha, knew Tamil very well and had admired Sri Vaishnava prabandhas that were recited in temples. His thoughts were aroused to create such songs in Kannada. He desired his disciples to sing such songs and also compose such songs. Hearing some of these songs, Sri Vyasa Tirtha’s creative ability got a fillip and he secretly composed many songs under the mudra of “Sri Krishna”. But this had not been informed to his guru. But Sripadaraja knew about this secret and eagerly waited for an opportunity to bring this to light.

Disciple Greater than Guru

One day Sripadaraja went to take his bath, but was delayed on the way by some one. Then he sent word to Vyasaraja to begin the pooja vidhi. Sri Vyasaraja took out the idols from the sacred caskets. In one of the daskets was the idol of Gopalakrishna, which had not been opened even by his guru. Vyasa Tirtha took out this idol with ease. Seeing the glorious divine form of the idol, he was soon in ecstasy and began to sing one of his compositions in praise of the lord. He began to dance making use of the saligramas for Tala. The idol also began to dance. At this juncture, Sripadaraya, came to that place and was bewitched and bewildered with what he saw and heard. On his appearance there, the idol stood stiff and the saligramas had been broken into two. This ethereal incident charmed the guru and he poured out his blessings to Vyasa Tirtha, his extra-ordinary Shishya. He gifted that idol of Krishna and those saligramas to Vyasa Tirtha and said “God bless you to compose many such songs as you sang today”. Vyasaraja was a born genius. Astounding intellect, sharp intelligence, quick perception and comprehension - these were his assets. He was an encyclopedia. There was nothing he did not know in the Vedas, Sruthi, Smrithi, Sastras, Puranas, Vyakarana, Chandas, Tarka, Mimamsa, Shad Darshanas, music and literature. His Akhanda Brahmacharya and the tapas gave him a hallowed personality. He was a rare combination of all noble qualities and high attainments.

Religious Mission

After finishing his gurukulavasa, Vyasaraja returned to Abbur matha. Sri Brahmanya Tirtha made no delay in making over the lordship of his peetha to Vyasaraja. On the occasion of the investiture ceremony, the parents of Vyasa Tirtha participated. This was in 1478 A.D. From then onwards, Vyasa Tirtha took over the onerous duties of the mathadhipathya, He was just 20 years old then. He decided immediately to undertake deshayatra for spreading and establishing Dwaitamata Siddhanta. He journeyed to Kashi, Gaya, Ayodhya, Mathura and other places in the north. On his way to Kurukshetra he came to Delhi. An extra-ordinary event took place there. The son of Sultan Bahalul Lodi, the monarch of Delhi Sultanate, died suddenly. Somehow this information was given to Vyasa Tirtha. By evoking his superhuman power he brought the dead son to life. Overwhelmed with joy, the sultan offered his obeisance and hospitality to Vyasaraya.

Vyasaraya later proceeded to Mithila. There he encountered a formidable scholar named Pakshadharamisra or Immadi Jayadeva. He had earned the nick name “Peeyoosha Varsha”, and he was overwhelmed in no time. Subdued and convinced, Pakshadhara Misra took conversion to Madhva Mata at the hands of Sripadaraya. Many more scholars like Satyanatha, Harimisra were subdued and were appointed as Kulapatis of the Vidyapeethas Sri Vyasaraja founded at Haridvar, Gaya, Kashi etc. Thus, Sanskrit education was very much encouraged.

Administrator

After his return from Digvijaya of North India, Vyasaraja had to go to Vijayanagara at the instance of his guru Sripadaraya. In the Vijayanagara kingdom during the rule of Viroopaksharaya of Sangam dynasty, misrule, disorder, criminal offences became wide spread. The people urged Saluva Narasimha Naika to become the ruler and Sripadaraya also had his hand in this affair. The new ruler was successful in establishing order and security in the kingdom. The king, in gratitude, honoured Sripadaraya by seating him on a bejeweled throne. Sripadaraya was already old. So he desired to make-over his Rajagurupadavi to Sri Vyasaraja. After taking over this padavi, Vyasaraja went to Tirupati and stayed there for 12 years. During this period, he put an end to the mal administration that was prevailing in the temple and brought about many modifications in the methods of worship. As he did in North India, Vyasaraja established Vidyapeethas in South India in places like Mulabagilu, Kumbhakonam, Kanchipuram and Udupi. During this time, Sri Vadiraja became his disciple.

blind. Sri Vyasa Theertha ably got over this trouble and celebrated the coronation of Krishnadevaraya in 1509 A.D. This opened a new chapter in the history of Vijayanagara. What hitherto was Vyasaraja, lord supreme in the religious and spiritual world, was made lord supreme in the temporal world by Krishnadevaraya. The king was saved from a terrible “Kuhu yoga”. To get over this trouble, the king made Vyasaraja the ‘Karanataka Vidyanagara Simhasanadheewara’, and celebrated the Ratnabhisheka by seating him on his throne. During this period, Navakoti Narayana, Srinivasa Naika was blessed by Sri Vyasaraja. Srinivasa Naika was named Purandaradasa and the ankita of “Purandara Vithala” was given to him. Purandaradasa sang in praise of Vyasaraja. Vyasaraja also had a high praise for Purandaradasa.

A Colossus

The great prodigy of devotion and bhakti, Kanakadasa was also given Harideeksha by Vyasaraja. After fulfilling all his responsibilities and duties for which he was born, Sri Vyasa Theertha attained Samadhi in Navabrindavana, near Anegondi in 1539 A.D. He lived for 92 years. Even now his peetha is continuing in Sosale, near Mysore. Immense was the contribution of Vyasa Theertha to the religious, social, political and cultural fields. His main works in Dvaita Siddanta are “Tatparya Chandrika, Nyayamrita, Tarka Tandava, Mayavada Khandana Teeka, Mandara Manjari, Upadhi Khandana Teeka, Mandara Manjari’’ etc. He earned glorious fame. The impact of his tour in North India left an indelible mark and influence on Bhakti Pantha. As a result Chaitanya’s bhakti movement flowered forth in Bengal. Further great bhaktas like Kabirdas, Surdas and Tulasidas and Tukaram had all their source of influence from Vyasaraja’s Hari bhakti movement. Contribution to Music

Immense was his contribution to music and literature also. Haridas Sahitya was enriched by his numerous Keertanas, suladis, padas and Vritta namas under the Ankita “Sri Krishna”. These compositions bristle with melody, depiction of Rasa and bhakti. In his foot steps did his disciples march on for copious contribution to music and literature. Vadiraja, Purandaradasa and Kanakadasa became mighty in their own right, drawing full strength and inspiration from their guru Vyasaraja. The kritis of Vyasa Teertha are famous for their poetic excellence, sublimity of thought and yati and prasa beauties. In short we have in Vyasa Teertha a rare combination of a musical genius who could clothe his beautiful creations in music in equally beautiful language, thus making them a perennial source of inspiration and delight to generations of music lovers. In an age of withering faith and battered values, it is good to remember one of the greatest seers of mankind - Sri Vyasa Theerta.