Shri Hrshikesha Teertharu

Shri Hrishikesha Teertharu was the direct disciple of Shrimad Ananda Teertha Bhagavadpaada.   Shri Shri Hrishikesha Teertha is the first seer of Palimaru Matha. He is the senior most among the ascetic disciples of Acharya. This has been documented by Narayana Panditacharya in Madhva Vijaya. He is called as a distinguished disciple. Panditacharya in his commentary on Bhavaprakaashika states ‘ Nija śiṣyapravarēṇa hr̥ṣīkēśatīrthēna’. Through this, we infer that Hrishikesha Teertha is a senior ascetic.

While Narayana Panditacharya speaks of Hrishikesha Teertha, he refers to him as vaśīkr̥tahr̥ṣīkāśca. Hr̥ṣīkā means senses; one who has gained control over them. Abstinence is a virtue that every individual should posess. This is more so in the case of ascetics. Since Hrishikesha Teertha had gained absolute control over his senses, him being named thus by Acharya was most appropriate. We also need to know that all of Acharya’s disciples had restraint over their senses.

The distinction of Hrishikesha Teertha is documented thus in Madhva Vijaya.

Avadat sa kathāṁ rathāṅgapāṇēḥ bhagavān bhāgavatē bhavāpahantrīm |
anukūlaguṇasvarādibhājā nijaśiṣyapravarēṇa vācyamānē ||

When Shrimad Ananda Teertha Bhagavpaada gave discourses on Bhagavata that enunciates the glories of Rathaangapaani and serves as a remedy for the troubles of samsaaraa, Shri Hrishikesha Teertha used to sing the Bhagavata verses in a pleasing manner to match the profoundity, eminence and such other attributes in the tone of his guru.

The recital of Hrishikesha Teertha and the discourse of Shrimad Acharya – thus, Shri Hrishikesha Teertha was immensely fortunate to render recital alongside the discourse of Acharya. Shri Madhvacharya bestowed his grace upon him by giving him immensely beautiful idols of Lord Ramachandra, Sita, Aanjaneya and Shri Lakshmana for his worship.

Being worshipped by the lineage since seven centuries, we can see those idols to date. Of those, the beauty of the idol of Shri Rama is beyond description. Two eyes are not enough to behold the beauty of his lotus face adorning a smile. The beauty of the idol of Lord Rama is extremely alluring. There is no second word that the lotus face of Ramachandra is capable of fending away the fervour of samsaaraa. The idols which have the complete presence of Lord Ramachandra along with his family owing to the touch of Acharya, is the primary deity of Palimaru Matha, bestowing grace upon devotees even today.

Shri Hrishikesha Teertha is the eminent seer who has scripted Shrimadhacharya’s Sarvamoola Granthas with his hands and preserved them. We can still see the palm leaf manuscripts written by him at Palimaru Matha. Palimaru Matha must be credited for preserving these hand written leaflets dated 800 years. This lesson written by Shri Hrishikesha Teertha, a direct disciple of Acharya serves as the primary document for all of us.

Thus having undertaken several meritorious deeds during his lifetime, in Virodhi samvatsara, maagha shuddha saptami (Rrathasaptami) meditating upon Maadhava at Prayaga, Shri Hrishikesha Teertha completed his wordly journey. Information pertaining to this is recorded at the matha as below:

Virōdhimāghārjunasaptamītithau varō hr̥ṣīkēśamunistapasvinām|
puruprabōdhāryakarābjasambhavō dharāsutēśāṅghrisarōjamēyivān ||

Source: www.sripalimarumatha.org