Shri Madhava Teertharu

Tenure : 1294 – 1310
Ārādhana : Bhādrapada amāvāsya
Location : Maṇūru

Charama Shloka :

माधवांघ्रियुगासक्ता माधवाख्यमुनीश्वराः |

अदभ्रमध्वतीर्था ये दद्युस्तेऽभीष्टसंततिम् ||

ಮಾಧವಾಂಘ್ರಿಯುಗಾಸಕ್ತಾ ಮಾಧವಾಖ್ಯಮುನೀಶ್ವರಾಃ |

ಅದಭ್ರಮಧ್ವತೀರ್ಥಾ ಯೇ ದದ್ಯುಸ್ತೇಽಭೀಷ್ಟಸಂತತಿಂ ||

mādhavāṅghriyugāsaktā mādhavākhyamunīśvarāḥ |

adabhramadhvatīrthā ye dadyuste’bhīṣṭasantatim ||

About Śrī Mādhava Tīrtha

Śrī Mādhava Tīrtha was ordained the 4th Piṭhādhipati by Ācārya Madhvā. His Pūrvaśrama Nāma was Viṣṇu Śāstri. It is believed in tradition that while he succeeded Śrī Naraharī Tīrtha on the Pīṭhā, he was ordained into the fourth order, Sanyāśrama with the Āśrama Nāma Śrī Mādhava Tirtha by Ācārya Madhva himself and had the good fortune of learning at his feet.

Tradition has referred to this Saint as ‘Śrī Mādhava:’ wherein the adjective ‘Śrī’ is being intentionally used here to bring to our remembrance the fact that His Holiness composed a bhAshya, explaining the meaning of Trayī (three vedas) based on the lines of Ācārya Madhva’s interpretation for the first forty verses of Ṛg Veda. He is also accredited with a Vyākhyāna on Parāśara Smṛti. Unfortunately, neither of them are available today.

The meaning of the Saint’s Carama Śloka that has come in the Paramparā of the Śrīmaṭha is as follows: Let the Lord of Saints named Mādhava Tīrtha, wedded to the Lotus feet of Lord Mādhava, that firmly established Tatvavada propounded by Ācārya Madhva always bless my wishes. We especially understand that the Saint debated with scholars of Jainism during His tenure to defend the principles of Sanātana Dharma.

Toward the end of His life, the saint handed over the reins of the Mahāsaṁsthāna to Śrī Akṣŏbhya Tīrtha who was already initiated by Ācārya Madhva to continue the lineage

Further, for the purpose of propagation, the saint also anointed one of his disciples to the fourth order with the appellation Śrī Madhuhari Tīrtha and blessed him with the idol of Śrī Vīra Rāma that was worshipped by Ācārya Madhva. The new lineage started by Śrī Madhuhari Tīrtha went on to become Śrī Mādhava Tīrtha Saṁasthāna that is currently headquartered at Tambihal̤li, Kolār District.

The Saint attained Haripāda shortly afterwards. His Vṛndavāna was consecrated at Maṇur (Kalburgi District) on the banks of river Bhīma.

 |Śrī Kṛṣṇārpaṇamastu ||

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