Shri Vedanidhi Teertharu

Sri Vedanidhitirtha, gene-rally known as Prashishya of Vadiraja, took Samnyasa-shrama from Vidyanidhi-tirtha in the year 1593. He continued the unbroken practice of Japa, Tapa, study of lores, worship etc, with dedication. Being assistant, Vedanidhitirtha served Vadiraja during fifth Paryaya at Sode. Once, when Vadiraja was on tour, he expressed his intension for oil bath. The king Arasappanayaka casually questioned. But he was put confined. Swamiji got fulfilled his desire. After returning, Vadiraja came to know the fact and instructed Vedanidhitirtha to undergo the act of expiation because both the things were not agreeable to Samnyasins. Accordingly, a small pond was erected and it was filled in with cow dung and cow's urine. Vedanidhitirtha used stay there for few hours daily for 48 days. By this act, he became purified. Vedanidhitirtha was fortunate enough to have the visible sight of Vrindavana-pravesha of Vadiraja. Then after sometime, at the heart felt appeal of Vedanidhitirtha, Vadiraja showed his beautiful form abiding in Mulavrindavana to Vedanidhitirtha, Lakshmipati and others. He used to listen to the articulation of sacred text of Vrindavanakhyana from a deaf and dumb Brahmin as taught by Vadiraja in the dream. Vedanidhitirtha got it documented through his pupil Ramachandracharya. And that is the great authority work Svapnavrindavanakhyana which elucidates the essentials of Shastra, Svarupamahima of Vadiraja, matchless greatness of his Vrindavana, way of rendering devoted service at Vrindavana Sannidhi etc.,

Vedanidhitirtha happened to be a chief motivator and seer-man of mission in making this wonderful work available to the mass of Vadiraja's devotees. It is not an exaggeration to state that Vedanidhi was original source and instrumental in its publicity at initial stage. Besides this, he, at the hint of Vadiraja, collected some verses from Vrindavanakhyana and composed Anuvrindavanakhyana through compilation. Vedanidhitirtha included a Shloka, spelled out by Vadiraja in his dream and unfound in the Vrindavanakhyana, which runs as AW�� o��� c� u��r�Ѷ� . . . . . |. This Shloka briefs the epitome of Vrindavanakhyana significantly. (Sri Vishwottamatirtha used to explain its significance in many ways). He also got it stone inscribed and installed by the side of Vedavedyatirtha's Vrindavana at Sode. He also introduced daily worship of that holy inscription. Once, Vedanidhi made up his mind to establish a huge sacred stone pillar (Dhvajastambha) infront of Trivikrama temple at Sode. But, at every trial it used to fall. Then, at the instruction of Vadiraja in dream and suggestive hint at Vrindavanakhyana, he got inscribed the figure of Hamsarudha of Vadiraja on the pillar. Afterwards, he was successful in the installation of that. And, these three things have obviously become the perceivable evidences in respect of proclaiming the Rujutvamahima of Sri Vadiraja. In this case, all the devotees of Vadiraja should ever be indebted to Sri Vedanidhitirtha. Vedanidhitirtha, being taught and instructed by Vadiraja, is also one of leading characters in Vrindavanakhyana. At the time of Vadiraja, the Madhyavatamatha and Vyasamushti therein were under the possession of Sri Sode Vadiraja Matha. And therefore, Sri Vedanidhitirtha used to go to Madhyavatamatha frequently. In that place, there was a king Cobra. Due to negligence, if any defilement were to be found in the Matha, that serpent used to go around the Matha and sit with its hood raised up. By this, the inmates of that location were very much afraid of that. Realising this problem and difficulty, Vedanidhitirtha, with his super human power, brought that serpent under his control and changed the situation and place. He instructed it to be present at Sode. Since then, the presence of that king serpent be seen at Sode besides the ten Vrindavanas in eastern direction. Vedanidhitirtha entombed in the year 1648 A.D. His Vrindavana is situated at Sode. It is the middle one among the ten situated back of Papavimochanatirtha. His period of Samnyasashrama was 55 years and period of pontificial incharge was 32 years. Vedanidhi did two biennial Paryayas at Udupi (1628-29, 1644-45). The tradition holds the view that Vedanidhitirtha is qualified divine being to occupy the post of god Garuda in the next age (Kalpa). And this is also evidently acclaimed in Vrindavanakhyana.

Source - sodematha.in