Sri Dheerendra Teertharu

Sri Dheerendra Teertharu

• Poorvashrama Name : Sri Jayaramacharya
• Period : 1775 – 1785
•  Gurugalu : Sri Varadendra Teertharu
•  Shishyaru : Sri Bhuvanendra Teertharu
• Aradhana Tithi :  Phalguna Shukla Trayodashi(Feb – Mar)
• Vrindavana Situated at : Hosaritti|
• River : Varada

From Sri Sushameendra Seva Pratishtana book published about Sri Dheerendra Teertaru Named :“Dheerendra Vijaya Vaijayanti”

ಶ್ರೀಧೀರೇಂದ್ರತೀರ್ಥರು

ಧರಣೀಮಂಡಲೇಖ್ಯಾತಂ ಧೈರ್ಯಾದಿಗುಣಬೃಂಹಿತಂ |
ಧಿಕ್ಕೃತಾಶೇಷವಾದೀಭಂ ಧೀರಸಿಂಹಗುರುಂ ಭಜೇ ||

Sanskrit :
धरणीमंडलेख्यातं धैर्यादिगुणबृंहितं |
धिक्कृताशेषवादीभं धीरसिंहगुरुं भजे ||

Telugu :
ధరణీమండలేఖ్యాతం ధైర్యాదిగుణబృంహితం |
ధిక్కృతాశేషవాదీభం ధీరసింహగురుం భజే ||

Tamil :
தரணீமம்டலேக்யாதம் தைர்யாதிகுணப்ரும்ஹிதம் |
திக்க்ருதாஶேஷவாதீபம் தீரஸிம்ஹகுரும் பஜே ||

dharaNImaMDalEKyAtaM dhairyAdiguNabRuMhitaM |
dhikkRutASEShavAdIBaM dhIrasiMhaguruM BajE ||

ಇವರ ಪೂರ್ವಾಶ್ರಮದ ಹೆಸರು ಶ್ರೀಜಯರಾಮಾಚಾರ್ಯರು, ಇವರ ತಂದೆಯವರು ಶ್ರೀನಿವಾಸವಾಚಾರ್ಯರು (ಶ್ರೀವಾದೀಂದ್ರತೀರ್ಥರು)ಬಾಲ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಅತಿಶಯ ಬುದ್ದಿವಂತರಾಗಿದ್ದು ತಂದೆಯವರ ಬಳಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನ್ಯಾಯವೇದಾಂತ ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರಗಳನ್ನು ಅಧ್ಯಯನ ಮಾಡಿದರು ಹಾಗೂ ಅಪಾರ ಪಾಂಡಿತ್ಯವನ್ನು ಪಡೆದರು. ಮತ್ತು ವಾದಿಗಳನ್ನು ನಿಗ್ರಹಿಸುತ್ತಾ ಗ್ರಂಥ ರಚನೆ ಮಾಡುತಿದ್ದರು. ಇವರಿಗೆ ಮೂರು ಜನ ಪುತ್ರರು, ಒಬ್ಬ ಪುತ್ರಿಯಿದ್ದಳು. ಮುಂದೆ ವೈರಾಗ್ಯದತ್ತ ಮನಸ್ಸು ತಿರುಗಿ ತೀರ್ಥಯಾತ್ರೆಗೈಯುತ್ತಾ ಶ್ರೀಮಧ್ವಮತದ ಪತಾಕೆಯನ್ನು ಹಾರಿಸಿದರು. ಮಂತ್ರಾಲಯಕ್ಕೆ ಬಂದು ಗುರುರಾಜರ ಸೇವೆಯನ್ನು ಮಾಡುತ್ತಾ ಇದ್ದರು. ನಂತರ ವಿಜಯೀಂದ್ರ ತೀರ್ಥರ ಸನ್ನಿಧಿಗೆ ಬಂದು ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಸೇವೆಗೈಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ಶ್ರೀಗುರುಗಳು ಸ್ವಪ್ನದಲ್ಲಿ ದರ್ಶನವಿತ್ತು, ಶ್ರೀವರದೇಂದ್ರ ತೀರ್ಥರಲ್ಲಿ ಸನ್ಯಾಸ ಪಡೆಯುವಂತೆ ಅಜ್ಞಾಪಿಸಿದರು. ಸನ್ :1775-76ರಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀಧೀರೇಂದ್ರತೀರ್ಥರೆಂದು ಸನ್ಯಾಸಪಡೆದರು. ತಪೋ ನಿಷ್ಠರಾದ ಶ್ರೀಧೀರೇಂದ್ರ ತೀರ್ಥರು ಜ್ಞಾನ,ಭಕ್ತಿ,ವೈರಾಗ್ಯ,ಸದ್ಗುಣಗಳಿಂದ ಪಂಡಿತ-ಪಾಮರರನ್ನು ಆಕರ್ಷಿಸಿದರು. ದಕ್ಷಿಣ ಭಾರತದಲ್ಲೆಲ್ಲಾ ಇವರ ಕೀರ್ತಿ ಮನೆಮಾತಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಶ್ರೀಗಳವರು ವಿದ್ವತ್ಪೂರ್ಣವಾದ ಅನೇಕ ಗ್ರಂಥಗಳನ್ನು ರಚಿಸಿ ಮಧ್ವಪ್ರಮೇಯಗಳನ್ನು ಎತ್ತಿ ಸಾರಿದರು. ಶ್ರೀವಾದೀಂದ್ರ ತೀರ್ಥರಿಂದ ರಚಿತವಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಗುರುಗುಣಸ್ತವನಕ್ಕೆ ವ್ಯಾಖ್ಯಾನ, ಶ್ರೀರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರಸ್ತೋತ್ರಕ್ಕೆ ವ್ಯಾಖ್ಯಾನ, ಹಾಗೂ ಮಹಾನಾರಾಯಣೋಪನಿಷತ್, ಮನ್ಯುಸೂಕ್ತಕ್ಕೆ ವ್ಯಾಖ್ಯಾನಗಳನ್ನು ರಚಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಸಂಚಾರ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಾ ವರದಾ ನದೀ ತೀರದ ಹೊಸರಿತ್ತಿಗೆ ಬಂದು ನೆಲೆಸಿದರು. ತಪೋನಿರತರಾಗಿ ಸನ್ :1785-86ರಲ್ಲಿ ಬೃಂದಾವನಸ್ಥರಾದರು. 7 ವರ್ಷಗಳ ನಂತರ ಶ್ರೀಗಳ ದೇಹವನ್ನು ಕಳಾಕರ್ಷಣಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಹೊರಕ್ಕೆ ತೆಗೆದಾಗ ಹಚ್ಚಿದ ಗಂಧಾಕ್ಷತೆ, ತುಳಸಿಹಾರ, ಶ್ಯಾಟಿ, ದೇಹದ ಕಾಂತಿ ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಕಂಗೊಳಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದನ್ನು ಕಂಡು ಭಕ್ತಜನ ಆಶ್ಚರ್ಯಸಾಗರದಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಳುಗಿದರು. ಅಣು ಮಂತ್ರಾಲಯವೆಂದೇ ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧವಾದ ಹೊಸರಿತ್ತಿಯ ಗುರುಗಳು ಮಂತ್ರಾಲಯದ ರಾಯರಂತೆ ಮಹಿಮೆ ತೋರಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಸಂತಾನ ಇಲ್ಲದವರಿಗೆ ಸಂತಾನ ಭಾಗ್ಯ, ಮಂದರಿಗೆ ಬುದ್ಧಿ, ನೊಂದವರಿಗೆ ಶಾಂತಿ, ಭೂತ-ಪ್ರೇತಾದಿಗಳ ನಿವಾರಣೆ, ಕುಷ್ಠ-ಕ್ಷಯ ರೋಗಗಳಿಂದ ಮುಕ್ತ ನೀಡಿದ ಅನೇಕ ಮಹಿಮೆಗಳು ಇಂಡಿಗೂ ಸೇವಕರಿಗೆ ನೀಡುತ್ತಿರುವುದು ಸಾಕ್ಷಿ. ಒಟ್ಟಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀಧೀರೇಂದ್ರತೀರ್ಥರು ಅಗಮ್ಯ ಮಹಿಮರೆನಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

HISTORY

 Jayaramacharya who stood behind Varadendratheertha in his victory at Pune, was not ordinary. His scholarship was excellent. He had acquired versatility in all Shastras, besides being Sreepadaputra. Appreciating such excellence of his scholarship, his father Sri Vadeendratheertha was confident that if he ever became the head of the Mutt, the Mutt would achieve great prosperity and fame. But  Jayaramacharya had no inclination towards sanyasa. He was interested in debates, literary works, conducting  classes and holding discourses. He had written commentary on Gurugunastavana, his father’s composition. With a view to kindle his inclination towards renunciation, Vadeendratheertha had expressed timely, “These will not put you onto the path of salvation,renunciation in the right sense counts very much”.As Vasudhendratheertha, on whom Vadeendratheertha had  bestowed sanyasa, knew the mind of his guru, he had decided that Jayaramacharya only should succeed him. But it was not possible for him to give sanyasa to Jayaramacharya as the latter was unavailable at his last moment. When Varadendratheertha emerged victorious in the debate at Pune, stunned at the  scholarship of Jayaramacharya, the prominent people of Pune asked who this reat scholar was. Then the swamiji in his reply said, “He is an elderly person in our family, Sreepadaputra. One who  should have een in my place. If not now, he is destined to adorn this peetha one day”.

But at the last moment of Varadendratheertha also,Jayaramacharya was unavailable at the Mutt. Therefore, under such compelling circumstances, swamiji had to bestow sanyasa on his  poorvashrama younger brother Lakshminarayanacharya. Swamiji advised, “You should study the Shastras under Jayaramacharyaonly. Treat him with utmost respect, this enhances the honour of  the  Mutt”. After Varadendratheertha departed from his mortal abode, Jayaramacharya recollected what his father had advised. When he went to Kumbhakonam for a darshan of Vijayeendratheertha’s Brindavan, he felt that he was urged to take sanyasa. Accordingly he took sanyasa before the Brindavan. When Bhuvanendratheertha who adorned the peetha was planning to send for Jayaramacharya   ordained by his elder brother, he was given to understand that Jayaramacharya had become ‘Dheerendra’. He hurried to Dheerendra’s place and entrusted Mahasamsthana to him.  Dheerendratheertha after worshipping Moolarama for sometime returned the idol to Bhuvanendratheertha. It was Dheerendratheertha under whom Bhuvanendratheertha studied the Shastras  completely. Though Dheerendratheertha who did not aspire to be the pontiff of the Mutt was renounced, wherever he went, the regular pooja and other rituals of the Mutt were marked by the same ardour  and glory. The swamiji came to village Ritti in Haveri Taluk. The majority of people there were Lingayats. Nevertheless, owing to his ascetic powers, the swamiji was greatly revered. As that  village on the banks of the river Varada was found conducive, the swamiji settled  down there itself. Jagannathadasa also came there. Sathyabodhatheertha of Uttaradi Mutt had stayed in the vicinity.Vishnutheertha also joined them.

However it was a coming together  of saints of great intellect. The very manner in which the discussions  ere held there was impressive. It looked   comprehensible for the ordinary. It was an aura of unusual emotions for them who could not discern whether those intellectuals were rejoicing or bewailing or waltzing. The Divine Power, the powers of  His devotees were the gist of their talk. Thus some years elapsed. History has it that Jagannathadasa composed Harikathamruthasara, his magnum opus there itself. Dheerendratheertha who set off on a journey reached Maharastra.At Satara, palace officials greatly honoured the swamiji there. The  swamiji had unprecedented welcome at Pune. The Peshwa who had great respect for swamiji’s  scholarship in his poorvashrama extended a very warm welcome, played host at the palace, gave many presents and gifted lands and estates to him. The swamiji performed the pooja and offered  Hasthodhaka to the Brindavan of Varadendratheertha whom he regarded as his guru. Staying there for some period, he returned to Ritti travelling through Mantralaya where he had the darshan of Sri  Gururaja. After sometime, swamiji’s end neared and it was at Ritti where he reached his heavenly abode. As Bhuvanendratheertha was on a distant tour, it was not possible to subject the mortal  emains of the swamiji to ‘Kalakarshana’ and install his Brindavan. Seven years after the swamiji was laid to rest, a devotee of his had a dream. Accordingly he exhumed swamiji’s mortal remainsfor ‘Kalakarshana’. The sandal paste, Akshatha and Tulsi garland which he wore had remained as fresh as they were seven years back. It looked so fresh that his mortal remains were decorated just then. This spectacle astonished all the devotees.   ordained by the swamiji, his mortal remains were taken from the centre of the village to the banks of the river Varada and his Brindavan was installed there itself. Ever since the installation of Brindavan  here,the poojas and other rituals began taking place quite in the same manner as they are done in Mantralaya. The wishes of the devotees  began to get fulfilled. In the place where swamiji’s Brindavan  was installed, a full fledged Mutt came to exist. Even today Sevas and poojas take place there. Sri Gururaja has assured that with his Amsha coming to exist in  the Brindavan of Dheerendratheertha, he would fulfil the wishes of the devotees. There is no doubt that the swamiji with the absolute blessings of Sri Gururaja is a greatly honoured soul. Dheerendratheertha is not only famous as an ascetic  but also as a litterateur. It has already been described earlier that in his poorvashrama life itself, he had written commentary on’Gurugunastavana’ composed by his father Vadeendratheertha.
Apart from this, the following of his writings are popular now.

1. Kaarakavada
2.  Commentary on Narayanopanishad
3.  Commentary on Manyusooktha in favour of Lord Narasimha
4.  Vishayavakya Sangraha

Even today in the history of the Mutt, the fame of Dheerendra theertha has occupied a permanent place. His Aradhana falls on the thirteenth day of Phalguna Shuddha.

Source: Gurucharite