Shri Vidyashreedhara Teertharu

Charama Shloka :

दुर्वादिमत्तमातंगकंठीरव उदारधीः |

विद्याश्रीधरयोगीशः श्रेयसे भूयसेऽस्तु मे ||

ದುರ್ವಾದಿಮತ್ತಮಾತಂಗಕಂಠೀರವ ಉದಾರಧೀಃ | 

ವಿದ್ಯಾಶ್ರೀಧರಯೋಗೀಶಃ ಶ್ರೇಯಸೇ ಭೂಯಸೇಽಸ್ತು ಮೇ ||

durvādimattamātaṅgakaṇṭhīrava udāradhīḥ |

vidyāśrīdharayogīśaḥ śreyase bhūyase’stu me ||

About Śrī Vidyāśrīdhara Tīrtha

Śrī Vidyāśrīdhara Tīrtha was ordained as the 32nd Pīṭhādhipati by Śrī Vidyāśrīsindhu Tīrtha.

His Pūrvāśrama Nāma was Bhīmasenācārya. He played a vital role in assisting his Guru, Śrī Vidyāśrīsindhu Tīrtha (Akki Bel̤e Swamiji), during the Mysore famine (Great Famine of 1876–1878), ensuring that the Śrīmaṭha’s possessions were appropriately utilized to feed everyone in need. This noble service endeared him to his Guru, who later ordained him as his successor to the Pīṭha.

The saint was renowned as a scholar par excellence and a walking encyclopaedia of Tattvavāda. He could teach complex subjects to his students without referring to any books. On one notable occasion, he delivered an exposition on the Bṛhatī Sahasra Vyākhyāna, composed by Śrī Raghunātha Tīrtha, at Tirumakudalu in the presence of his Guru. This lecture series lasted a full year and was addressed to a select group of disciples, delivered with extraordinary skill.

Śrī Vidyāśrīdhara Tīrtha is also remembered for an intellectual debate with a scholar named Viśvanātha Miśra at Madurai, which continued for twenty-seven days. His convincing defense of Tattvavāda impressed the scholar so much that he donated his silver palanquin to the saint. On his way back, the saint encountered a family stranded in the middle of nowhere, including a pregnant woman. Demonstrating his compassion, he gave them the palanquin for their welfare.

Known for his deep penance and spiritual powers, the saint was especially benevolent toward the underprivileged, treating all with equality and kindness. According to tradition, His Holiness often performed Pāṭha Pravacana and Saṁsthāna Pūje in open fields under temporary shelters, particularly during droughts, with the prayerful intent of invoking rain to aid agricultural activities.

Although his tenure on the Pīṭha lasted only three years, it was a period marked by profound impact and selfless service. Of this time, approximately one and a half years were spent with his Guru, and the rest was dedicated to sanchara (travel), especially across present-day Tamil Nadu and Kerala. He ordained Śrī Vidyāśrīnivāsa Tīrtha as his successor before attaining Haripāda.

His Vṛndāvana is located at Śrīraṅgam, along with his paramagurus: Śrī Lakṣmīnātha Tīrtha, Śrī Lakṣmīpati Tīrtha, and Śrī Lakṣmīnidhi Tīrtha—a disciple of Śrī Raghunātha Tīrtha who, though revered, did not ascend the Pīṭha.

His aradhana is observed in the month of Chaitra, during Krishna Paksha, on the Tithi of Chaturdashi.

Source - vyasarajamatha.org

Previous (Shri Vidyashreesindhu Teertharu)    |    Next (Shri Vidyashreenivasa Teertharu)