Shri Vidhyadhiraja Teertharu

द्वारकानाथ तीर्थानां अनुग्रह समुद्भवम् ।

विद्याधिराज योगीशं वंदे विद्याभिवृद्धये॥

Sri Vidyadhiraja teertha, a disciple of the 22nd Acharya Shrimad Dwarakanath Teertha Swamiji , was was born to Gangolli, Senapur Sri Laxminarayanacharya from Gangoli and his wife Smt. Shrimati Bai as second son. The purvashrama name is Raghavendra Acharya. He was taken to Samsthan's Wadala Math in Mumbai in 1888, Magha Krishna Dwiteeya. Initiated in to sanyasa on 26th February 1967 with great pomp.

There is a traditional method of choosing a disciple. The selection was made according to that method. The first Guruswami selected five possible Vatus for the sanyasa and collected their janmapatrikas and handed them over to astrologers. These astrologers were brought to the Math by Sri Swamiji. Only Patrikas were given to them. The pundits were not told about the names of the Vatus.

After studying all the five horoscopes, the astrologers selected the one that was most suitable for the Sanyasa Ashram and handed it over to Srimad Dwarakanath Teertha Swamiji, who then said that it belonged to Raghavendra Acharya. Many devotees of the Math were present on this occasion. All welcomed the decision. Later, a delegation of some well-wishers was sent to Vatu's parents and the matter was reported to Sri Laxminarayan Acharya. He and his wife agreed to the decision by Sri Guru Swamiji. The news then spread everywhere and everyone expressed satisfaction over Vatu's choice. Later, as mentioned above, the Vatu was initiated in to Sanyasa ashrama in Wadala Math on the Sunday (26/02/1967) of Shri Saka 1888 Parabhava year Magh Krishna Dwiteeya and was named as Shri Vidyadhiraja Teertha

Guruswamiji's companionship lasted for a full six years. During this period, Guruswamiji paid full attention to the study of His Shishya. Not only that, to make Shishya swamij’s horizon to be wider, socially oriented, to have knowledge of modern sciences as well as to be proficient in spirituality, philosophy, Veda Vedanta etc, Guru Swamiji always looked after it Himself. In purvashrama Sri Vidyadhiraja teertha was proficient in Kannada and English education

Konkani was the mother tongue. Shishya Swamiji also acquired knowledge of Marathi and Hindi languages. Due to the study of these different languages, Sri Vidyadhiraja teertha Swamiji could speak in many languages. Not only sound education but His alertness and dedication were remarkable. His Ashirvachana after the Pattabhisheka was His first public speech. But in that speech, many claimed that this Swamiji had the qualities of eloquence and it was truth.

Sri Dwaranatha Teertha Swami attained Haripada unexpectedly on March 25, 1973. Twelve days later, on Sri Saka 1895 Chaitra Shuddha Dwiteeya, Shi Swamiji’s Pattabhisheka was done on April 5, 1973. Numerous disciples from all over Goa, Mumbai and both the Canara districts had gathered at the Partagali Matha on that day. It was at this time that Sri Swamiji's first Ashirvachana took place. Even though Sri Vidyadhiraja teertha swamiji’s health was not good, Swamiji paid full attention to the management of the Math like His Guru. He had the art of developing rapport with people. Swamiji initiated many social works. After the Pattabhisheka, His public function was the inauguration of the auditorium of the Sri Ganapati temple at Khandola. At the same time, His attitude towards the people was evident. The common devotees could talk with Swamiji as well as the late Chief Minister of Goa, Dayanand Bandodkar.

Coincidentally, the day Sri Vidyadhiraja teertha came to Sri Gurupeetha in the year 1973 was the day of foundation of Sree Samsthan Gokarna Patagali Jeevottam Matha which happened in Badari. It was was on the verge of completing five centuries, had inherited an unbroken tradition of twenty-two pious Swamijis. Sri Vidyadhiraja teertha is the twenty-third Swamiji in the lineage.

As soon as He came to Shri Gurupeetha, He announced His resolve to celebrate the Panchashatabdi Mahotsav of Shrimath Samsthapana. But He started His career by renovating the first Matha of Sri Samsthan in the Varanasi. Also in the Silver jubilee year of the ascension as Guru (1998) Swamiji visited Gandaki River (Damodarkund) and on returning built a magnificent new Matha at Vasco (Goa).

On March 19, 1999 (Chaitra Shukla II, Shake 1921), the majestic Matha at Partagali was formally inaugurated renovated and new structures built in three phases. It would not be an exaggeration to say that what Swamiji did in the last 48 years could not have been done in the previous five hundred years. ,All the resolutions made by Sriswamiji were fulfilled. Such works include restoration and expansion of old Mathas, construction of new Mathas amidst of Saraswat community, renovation of temples in the orbit of Shrimatha and installation of new idols in those temples, expansion of religion and religiosity through sacrifices and rituals.

By performing Chaturmasya Vratacharan in various places, Swamiji strengthened the faith of Kuldev and Gurupeeths in the social circles of those areas. Towards the end of the twentieth century, Sri Swamiji came to Shri Gurupitha and developed the power to meet the potential challenges of the twenty-first century by strengthening and broadening the foundation of Shri Matha, making the society more organized and advanced. History will take a detailed look at the work Swamiji has done without letting the tradition break with the link between the two centuries.

Since coming to the Peetha, the scope of social and cultural as well as religious activities has been expanding, but Pujya Swamiji continued his Swadhyay Sadhana. The culmination of this is the successful completion of the Sriman Nyayasudha Patha started at Kalyanpur in 1998 and completed at the same place.

By enhancing the quality of the best Vedic schools in Partagali Matha, Vidyarthis are given systematic education in Vedas, Sanskrit, Dharmashastra, Jyotish etc. through disciplined courses. About fifty students complete the course from this school every year. The Gurukul of the five-year course gained fame all over the country. Going beyond the Matha circle, two charitable trust boards have been set up to address the problems and grievances of the society. Swami Dwarkanath Board of Trustees and Shri Vidyadhiraj Charity Board of Trustees. These institutions are helping the society in the field of education, health, social rites etc.

- In the last 48 years, the religious Homahavan was performed by the Brahmanas in the presence of Pujya Swamiji in the presence of local deities. These include Sahasrakumbh, Mahavishnu, Ativishnu, Mahasudarshan, Atirudra, Shatkoti Ramnam, Maharudra, Shatachandi, Rakshatraya Havan etc.

Restoration of the monastery by Shri Vidyadhirajatirtha

1. Varanasi (1975),

2. Basrur, Karwar, Venkatapur (1979),

3. Gokarna (1981),

4. Bhatkal (1981),

5. Monastery of Portugal (1999)

6. Ankola (1988),

7. Mangalore (Navagraha Pratishtha) (1991)

8. Gangolli (1988)

9. Conversion of a small monastery at Bangalore into a grand monument (1985),

Construction of welfare pavilions in the old monastery

(1) Bhatkal (Srinarayantirtha Kalyan Mandap) - 1981,

(2) Mangalore (Sri Dwarkanath Bhavan) -1982,

(3) Rivan (Shri Ramachandratirtha Mandap) - 1984,

(4) Gangolli (Sri Dwarkanathtirtha Sabha Ghar) - 1984,

(5) Bangalore (Sri Vidyadhiraj Sabha Ghar) - 1985,

(6) Ankola (Sri Vidyadhiraj Sabha Ghar)- 1989,

(7) Dicholi (Sri Anujivottamatirtha Mandap)- 1996,

(8) Karwar (Shri Indira Kant Sabha Ghar)-2001

During his reign, Shri Vidyadhirajatirtha Swamiji renovated most of the Vrindavanas of the Yativaryas in the Math tradition. Pujya Vidyadhiraja teertha Swamiji inaugurated new Vigraha Pratishtha in many temples.

Source - Math website