Shri Vishvapriya Teertharu (Shri Brundavanacharyaru)

Sri Vishwapriyatirtha was a Shakapurusha and great mystic divine being of nineteenth century. He was born in the year 1774 in Inna village near Udupi. He was the son of Krishnacharya (Nagashayana) eldest brother of Vitthalacharya (Vipraguru-Vishweshatirtha). His name was Srinivasa. After undergoing the rites of refinement such as Jatakarma, Nama-karana, Chowla, Upa-nayana etc., he was ordained into Samnya-sashrama at the running age of ten by Guru Vishwesha-tirtha and named as Vishwa-priyatirtha. He did his basic Shastradhyayana under his aged Paramaguru Sri Vish-wadhishwaratirtha. When he made up his mind to go elsewhere for higher studies then, in dream Vadiraja hinted at him to come to his abode (Sode). Sri Vishwapriyatirtha went to Sode and engaged in devoted service (Seva) at the holy Panchavrindavanasannidhi of SriVadiraja. He also did rigorous penance by taking only a fistful fried rice mixed with curds at the end of evening worship daily. Sitting front of Vrindavanasannidhi, he continued the study of Sarvamula and other works and got the doubts cleared through the divine speech of Vadiraja emanating from Vrindavana. By virtue of this, he was well known as Vrindavanacharya. He also submitted himself at the holy presence of SriVedavedya and got blessed by that saint seer. When Vrindavanacharya decided to go on holy pilgrimage, he prostrated before Vadiraja's Vrindavana to obtain permission from Vadiraja. Surprisingly, there fell the Mantrakshata on his head from Vrindavana.

The Vrindavanacharya was like a deaf and dumb Brahmin at the time of Vadiraja. After Vadiraja's Vrindavana pravesha he, in his dream listened to the glorious teaching of holy text Vrindavanakhyana. Now, he got incarnated to popularise that sacred text. By way of getting written the holy text Akhyana, Vedanidhitirtha is well known as the master beginner (Srikara), whereas Vrindavanacharya is popularly known to be its Harikara (authority in teaching and spreading its greatness). He got written a befitting and wise commentary by his pupil Srimushnacharya. And by another competent and capable Shishya SriRaghupraveeratirtha of Bhimanakatte Matha, he got authored a validity substantiating work namely 'Vrindavanakhyana Pramanyaprabodhini'. SriVrindav-anacharya happened to be a prime person character in Vrindavanakhyana. He is the chief listener and is addressed as 'Vipra'. To prove the identity of Vrindavanacharya with that Vipra (likely a deaf and dumb Brahmin) we get note of some historical illustrations in the biographical works of Vrindavanacharya which have reference hinted at Akhyana by Vadiraja. E.g. the vow of Nirannatva, bringing Vyasamushti from Madhyavata Matha and worshipping it at Krishnasannidhi, making Prakarana in Vrindavanakhyana and popularising it and others.

Vrindavanacharya used to write holy texts daily and give the written material to his pupils. Tradition records that Vrindavanacharya was none to second in the world of scholars. Not only the localities of Udupi, but, hundreds of scholars belonging to other parts of the country became his pupils and studied well. Swamiji was specially honoured by the kings of Mysore and Cochin royal families. The king of Mysore namely Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar, seeing the extra ordinary Mahima of Sri Vrindavanacharya, consecrated an invaluable small Mantapa of emerald to great saint. During his Paryaya period, special gifts and ornaments were consecrated to Krishnasannidhi. Vrindavanacharya performed 4 biennial Paryayas at Udupi with great adoration and glory. (1804-1805, 1820-21, 1836-37 and 1852-53). During 1784 to 1794, there were three pontiffs in the line of Sri Sode Vadirajamatha. SriVrindavanacharya was not merely a scholar but also a highly knowledgeable in case of subtle topics of Vedanta (Prameyajna). The Vairagya (detached attachment) of Swamiji was superior and incomparable. Even in Paryaya Darbar, he had only Kaupin on his body. Knowing the peak mounted Vairagya of Vishwapriyatirtha, Sri Bhuvanendratirtha of Raghavendra-swamy Matha exclaimed that it was totally agreeable in case of Vishwapriyatirtha for he was the descendant of the lineage of Sri Vishnutirtha a true embodiment of Vairagya.

Once through his mystic power Swamiji saved a devotee drowned into the water of Kaveri river. His blessed Mantrakshata caused delayed and painful delivery easy. Swamiji's command for continuation of Seva favoured to have the progeny of an excellent devotee of Sri Vadirajaru (Jambukhandi Vadirajacharyaru). Once, thieves utterly failed to identify Swamiji for he got disappeared from their sight. The holy remembrance of name of Sri Vrindavanacharya blessed more physical strength to a devotee by name Ramachar to do the Seva entrusted to him without any difficulty. Swamiji's blessings granted the power of speech to chant the Vedic Mantras clearly and eloquently in the performance of Samhita Yaga at Udupi. The great scholar of Kanchi, Sri Tathacharya got stunned at the matchless erudition and scholarship of Swamiji and surrendered himself. Once at Sode, a magician ran away due to burning pain caused by the invocation of Swamiji at the holy Sannidhana of Sri Bhutarajaru. At the time of journey, the deception and fraud was rocked and ruined by Swamiji. Sri Vrindavanacharya was fortunate to have the holy Darshana of Ganga in Dhavalatirtha at Sode. The scared saying of Swamiji caused an enormous increase in the quantity of food for easy and sufficient serving on the beginning day of Paryaya. The rare device and practical solution planned and executed by Swamiji blessed the king of Cochin to have the sample experience of liberation and cleared the related doubts away. The instructive teachings of Vrindavanacharya initiated a devotee into the recitation of Sri Krishna Stuti composed by Sri Vadirajaru and as a result he was graciously granted holy Darshana of Sri Krishna. The holy and soft touch of palm of Sri Swamiji reenergised a devotee and blessed consciousness when the latter, after getting drowned into water, fell unconscious. The validity of Samatva worship of Vadiraja with god Vayu, got reconfirmed by Swamiji. At Rameshwara, for scared sipping (Achamana) the ocean water became sweet by the greatness of Swamiji. The expiatory rite with repentance, as instructed by Swamiji, removed the cursed state of senselessness.Vrindavanacharya lived for 91 years and entered the holy Vrindavana in the year 1865 A.D. at Udupi. The annual Aradhana is observed on Ashadha month Krishna Amavasya. He enjoyed the in charge of pontificial seat of Vedanta empire for 62 years. Regarding life history of Sri Vrindavanacharya, three bio-graphical works are written by direct pupil-students who were witness of many incidents occurred in the life of Guru.

The holy Vrindavana of SriVrindavanacharya is located by the side of Sri Vagishatirtha's Vrindavana at Udupi. The figure of a Brahmin carved on the Vrindavana signifies that Vrindavanacharya was that brahmin and pupil student at the time of Vadiraja who listened to the Vrindavanakhyana in his dream. The order of the icons of Hayagriva-Vedavyasa and Bhuvaraha carved on the top also signifies the performance and introduction of Samanadhikaranya kind of worship by Vrindavanacharya. The information, available in bio-graphical works, Vrindavanakhyana, Stotras-Padas and tradition, ascertain the fact that Vrindavanacharya is the qualified divine soul to occupy the post of god Indra in the next Kalpa.

Source - sodematha.in