Madhwa Navami

Madhwa Navami falls on the 9th day of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Magha each year. About 700 years ago, a remarkable event occurred at the Sri Anantheshwara Temple in Udupi. During a ritual led by Jagadguru Sriman Madhwacharyaru, a sudden shower of divine flowers descended from the heavens, enveloping him completely. When his disciples cleared the flowers, they discovered that Madhwacharyaru had mysteriously vanished, believed to have ascended to Upper Badari to be with Lord Sri Vedavyasa. Legend has it that Madhwacharyaru remains in the Northern Himalayas (Greater Badari), continuing his spiritual journey with Sri Vedavyasa.

Madhvacharya, a prominent 13th-century philosopher, was born on the west coast of Karnataka, India. As a teenager, he became a monk (Sanyasi) under Achyutapreksha of the Ekadandi order within the Brahma-sampradaya. He extensively studied Hindu philosophy and wrote commentaries on the Principal Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Brahma Sutras, producing 37 works in Sanskrit. His writings are known for their concise and profound style. One of his most significant works is the Anuvyakhyana, a poetic supplement to his commentary on the Brahma Sutras. Madhvacharya is also believed to be an avatar of Vayu, the wind god and devotee of Vishnu.

Madhwa Navami, also known as Madhvanavami, is celebrated on the 9th day of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Magha. It marks the completion of Madhvacharya's earthly presence. He is the founder of the Dvaita (dualism) school of philosophy, also known as Sad Vaishnavism, which emphasizes that Vishnu (Narayana) is the Supreme Being.

According to Madhvacharya's teachings, Lord Vishnu resides in Vaikuntha with Goddess Lakshmi, and the world we live in is real. In his philosophy, everything, both living and non-living, is dependent on Vishnu, the only independent reality. The soul and the world exist separately from Vishnu, and devotion (Bhakti) is the only path to attaining Moksha (liberation).

Madhwa Navami is especially significant at the Sri Ananteshwara Temple in Udupi, Karnataka, where special rituals, worship, and a grand chariot procession are held in honor of Madhvacharya's legacy.