Shri Vidya Tirtha Maheshvara ~ Spiritual Force Behind a Dharmic Empire
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V Subrahmanian
May 14, 2025, 2:18:51 AMMay 14
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Sri Natraj Maneshinde's post
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Shri Vidya Tirtha Maheshvara ~ Spiritual Force Behind a Dharmic Empire
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Shri Vidya Tirtha Mahaswamiji, venerated as the sakshat avatara of Maheshvara, stands as one of the most exalted among the Acharyas of Dakshinamnaya Shringeri Sharada Peetham. His life and teachings radiated such spiritual brilliance that the illustrious Vijayanagara rulers themselves drew deep inspiration from him. In the year 1346 AD, all five Sangama brothers journeyed to Shringeri to pay homage at his lotus feet and offered their worship to the great Acharya, who at that time was bestowing blessings upon the world in the form of Shri Vidya Shankara. We can fathom the spiritual might of Shri Vidya Tirtha from the manner in which he is invoked in the works of his disciples. Both Shri Sayanacharya and Madhavacharya (Shri Vidyaranya Mahaswamiji) invoke their guru as Vidya-Tirtha-Maheshvara in their compositions.
Given this, his role in blessing and inspiring the cause of Dharma Rakshana, both through the establishment of a Hindu empire and through the enrichment of our scriptural tradition, stands beyond dispute.
A further noteworthy testament to his influence is found in the Hebsuru grant, dated to 1378 AD. Many thanks to Shri G R Patil ji for informing me about this inscription. This important epigraphical record, consisting of five copper plates, has been reproduced in Epigraphia Carnatica by B. Lewis Rice (Volume 4, Part 2, Yadatore No. 46). The inscription succinctly recounts the exploits of Bukka Maharaja and affirms that he governed his vast kingdom with remarkable ease through the grace of Shri Vidya Tirtha Muni. A verse from the inscription reads:
क्षोणीं सागरमेखलां सकलयन् भ्रूक्षेपमात्रे स्थिताम्।
विद्यातीर्थमुनेः कृपांबुधिशशी भोगावतारोऽभवत्।।
“The moon to the ocean of Shri Vidya Tirtha Muni’s compassion, Bukka Maharaja controlled the earth, girdled by the ocean, merely by the movement of his eyebrows. Enjoying the earth in this way, he became the Bhogavatara.”
Sir B. Lewis Rice makes the following observation on this inscription:
“Yd. 46 says that Bukka was an incarnation of Achyuta, born to free the world from the Mlecchas. He, with the assistance of Vidyatirtha Muni, became very great. He drove out the enemies from a hundred royal cities, counting from Dvaradamudra, and ruled over an empire perfectly in its seven parts.”
Given his greatness, we Astikas, particularly the Smarta Advaitins, ought to be ever grateful to Shri Vidya Tirtha.
May Shri Vidya Tirtha Maheshvara, who illumines our hearts and impels our actions as the indwelling Antaryamin, ever protect and guide us on the path of Dharma.
Shri Vidya Tirtha Maheshvara ~ Spiritual Force Behind a Dharmic Empire
==========================
Shri Vidya Tirtha Mahaswamiji, venerated as the sakshat avatara of Maheshvara, stands as one of the most exalted among the Acharyas of Dakshinamnaya Shringeri Sharada Peetham. His life and teachings radiated such spiritual brilliance that the illustrious Vijayanagara rulers themselves drew deep inspiration from him. In the year 1346 AD, all five Sangama brothers journeyed to Shringeri to pay homage at his lotus feet and offered their worship to the great Acharya, who at that time was bestowing blessings upon the world in the form of Shri Vidya Shankara. We can fathom the spiritual might of Shri Vidya Tirtha from the manner in which he is invoked in the works of his disciples. Both Shri Sayanacharya and Madhavacharya (Shri Vidyaranya Mahaswamiji) invoke their guru as Vidya-Tirtha-Maheshvara in their compositions.
Given this, his role in blessing and inspiring the cause of Dharma Rakshana, both through the establishment of a Hindu empire and through the enrichment of our scriptural tradition, stands beyond dispute.
A further noteworthy testament to his influence is found in the Hebsuru grant, dated to 1378 AD. Many thanks to Shri G R Patil ji for informing me about this inscription. This important epigraphical record, consisting of five copper plates, has been reproduced in Epigraphia Carnatica by B. Lewis Rice (Volume 4, Part 2, Yadatore No. 46). The inscription succinctly recounts the exploits of Bukka Maharaja and affirms that he governed his vast kingdom with remarkable ease through the grace of Shri Vidya Tirtha Muni. A verse from the inscription reads:
क्षोणीं सागरमेखलां सकलयन् भ्रूक्षेपमात्रे स्थिताम्।
विद्यातीर्थमुनेः कृपांबुधिशशी भोगावतारोऽभवत्।।
“The moon to the ocean of Shri Vidya Tirtha Muni’s compassion, Bukka Maharaja controlled the earth, girdled by the ocean, merely by the movement of his eyebrows. Enjoying the earth in this way, he became the Bhogavatara.”
Sir B. Lewis Rice makes the following observation on this inscription:
“Yd. 46 says that Bukka was an incarnation of Achyuta, born to free the world from the Mlecchas. He, with the assistance of Vidyatirtha Muni, became very great. He drove out the enemies from a hundred royal cities, counting from Dvaradamudra, and ruled over an empire perfectly in its seven parts.”
Given his greatness, we Astikas, particularly the Smarta Advaitins, ought to be ever grateful to Shri Vidya Tirtha.
May Shri Vidya Tirtha Maheshvara, who illumines our hearts and impels our actions as the indwelling Antaryamin, ever protect and guide us on the path of Dharma.
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