32 Ft statue of Sri Madhwacharya

Acharya Madhwa’s Pratishtapane at Kunjarugiri

H.H. Sri Vidyadheesha Teertha Swamiji on 08.05.2017 consecrated a 32 feet tall monolithic statue of Sri Madhwacharya at Kunjarugiri hill to mark the 700th year of Badarikashrama Pravesha of Sri Madhwacharya. Following is a brief report with photographs.

  • Report : Vidwan Bommarabettu Srinivasa Bhat
  • Photographs : Sri Astro Mohan

The twenty eighth kaliyuga of vaivasvata manvantara of shweta-varaha kalpa; the pitch darkness of ignorance and misinformation had engulfed everywhere.  Noble people were perplexed in the absence of a guiding light pertaining to the right knowledge. They were submerged in darkness not knowing which way to tread. At such a time, as per the directive of the Lord, Shri Madhvacharya descended upon the earth like the sun.

He propounded the illuminating knowledge of Tatvajnana to the deserving people. Being the incarnation of the omniscient crest–gem called Vaayu, His treatise is free from any kind of errors. He enlightened about the unparalleled and unsurpassed supreme Lord Shri Hari in different ways. He established Shri Hari as being Supreme, all knowing, filled with all auspicious qualities and devoid of any blemishes. In his expositions, he presented the core essence of the Veda, Upanishat and Puranas.

700 years have elapsed since such a distinguished Acharya returned to Badarikashrama. In commemoration of the same, the pontiff of Shri Palimaru Matha, Shri Shri Vidyadheesha Teertha Sripadaru has consecreted a 32 feet high monolithic statue of Madhvacharya at his birthplace – Pajaka. Narayana Panditacharya has extolled Madhvacharya in his work Madhvavijaya as “Pratimaa-lakshana-lakshanaaya-lakshyam”. It means, iconography experts of the yore, upon seeing the body of Madhvacharya which had all the 32 bodily attributes thought that icons must be sculpted with his body as a reference. The creation of a 32 feet tall icon of Acharya is symbolic of the 32 lakshanas he possessed. This icon of Acharya has been sculpted along the lines of his idol installed at Shri Krishna Matha by Shri Vadiraja. The similitude lies in the standing posture, right hand in jnaana mudra and a book in the left hand.

The jnaana mudra symbolizes Madhvacharya as the giver of Tatvajnana of the Lord to the world. The book represents the Sarvamoola Granthas bestowed upon us by Acharya. Through the study of Acharya’s granthas, we can acquire Tatvajnana is what the two arms of the icon collectively exemplify.

Such an icon comprising all auspicious attributes was installed on May 8th 2017 at Pajaka between the Durga Hill and Parashurama Hill in accordance with the prescribed customs and rituals. It is akin to seating the son between the father and mother.

Sri Vidyadheesha Teertha Sripadaru, Sri Vishvapriya Teertha Sripadaru, Sri Subudhendra Teertha Sripadaru, Sri Eeshapriya Teertha Sripadaru, Sri Bannanje Raghavendra Teertharu, Sri Vidyatma Teertharu of Prayaga Matha were present during this auspicious and momentous occasion of Pratishtapana. The celebration concluded with homas accompanied by the chanting of vaishnava mantras, recital of vedas – puranas – itihasa – sarvamoola granthas by eminent scholars.

Sri Suvidyendra Teertha Sripadaru participated in Sabha events on 09.05.2017.

On 10.05.2017 The Brahma Kalasha Utsava was conducted. On this day Acharya was bathed with panchamruta.  Sri Vidyasagara Teertha Sripadaru, Sri Vishvapriya Teertha Sripadaru, Sri Vidyadheesha Teertha Sripadaru, Sri Vidyesha Teertha Sripadaru, Sri Satyatma Teertha Sripadaru, Sri Sri Vishvavallabha Teertha Sripadaru, Sri Eeshapriya Teertha Sripadaru and Sri Vidyatma Teertha Sripadaru offered 108 kalashas of water sanctified with the chanting of mantras. Hundreds of bhajana mandalis participated and performed, accentuating the glory of dasa sahithya.  Blessings by Peetaadhipatis, lectures by scholars were specially organized. All devotees, in their individual capacities have rendered their service towards this program.  A special mention of the residents of Kunjarugiri who have toiled hard to make this program a grand success. This celebration of the installation of the icon of Madhvacharya has delighted devotees.  As per the will of Shri Shri Vidyadheesha Theertha the program concluded successfully.

 

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