Sri Vidyasamudra Theertha
Sri Vidyasamudra Theertha is the 28th saint after Sri Rama Theertha in the guru parampare of Kaniyoor mutt.
Poorvashrama Name : Sri Narayana
Ashrama Guru : Sri Vidyanidhi Theertha
Ashrama Shishya : Sri Vidyavarinidhi Theertha
Aradhana : Magha Shudha Dwadashi
Vrundavana : Udupi
Sri Vidyasamudra Theertha took Ashrama from Sri Vidyanidhi Theertha and ruled the Peeta for 61 years. He was born as the eldest son of a highly devoted and religious couple Narasimha Acharya and Rukmini Devi on 09th April 1890 at a village named Budeya, near Puttur of Dakshina Kannada District. He was named as Narayana by his parents. He was taught all the basic rituals at home by his father and his Brahmopadesham was performed at the age of 8 years. His devotion and detachment impressed the then pontiff of Kaniyoor mutt, Sri Vidyanidhi Theertha, who was also their close relative before accepting Sanyasa. This led Swamiji to declare him as his successor in the year 1902 and was initiated into sanyasa with the Ashrama name as Sri Vidyasamudra Theertha.
He had initial coaching in Sanskrit from Sri Belle Gururaja Acharya. Further he learnt all Sarva moola granthas and other Madhwa shastra granthas from the then pontiff of Admar Mutt, Sri Vibudhapriya Theertha.
Every morning, Sri Vidyasamudra Theertha Swamiji used to wake up at Arunodaya (about 2 hours before Sunrise), perform daily ablutions and then would prostate before his mother (who used to take rest in one of the rooms at the Mutt). Then he would pray before Lord Sri Lakshmi Narasimha, and follow it by the reading of the day’s panchanga (calendar). Then in the company of the students of the Mutt he would visit temples’ around. He would start with the visit of Lord Sri Chandramouleswara and then proceed to Lord Sri Anantheswara.
Swamiji’s way of honoring the scholars was unique. He would give them handsome remuneration based on their ability and qualification. Beyond that he made arrangements for regular Ganahoma every Chathurthi, Durga pooja every full moon day, and Chandika homa during Navaratri. Also during the period of eclipse he would donate cows. Then during Ellamavasye (New moon day in the month of Margashira) he would take bath in the sea (Samudra Snana) and while returning from the bath he would visit Sri Shankara Narayan Temple at Kodavoor and Sri Mahalingeshwara Temple at Bannanje. Also during Krishna Angaraka Chaturdashi (14th Day after full moon but falling on Tuesday) he would take bath in the Swarna river. (During this day if one takes bath in the Swarna River he would hear sounds of burning, this is like all the sins burning away).
He renovated mutts in Udupi and Mallampalli. He took pilgrimage tour to Badari, Kashi etc.
Declaring the successor and travelling to the heavenly abode Swamiji declared his Poorvashrama brothers’ son Narahari as his successor and gave him Sanyasa deekshe in the year 1963 and named him as Sri Vidyavarinidhi Theertha. He then kept the disciple with him in the Mutt and gave him all the required basic education in Sanskrit. Then he also made the disciple study advanced works of Madhwa philosophy under Sri Suprajnendra Theertha of Puttige Mutt and Sri Lakshmeendra Theertha of Shiroor Mutt, and he himself would also instruct him of the austerities of the ascetic (sanyasa) life.
On 26th Jan 1964 Swamiji (12th day of the Hindu Magha month), as usual Sri performed his daily pooja and japa. Then in the evening he paid a visit to Sri Chandramouleswara temple, Anantheswara temple and Sri Krishna Mukhyaprana, offered his daily prayers and returned to his Mutt. Every time before travel swamiji used to visit all the temples. Similarly, before his final travel swamiji visited all the temples and then came back to his own Mutt and leaned on the deerskin seat and left the worldly body and moved towards the heavenly abode of the Lord. The next day headlines of all Udupi newspaper read “The knowledge lamp of Udupi douses”. This shows the knowledge level of Sri Vidyasamudra Theertha.
The Vrundavana of Sri Vidyasamudra Theertha is at the backyard of Sri Krishna Mutt where all prominent Vrundavanas of the Swamiji’s of Ashta mutts are.
He handed over Peeta to Sri Vidyavarinidhi Theertha he entered Vrundavana at Udupi.
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