Sri Vageesha Theertharu
Sri Vageesha Theertha
Sri Vageesha Theertha was 9th saint in the lineage from Sri Madhwacharya. Here is his brief introduction.
Poorvashrama Name – Sri Raghunathacharya
Ashrama Guru – Sri Kaveendra Theertha
Ashrama Shishya — Sri Ramachandra Theertha
Aradhana – Chaitra Bahula Truteeya
Vrundavana Place – Navavrundavana Gaddi (Near Hampi)
Period –1398 – 1406
Sri Kaveendra Theertha ordained sanyasa to Sri Raghunathacharya, appointed him as his successor for his lineage of mahasamsthana & named Sri Vageesha Theertha. Sri Kaveendra Theertha handed over all mahasamsthana properties including pattada devaru (Main idols) worshipped by Sri Madhwacharya along with the libraries, followers, acquired titles & symbols from Sri Madhwacharya through Sri Padmanabha theertha. Sri Vageesha Theertha continued Srimadacharya’s mahasamsthana belonging to Sri Kaveendra Theertha’s linage. He put his efforts in stabilizing & avoids further disturbances in a very crucial situation post-split between Sri Rajendra Theertha & Sri Kaveendra Theertha lineage.
Sri Vageesha theertha in his short period of 8 years, effectively put focus on stabilizing & re-organizing the resources in the main linage. He continued to stay in Vijayanagar kingdom close to royal patronage which has accepted Tatvavada during Sri Jayatheertha’s period & spread Madhwacharya’s philosophy. More people attracted towards it & started following the lineage.
Sri Vageesha theertha appointed a very highly learned scholar Sri Madhavashastry as his successor, named him as Sri Ramachandra theertha and handed over the mahasamsthana to him. He entered Vrundavana on 3rd day of Chaitra Bahula on sarvajit nama Samvatsara at Navavrundavana Gaddi where his beloved guru Sri Kaveendra Theertha , Sri Padmanabha Theertha & Sri Jayatheertha’s Vrundavanas were present.
There is a reference that he wrote a commentary on Sri Madhwacharya’s Tattvodyota (This needs further research).
वासुदॆवपदद्वंद्व वारिजासक्तमानसं
पदव्याख्यानकुशलं वागीशयतिमाश्रयॆ
ವಾಸುದೇವಪದದ್ವಂದ್ವ ವಾರಿಜಾಸಕ್ತಮಾನಸಂ
ಪದವ್ಯಾಖ್ಯಾನಕುಶಲಂ ವಾಗೀಶಯತಿಮಾಶ್ರಯೇ
వాసుదేవపదద్వంద్వ వారిజాసక్తమానసం
పదవ్యాఖ్యానకుశలం వాగీశయతిమాశ్రయే
வாசுதேவபதத்வம்த்வ வாரிஜாசக்தமானசம்
பதவ்யாக்யானகுஸலம் வாகீஶயதிமாஸ்ரயே
vAsudEvapadadvaMdva vArijAsaktamAnasaM
padavyAKyAnakuSalaM vAgIshayatimASrayE