Why is it called Madhva Navami today
Why is it called Madhva Navami today
Today is the day Madhvacharya, the third of the trinity of philosophers after Sri Shankaracharya and Shri Ramanujacharya, attained Nirvana. It is on the 9th day of the Lunar month of Magha Masam in the year 1317 AD, Sri Madhvacharya while teaching his disciples the Aitareya Upanishad Bhashya to his disciples at the Sri Anantheshwara Temple , suddenly a heap of flowers were showered on him and he disappeared into the heap of flowers not to be seen later. It is considered as the day he entered the Badarikasrama. He is considered to be the third incarnation of Lord Vayu after Hanuman and Bheema and propounded the philosophy of Dwaita or Dualism. Madhvacharya was a social and religious reformer who declared that the path to salvation was open to all and was not limited by birth. His teachings attracted many followers and revived the Bhaghavatha or Bhakthi traditions in Karnataka.
His Contribution to Udupi temple
Sri Madhvacharya was born in the Udupi region which is famous for the beautiful Krishna Temple and it is said that it was he who had the idol of Krishna installed here. There is an interesting story as to how he got that Krishna Idol.
Sri Madhvacharya was absorbed in composing Dvaadasha-stotra, his famous twelve-part poem praising Lord Krishna, had gone to the beach to bathe He saw a ship caught in trouble and hearing the cries of the sailors in distress, he waved his cloth in their direction. This calmed the stormy seas, and the ship floated free. He then guided the vessel to safety. In token of gratitude for saving their lives, the captain offered Sri Madhvacharya whatever he wanted from the ship’s cargo. Madhva chose a heavy lump of gopi-chandana clay out of a divine instinct .The Disciples of Sri Madhvacharya had just started back to Udupi with the large lump of clay when, but a short distance from the beach, the lump broke in two, revealing the handsome Deity of Lord BalaKrishna and the deity of Balarama which Sri Madhavacharya installed at Malpe beach, in the Vadabhandeshwara temple. The Krishna deity, he brought to Udupi, and installed in his Matha there. But now the combined effort of thirty of Madhva’s disciples could not budge the Deity. Only when Madhvaacaarya himself embraced and lifted the Deity as if He were a child did the Deity consent to be moved. In great transcendental ecstasy Madhva carried the Lord the four miles back to Udupi. On the way he completed the remaining seven parts of Dvaadasha-stotra, reciting the verses out loud. Back in Udupi, Madhva bathed the Lord in the lake known as Madhva-sarovara and enshrined Him in the ShriKrishna Matha.
He consecrated it in a temple and personally worshipped it for 20 years. This temple is now one of the most famous Krishna Temples in India. He chose eight young Sanyasis to become the pontiffs of eight mathas he setup around the temple which continue till today.
His Philosophy
The basic tenet of Dvaita philosophy is the refutation of the Mayavada of Sri Shankara. Dvaitha emphasizes that the world is real and not just an illusion.
Some of Sri Madhvacharya’s tenets include that:
· The soul is bound to this world through ignorance
· The way for the soul to release itself from this bondage is to seek the grace of Sri Hari
· To reach Sri Hari, one has to practice Bhakthi, there is no other way
· To practice Bhakthi, one needs to meditate
· To meditate, one needs to clear the mind and attain detachment by studying the sacred texts
· Understanding the sacred texts can be possible only through the grace of a Guru