Sri Padmanabha Theertharu

Sri Padmanabha Theertharu is foremost among the direct disciples of Sriman Madhvacharyaru. He was a distinguished scholar and was recognized and honoured by people of those times as 'THE DISCIPLE OF SRIMAN MADHVACHARYARU'.

Sri Padmanabha Theertharu's purvashrama name was Shobhana Bhatta. He was a renowned Advaita Scholar, accomplished logician and one with great faith in Veda, Mahabharata and Puranas. He is said to have hailed from a region close to the river Godavari. He has won many a great scholar in debates and refuted all the prevalent systems of philosophy before he was defeated by Sriman Madhvacharyaru in a famous debate. His defeat at the hands of Sriman Madhvacharyaru made the bold Shobhana Bhatta to renounce the world and accept sanyasa from Sriman Madhwacharyaru.

Our scriptures explain how difficult it is to be blessed with a guru who knows the real nature of the disciple. It requires several thousands of years of sadhana before one is blessed with such an opportunity to meet an all-knowing Guru. We can think how blessed Sri Padmanabha Theertharu was to have had the opportunity of being the direct disciple of the Sarvagna Jagadguru Sriman Madhwacharyaru himself.

After he drank the 'makaranda' - nectar called Bhasya from Sriman Madhvacharyaru, Sri Padmanabha Theertharu found other's bhashyas to be shallow and tasteless.

He was so impressed by the teachings of Sriman Madhvacharyaru that he used to enthrall the audience by comparing the works of Sriman Madhvacharyaru to a divine Kalpavriksha, capable of fulfilling all of one's desires. His conviction in the doctrine of Sriman Madhvacharyaru can be known from his statement before the audience that the result one gets by studying the works of Sriman Madhvacharyaru is beyond words and thoughts.

He was accredited to be the first to write a commentary, on the great Bhasya of Sriman Madhvacharyaru, which ably brings out the true meaning of the Bhasya. The prolific commentator of Madhva, Sri Jaya Theertharu, honors this great saint in his magnum opus Sriman Nyaya Sudha and pictures him as the serene land, auspicious enough to be the home of the lord of Lakshmi, and an ocean which gave rise to a bunch of invaluable pearls called Sannyaya Ratnavali.

Sri Jaya Theertharu (Teekacharyaru) owes his scholarship to Sri Padmanabha Tirtha while saying

"sa padmanabhatirthakhyagogaNostu dR^ishe mama

na tattva mArgegamanaM vinA yadupajeevanam"

We cannot proceed in the direction of truth without whose blessings, let the light called Sri Padmanabha Theertharu lead me in the right path. His Brindaavana is at Navabrindavana, near Hampi.

Works by Shri Padmanabha Theertharu :

Sutra Prasthaana

1. Sattarkadiipaavali - Commentary on Sriman Madhvacharya's Brahma-Suutra Bhaashya

2. Sannyaayaratnaavali - Commentary on Sriman Madhvacharya's (Anuvyakhyana)

Works relating to the Bhagavad Gita

1) Gitabhaashya-Bhaavadiipikaa

2) Gitataatparya-Nirnaya-Prakaashikaa

Others

1) Commentaries on the ten Prakaranas

Navabrindavana is small island situated nearby to Anegundi of Koppal District. Anegundi is 20 K.ms away from Gangavathi. From Anegundi one has to cross River Tungabhadra by boat to reach Navabrindavana. Another way to approach Navabrindavana is via Hampi. Hampi is 12 kms way from Hospet of Bellary District. In Hampi, again we have to cross River Tungabhadra to reach Navabrindavana.