Sri Vidyanidhi Theertharu (UTTARADHI MUTT)

Sri Vidyanidhi Theertharu succeeded the throne of the Vedanta Samrajya of the Uttaradi Matha after Sri Ramachandra Theertharu and ruled for a very long period. His charama shloka mentions that he worshipped Sri Moola Rama for nearly Sixty Eight years.

The miraculous manner in which he ascended to the peetha and got the blessings of Sri Moola Rama is a great evidence of his utmost devotion and eligibility. Once Sri Ramachandra Theertharu fell seriously ill and ordained one of his disciples Kambhaluri Narasimhacharya to Sanyasa who was later named as Sri Vibhudendra Theertharu with a view of installing him to the throne of Vedanta Samrajya before he entered Brindavana. He gave some minor idols and Saligramas to Sri Vibhdendra Theertharu for his daily worship, but none from the pooja box of the Math and sent him on tour for propagation of Madhwa philosophy with specific instructions that he would send for him at the appropriate time.

Soon, Sri Ramachandra Theertharu felt that the time came for formally handing over the Math to Sri Vibhudendra Theertharu. He immediately sent a word to Shri Vibhudendra Theertharu. Sri Vibhudendra Theertharu, who was on tour at that time, could not come back to Yaragola in time. Sri Ramachandra Theertharu, therefore was compelled to ordain Sri Vidyanidhi Theertharu as his possible successor. At the same time he did not want to deprive Sri Vibhudendra Theertharu from the pontification of the Uttaradi Math. He therefore asked Dharmanna and other villagers of Yaragola to intern the pooja box after his Nirvana in a deep pit, with clear instructions that if Sri Vibhudendra Theertharu came within six months of his passing away, he would take it out and succeed him. However, if he did not turn up within the specified time, the pooja box should be handed over to Sri Vidyanidhi Theertharu, who would be the next Peethadipati and rightful successor to the Uttaradi Math. When Sri Vibhudendra Theertharu did not turn up even after six months, Dharmanna and others requested Sri Vidyanidhi Theertharu to take the pooja box to perform the usual pooja.

When Dharmanna and others were ready to dig to take out the pooja box, Sri Vibhudendra Theertharu happened to come to Yaragola and asked for the pooja box to to be delivered to him for worship. Confusion prevailed as to who would be the rightful successor of the Peetha and gets an opportunity to worship Moola Rama and other Math's dieties.

Dharmanna and others decided to leave every thing to the God himself, by imposing one condition that the two saints should offer the prayers one after the other . The Pooja Box would be handed over to him at whose prayers the earth where the pooja box was kept sunders.

The two saints happily agreed to the suggestions made by Dharmanna and others. Sri Vibhudendra Theertharu being the senior saint first offered the prayers for three days and nothing happened. On the fourth day the turn of Sri Vidyanidhi Theertharu came, he prayed Lord Rama with utmost devotion. After a few minutes suddenly the soil where the pooja box was kept sundered and came up a few inches above the surface of the ground.

Then the villagers of the Yaragola asked Sri Vidyanidhi Theertharu to take over the pooja box and the samsthana of the Uttaradi Math. Thus the Uttaradi Mutt was presided by the Sri Vidyanidhi Theertharu, who became the rightful successor of Sri Ramachandra Theertharu.

Sri Vidyanidhi Theertharu travelled all over India spreading Madhva Philosophy. He went to Simhachalam and had the darshan of Lord Varaha Narasimha Swamy. He did penance there at Simhachalam and got boons from Sri Varaha Narasimha Swamy.

He had exhibited his scholarship with the discourse of Sriman Nyaya Sudha. His name itself speaks of his scholarship. He had many debates with followers of other schools. He was honoured by the King on Anegundi.

During his period, extensive lands were gifted to the Matha near Raichur of present Karnataka State which are all still with the Uttaradi Mut. When his end came Sri Vidyanidhi Theertharu handed over the Math to Sri Raghunatha Theertharu and entered Brindavana at Yaragola near his Guru's Brindavana on Kartika Bahula Chaturthi.

Yaragola comes under Gulbarga District. It is neary about 65 K.M from Gulbarga and 20 kms from Yadagir.