Sri Vishwavallabha Tirtha of Sode Mutt all set to ascend the ‘Paryaya Peetha’

By Eugene DSouza, Moodubelle
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 17 January 2012:  Under the  bi-annual Paryaya  tradition, Sri Vishwavallabha Tirtha, the 36th pontiff of  the Sode Mutt  is all set to take up the responsibility of worshipping  Shri Krishna idol in the Shri Krishna temple at Udupi and its administration with effect from January 18, 2012 following the grand paryaya ceremonies by which the privileges will be passed on to Sri Vishwavallabha Tirtha  by the incumbent paryaya swamiji- Sri Laxmivara Tirtha of the Shiroor Mutt. As the city of Udupi is gearing up for the  great day, it would be appropriate to know about the paryaya tradition, Sode mutt and Sri Vishwavallabhateertha.

 

Sri Madhwacharya, the great dwaita philosopher and founder oof eight mutts installed the idol of Sri Krishna at Udipi . He appointed eight ‘bala sanyasis’ to perform the worship (pooja) by turns of two years for each mutt. 

Sri Madhwacharya

Sode Mutt is one such dedicated for the worship of the idol of Shri Krishna at Udipi. Sri Vadiraja Tirtha was the head of the Sode Mutt in the 15th and 16th Century.  This is located in the Southeast corner of the Car Street. Before the time of Vadhiraja the main village branch of this mutt was in Kumbhasi village. Hence it was known as Kumbhasi Mutt.

 

It was during the time of Vadiraja Swamiji, Arasappa Navak of Sode gifted land properties at Sode to honour the Swamiji. Vadriraja Swamiji constructed a big Mutt there and renamed this Mutt as Sode Mutt. The main branches of all seven Mutts are in the villages of South Kanara whereas that of Sode Mutt alone is in the North Kanara District around 20 kilometres from Sirsi.

Sode Mutt near Sirsi

Sode Mutt in Udupi

Sri Bhuvaraha

Sri Hayagriva

The original pontiff of this mutt, Sri Vishnu Tirtha  started worshipping the idol of Bhuvaraha gifted by Sri Madhvacharya. The idol is known for its remarkable iconography with Bhuudevi on one thigh and the other leg supporting on the hood of serpent. Along with Bhuvaraha idol of the personal god of Vadiraja namely Hayagriya is also worshipped. Sri Hayagriva is the presiding deity of knowledge and accordingly the idol has in hand the mudra of knowledge, book, rosary and conch. 

Sri Vishwavallabha Tirtha:

Sri Vishwavallabha Tirtha Swami was born on March 24, 1991 as the second son of the learned scholar Vedamoorthi Padigaru Srinivasa Tantri and Srimathi Vedavathi. He was named Raghava as he was born on the auspicious day of Rama Navami

 

Raghava Tantri in his pre-monastic days was initiated into asceticism on June 14, 2006 by his Guru, Sri Vishwothama Tirtha, the 35th pontiff of Sri Sode Mutt and Raghava was renamed as Sri Vishwavallabha Tirtha. The custom of the appointment of a successor personally by the concerned senior Swamiji is a rare occurrence in the annals of the eight Mutts of Udupi. For reasons best known to them, the Swamijis do not nominate their successor during their life time. The usual practice is that when a Swamiji passes away without nominating a successor, it is the prerogative of the head of the Dwandwa Mutt to select a person to fill that vacancy. As a welcome change, the Sode Mutt enjoys the unique distinction of an unbroken tradition of selection of the successor by the Sode Swamiji as distinct from the pontiff of the Dwandwa Mutt.

Sri Vishwavallabha Tirtha

Soon after his initiation, the young Swamiji mastered the regulations governing the performance of worship and the Nitya Naimittikas at the Mutt under the able guidance of his Guru, Sri Vishwottama Tirtha Swamiji, assisted by Vedamurthi Konandur Sri Gopala Acharya. Sri Vidyasagara  Tirtha, head of Sri Krishnapura Mutt taught him Vedanta and all scriptures. While Udayakumar Saralatthaya taught him the Vedapatas, Raghavendra Puranik trained him in Vyakarana.

 

Sri Vishwavallabha Tirtha paid special attention to the educational institutions established by his great Guru, at Innanje near Shankarpura. These institutions ranging from Pre-primary class to high school and Pre-university College are functioning successfully. A new building has been constructed to accommodate the students studying in standards 8 to 10. A high school with English as the medium of instruction has been established for the benefit of the students of rural areas.

 

Sri Vishwavallabha Tirtha was chiefly responsible for establishing at record time the “Sri Madhw Vadiraja Institute of Technology and Management” at  Vishwothama Nagar, Bantakal. Swamiji showed great interest and initiated the completion of several developmental works started by his Guru, at the original Mutt at Sode.

 

In addition to the above achievements, Swamiji constructed a new ’Goshala’, and enhanced the beauty of the place by constructing gardens and parks. The birth place of Sri Vadiraja’s mother was Renjala. The branch of the historic mutt in Renjala was in a very dilapidated condition. Realizing the unique importance of the place, Sri Vishwavallabha Tirtha renovated the building. In accordance with the wish of his Guru, he took over the administration of the Vishnumoorthi temple at Undaru. In order to provide additional accommodation to the pilgrims visiting Sode, Sri Vishwavallabha Tirtha constructed Rajadhama lodges.

 

With a view to promoting literature and disseminating Sri Madhwa’s philosophy, he started publishing a quarterly magazine called ’Tatwa Mallika.’ 

 

Paryaya 2012 is the first paryaya of  Sri Vishwavallabha Tirtha. Following the ceremonies on January 18, 2012, Sri Vishwavallabha Tirtha will inherit the privileges of worshipping the idol of Shri Krishna at Udupi and the administrative charge of the temple for  the next two years till January 2014.

(From various sources)