Introduction
The Gurus like Sri Brahmanya Theertha of Abbur hold a lot of relevance now. That’s because, in the dark ages of Kali, when Dharma takes a back seat and Adharma drives the society, the common man experiences pain and emotional distress daily. It is because, Adharma results in violence, deceit, greed, infidelity, and other filths in the society. This causes stress, anxiety, and fear among people. So, it becomes difficult to lead a righteous life, as society is sunk in immorality.
What is the way out? – To lead a dharmic way of life in the dark ages of Kali, spirituality and deep love towards the divine are required.
Only through complete submission to God with devotion can one get the divine grace to lead a Dharmic life. However, submission to the divinity is not easy, and, that requires a correct understanding of the omnipotent/ omniscient God to one’s capacity.
Ancient scriptures of Bharatha Varsha
To know God, one should study and understand scriptures like Vedas, Puranas, Upanishads, Mahabharata, Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita, etc. One needs to lead a pious life based on what is mentioned there. To put it in simple words, understanding the divine in the truest sense is required to lead a blissful life. However, these scriptures are so complex with many inner meanings attached to each text, that it becomes impossible to comprehend them. We need help from Gurus to explain the true meaning of the scriptures.
Seeking refuge in Saints/ Gurus of yore, the only way forward
To grasp the essence of scriptures and through them, God, seeking refuge in Saints and Gurus (God-realized souls) becomes important.
From time immemorial, many Gurus and Saints, born in Bharata Varsh (India) have shown the common man, the way to reach God. Though these Gurus are long gone, some are inside their respective Vrundavans (Samadhis) in their arial bodies meditating on God even today. The saints, meditating in their Vrundavans for ages, bless the devotees who come to them (Vrundavans) with a staunch faith and do seva (selfless services). The problems, that tightly embraced the devotees, wither and go away because of the divine grace invoked by the meditating saints.
Guru’s grace is required to understand the scriptures.
Understanding the scriptures properly is necessary to attain Moksha (liberation from the cycle of birth and death). Only Gurus OR Saints who have realized God would be able to teach the true meaning of the scriptures. So, that explains why a Guru is required for man’s eternal inner journey towards the divine.
One such saint par excellence was Sri Bhramanya Theertha Swamiji of the 15th century whose Vrindavan is at Abbur near Chennapatna.
Sri Brahmanya Theertha (SBT)- a truly god-realized saint
Sri Brahmanya Theertha (SBT) was one of the saints in the lineage of Sri Madhwacharya, the founder of Dwaita philosophy, which propagates Tatvawada. SBT lived in the 15th century (1416 – 1467) and was deep into preaching and spreading Tatvawada to the world. SBT’s charama sloka is as follows
Charama Shloka :
कंसध्वंसिपदांभोजसंसक्तो हंसपुंगवः |
ब्रह्मण्यगुरुराजाख्यो वर्ततां मम मानसे ||
SBT believed to be an incarnation of Surya, shone with brilliance in the fifteenth century and left posterity with the invaluable gift of Sri Vyasaraja – philosopher, administrator, sage, and scholar – who has been unequaled in the Vedanta realms.
A Brief History of SBT
Not much has been documented about his life, but some details are available from the “Vijaya” composed by Sri Srinivasa Tirtha, a descendant of his order. SBT’s father, Ramacharya, was nicknamed Poogavana, possibly because he owned an areca farm. SBT was born in Nrihari Kshetra on the banks of the Cauvery River and was named Narasimha.
Sri Purushothama Theertha – the Guru of SBT
At the age of seven, after his Upanayana samskara, Narasimha was sent to study under Sri Purushotthama Tirtha, the successor of Sri Jayadhwaja Theertha (SJT) of Sri Madhwachara lineage. SJT is known for founding the Dvaita school in the north, particularly in Navadvipa (modern Bengal). Followers of ISKCON refer to him as Sri Jayadharma.
SBT had the highest level of devotion to God
Narasimha demonstrated remarkable intelligence, profound devotion to God, and a marked disinterest in worldly affairs. Sri Purushotthama Tirtha had received prophetic indications about Narasimha’s potential in his dreams. Narasimha’s education was completed swiftly, and he took the oaths of asceticism, given the name Brahmanya Tirtha by his guru. Shortly after that, Sri Purushotthama Tirtha entered a cave near Abbur and disappeared from human view.
Miracles performed by SBT
One miracle attributed to SBT is particularly noteworthy: after performing Puja, he sprinkled consecrated water on cold cooked food, which became fresh and hot.
The prince’s amputated limbs and hands grew back with SBT’s grace.
Once there lived a king named Thimmarasa. He had a son named Sarangadhara. When Sarangadhara’s mother died, Thimmarasa, even though he was aged, he married another Rajakumari. But Rajakumari as she was young, was not happy with the marriage. She wanted to have Sarangadhara (her husband’s first wife’s son) for her sexual satisfaction. When Sarangadhara rejected her request, she told her husband that Sarangadhara tried to rape her. Then the king ordered his servants to cut his son into pieces and throw him in the Kanva River. The servants obeyed the king’s orders. SBT happened to visit the Kanva River for his “Ahneeka” and he saw the Prince’s limbs and arms cut into pieces. Realizing the facts, Swamiji did the “Abhimantrana” of Mruthike on the prince’s body. His limbs and arms grew gradually (over several months) and became normal. It is the same place which is called Malur named after the incident.
SBT brought rains in the region known for famine
In the course of events, Sri Brahmanya Tirtha received the idol of Vittala after being guided to it in a dream. The idol had been buried in the ground. Following this, he traveled to the capital of Karnataka, possibly Srirangapattana, where he was approached by the king and the people of the state for help. At the time, the region was suffering from a severe drought. Upon his intervention, abundant rains were brought to the area. Appreciating his assistance, the king granted him a village named Brahmanyapura.
He did the “Nrusimha Dwajastamba” stapane in Brahmanyapura. He did the Pratistapane of Mukyaprana in Brahmanyapura along with Sreepadarajaru and Sri Vyasarajaru.
A pious Brahmin was brought back to life.
There was a pious Brahmin who was leaving on a pilgrimage to Banaras. Although his exact location is not specified, it is mentioned that he lived on the banks of the Cauvery River (referred to as Marudvrudha in the Rigveda). Unfortunately, he suddenly fell ill with a fever and died. His wife, grieving and childless, sought to commit Sati alongside her husband. Before doing so, she sought permission from SBT, the devotee of the Narasimha deity, which had been bestowed upon him by his guru.
SBT blessed the lady (widow) with the words, “Dheergha Sumangalee Bhava”, which means “May you enjoy long-lasting marital bliss.” She was confused and explained that she no longer had a husband. Sri Brahmanya Tirtha reassured her, saying, “Do not worry. Your husband is not dead, but is still alive.” He then gave her holy water with incantations. When applied to her husband’s body, it miraculously revived him. He woke up and sat as if nothing had ever happened to him.
Sri Vyasaraja Thirtha was born with the blessings of SBT
In gratitude and following SBT’s wishes, the couple dedicated their firstborn child to him. This child was received on a golden plate and fed with the milk used for the Lord’s Abhisheka. The boy, who would grow up to become the great Vyasaraja, underwent his Upanayana Samskara at age five and took the oath of asceticism at seven.
Sri Vyasaraja was raised and groomed under the tutelage of SripadaRaja.
Although SBT was highly learned, he sent Vyasaraja to study under Sri Sripadaraja at Mulbagal due to his old age. ShripadaRaja groomed him to achieve the pinnacle of success in spirituality. Sri Vyasaraja became renowned for his erudition, scholarship, and profound disinterest in personal gain, emerging as a leading authority and fountainhead of learning for Tatvavada in his time. SripadaRaja and Sri Vysaraja together consecrated Hole Anjaneya temple at Maddur.
SBT was getting old and when the right time came, he transferred the leadership to a suitable successor, and then SBT retired from his duties and entered into Samadhi in Abbur.
SBT Vrundavana at Abbur
The Vrundavana of SBT across the Kanva River is surrounded by lush green fields. The calm serene village ABBUR is, the divine resting place of SBT.
How do I get there?
Abbur is around 70 km from Bengaluru on the Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway.
By train: Board the train at Bengaluru ~ Mysuru train and alight at Chennapatna. Take an auto rickshaw to Abbur. It is around 6 km from Chanapatna on the way to Kanva Reservoir. Also, there are local buses from Chanapatna to Abbur. For Araadhana, special taxis/buses will be there from Channapatna.
By Bus: One can take the bus at Bengaluru and proceed towards Mysuru and alight at Chennapatna. From there take an auto to reach Abbur.
Also, visit the Aprameya temple site to learn more about Aprameya swami.
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