Kaliyugada Kalpataru
Fourth Delight
Sri Vyasa Raja Yati Sarvabhouma
Authored by Raja, S. Gururajacharya
5. Eminent Spiritual Personalities
In this revered lineage, many eminent personalities have emerged, gaining worldwide fame. Among them are the founder of the Dvaita philosophy, Srimadacharya, and his disciples who led the Dvaita empire, including Sripadmanabha Tirtha, Srinarahari Tirtha, Srimadhava Tirtha, Srikota Tirtha, Srijaya Tirtha, Srividhyadhiraja Tirtha, Srirajendra Tirtha, Srikavindra Tirtha, Srijayadhwaja Tirtha, Srivagisha Tirtha, Sriramachandra Tirtha, Srivibudhendra Tirtha, Srijitamitra Tirtha, Sriraghunandana Tirtha, Srisurendra Tirtha, Sripurushottama Tirtha, Sriswarnavarna Tirtha, Sribrahmanya Tirtha, Srilakshminarayana Muni, Srivyasaraja, Srivijayeendra Tirtha, Srinarayana Yati, Srisudheendra Tirtha, Sriraghavendra Tirtha, and Srisumatheendra Tirtha. Additionally, the eminent Haridasas of Karnataka, such as Sripurandaradasa, Srivijayadasa, Srigopaladasa, and Srijagannathadasa, are also part of this illustrious lineage. Given the prominence of these revered personalities, further elaboration on this sacred lineage seems unnecessary.
In this lineage, there are followers of Dvaita, Advaita, and Bhagavata traditions, all of whom accepted the supremacy of Lord Vishnu and became disciples of Srimadavacharya during his time.
The followers of the Shiva Sarvottamatva philosophy and the Advaita tradition, who are devotees of Sri Shankaracharya, as well as followers of the Bhagavata tradition, are renowned as members of this Shashthika lineage. Despite being adherents of different philosophies for centuries, they proudly identify themselves as part of the Shashthika lineage even today. Notably, the senior Swamiji of the internationally renowned Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham is a Kannadiga who identifies himself as belonging to the Shashthika lineage.
Many distinguished historical figures also belong to this lineage. For instance, Veeraballala, the grandson of Vishnuvardhana, who ruled from Dwarasamudra from 1173 to 1220 AD, had Rudrabhatta of the Shashthika lineage as his minister. Rudrabhatta composed the epic "Jagannathavijaya" and was praised by Jain poets as "Krutisharadabhrachudrataprudra." Gangadharabhattan, the founder of the Bahmani state, was also a prominent figure in this lineage.
Virtually all the Peethadishas who graced the throne of Srimadacharya's Vedanta empire belonged to the Shashthika lineage. Starting from Sripadmanabha Tirtha, the disciple of Srimadacharya, to Srijayatirtha's disciple Srividhyadhiraja Tirtha, this lineage continued unbroken. During the time of Srividhyadhiraja, Srivijayeendra Tirtha established two significant institutions following the direction of Sri Sarvagna.
The institution where Sri Rajendra Tirtha served became known as the Purvadi Matha or the institution of Sri Rajendra Tirtha. It later gained fame as the Sri Vyasaraja Matha, as Sri Vyasarajaguru Sarvabhouma, a renowned figure, graced it. All the Peethadishas who presided over this institution up to Sri Bhashyadeepikacharya belonged to the Shashthika lineage, although this tradition eventually ceased for various reasons.
In the renowned “Dakshinadimath” or “Srivibudhendra Matha Vidya Matha” established by Srimadacharya, from Sripadmanabha Tirtha to the present day, the heads of the institution have been from the Shashthika lineage, highlighting the importance and distinctiveness of this sixty-two-family lineage. The prominent institutions founded by the heads of Srimadacharya’s tradition, such as the Sripadmanabha Tirtha Satsampradaya Sri Padaraj Matha, the Srimadhava Tirtha Satsampradaya Srimadhava Tirtha Matha or Majjigehalli Matha, and the Satrampare Sri Aktoabhya Tirtha Matha established by Srimadhavya Tirtha, have also had leaders from the Shashthika lineage until recently, where the tradition seems to have ceased.
The lineage established by Srimadhava Tirtha, known for the Lokya Bhushana Prashishya Sri Lokapujya, split into two during his time. One Matha was led by Sripunakeerti, known today as the Sri Aktoabhya Tirtha original institution of Balagaru Matha, while the other was led by Sriraghupungava, now known as the Sri Kudligi Arya Aktoabhya Tirtha Matha. In these Mathas, particularly in the Kudligi Sri Aktoabhya Tirtha Matha, the tradition of having heads from the Shashthika lineage, specifically disciples of Sri Raghavendra Swami’s Matha, continued for five to six decades. Due to various reasons and some interventions, this tradition ceased. In the Balagaru Matha, the leadership alternated between the Shashthika lineage and others. The current head, Sri Raghumanaya Tirtha, is a grandson of the Shashthika lineage.
In the Sripadmanabha Tirtha Satsampradaya Sri Padaraj Matha, the heads have been from the Shashthika lineage from the past to the present day.
In the renowned institution of Srimadacharya, the Dakshinadi Math, also known as the Math of Srivibudhendra or Sri Raghavendra Tirtha, the heads have consistently belonged to the Shashthika lineage from the beginning until today. Additionally, since the time of Sri Raghavendra Swami, the heads have been from the “Beegamudre” family of the Pak lineage and the Gautama gotra. In the Sri Sripadaraja Math, since his time, the heads have been from the Vishwamitra and Gautama gotras and the “Beegamudre” family. This is a significant aspect of the Dvaita philosophy.
In this illustrious Shashthika lineage, Vallabhadeva, born into the Kashyapa gotra, was a royal representative in the Vattapura or Bannur region of what is now Tirumakudalu Taluk in Karnataka. He was the son-in-law of Dhundiraja, a vassal of Jamkhandi. Vallabhadeva had a son named Narasimhadeva and a daughter named Bharati. Narasimhadeva, the son of Vallabhadeva, was married to Rukkambe. They had six sons, blessed by Sri Jayadhwaja Tirtha, the brother of Sri Rajendra Tirtha. The youngest, Ramacharya, was known in political circles as Vallabhasumati or Balannasumati.
In the 15th century, the Bannur region, part of the Talakadu kingdom, was ruled by Venkata Giri Nayaka. His ministers, royal priests, and close associates included Narasimhadeva, also known as Balbanasumati, the father of Ramacharya. After Narasimhadeva, Ramacharya's father, served as the minister, he took charge of the administration under Venkata Giri Nayaka's rule in Bannur.
This sixty-two-family lineage is notable for its distinguished figures, including direct disciples of Srimadacharya and leaders of his Vedanta empire, such as Sri Abhyatirtha, Sri Jayatirtha, Sri Vidyadhiraja, Sri Rajendra, Kavindra, Jayadhwaja, Purushottama, Swarnavarna, Brahmanya, and Lakshminarayana Muni. Close associates like Sri Surendra Tirtha, Vijayeendra, and Sudheendra Tirtha, all belonging to the Shashthika lineage, further emphasize the importance of this lineage. Hence, it is essential to provide some details about this remarkable family lineage.
This Shashthika lineage consists of fourteen gotras. They are as follows: 1) Kashyapa Gotra, 2) Atreya Gotra, 3) Bharadwaja Gotra, 4) Vishwamitra Gotra, 5) Gautama Gotra, 6) Jamadagni Gotra, 7) Vasishtha Gotra, 8) Shandilya Gotra, 9) Agastya Gotra, 10) Haritsa Gotra, 11) Badarayana Gotra, 12) Kaundinya Gotra, 13) Kaushika Gotra, and 14) Srivatsa Gotra. Due to the loss of four families in battle and the extinction of the Bharata lineage without heirs, only sixty of the sixty-four families survived and thrived. Hence, they became known as the Sixty Families or Shashthikas.
The "Swarnabhandaari" or Gold Treasurer lineage of the Shashthika Bharadwaja Gotra is renowned for its education, conduct, and culture. In this lineage were the brothers Keshava Bhatta and Dhundhiraja. Keshava Bhatta's son was Govinda Bhatta. During the height of the Kadamba Empire, their ancestors held the position of the empire's treasurer. Thus, they earned the name "Swarnabhandaari" or Gold Treasurers. The supreme ruler of the Kadamba Empire, Trinetra Kadamba, honored them by granting them the region of Bhandarakere near present-day Shivamogga district due to their education, conduct, talent, character, bravery, and loyalty to the empire. People respected them as Bhatts, Nayakas, and Swarnabhandaari.
During the reign of the famous emperor Mayuravarma of the Kadamba Empire, a significant religious dispute arose related to the Ashwamedha Yajna, leading to differences between the emperor and the Shashthikas. As a result, the Shashthikas, valuing their religious and philosophical principles more than their positions and wealth, left the Kadamba Empire and settled in Devagiri, the capital of the Chalukyas, along with their relatives. Their steadfast commitment to their faith and willingness to abandon their positions for the sake of religious preservation earned them widespread admiration and respect.
After leaving the Kadamba Empire, one generation of the Shashthika lineage settled in the Dakshina Kannada region, another in the Kalinga region, a third in present-day Maharashtra, and another in the Sringeri region, while the remaining members settled in Devagiri.
In the Shashthika lineage that settled in Dakshina Kannada, Srimadhyagehabhatta and his son Srimadacharya became world-renowned figures. Among the Shashthikas who went to Kalinga, Sri Shobhanabhatta (Sripadmanabha Tirtha) and Sri Shama Shastri (Srinarahari Tirtha) gained prominence. The Shashthikas who settled in Maharashtra later became famous as the 'Chitpavan' community. This lineage produced notable figures, including the Peshwas of Maharashtra. The Shashthikas who went to Sringeri became the ancestors of the brothers known as Srividyaranya, renowned Advaita scholars.
The Swarnabhandaari lineage of the Shashthikas, who settled in Devagiri, impressed the Chalukya kings with their knowledge, talent, bravery, and valor. The Chalukya rulers honored them by appointing them as vassals of Jamkhandi. Similarly, other Shashthikas were granted villages and lands in the Chalukya kingdom and were respected with various high positions within the empire.
In the Swarnabhandaari lineage, Keshavabhatta and Dhundhiraja were renowned and ruled the Jamkhandi region. Keshavabhatta's son Govindabhatta, born in 1282 AD, became a great scholar. After Keshavabhatta, Govindabhatta ruled the Jamkhandi region. During this time, he met Sriman Madhvacharya and, inspired by his presence, became a devoted follower of Madhvacharya's philosophy. Later, Govindabhatta renounced worldly life, handed over the governance to his uncle Dhundhiraja in 1312 AD, and accepted the Paramahamsa Ashram from Madhvacharya, becoming known as Sri Aktoabhya Tirtha.
Before Madhvacharya's final disappearance to Badarikashrama, he had arranged for his Vedanta empire to be led successively by his disciples Sripadmanabha Tirtha, Srinarahari Tirtha, Srimadhava Tirtha, and the youngest, Sri Aktoabhya Tirtha, who continued to manage the Dvaita empire. This is a well-known historical fact.
Srividyaranya, the founder of the Vijayanagara Empire, and Sri Aktoabhya Tirtha were classmates and friends in their earlier ashram life, both belonging to the Shashthika lineage. While one established the Advaita philosophy and the other the Dvaita philosophy, they maintained their friendship despite their philosophical differences. It is notable that Sri Aktoabhya Tirtha stayed for some time in the developing Vijayanagara and later left due to the corrupt practices of Emperor Somasekhara, moving to Manya Kheta. Later, in Mulbagal, during a philosophical debate, Sri Aktoabhya Tirtha defeated Vidyaranya in the interpretation of the phrase 'Tat Tvam Asi' and established a 'Victory Pillar.' This event is well-documented in history.
Dhundiraja, who ruled Jamkhandi, had three sons—Narahari Nayaka, Krishnappa Nayaka, and Raghunatha Nayaka—and two daughters. Dhundiraja married his eldest daughter to Sarvottamadeva of the Bharata lineage and his second daughter to Vallabhadeva of the Shashthika lineage and Kashyapa gotra, who ruled the Bannur region under Gangaraja's dominion.
Around this time, a conflict arose between Allauddin of the Bahmani state and the rulers of Devagiri. Dhundiraja of Jamkhandi, along with his son-in-law Sarvottamadeva and his younger son Raghunatha Nayaka, joined the forces supporting Devagiri against Allauddin. Unfortunately, during the battle, Dhundiraja sustained severe injuries, and Sarvottamadeva was killed, attaining martyrdom. Raghunatha Nayaka, who was fighting elsewhere, arrived too late to change the course of events. The Bahmani forces won the battle, and Jamkhandi came under their control. However, under the orders of Gangadhar Bhatta, a distant relative of Dhundiraja, founder of the Bahmani state and chief minister and advisor to Allauddin, the latter reinstated Raghunatha Nayaka as the ruler of Jamkhandi, respecting Dhundiraja's advanced age.
Raghunatha Nayaka, after renouncing worldly life, divided his estate into four parts. He gave two parts to his elder brother Narahari Nayaka and his second younger brother Krishnappa Nayaka, which included the Manavi region and parts of Purandara (Pur) in the present-day Shivamogga district. He entrusted the remaining two parts to a trust committee for the support of scholars and the provision of food for pilgrims. Raghunatha Nayaka then accepted the Paramahamsa Ashram from his uncle’s son and the head of the Acharya Mahasansthan, Sri Aktoabhya Tirtha, around 1363-65 AD. He became known as Sri Jayatirtha and earned fame worldwide for his renowned commentaries on Srimadacharya's original texts, gaining the title 'Tikacharya.'
Sarvottamadeva of the Bharata lineage of the Shashthika clan, the eldest son-in-law of Dhundiraja, left behind two young sons, Rajadeva and Jayadeva, upon his death in battle. Rajadeva, the elder, later became Sri Rajendra Tirtha. His brother Jayadeva became Sri Jayadhwaja Tirtha. Sri Vidyadhiraja Tirtha granted the ashram to the elder brother, who became Sri Rajendra Tirtha. Sri Vagisha Tirtha's nephew, Sri Kavindra Tirtha, became the younger successor. Both became disciples of Sri Vidyadhiraja and leaders of Srimadacharya's Mahasansthan. After Sri Rajendra Tirtha, his younger brother Jayadeva succeeded him as Sri Jayadhwaja Tirtha.
Among the fourteen gotras of the Sixty-One Families lineage, Vishwamitra Gotra is one. This gotra includes six families, among which the 'Betta' family is renowned. In this family, Timmanabhatta was a learned scholar and a bright personality. He was entrusted by Naraharivarma, the king of Chandragiri, with the administration and religious affairs of the Tirupati Srinivasa Deva temple. Hence, people respected Timmanabhatta as the 'Betta Acharya.'
In this family, two brothers, Sheshagiri Sharma and Bhima Sharma, gained prominence. The elder, Sheshagiri Sharma, married Bharati Devi, the daughter of Vallabhadeva of Bannur. Sheshagiri Sharma and Bharati Devi had many sons, including the renowned Sri Purushottama Tirtha, Sri Swarnavarna Tirtha, Sri Brahmanya Tirtha, and Sri Lakshminarayana Muni, also known as Sri Padaraja Tirtha.
Sri Purushottama Tirtha received the ashram from Sri Jayadhwaja Tirtha, the disciple of Sri Rajendra Tirtha, and became the head of that great institution. His successor was Sri Brahmanya Tirtha. Both Sri Brahmanya Tirtha and Sri Lakshminarayana Muni became heads of the Sri Padmanabha Tirtha Matha, established by Sri Padmanabha Tirtha and renowned in his name.
The illustrious relatives of these eminent figures include Surendra Tirtha of the Kashyapa gotra, Sri Vijayeendra Tirtha and Sri Sudheendra Tirtha of the Chinnabhandaari lineage. All three achieved immense fame as the heads of Srimadacharya's Mahasansthan in the esteemed lineage of Sri Kavindra Tirtha. Their relative, Lakshminarasimha Acharya of the Kashyapa gotra, was the husband of Venkatanamba Devi, the elder sister of the world-renowned Sri Raghavendra Swami, in his pre-monastic life.
Sri Vijayeendra Tirtha and his brother Guruprasad are descendants of Narahari Nayaka, from the Bharadwaja gotra, who was the younger brother of Sri Jayatirtha in his pre-monastic life. Srinivasa Nayaka, a descendant of Krishna Nayaka, Narahari Nayaka's younger brother, was the son of Varadappa Nayaka. Srinivasa Nayaka later became the illustrious Sri Purandara Dasa, the jewel of the Vaishnava tradition.
Krishna Bhatta of the 'Beegamudre' family, belonging to the Gautama gotra, was a relative of Sri Lakshminarayana Muni (Sri Padaraja), and the great-grandfather of Sri Raghavendra Swami. Thus, at the time when our narrative begins, the renowned Brahmanya Tirtha adorned the Srimadacharya's Mahasansthan, succeeding Sri Rajendra Tirtha from the esteemed Shashthika lineage.