The Abracadabra on Paryaya politics at Udupi Sri Krishna Temple has prompted me to join the issue. The community, that is the Madhwas, hold Sri Madhwacharya, their original preceptor as a reincarnation of Lord Hanuman of Ramayana context. Hanuman had crossed the seas four times. Once for going to Lanka and returning to bring the Chudamani from Sita Devi. Second time was to fly from the battle field to the Himalayas to bring the Sanjeevini Mountain to revive Lakshmana, who had fallen unconscious in the battle field. So, the trend of Saagarollanghana was set long ago.
Rukmini, the consort of Lord Krishna in Dwaparayuga, was worshiping Krishna idol, which is worshipped now at Udupi by the Yathis of Ashta Mutts turn by turn. In Kaliyuga, the idol was burried in the special clay available in Dwaraka (Gopichandana). This clay - lump was used as ballast by a sailship in the thirteenth century by a merchant. While the ship was coming on the Arabian Sea to go round Kanyakumari, it was caught in a storm near Udupi.
The legend goes that Sri Madhwacharya rescued the ship from drowning and as a mark of gratitude; the Acharya took the clay lump containing the idol of Lord Krishna and established the same at Udupi. Hence, Samudrollanghana is nothing new to the community of Madhwas.
Further, Lord Vishnu, the supreme, is popularly depicted as lying on a mattress formed by Sheshanaga's coils in the sea of milk (Ksheerashayana). God knows how many times God had to cross the seas to come down to earth and rescue his devotees!
Jokes apart, the rule of prohibiting travel across the seas for Yathis must have come from the rigorous discipline of ritual bathing observing madi, partaking sanctified food and so on. This was probably valid before the advent of air travel. Once, travelling by air became common, the Yathis found it very easy to land midway and observe all traditional disciplines in any devotee's house.
In a place like United States of America also, there are lakhs of Madhwa devotees, who deem it an honour to host the Yathis and extend all the necessary facilities. In such a context, I just do not understand why Sri Vibhudesha Thirtha of Adamaar Mutt, one of the Ashta Mutts, abdicated his right to ascend the Paryaya Peeta in late 1980s.
Sri Madhwacharya, in his scholarly work yathipranavakalpa has set out how a yathi has to be ordained, what are his duties and principles governing the duties and so on. In the 16th shloka of this work, it is stipulated that the yathi who is ordained has to take an oath in the presence of his guru that he will never forsake his disciples (vaishnavas).
Further, while concluding the work, the Acharya says Vishnoh Sarvoththamatvam Sarvadaa Pratipaadaya (uphold the supremacy of the Lord always). If one does not cross the seas and beyond the shores, how can one carry out this basic principle? Are we not missing the woods for counting the trees?
It is not that whatever ordained by Acharya Madhwa is being flouted. In fact, when the system of Paryaya Peeta was established by the Acharya, the period he had prescribed was two months term of the yathis of Ashta Mutts. That was in the 14th century. After a period of about two centuries or more, Sri Vadirajaswamy of Sode Mutt changed it two years, which is holding now.
In the contemporary context, the question should not be why a yathi crossed the seas and visited foreign countries. On the other hand, it should be why other yathis are not going abroad. Adhering to an outdated practice would only amount to living in the past. So, disqualifying Sri Sugunendra Thirtha of Puttige Mutt, himself a renowned scholar and disciple of Pejawar Seer from ascending the Paryaya Peeta sounds incongruous.
K. Raghavendra Rao
Courtesy: Star of Mysore
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