Parampara/ Sri Satyavara Theertha

Sri Sathyavara Theertha was a great Jnani and an unparalleled exponent of Dvaita Siddantha (propounded by none other than the Sriman Anandatheertha Bhagavatpadacharya). Sri Sathyadharma Theertha, (Sri Sathyavara Theertha’s successor) who is well known for HIS treatises and tippanis quotes the following in one of HIS works as “This work’s credit is not mine rather the entire credit should be given to Sri Sathyavara Theertha whose abundant blessings has made me write the same as how a father would make his son write !”. This shows not only Sri Sathyadharma Theertha’s humbleness and HIS Gurubhakti but primarily it shows the greatness of Sri Sathyavara Theertha’s Siddhi and Tapas Shakti. We also can understand how important it is to gain the blessings of the Guru in any work we undertake and one can be assured of a successful outcome if the complete blessings of the Guru are bestowed upon us before conducting any holy tasks.

Sri Sathyavara Theertha was the direct Shishya of Sri Sathyasandha Theertha and 27^th in the line of succession to have adorned the Great Peetha of Sri Uttaradi Math. Although, His period in Vedantha Samrajya was just 3 years, His Holiness made a lasting impression in the line of spiritual masters who were the Peethadipathis of Sri Uttaradi Math, through His Jnana (Knowledge), Bhakthi (Devotion) and Vairagya. He was a great Jnani who was well know for His knowledge in the entire gamut of Shastras as well as known to have performed several miracles and toured the length and breadth of this country with the task of propounding the Dvaita philosophy as was propagated by Srimad Anandatheertha Bhagavadpadacharya. Sri Sathyavara Theertha before His pre-sanyasa days was well known by the name of Sri Jhulpi Krishnacharya. As in those periods, Father used to be the first guru for any child and Sri Jhulpi Krishnacharya’s education was under the tutelage of His father Sri Subannacharya. Later He learnt the secrets of Vedanta as well as Nyaya Shastra under the able guidance of Sri Sathyabodha Theertha.

During this period, Sri Ramachandracharya and Gururayacharya (grandson too) were also the students of Sri Sathyabodha Theertha and later they became the Peethadipathis of Sri Uttaradi Math as Sri Sathyasandha Theertha and Sri Sathyaparayana Theertha respectively. He did specialization of Vyakarana, Mimamsa and other Shastra under a very well known pundit Sri Tirupati Balacharya.

Sri Sathyavara Theertha was also instrumental in initiating a very well known Vedanta Pundit known as Adavi Acharya as Sri Vishnutheertha. We all know that as Pearls are found in the oceans, Sri Sathyavara Theertha found and nurtured two great pearls of Dvaita Siddhantha Sri Vishnu Theertha and Sri Sathyadharma Theertha. 

Sri Sathyavara Theertha’s period as Sri Uttaradhi Math’s pontiff was quite short for a period of just 3 years and 4 months only. Sri Sathyasandha Theertha gave Sanyasa Deeksha to Sri Krishnacharya and named Him Sri Sathyavara Theertha. Sri Sathyavara Theertha stayed at Mahishi for almost six months and constructed His Guru’s Brindavana along with the Pratishthana of Sri Hanuman and Srimad Ashwathnarayana Swamy. Mahishi has become a very holy place since then and one who visits Sri Sathyasandha never returns empty handed. Sri Sathyavara Theertha also visited His Vidya Guru Sri Sathyabodha Theertha at Savanur and dedicated a work called “Srimad Vishnusaharsranama Vivruthi” composed by Sri Sathyasandha Theertha along with performing a lakh japa on Pranava mantra and a lakh Tulasi arachane to Sri Moola Rama and Sri Vedavyasa ending with annasantharpane to a lakh Brahmanas. This incident looked like “Na Bhuto Na Bhavishyathi” i.e never in past as well as future such a holy activity will happen in this Kaliyuga.

Sri Sathyavara Theertha left to Pennugonda and visited the Brindavan of Sri Vedavyasa Theertha who was the immediate successor of Sri Raghothama Theertha. Poornaiah pundit coming to know of this decision sent his most trusted friends and advised His Holiness against His decision citing the unfavorable political climate. His Holiness listened to the advice of Diwan Poornaiah again and stayed back at Naamagondalu. On Ashada Shuddha Chaturdasi, when Shri Satyavara Tirtharu got up early in the morning and was preparing for His morning rituals, a thief sneaked into His Holiness’s room and took away the box containing the idols of Sri Rama and Sri Seetha. His Holiness after the bath observed that the box was missing and informed all His Shishyas to search for the same. After futile efforts, His Holiness became very sad and felt that Sri Rama was testing Him for some reason. Immediately He decided (took a vow) to fast until the idols were found and He would be able to perform pooja for the same. On coming to know of this incident Diwan Poonaiah rushed to Naamgondalu and promised His Holiness that he would put his entire resources at his command to find the stolen items and persuaded His Holiness to give up the total fasting. Sri Sathyavara Theertha never accepted His giving up the fast, instead would perform daily pooja and take the Theertha and would sit for performing deep meditation. Perhaps the powers of the meditation of His Holiness were so much that the thief decided to return the idols. On the 21^st day, the thief returned the lost idols after taking away all the jewelry covered in a plantain leaf and His Holiness’s joy knew no bounds (Though the Math had lost considerable jewelry, a Sanyasi would only bother about the idols which are of immense value). These were discovered by Sri Navarathna Annayyacharya and handed over to His Holiness. His Holiness commemorated this incident in a grand manner after sanctifying the idols according to the Shastras and Diwan Poornaiah also participated in the same. The twenty-one days of fast had taken its toll on His Holiness and He could never recover from it completely.

Diwan Poornaiah observing the failing health of Sri Sathyavara Theertha, politely requested His Holiness to appoint the next successor. Sri Sathyavara theertha readily agreed to the advice in the right spirit without any qualms. His Holiness felt that the one and only person who had the capability to take over Sri Uttaradi Math and perform the Pooja of Sri Rama and His Parivara as well as carry the torch of Vedanta knowledge forward was Sri Navarathna Acharya who was also His Holiness’s batch mate when He was studying under Sri Sathyabodha Theertha and also had first discovered the stolen idols. Diwan Poornaiah and the other pundits took this as an order and on Shravana Shuddha Panchami, Sri Sathyavara Theertha named his successor as Sri Sathyadharma Theertha and exactly two days after this on Shravana Shuddha Sapthami left the mortal body at Naamgondalu and His Brindavana was constructed at His place Santhebidanoor. Diwan Poornaiah himself oversaw the Brindavana construction at Santhebidanoor.

 The entire building can house about 250 – 300 people at a time and just opposite the Brindavana is Sri Mukhyaprana’s temple and there is also a Ashvatha Tree along with Naga Pratimas. .

Poorvashrama Details of Sri Sathyavara Theertha:

In His poorvashrama he was known by the name of Sri Krishnacharya. His father Sri Subannacharya and His uncle Sri Madhvacharya (Father of Sri Sathyasandha Theertha) were also well known exponents of Dvaita Siddantha.