Sonda- Spiritual abode of Shri Vaadiraja
Sonda is small little village in the Sirsi taluk of Uttara Kannada district situated at a distance of around 450km from Bangalore and 20km from Sirsi. It is mostly known as a pilgrimage center due to the presence of three prominent Mutts: the Swarnavalli Mutt, the Vadiraj Mutt and the Jain Mutt. These attract hundreds of pilgrims mostly through out the year. The green surroundings, typical to the Malnad area of Sonda and Sirsi add to the serenity of these places of religious importance.
Shri Vadiraja Theertha was great saint, ascetic, prolific writer and poet, equally well versed in Sanskrit and Kannada, who has left a very deep imprint on Madhva society. Sri Vadiraja Theertha is unique amongst all Madhva saints for many reasons. Shri Vadiraja Theertha was also the first ascetic who after a long life of 120 years, decided his own time of dropping the mortal connection – entered the Vrundavana and left for heavenly life at his own choice of time and place. Throughout the long life, Shri Vadiraja Theertha contributed a lot to “Vyasa Sahithya” and “Dasa Sahithya”, exhibited extra-ordinary divine powers to bless devotees on many occasions and significantly strengthened the philosophy and traditions established by Shri Acharya Madhwa. Through his life and works, and also with other authentic sources, it is very well proved that Shri Vadiraja Theertha is none other than Shri Lathavya, the Ruju devatha, next to Shri Vayu. There are many volume available with beautiful narration of of divine life history of Shri Vadiraja. With his blessing, let us try to recollect some important events in his life, to realise his great personality.
Born to a poor brahmin family, in a small village called Hoovinakere (near Kundapur, Udupi District, Karnataka, India), in the paddy field, inspite of all precautions taken to ensure that the baby should be born inside the house, on the holy day of “Saadhana Dwadashi” in the year 1480 A.D., exhibiting his magnificent personality and the baby boy was received in a golden tray, by the people sent by Shirr Vageesha Theertha, the pontiff who blessed the couples for their long desire to get a son. The baby was lovely with all the 32 auspicious attributes indicating a Ruju jiva being born.
Named as ” Bhovaraha”, had the threading at the age of 5, quickly learnt the Vedas, Kavya, Nyaya and Vedantha at the very young age, ordained as a monk at the age of 8 and continued his studies under Sri VagIsha Theertha. At the very young age, Shri Vadiraja Theertha went for all around India, visiting all the holy places, defeating all opponent scholars and strengthening the philosophy founded by Shri Acharya Madhwa. During this tour, Shri Vadiraja blessed many devotees with his divine powers. Later Shri Vadirja Theertha became successor of Shri Vageesha Theertha, in the Shri Vishnu Theertha MaTha, one of the 8 MaTha established by Shri Madhwacharya, also called as or Kumbhaasi MaTha at that time.
The greatness of Sri Vadiraja’s personality can be grasped by many incidents confirming to highest order of divinity. The fact that only he could introduce “Paryaya”, the well needed reform in Pooja system of Shri Krishna Temple confirms that he is very much next to Shri Acharya .i.e. ” Bhavi Samara” who attains the position of Shri Mukhyaprana in the next Kalpa. The Udupi Krishna temple itself was enlarged, substantially reconstructed and instead of the 8 ascetics living in the various parts of the temple, they were provided with the presently existing arrangements of well spaced MaTha buildings for each of them. Shri Vadiraja installed the idols of Shri Mukyaprana and Shri Garuda in the Shri Krishna temple and also installed idols of Shri Acharya Madhva in the Shri Krishna temple and Pajaka kshethra. Sri Vadiraja introduced the practice of singing melodious keerthanas composed in kannada during Udupi Krishna Pooja. One of the songs which is regularly recited even now – “Lakshmi Narayana – jaya – Lakshmi Narayana” was composed by him with the ankitha of ayavadana. “Dashavathara Stuthi” composed by Shri Vadiraaja is also very melodious in “Ashwa dati” and is being recited very often.
Shri Vadiraja extended the privilege of being Madhvas to other sections of society such as Goldsmiths and also composed many keerthanas in Tulu for the benefit of the local people, mainly labor class and thus blessed them.
Sri Vadiraja Theertha visited Vijayanagara, many times which was a great educational center for Dvaita vedantha that time. ShrI Vadiraja became greatest scholar of the day and made a very deep impression in Vijayanagara. During his long life, three kings ruled the Vijayanagara empire and Shri Vadiraja helped all of them. Shri Vadiraja Thee was honored with the title “Prasangabharana Theertha” by the king. Shri Vadiraja Theertha also cured the disease of the king when all other medicines failed. In order to build up a strong empire, Sri Vadiraja with his divine power, showed the well hidden place of the ancient treasury of Vali to the King of VijayaNagar. Out of that huge lump of wealth, Shri Vadiraja took only two idols, Rama and Vittala, being worshipped in Sode mutt even today.
Shri Vadiraja entered the Brundavan alive, meditating on this holy day in the year 1600 A.D, and the upper stone was covered as per his instructions once the japamani stopped moving. The Vrundavana is very unique known as Pancha Vrundavana. There are 4 small ones around the main Vrundavana. Each one is having the sannidhana of various forms of Lord Vishnu. Brahma, Vayu,Vishnu, Rudra are present – along with Sri Vadiraja in these Vrundavans. By performing prescribed austerities and worship in Sode, people get relieved of all kinds of human misery. The setting is very picturesque and conveys the feeling of a very holy and spiritual place.
