1044. I Know What Hindu Dharma is......!

Vittala of Pandharpur is “Nada Brahma” since devotees there singing bhajans. Venkateshwara of Tirumala is “Kanchana Brahma” as devotees make huge donations. Krishna of Udupi is “Anna Brahma” because the devotees are fed stupendously there.

Appropriately to this proclamation the Pejawar Adhokshaja Mutt pontiff Sri Vishwesha Thirtha offered “Phalahara” for iftar at the Udupi Sri Krishna Temple to the Muslim community members who were observing Ramzan fast. While this to be a great gesture some section of the society feel objected to what the pontiff has done. When questioned about it the pontiff said, “I Know What Hindu Dharma is”

Well, I remember three instances from the past that highlights the good relationship the Madhva community had with Muslims since the time of Sriman Madhva, the founder of Dvaitha Siddantha.

The first instance involved the Paramacharya himself. Once while Acharya and his disciples were crossing River Ganga the guards of Jalaluddin Firuz Khilji mistook them to be spies.  King questioned Madhva through his interpreter, “Though my guards are keeping strict vigil on the river who helped you people to cross this river?”

To the astonishment of the King, Sriman Madhva answered in Persian language. Raising his finger towards the sky he spoke, “The Supreme Lord, who protects you, me and everyone has brought me here along with my followers. For you, He is Allah; for me, He is Sri Hari, you and me may address Him by different names but only one will answer us both.”

The King was extremely impressed by the bold personality with so much of self-conviction. He climbed down from his seat and invited him to the royal court.

Second instance was when Sri Vadiraja Thirtharu had been to Delhi. He had selected a place to worship the traditional idol of Sri Bhuvaraha. At the same time the son of the Mughal King had passed away and he was not let to perform his daily rituals. By looking from his divine sight Vadiraja Tirtharu told the prince was not dead and it would be great sin to bury the child alive.

Hearing this the Mughal king came running to Vadiraja Tirtharu and fell to his feet. Understandably the King was anxious to know if his child was alive. Vadiraja Tirtharu told the King that it was “Sri Hari” who had made him utter so and it would never be untrue.

The King asked Vadiraja Tirtharu to accompany him to the palace. The Madhva saint sprinkled the holy water from his Kamandala (Pitcher) by chanting the name of Sri Hari and the prince got up. That prince was none other than the Akbar. Humayun was so happy that he gifted wealth which Vadiraja Tirtharu rejected. But the King requested the Madhva saint to use it in the service of Kadagolu Krishna at Udupi.

The third instance was when Siddi Masood Khan, the Nawab of Adoni under the province of Ali Adil Shah II of Bijapur Sultanate wanted to test the credentials of Guru Raghavendra Swamy. Having invited the Guru to his darbar, he asked his men to place red meat in a silver plate and cover it with silken clothes. He offered it to the Guru who sprinkled water from his kamandala (water pot) on the plates. Later the silk clothes covered were removed. The Nawab and the whole durbar was waiting for this moment without battling is eyelids. When the clothes were removed the red meat in the plate had turned into fruits and sweet smelling flowers. The Nawab and the entire durbar were astounded and instantly realized the greatness of the Guru. Nawab felt low of his act and wanted to make amends he was willing to give the Guru anything within his capacity.

I personally feel that Pejawar seer has continued the legacy of the parampara he hails from.....I bow to his great gesture.