UDUPI:Venkatarama, the second child of Narayana Acharya and Kamalamma was born on April 27, 1931 at Ramakunja in Dakshina Kannada. His journey to become Sri Vishwesha Theertha is fascinating.
He was given Sanyasa Deeksha (sainthood) by Sri Vishwamanya Teertha of the Pejawar Mutt when he was just a six-year-old boy. At that young age, he showed signs of effulgence and was ready to lead a pious life. He was given deeksha at Chakratheertha in Hampi on December 3, 1938.
The young saint pursued his education in Udupi. Eight years of rigorous lessons by Sri Vidyamanya Theertha of Sri Bhandarkeri Mutt made Sri Vishwesha Theerta a scholarly affluent saint. The seer specialised in Vedanta subjects. Sri Vishwesha Teertha started Vidya Peeta in Bengaluru in 1956 after his education in Udupi.
Thousands of his disciples were from Vidya Peeta. Hundreds of students are studying Veda and other religious lessons at Vidya Peeta. The seer had the privilege of ascending the Paryaya Peeta for the first time when he was 21 years old in 1952.
His next Paryaya was in 1968, the third in 1984 and fourth in 2000.
Sri Madhwacharya, the great saint and follower of Dwaitha (dualism) philosophy, installed Saligrama Shila in Udupi about 800 years ago.
He had also arranged for ‘Ashta Mutts’ with eight young pontiffs to worship Lord Krishna for two months on a rotation basis.
However, the rituals were modified by another great saint Sri Vadiraja Swami of Sri Sode Mutt and made a biennial Paryaya.
Sri Vadiraja Swami modified this system by changing the two-month term into two-year term among the seers of Ashta Mutts on a rotation basis in 1522.
The present cycle is the 32nd cycle of biennial Paryaya and Sri Pejawar Mutt is the eighth and the last mutt in the sequential order. The 85-year-old Sri Vishwesha Teertha is ascending the Paryaya Peeta for the record fifth time.
VIGnettes
Clockwise from top: Venkatarama in his childhood; Nine-year-old Sri Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji; The seer receiving sainthood from Sri Vidyamanya Theertha Swamiji of Sri Pejawar Mutt; 12-year-old seer taking lessons from his Guru, Sri Vidyamanya Theertha of Sri Bhandarkeri Mutt, Udupi