Shreemad Indirakanta Teerth
Birth Place : Bhatkal
Name at Birth : Ramakrishna Narasimha Puranik
Birth Date : Saka 1793 Prajapati Samvatsara Magha Shukla Saptami Thursday (15/02/1972)
Sannyasadeeksha : Saka 1808 Vyay Samvatsar Vaishakh Shukla Dashami Thursday (13/05/1886) at Partagali Matha
Guru : Shreemad Padmanabha Teerth(19)
Accession : Saka 1814 Nandana Samvatsara Ashadh Krushna Truteeya, Tuesday (12/07/1892)
Shishya : Shreemad Kamalanatha Teerth (21)
Mahanirvan : Saka 1864 Chitrabhanu Samvatsara Chaitra Krushna Saptami, Tuesday (07/04/1942)
Vrundavan : Partagali Matha
Period as Shishya : 06 years 02 months 00 years
Period as Guru : 49 years 09 months 06 days
Period in service of Matha : 55 years 10 months 26 days
Age : 70 years 02 months 24 days
New Construction:
1) Shree Bete Venkataramana Temple Honnavar (Takeover) (28/02/1922)
2) Shree Muralidhar Matha Karwar (Stone Idol) (30/04/1923)
3) Shree Lakshmivenkatesh Matha Manki Honnavar (Takeover) 11/02/1946
History of Swamiji
वेदवेदान्त तर्कादि शास्त्रज्ञोयो निरोधनः ।
तं श्रीमदीन्दिराकान्ततीर्थं वन्दे तपोनिधिम् ॥
- The Puranik family, a lineage of illustrious scholars, resided in Bhatkal.
- Ramakrishna, born to Narasimha and Lakshmi Puranik, became the 20th Guru of Gokarna Matha, Shree Indirakanta Teerth.
- Swamiji displayed brilliance, determination, and vigilance from early childhood, learning Sanskrit hymns and verses by heart.
- At 15, Ramakrishna was initiated into Sannyasa by Guru Shree Padmanabha Teerth and named Shree Indirakanta Teerth.
- Swamiji received extensive education in Vedas, Vedangas, Poetry, Grammar, Literature, Logic, Mimamsa, and Hindu philosophy.
- He became renowned for his discourses, which were appreciated by both laymen and scholars.
- Swamiji adapted to changing times, reassessing aspects of the sanatana way of life to ensure the dharmapeetha’s relevance.
- He acceded to the Gurupeetha 12 days after his Guru’s samadhi and ruled for five decades during socio-religious turmoil.
- Swamiji traveled extensively for social causes and pilgrimages, visiting major Saraswata settlements and pilgrimage centers across India.
- The Puranik family was known for its scholars, including Pandit Anant Puranik and Ramakrishna Puranik.
- Swamiji authored several books in Marathi, including commentaries on Bhagavad Gita, Nyaya Mimamsa, and Sandhyaprakash.
- After the Ramanavami celebrations in Saka 1864, Swamiji fell ill and passed away on Chaitra Vadya Saptami in Saka 1864 (1942 CE)
- Shreemad Indirakant teerth Swamiji’s stotra composed by Shree Kumatha Narayan Acharya
।। श्रीमत इन्दिराकान्ततीर्थ गुरुभ्यो नमः ।।
श्रयामो वयं श्रीन्दिराकान्ततीर्थान् स्मितज्योत्स्नयेन्दूकृता- स्याम्बुजातान्।
यतीन्द्रान् महातीर्थयात्रान् कृतार्था यद्यङ्घ्र्यब्ज- संदर्शनाप्त्या समस्ताः।।१।।
Mad Indirakanth teerth swamiji is The One whose face is always very much pleasing as the cool refreshing light of the full moon and always living His life strictly according to the code of highest Yati dharma. Hence the divinity of all teertha kshetras are present in His very self. Still, Swamiji visited various pilgrimage places.
Therefore, the Lotus feet of the Saint can grant rich rewards. These are the four purusharthas, Dharma, artha, kaama and moksha sought by every sadhaka just by a little service to them.
We humbly give ourselves to the lotus feet of Mad Indirakanth teerth swamiji.
नमामोsधुना श्रेयसे चित्कबंधं मुनीन्द्रेन्दिराकान्ततीर्थाख्य सिन्धुम् ।
सुशान्तादिरत्नं ससद्वाक्तरङगं सदोद्यन्मुखेन्दुं सुविद्यापगाङ्गम् ।।२।।
(The Author of the eulogy compares HH to an ocean in this second stanza)
Mad Indirakanth teerth swamiji is a vast ocean. The water here is not insentient. It’s very form is pure sentience. Shama, dama, uparati, titikshu and countless other auspicious attributes of Swamiji are the priceless gems that could be found inside this ocean.
Swamiji’s natural power to control evil persons and to bless the good ones are the roaring waves. The moon who never sets (Swamiji”s face) always spreads soft refreshing light forever over this ocean. Vedas, Vedangas and allied sat shastras are the rivers which flow into this ocean.
We give ourselves up to this immense valued ocean to lift us from the travails of births and bless us to achieve the lotus feet of Paramatma permanently.
भजामो भवव्याधिभङ्गाय भानुं विरक्तेन्दिराकान्त तीर्थाभिधानम् ।
धराचारिणं हृत्तमोनाशशीलं श्रितस्वान्त- नेत्राब्ज- सन्तोषमूलम् ।।3।।
Divinely pleasing to behold, destroying the thick darkness of wrong knowledge that has seeped and filled in to the heart,Walking around the earth and spreading the light of knowledge, devotedly we follow the Great Yogi Mad Indirakanta teerth swamiji
पिबामात्र वाक्कौमुदीं ताममन्दां समेत्येन्दिराकान्त- तीर्थाखिलेन्दुम् ।
द्विजन्मान्तराण्या-श्रितानन्तमेनं यया स्यान्मनस्तापहानिः समानम् ।।४।।
Because of the good merits (punya) earned in many past births and have been born as Brahmanas (Therefore what is our duty?) We are like the Chakora bird
The bright full moon Shreemat Indirakant Teerth has risen in the sky. Let us keep drinking the moonlight of enriching flow of speech from Shree Swamiji, which destroys fast, the scalding hot sufferings of the body and mind (That is caused by rebirths)
(Chakora bird is said to survive by drinking the moonlight )
शुभायेन्दिराकान्ततीर्थाख्य मेघः सुशास्त्राम्बुधेर्लब्ध- संविज्जलौघः ।
हरिप्रेरितो धीरनादोsस्तु नोsद्य स्मितेरंमदो भक्तकेक्योघहॄद्यः ।।५।।
(Shree Swamiji is compared to a ” Cloud full of water ready to rain” here)
The Cloud is fully saturated with the water which is energy of knowledge (samvit jala) from the vast ocean of scriptures. A Cloud that moves with the wish of Shree Hari and Prana itself is the wind.The cloud has deep and meaningful messages in its thunder (Which proclaim the supreme being Vishnu through his infinite auspicious attributes) The pleasant smile of Swamiji is the lightening from the cloud. The devotees who dance to the appearance of the cloud are the ostentation (or flock) of peacocks
May such a cloud called Srimat Indirakanth teerth swamiji nurture and sustain us throughout and carry us to the Lord’s feet
करोत्विन्दिराकान्त- तीर्थाभिधानं सरोज्ञानवार्य-श्रमान्नोsक्षिमीनम् ।
अरागोरुनक्र महाक्षेत्रयानं करास्याङ्घ्रिपद्मं द्विजैः सेव्यमानम् ।। ६।।
(In this verse Swamiji is likened to a big and beautiful lake)
The life giving waters of which are the very essence of vedic teachings The kind glances from the beautiful eyes itself are the school (or the group of) fish swimming in the lake. The attachment to sense objects and vices are the most fierce crocodiles and alligators which destroy. Here there is no trace of them and hence no one is afraid to be near this lake. The divine pilgrimage places are the agricultural and horticultural lands. The rich water from this lake feeds them and makes them fertile.
The beautiful lotuses flowering in this lake are the hands, feet and the divine face of Swamiji.The vedavit brahmanas are the herd of swans who rest here and serve.
May this celestial lake called Mad Indirakanth Teerth pujyapaada enrich us and destroy our travails ||6||
अलोलेन्दिराकान्ततीर्थेन्द्रशालः सुभक्त्यालवालो विरक्त्याद्यमूलः।
क्षमात्वक् शिवायैष भूयात्प्रशस्यः प्रमासत्सुमो नोsमृतोत्कृष्टसस्यः।।७।।
(Sri Swamiji is like a Kalpavriksha)
The base of of the tree is the unshakeable faith and devotion to Sri Hari Gurus.
(The earth at base of a tree is mixed with fertilizers etc. that enriched soil is the devotion described here.)
Stoic with detachment from everything other than Shreehari and gurus itself is the root. Tolerance itself is the bark or the trunk of the tree Wisdom born out of knowledge itself are the fragrant flowers
The fruit of this robust and strong Kalpavriksha , Shreemad Indirakantha Teerth, is the door to Moksha, the final attainment of the Lotus feet of Vishnu. This is ready for the earnest followers of the Swamiji.
मठेशेन्दिराकान्ततीर्थाः ! परेsपि स्थितान्न्यस्य माठेश्यमद्धावरेsपि ।
श्रितानि प्रधानानि वश्चिद्विरक्ती क्षमा शान्तिदान्ती दयादिष्टभक्ती ।।८।।
Sri Indirakanth teerth swamin!! You have adorned and graced the Seat of the matha!!
Though You have handed over the administration of the matha to Shishya swamiji,
1.Knowledge, 2.Peace (shanti here means the single minded faith in Vishnu born out of knowledge as per the definition given शमो मन्निष्टता), 3. Control of the senses, 4.Contentment (Satisfaction in Vishnu’s glory) 5.Detachment (from all other things except गुणोत्कर्ष of Vishnu) 6. Tolerance (or forbearance) 7.Graciousness or mercy, 8 And the devotion to Shreehari and Gurus
These eight are Your powerful ministers. Still they rest in You.
श्रीन्दिराकान्ततीर्थानामिदमष्टक- मिष्टदम् ।
तच्छिष्य कुमठानारायणाचार्येण निर्मितम् ।।९।।
For earning what one wants (specially moksha through the teachings and grace of Swamiji) this eulogizing in eight stanzas was composed by Swamiji’s disciple, Kumatha Narayan Acharya.