Shreemad Poornaprajna Teerth
Birth Place : Mudgeri/Shiveshwar(Karwar)
Birth Name : Ganesh Vitthal Bhatta Mathkar
Birth Date : Saka 1731 Shukla Samvatsara Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi, Wednesday (13/09/1809)
Sannyasa Deeksha : Saka 1746 Tarana Samvatsara Chaitra Shukla Paurnima, Tuesday (13/04/1824) at Shri Jivottama Matha, Gokarna
Guru : Shreemad Ananda Teerth (17)
Accession : Saka 1750 Sarvadhari Samvatsara Shravan Krushna Panchami, Friday (29/08/1828)
Shishya : Shreemad Padmanabha Teerth (19)
Mahanirvan : Saka 1801 Pramathi Samvatsara Jyeshtha Shukla Dviteeya, Friday (23/05/1879)
Vrundavan : Partagali Matha
Period as Shishya : 04 years 04 months 17 days
Period as Guru : 50 years 08 months 29 days
Period in service of matha : 55 years 02 months 11 days
Matha Construction : Cuncolim 1880CE Shri Vira Vitthala Stone Idol
History of Swamiji
पीत्वा सम्यक्सुधासारं चरित्वा वसुधातलम् ।
वादिवारा जिता येन पूर्णप्रज्ञगुरुं भजे ।।
- Shree Poornaprajna Teerth was born as Ganesh Bhatta Mathkar, the second son of Shree Vitthal Bhatta Mathkar.
- He was initiated into Sannyasa and named Shree Poornaprajna Teerth at the Gokarna matha by Guru Shri Ananda Tirtha.
- He acceded to the Gurupitha in Saka 1750 after his Guru Shreemad Ananda Teerth entered vrundavana.
- His reign as Guru lasted for over 50 years.
- Shreemad Poornaprajna Teerth was a scholar with excellent command over the Brahmasutra Bhashya of Madhvacharya.
- He studied other works of Madhvacharya and taught them to many students.
- He was known for his erudition and detachment from material pleasures.
- He learned under Shreemad Ananda Teerth, a scholarly pundit from Kashi, and through self-study.
- He did sahasra-brahmana-santarpana at the Parashurama Temple in Poinguinim in Saka 1799.
- He built bridges on the creek behind the Nirakar Temple at Mashem and on the river near the Narayana Temple in Poinguinim.
- He traveled across India on a pilgrimage that lasted about 3 years, starting around Saka 1781-1782.
- He visited pilgrimage centers in the south and north of India, including Shri Shaila, Tirupati, Kanchi, Rameshwaram, Kannyakumari, Trivandrum, Kolhapur, Prayag, and Kashi.
- In Kashi, he stayed in the matha’s building, bathed in the Ganga thrice a day, and did sahasra-brahmana-bhojana.
- He kept a permanent deposit with the king of Kashi to feed 12 brahmins each day.
- He had discussions with scholar Brahmins of Kashi and was presented with a “Sanmana patra” recognizing his erudite nature.
- He was greatly helped in his work by his shishya Shreemad Padmanabha Teerth.
- Many lands were purchased during his reign, mostly by his shishya.
- The government tried to intervene in the matha’s affairs after the establishment of Portuguese rule in Canacona.
- An investigative probe was ordered by the government, and committees were appointed to look after the matha’s administration.
- The matter was escalated to the concerned ministry in Portugal, which eventually ordered in favour of the Swamiji and the matha.
- Shree Poornaprajna Teerth had already entered vrundavana, and his shishya Shree Pamanabha Teerth had come to the throne by then.
- Shree Poornaprajna Teerth entered samadhi on Saka 1801 Pramathi Samvatsara Jyestha Shuddha Dviteeya.
Note 1
1. The letter honouring Shree Swamiji, presented at Kashi from the Scholars of Varanasi Vidyapeetha. A similar one was also presented by Scholars at Pune.
सन्मान पत्र
श्री श्रीमत्परमहंसपरिव्राजकाचार्यपदवाक्यप्रमाणपारावारीण
यमनियमाद्यष्टांगयॊगसंपन्न श्रीमद्वैष्णवसिद्धांतप्रतिष्टापनाचार्य
श्रीमत्सकलसुरनिकरमुकुट मणिरंजितदिव्य श्रीविठ्ठलचरणकमलाराधक श्रीमल्लक्षीनाथतीर्थ श्रीपादवडेरकरकमलसंजात श्रीमदानंदतीर्थश्रीपादवडेर वरकुमारक श्रीमत्पूर्णप्रज्ञ तीर्थश्रीपादवडेर चरणकमलॆषु जयशीलॆषु
परमप्रीतिपूर्वकानुग्रहीत वाराणसीक्षॆत्रवास्यनेक पंडितकृता नमॊ नारायणेत्यादिवचनपूर्विका
विज्ञप्तयस्समुल्लसन्त्वद्य श्रीमुखसंवत्सरपौष्यशुक्लप्रतिपदवधि वयं काशीक्षॆत्रॆ क्षॆमयुता भवदीय क्षेमाद्याकूतं क्षणेक्षणॆ चित्तानुवर्ति भाव्यमिति प्रार्थयमानास्समः । विशेषस्तु ।
भवतामत्र दक्षिणदेशस्थ पर्वतकाननस्थात् स्वकीयमठाच्छ्रीकाशीगंगा यात्रार्थमागत्यात्यत्रस्वकीय
पंचगंगातीरस्थ मठस्थितानां दर्शनार्थं सर्वैरस्माभिरागत्य श्रीमच्चरणानां पूजनं वंदन
च कृतं तदा चास्मदीयसकलशास्त्र विचारसमये श्रीपादकृच्छास्त्रव्यवहारकाले॓
अस्माभिस्सर्वशास्त्रभिज्ञता भवद्गता ज्ञाताभूत् अतो यूयं सर्वशास्त्रभिज्ञा इति ज्ञात्वा
विद्यापीठमध्ये सभायां श्रीमताभिवण्दनं च कृतं यूयं च सर्वज्ञा प्रकाशवंत इति जानीमः
सर्वैरपि सर्वदिक्षु यूयं वंदनीया इतीक्षामहॆ। सर्वज्ञेषु किमधिकं विज्ञापनेनेति शम् ।
१) श्रीमद्भट्टोपाव्ह्नारायणशर्माणः
१) श्रीवेचनपंडितस्य
१) श्रीमद्भट्टोपाव्हकमलाकरशर्माणः
१) धर्माधिकारीश्रीढुंडीराजशर्मा
१) श्रीकाशीनाथशास्त्रिणो वयम्
१) श्रीद्विवेदवस्तिरामपंडितानान्
१) श्रीवासुदेवशास्त्रिणो वयं
१) श्रीसुकुलोपाव्होमारायशर्मणाम्
१) श्रीराजारामशास्त्रिणः
१) श्रीदेवदत्तपंडितानाम्
१) श्रीविठ्ठलशास्त्रिणः
१) श्रीदुर्गादत्तशर्माणः
१) श्रीशंकरशास्त्रिणो वयम्
१) श्रीचिरंजीवपंडितानाम्
१) श्रीपंडितयोगेश्वरशर्माणः
(श्रीमनृपविक्रमशक १९१८, श्रीमुखसंवत्सर पौष्य शुक्ल प्रतिपदा)
English translation
Among the most exalted of the revered Paramahamsa Sannyasis, adorned with the supreme title of Parivrajaka, one who has mastered all the scriptures—both Smriti and Shruti—proficient in all the disciplines, who has lived a life perfected through the practice of the eightfold path of Yoga (Yama, Niyama, etc.), who established the philosophy of Vaishnavism, who worship the divine feet of Shree Rama and Shree Vitthala whose divine lotus feet are adorned even by the crowns worn by all the blessed and virtuous celestial beings—
It is those sacred feet of such a divine being, Shree Veera Vitthala, that are worshipped and held in devotion by Shree Lakshminatha Tirtha Shripada, who arised from auspicious karakamala of that very lineage. His worthy shishya karakamala sanjata, who is ever victorious, is the noble Shree Purnaprajna Tirtha Shripada
Having been graciously blessed with supreme affection, we—members of the scholarly community residing in the sacred place of Varanasi—begin our humble submission at the feet of the Guru with the invocation Namo Narayanaya, and may our words be adorned with His grace.
As of the Shukla Pratipada of the month of Pausha in the Shrimukha Samvatsara, we are all well and safe in the holy region of Kashi. We humbly convey that we are eagerly awaiting to hear news of your well-being at every moment.
What is especially noteworthy is:
While on the Kashi–Ganga pilgrimage from your own matha situated in the forested mountain regions of South India, during your stay at your own matha on the banks of the sacred Panchaganga here in Kashi, we all had the privilege of coming to meet you and offer our respectful salutations and worship at your holy feet.
Later, in the scholarly gathering that took place, we had the opportunity to listen to the scriptural discourse conducted by Paramapoojya Swamiji. From this, it became evidently clear to us that Your Reverence is a master of all scriptures and has attained profound and unparalleled scholarship in every field of Shastra. Realizing that Shree Swamiji is indeed fully accomplished in all branches of knowledge, we honored you in the assembly of the Vidyapeetha with due respects, recognizing you as a Sarvajna—one who is all-knowing.
We always proclaim that in all places and, you are ever worthy of reverence for your learned excellence. What more can be said in praise of one who is a Sarvajna. With this, we conclude with our auspicious benediction and pay our respects to Your Holy feet.
(The names of the Pandits who signed this Honoring letter is given above)
2 Stotra On Shree Swamiji composed by Shree Kumatha Narayan Acharya
आनंद तीर्थार्य पदाब्ज भक्तः स्वानंदमग्नो विषयेस्वसक्त:।
ज्ञानं ददद्योग्य जनेषु पूर्णप्रज्ञाभिदः श्री यतिराट विभाति।।1।।
Completely engrossed with devotion in the lotus feet of Shree Ananda teertha (mula guru, pranaavataara shri Madhwacharya. And 17th guru Ananda teertha who gave sanyasa deeksha and is guru), immersed in enjoying the svarupananda. Or as sva=Narayana, worshipping Narayana as Ananda purna), withdrawn from the attractions of the sense organs, teaching the right knowledge only to the fit satvika people, the sun named Purnaprajna is shining with all the glory (in my heart)
स्वछात्र संस्थापित शंखचक्र: सत् शास्त्र संतोषित लोकचक्र:।
स्वछेन्दुवक्त्र:प्रतिभाति पूर्णप्रज्ञाह्वयो भूमितले यतीन्द्र:।।2।।
To His disciples He gave tapta chakra shankha mudras (so that His disciples received vaishnava deeksha and were blessed by prANa and Lord to make their learning of shastra effective) He narrated the divine vaishnava shastra wherever He went. Such a king among the sanyasis, Shree Purnaprajna teerth spreads joy and peace like a clear full moon on the earth.
अद्वैतवादप्रशमैकनिष्ठ: सद्वैष्णवानां प्रियकृद्वरिष्ट:।
सद्वैभवः साधुसभासु पूर्णप्रज्ञाख्ययोगी भुवने विभाति।।3।।
Shree Purnaprajna teerth was very serious and expert in showing the defects in advaita philosophy and in teaching the right vedic principles of vaishnava shastra, thereby leading the good devotees in the highest path of securing Lord’s grace. Swamiji was thus striking in His ways in the congregation of jnanis and foremost among them.
वेदान्तशास्त्रार्थ्विचारदक्षः मॊदप्रदॊ वारितदुष्टपक्षः ।
देदीप्यतॆ॓॓$सौ भुवनेषु पूर्णप्रज्ञाभिदः श्री यतिराजवर्यः॥४॥
Shree Purnaprajna teertha swamiji was foremost in showing the insights in the shaastra of the vedic corpus which was always pleasing to the disciples as it made available the secrets of path of attaining bliss
(moda pradah- moda is the everlasting bliss, moksha which can only be given by moda- blissfull vishnu, modapradah meaning swamiji was giving the ways to attain such modaprada, vishnu).
This needed to show the shortcomings of other misleading paths which had arisen in the course of time, my misinterpreting the vedas and related texts, by ignorance and many times intentionally.
विख्यात राजोचित चिह्नजालैः सितातपत्रोत्तम शंखतालैः।
जितारिवेगे भुवनेषु पूर्णप्रज्ञाभिदः यतिराट् विभाति।।५॥
Being a paarivraaj a paramahamsa sanyasi, Shree Purnaprajna teerth was travelling fast along the places of His disciples like a King, with the various symbols fit for a king like the blowing of conches , daylight torches, dhwaja, chatra , chaamaras etc., conquering enemies of the divine ways.
श्रीविठ्ठलध्यान विधूतमॊहॊ देवेशमध्वार्चन पूत देहः।
जीवोत्तमार्याभिजनोत्ठ पूर्णप्रज्ञाख्ययॊगी भुवने विभाति॥६॥
Shree Purnaprajna teerth swamiji was a true yogi having conquered the wordly attachments and a pure mind with constant meditation in the lotus feet of veera Vitthala, with a pure physical and mental existence through the divine worship of Supreme being, the Lord of Madhva. Being in the lineage of the great Jeevottam teerth, He was a reknown for His wisdom.
गोकर्णसंस्थान वराधिराजः लोकार्चितो सार्वनिवार्य तेजः।
शोकापह: साधुसभासु पूर्णप्रज्ञाभिदो भाति यतीन्द्रवर्यः ॥७॥
Shree Purnaprajna teerth swamiji, a renown King in the kingdom of the great yati rajas of the Gokarna Partagali Jevottam math parampara was respected and honoured by the whole society. He was sparkling in the congregations of devotees, by getting rid of their suffering in this mundane life as well as leading them to get rid of the suffering bond of samsaara.