The saint who propounded the ‘ Dwaitha philosophy’ (Dualism), and installed the idol of Sri Krishna at Udupi, in Karnataka. the incarnation of Vayu , who manifested in previous lives as ‘Hanuman’ and ‘Bhima’.
Dwaitha philosophy, makes a distinction between, ‘Atman’ and ‘Brahman’ ( Dualism) and rejects all notions to reduce the world of souls and nature to illusion (Maya). The individual soul is dependent on God, since it is unable to exist without the energizing support of the universal spirit.
Madhwacharya
1238 -1317 A.D
Madhwa was born in a small village of Pajaka near Udupi, to Nadillaya Narayana Bhatta and Vedavati and was named Vasudeva at birth. He was a child prodigy who could recite from the Vedas at age seven and was initiated into ‘ sanyaasa’ at age twelve . Given the name of ‘ Poornaprajna’ , by his Guru Achyutaprajna., later he was installed as the official head of the Vedantic seat and given another name of Anandatirtha . Madhwa became his religious name.
The Acharya wrote the famous ‘Prasthanatraya’ – commentaries on the Gita, the ten Upanishads and the Brahmasutras . His other works are, ‘Mahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya’ ‘Krishnamrita Maharnava’, ‘Tantrasara Sangraha’ and ‘Tithi Nirnaya’ (a unique work on mathematics). The Acharya was proficient in music also , and wrote “Dwadasha Stotra”.
After leading a fruitful life of 79 years, Madhwacharya left for Badrinath, on the ninth day of Magha maasa Shukla paksha, of the Pingala nama Samvatsara (1317 A.D). None saw him afterwards. This day is observed as Madhwa-Navami , when people pay homage to the great Acharya.
