Shri Sankarshana Odeyaru

By: Smt.Meera Tadipatri

Pic.Courtesy: FB Group
Aradhane: Margashira Shukla Panchami

In our sampradaya, gratitude in the way of acknowledgement need to be felt AND shown to get the anugraha of Bhagavan present in all these great souls.Without their prasada,we cannot get jnana even after reading shastra!

While studying HKAS ,  we use and seek the guidance from Sri Sankarshana Odeyaru who wrote vyakhyana on this great grantha in Sanskrit.  In connection with Sri Sankarshana Odeyaru's aradhana [ Margashira shuddha panchami], here is a brief outline of Sri Sankarshana Odeyaru that I learnt from my guru some years ago.

The source for this is based on the intro, given in the published [Sri Sankarshana Odeyaru] vyakhyanas of Sri Hari-katha-amruta-saara.

Sri Sankarshana Odeyaru was born in 1810 CE with the purvashrama name Tammanna Nayaka. His father Dhumappa Nayaka  did seva to Sri Sathyadharma Tirtha at Holehonnuru to beget a good child. Apart from Tammanna Nayaka, he had several children. Tammanna was his second's wife's second son. The Nayaka family lived in Dharwad.

Dhumappa Nayaka performed upanayana to his son at the  right age, and got him vidyabhyasa from Sri Bhimavarahachar. Observing the way of life of Tamanna, his guru used to call him Rishhi. Tammana got married at an young age and had two sons. At the age of 22, when he lost his wife, he lost interest in mundane life and had  ardent desire to do sarvamula adhyayana. He did guruseva to Sri Vishvapriya Tirtha [of Sode matha]  and successfully did adhyayana of sarvamula.

The story goes that during the time of Sri Sathyasantushta Tirtha [ around 1840 CE],  Sri UM was in great financial stress and were forced to pledge the ratna mantapa and gold vessels to this Nayaka family. During the time of Sri Sathyaparayana Tirtharu [ who succeeded Sri Sathya-santushta Tirtha,], Tammanna was told to join Swamiji's  sanchara to collect the dues. During this sanchara, he learnt Sri Sudha and as gurudaxina, he surrendered all his property to his brothers in return for the pledged ratna mantapa, which he gave back  to Uttaradi Matha.

At the age of 32, he took yati ashrama from Sri Sathyaparayana Tirtha of UM. Swamiji gave him the name Sri Sankarshana Odeyaru and blessed him with Rajata Venugopala icon. Sri Odeyaru  lead a very strict and austere life with vrata involving severe restriction on food. He went to Dharwad and did tapas at Vittala devaru temple and  proceeded to Tirumala where he  gave up every item that belonged to him except the very basic puja items. He did seve to Sri Varahadevaru, and as per the orders of Sri Venkateshvara [in his dream], he proceeded to Ghatikachala to do Sri Praanadevara seve. Then, he went on sanchara to Rameshvara. At Vellore he  did seve to Sri Sathyadhiraja and accepted the bhaktas of Sri Sathyadhiraja  [shishya of Sri Sathyabhinava Tirtha ] as his shishyas. Being very pleased with him, Sri Sathyaparayana Tirtha  told him to continue his tapas. Thus, he continued his tapas under a Ashvatta tree near Polur at a village called Karampundi to Sri Narasimhadevaru situated on the banks of Bahuda nadi.
He  left his mortal deha on 1862, Margashira shuddha panchami. After 8 months, as per his wishes, his Brindavana was built according to rules.
As per his wishes bhaktas offer puffed rice[uncooked rice] as naivedya to Him.
May we all have his and his antaryami's grace to get the right jnana.
Shri KrishnArpanamastu.

Harikathamrutasara Page Link

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