Udupi: Vishwotthama Thirtha Swamiji of Sode Math Passes away
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (KD/NR)
Udupi, Aug 19: Swamiji Vishwottama Tirtha of Sode Vadiraja Math, who belonged to the 33rd lineage of Madhwa tradition, died at Sode 20 km from Sirsi in Uttar Kannada following a cardiac arrest on Saturday, August 18.
When the news of Swamiji passing away spread through Car Street here, it was engulfed in total silence and all the shops downed the shutters within minutes as a mark of honour.
The Swamiji was 73 years old and was undergoing ‘Chaturmasya’ at the main math of Sode in Utttara Kannada district, when his end came on the 18th day which was also the Nag Panchami day.
The Swamiji was a great scholar. He was well-versed in Madhwa or Dwaita tenets and had done deep research on the teachings of Shri Vadiraja, who was a great philosopher of the 16th century.
Vadiraja Swamiji was the one who propagated the Madhwa philosophy even in the northern part of India. In the extensive research done by him he found that St Xavier whose mortal remains are still entombed in Bom Jesus cathedral in old Goa, had made a reference in his dairy about the ‘miracle saint’ of Sode Vadiraja.
Swamiji preferred to stay away from the mundane world of human beings, as he was more drawn towards the spiritual world and concentrated all this attention on the development of Tarka. He taught his disciples the various aspects of Dwaitha philosophy which was widely preached by the 13th century philosopher Madhawacharya. However, some added touches and inputs was given to it by Sode Vadiraja.
Most likely with his death, the Swamiji’s junior Vishwavallabh Thirtha will be the next in line of succession. He is currently serving a scholastic term under the Paryaya Swamiji of Krishnapur Math in Udupi.
Diwans of various maths, leaders from the Mahawa, Shivalli brahmins and officials of Krishna Temple on hearing the sad news hurried to Sode to partake in the last rites of the departed soul which was held on Saturday August 18. Brahmin leaders from Mangalore including Harikrishna Punaroor, Pradeep Kumar Kalura had also left for Sode.