Sri Rama Vijayotsava and the appearance day of Sri Madhvacarya

Today (Sunday) is Sri Rama Vijayotsava and the appearance day of Sri Madhvacarya! Last night was the ninth and final night of Navaratri and today, the tenth waxing-moon day of Asvina, is known as Rama Vijayotsava or Dasara. On this day Lord Ramacandra killed the demon-king Ravana in a great battle. In commemoration of the event, effigies of Ravana are constructed and burnt down all over India and around the world.

“After thus rebuking Ravana, Lord Ramacandra fixed an arrow to His bow, aimed at Ravana, and released the arrow, which pierced Ravana’s heart like a thunderbolt. Upon seeing this, Ravana’s followers raised a tumultuous sound, crying, ‘Alas! Alas! What has happened? What has happened?’ as Ravana, vomiting blood from his ten mouths, fell from his airplane, just as a pious man falls to earth from the heavenly planets when the results of his pious activities are exhausted.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 9.10.23)

Sri Madhvacarya’s appearance is also honored today. Madhvacarya (1238-1317 CE) is one of the most important acaryas in the Brahma sampradaya line. Thus it is also known as the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya sampradaya. Madhvacarya appeared near Udupi (Pajaka, Karnataka) in southwest India. At the age of five he received diksa in the advaita school of Sankaracarya but soon became dissatisfied with it. He took sannyasa at twelve, left home and traveled all over India. 

In the Himalayas, Madhvacarya personally met Srila Vyasadeva and took siksa from him as his true guru. He is considered an incarnation of Vayu, the wind god, and was exceptionally strong both in body and intellect. Once, when a fierce tiger attacked one of his disciples, Madhvacarya wrestled the beast with his bare hands and sent him back into the forest. 

In terms of intellect, Madhvacarya preached very powerfully all over India and helped re-establish pure theism throughout the subcontinent. Defeating the impersonal Mayavada philosophy of Sankaracarya, Madhva taught dualistic theism (dvaita- or tattva-vada)—the idea that the soul and Brahman or God are constitutionally distinct. He wrote thirty-seven texts expounding his dvaita philosophy and established eight temples devoted to the worship of Sri Krsna. 

At one of his main temples in Udupi, Madhvacarya installed Sri Gopala—a Krsna Deity holding a cowherd staff that had self-manifested from a large block of gopi-candana. His chief disciple and successor was Sri Padmanabha Swami. According to some, Madhvacarya was none other than Sri Madhavi-gopi in Krsna lila. Sri Madhvacarya is honored today with great pomp and gratitude by all devotees of Lord Krsna, especially in the town of Udupi. His nine essential teachings are listed as follows:

1) Bhagavan Sri Krsna alone is the Supreme Absolute Truth, one without a second.

2) Sri Krsna is the object of knowledge in all the Vedas.

3) The universe is real (satya).

4) The differences between God (isvara), the soul (jiva) and matter are real.

5) The soul is by nature a servant of the Supreme Lord Hari.

6) There are two categories of souls: liberated and illusioned.

7) Liberation (moksa) means attaining the lotus feet of Bhagavan Sri Krsna; in other words, entering into an eternal relationship of service to the Supreme Lord.

8) Pure devotional service to Krsna is the only way to attain this liberation.

9) The truth may be known through direct perception (pratyaksa), inference or logic (anuman) and spiritual sound or Vedic authority (sabda).