Sri Purushottama Tirtharu

Sri Purushottama Tirtharu was ordained the 10th Pithadhipati by Sri Jayadhvaja Tirtha. This was after the successful Digvijaya of Sri Rajendra Tirtha and Sri Jayadhvaja Tirtha in the eastern parts of Bharata – Bangala and Kalinga Desa. His Purvashrama Nama was Sri Srinivasacharya, and he was one of the senior disciples of Sri Jayadhvaja Tirtha. As the name suggests, this ordination was supposed to have taken place at Puri Jagannatha Kshetra. As instructed by his Guru, Sri Purushottama Tirtha moved to the Dakshina (south) Desa.

He reached Channapattana, which at that time was famous for the presence of the ancient Ramaprameya Swami temple (https://www.tirthayatra.org/aprameya-swamy-temple/), established by saints of the yore and worshipped continuously since then. This Kshetra is referred to as Jnana Mantapa in ancient scriptures.

Sri Purushottama Tirtha chose the serene banks of the river Kanva, surrounded by pristine environs, as his abode and established the Narasimha temple, called Kambada Narasimha of Abbur Doddi. Tradition records that Sage Kanva had his ashrama at this place and performed penance.

Unlike his predecessors, he chose to stop his tours and concentrate on penance at this holy place, performing worship of the tutelary deities and continuing pedagogical activities for disciples. It is notable that during his tenure, the activities of Srimatha shifted from its original eastern direction to the southern part of the country.

It is said that he never solicited Bhiksha Vandana, but would proceed daily to the nearby cave — now called Purushottama Guha — for penance after his worship. His Holiness would ruminate on the Brahma Sutra Bhashya of Acharya Madhva in solitude and return the next morning to resume the worship.

Sri Purushottama Tirtha is reverentially described as Shastra Kovida, highlighting his mastery of scriptures. Further, he was an expert in debates and acclaimed as Shivamata Sthapako Deshikona — where “Madhva” and “Shiva” are understood synonymously as Mangala, the bestower of Mukti, the supreme auspiciousness. Tradition also records that Sri Purushottama Tirtha and Sri Swarnavarna Tirtha, of the Sri Padmanabha Tirtha lineage, were contemporaries.

The saint anointed Narasimha, a young disciple of his, to the Pitha with the appellation Brahmanya Tirtha, and is said to have retired to the cave where he performed his regular penance — where he miraculously disappeared. His Holiness is perhaps the first after Acharya Madhva to have followed this feat, and hence, no Vrindavana is assigned in the tradition of Srimatha.

Locals reverentially refer to him as Madi Swami, Huli Swami, and Guhe Swami. He is believed to have been seen on several occasions even after his disappearance. In the past, several people who inadvertently ventured into the cave faced hardships, and today a barricade is placed to prevent entry into the cave.