Sri Varadendra Tirtharu

Sri Varadendra Theertha, the 24th pontiff in the Sri Madhwacharya parampara of Sri Raghavendra Mutt, fulfilled the prophecy of Sri Raghavendra Theertha: 'Saptamo Matsamo Yogi Varadendro Bhavishyati,' declaring that the seventh pontiff after him would be equal to himself. Born as Sri Balaramacharya to Sri Venugopal Acharya of the Shastika Bigamudra family, he was one of three brothers who successively became pontiffs: Sri Vasudendra Theertha, Sri Varadendra Theertha, and Sri Bhuvanendra Theertha. Trained under Sri Vadeendra Theertha and initiated into Sanyasa by Sri Vasudendra Theertha, he became an eminent scholar, administrator, and exponent of Dvaita Vedanta. During his reign, he expanded the Mutt's activities across South India, established teams of scholars for Tattva Prachara, and promoted both Vyasa literature and Haridasa Sahitya, reviving the Dasa tradition. His close disciples included Sri Jagannatha Dasaru, who composed Sri Varadendrapancharatna Malika, and Sri Pranesha Vittala Dasaru, with whom he shared a deep spiritual bond. In Pune, then dominated by Advaita, he defeated the renowned scholar Sri Ramashastry in debate, leading to the establishment of Sri Varadendra Mutt, which became the abode of Sri Moola Rama. He later initiated his younger brother as Sri Bhuvanendra Theertha, who succeeded him and installed his Vrundavana. After Brindavana Pravesha on Ashada Shuddha Shashti, Sri Varadendra Theertha appeared in Sri Pranesha Vittala Dasa's dream, directing the installation of his Mruthika Vrundavana at Lingsugur. His literary works include Deva Pooja Paddathi (Sanskrit) and Tantrasara (Kannada). Revered by contemporaries including Sri Satyabodha Theertha of Uttaradhi Mutt, he is also honored through Sri Varadendrapancharatna Malika and Sri Varadendra Guru Stotra.