Sri Vidyasamudra Tirtharu

Tirtha Shri Vidyasamudra Tirtha was ordained the 34th Pithadhipati by Shri Vidyashrinivasa Tirtha. His Purvashrama Nama was Shri Rangasvami Acharya. His Holiness happens to be the Purvashrama relative of two saints: grandson of Shri Vidyapurna Tirtha and younger brother of Shri Vidyashrisindhu Tirtha. He was ordained to the fourth order i.e., Sanyasa at Karigiri Kshetra, Devarayana Durga in the presence of Matha Shishyas citing presence of the following qualities: In-depth Shastric knowledge, performed Vedadhyayana, Lion amongst debaters, Crown-Jewel amongst scholars, and extreme detachment, and blessed with the appellation of Shri Vidyasamudra Tirtha.

His Holiness is the Vidya Shishya of Shri Vidyashridhara Tirtha. We understand that the financial situation of the Srimatha was at its ebb and the saint used to extensively travel all around the country to establish Tattvavada, bless disciples and take extra efforts to address needs of the Matha and its Shishyas. It seems the saint had this thought in mind behind establishing the Mrttika Vrindavana of Shri Vyasa Tirtha in places like Coimbatore and Nellore where branches of Srimatha were already in existence and managed the situation with dexterity.

We are also given to understand the special respect Mysuru Royalty had for the saint and the Samsthana from the inaugural invitation for the wedding of Maharaja, Shri Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, being sent to Srimatha.

One of the major contributions of the saint was the persistent efforts His Holiness undertook with Shri Ahobalacharya, Purvashrama name of Shri Vidyaratnakara Tirtha to adorn the Pitha as the successor. The saint continued pursuing with the Acharya knowing his knowledge, renunciation, profuse blessings from Almighty and previous Gurus, and his Svarupa. However, the Acharya being unsure about his own qualifications and appropriateness to the holy seat kept refusing this proposal.

Finally, the Acharya got a call from the Providence in his dream and acquiesced to his Guru’s ordinance and entered the fourth order i.e., Sanyasa. The saint anointed Shri Ahobalacharya to the Pitha with the appellation Shri Vidyaratnakara Tirtha and attained Haripada. The Vrindavana of His Holiness is consecrated at Sosale Kshetra along with His paramagurus.