Naraharitirtha
Encyclopedia
Sri Naraharitirtha CE. was a disciple of 13th Century Indian saint Madhvacharya
and is considered by some as the founder of the Haridasa
(a Hindu
Vaishnava) movement in India. He was not only a great saint but also a royal pontiff as evidenced by some inscriptions. The pre-sanyasa name of Sri Naraharitirtha was Shyama Saastry.
of the King of Kalinga (modern Orissa
, a state of Eastern India) described in a work called Narahariyatistotra which says he was a minister for twelve years. Hence its assumed that he was a native of either Andhra Pradesh
or Orissa
. Inscriptions from the Srikurmam and Simhacalam temples also attest to his ministry in Kalinga.
Sri Naraharitirtha was responsible for the conversion of many princely and aristocratic families of Kalinga and Andhra regions to Madhva fold. The descedants of these families still flourish in the coastal Andhra and adjoining states.
Though some allude to the belief that Naraharitirtha was indeed the founder of the Haridasa
movement, others based on the strength internal evidence of songs confirm that it was Sripadaraya
who pioneered the haridasa movement, almost a century later.
Sri Narahari tirtha is also attributed to be the founder of The Yakshagana and Bayalata dance and cultural art forms which is still flourishing in parts of Karnataka, Kasargod in Kerela and is gaining wide-spread attention around the world and in Bangalore as well.
He is also the founder of the Kuchipudi dance form when he was the "mathadhipathi"(high-priest) of his mutt in Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh.
Madhvacharya
Madhvācārya was the chief proponent of Tattvavāda "Philosophy of Reality", popularly known as the Dvaita school of Hindu philosophy. It is one of the three most influential Vedānta philosophies. Madhvācārya was one of the important philosophers during the Bhakti movement. He was a pioneer in...
and is considered by some as the founder of the Haridasa
Haridasa
The Haridasa devotional movement is considered as one of the turning points in the cultural history of India. Over a span of nearly six centuries, several saints and mystics helped shape the culture, philosophy and art of South India and Karnataka in particular by exerting considerable spiritual...
(a Hindu
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
Vaishnava) movement in India. He was not only a great saint but also a royal pontiff as evidenced by some inscriptions. The pre-sanyasa name of Sri Naraharitirtha was Shyama Saastry.
Early years
No clear picture appears regarding his early years except that he was the ministerof the King of Kalinga (modern Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
, a state of Eastern India) described in a work called Narahariyatistotra which says he was a minister for twelve years. Hence its assumed that he was a native of either Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
or Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
. Inscriptions from the Srikurmam and Simhacalam temples also attest to his ministry in Kalinga.
Literature
Though presumably not of Kannada origin, many of his works were in that language though only three compositions in Kannada have been recovered. They are- yanthu marulade nanenthu ...
- hariye idu sariye..
- tiliko ninnologe neene...
Sri Naraharitirtha was responsible for the conversion of many princely and aristocratic families of Kalinga and Andhra regions to Madhva fold. The descedants of these families still flourish in the coastal Andhra and adjoining states.
Though some allude to the belief that Naraharitirtha was indeed the founder of the Haridasa
movement, others based on the strength internal evidence of songs confirm that it was Sripadaraya
Sripadaraya
Sripadaraya, a haridasa, is also known as Sripadaraja or Lakshminarayana Tirtha .Sripadaraya was born in Abburu in Chennapattana taluk of Karnataka state. It is believed that he was the incarnation of dhruva...
who pioneered the haridasa movement, almost a century later.
Sri Narahari tirtha is also attributed to be the founder of The Yakshagana and Bayalata dance and cultural art forms which is still flourishing in parts of Karnataka, Kasargod in Kerela and is gaining wide-spread attention around the world and in Bangalore as well.
He is also the founder of the Kuchipudi dance form when he was the "mathadhipathi"(high-priest) of his mutt in Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh.