Works

VAdirAja was a prolific writer with a phenomenal output. Unfortunately, quite a few have been lost and we know of them only by name. But the ones that have survived and made it to print are enough to give us an idea of his literary capabilities in Sanskrit and Kannada. He is perhaps the madhva yati with the maximum number of stotras and poetic works to his credit. He also wrote hundreds of devaranAmas, suLAdis, ugAbhogas in Kannada with the ankita of ‘Hayavadana’ (We also see a few works with the ankita of ‘VAdirAja’). He also wrote a few compositions in Tulu for the benefit of the local people.  The following sections represent a modest effort to catalog and list his works:

I.Commentaries(tIkas)

II.Independent Shastra -Related Works

 III.Independent Poetic Works

  IV.Sthothras

V.Large Kannda Works

Yukti Mallika is his magnum opus. It consists of 5379 verses distributed over 5 chapters called Saurabhas – GuNa, Shuddhi, Bheda, Vishva and Phala. In the first chapter, he establishes the fact that Lord is full of auspicious attributes or guNa-paripUrNa. In the second chapter he proves that the Lord is devoid of all defects. In the third he establishes the fact that the five-hold differences between God, inert matter (jaDa) and sentient beings (jIvas) are eternal and fundamental. The fourth chapter establishes the reality of the world. The fifth chapter describes sAdhana (effort) and phala (fruits of effort). In a way, Yukti Mallika can be described as a detailed exposition of MAdhva positions, as enshrined in the BrahmasUtra Bhashya, AnuvyAkhyAna, tattva-prakAshika, Vishnu-tatva-vinirNaya and nyAya-sudha. VAdirAja uses a unique blend of wit, sarcasm, and poetic skill to drive home the points made by AchArya Madhva and other scholars before him. He communicates with his audience very effectively using simple worldly concepts and experiences to make profound points, deploying pithy language and down-to-earth metaphors. He was the one who popularized terms like ‘sidhdhAnta’ , ‘tattvavAda’ in conjunction with madhva doctrine.

 LakshAbharaNa:

 It is common practice for people to take an oath before god to perform a certain action if their wish is granted. Gowri devi, VAdirAja’s mother, had taken one such an oath. She had promised to perform LakshAbharaNa to God if she had a son. She obviously did not realize what the oath actually meant and the kind of wealth needed to perform such an action. Laksha means one Lakh or one hundred thousand, and AbharaNa means ornaments. Obviously such a service would be beyond the reach of everybody but a few extremely rich people. Her prayer for a son was answered but she could not fulfill her oath. She approached VAdirAja one day and told him about her dilemma. He smiled and replied “Lord VedavyAsa told me about your oath and directed me to create a commentary on the mahabhArata called ‘lakshAlankAra’. I have done that and fulfilled your vow, even before you asked me!”.

 LakshAlankAra is so named because it is a commentary on the mahAbhArata which has one lakh verses. This brief commentary interprets key verses and words that have a philosophical significance. The mahAbhArata portions dealing with SanatsujAtIya and VishNusahasranAma are dealt with in detail.

Lakshmi shobhAne:

 This composition of VAdirAja is very popular because it is believed that singing this on the occasion of a wedding blesses the bride and groom with a long and happy married life. There is a story behind this belief. Arasappa Nayaka approached him with tears in his eyes and said that when he was performing the wedding of his daughter the groom died in the marriage hall itself. He prostrated before VAdirAja and begged him to save him and his daughter. VAdirAja recited Lakshmi Shobhane on that spot and brought the groom back to life.

 Lakshmi Shobhane describes the appearance of Lakshmi after the churning of the ocean and her wedding with Narayana. It can be split into 3 parts:

• The description of the wedding itself and the ceremonies associated with it

•  the evaluation done by Lakshmi where she lists the demerits of each god (other than Narayana) without mentioning them by name

•  the objections raised by misinformed people questioning the supremacy of Narayana and the answers provided by VAdirAja to squash them

 Each one of the above is worthy of a great poem. It needed the poetic genius of VAdirAja to combine them into one smooth, integrated work that just is pleasing to the ear and soothing to the soul.