Om       Sri Maha Ganapataye Namaha           Sri Gurubhyo Namaha              Sri Lalita Maha Tripurasundaryai Namaha

SRI BHASKARACHARYA BHAKTA SAMAJAM

Admn. Office: New No. 20, BABU RAJENDRA PRASAD STREET, WEST MAMBALAM, CHENNAI – 600033,
Phone: 044-24740219, 044-24743254, Cell: 9381035994, 938104364
PUJYASRI BHASKARARAYA ACHARYA

 
Sri Bhasuranandanathaya Namaha

JEEVANA CHARITRA-LIFE HISTORY OF PUJYASRI BHASKARARAYA ACHARYA

CONTENTS:
1.   Parichaya – Introduction
2.   Sri Bhaskararaya Janma and Vamsa Vrittavali - Birth & Family background
3.   Vidyabhyasa, Visesha Sastra Parignana & Uttirnata - Education, Study of Scriptures, Sciences & expert higher studies
4.   Sakta (Srividya) Deeksha & Poornabhishekha – Initiation into Sakta Upasana & Consecration
5.   Digvijaya yatra – Tours & conquests
6.   Visesha Ghatanavali – Important events
7.   Visesha sthala namavali – Important places visited by Sri Bhaskararaya
8.   Sri Bhaskararaya Sishya Parampara Gatha Namavali- Generation of disciples Sri Bhaskararaya
9.   Grantha Rachananaavali – Books authored
10. Grantha Prakasana Namavali - Books published
11. Sri Bhaskararaya Sthree Santati Vamsavali – Details of female lineage - descendants through Sri Bhaskararaya’s daughter

1. Parichaya - Introduction

    The world knows about so many Sahasranamas of different Gods and Goddesses. The most popular & much chanted is Sri Lalitha Sahasranama. Crores of people of either sex in India and elsewhere often chant this Sahasranama individually and in groups. In fact some persons chant several times daily with a goal to do Koti Parayanam - one crore Nama chantings. Very few know the apparent, inherent, sastric / vedic, hidden meanings and how many vowels & letters have been used as beginning letter in it and how many names are there beginning with each of that letter in this Sahasranama. Information of such minute & unique details, explanation & significance of each nama on different angles of literary, vedic, philosophical, spiritual, logical, ethical standpoints and many more interesting & special aspects can be seen only in ‘Saubhagyabhaskara’, the (bhashya) commentary on Sri Lalitha Sahasranama hailed as the richest literature in this field, authored by none other than Sri Bhaskararaya.

    Sri Adi Sankaracharya once desired to write commentary on Sri Lalitha Sahasranama and told one of his disciples to bring the original writing of Lalitha Sahasranama for reference. The disciple could not find the same at all but at the same time a small girl came forward and gave Sri Vishnu Sahasranama to him to handover to Sri Sankaracharya. The disciple was once again sent to search the Lalitha Sahasranama and same thing was repeated twice. Finally, Sri Adi Sankaracharya realized through his Divya drishti that the girl was none other than Sri Devi and was convinced that the job of writing commentary on Vishnu Sahasranama only is reserved for him, which was very much required during those days. It is also presumed that this commentary was necessary to show that he is also a worshipper of Vishnu in addition to Shiva and Sri Devi. It was also made known through divya drishti to Sri Sankaracharya that the privilege of writing commentary - Bhashya on Sri Lalitha Sahasranama is to be entrusted to one more great personage - Mahapurusha in future viz. Pujyasri Bhaskararaya Acharya alias Sri Bhaskararaya whose history is being written here.

    SRI BHASKARACHARYA BHAKTA SAMAJAM  released a book containing the life history of  Pujyasri Bhaskararaya Acharya alias Sri Bhaskararaya on 30-06-2004, the occasion of opening of the Memorial constructed to cherish his memory . The life history of Sri Raya has been recorded in very few literatures of his disciples. Sri Umanandanatha (Sri Jagannatha Pandit) of Tanjore has explained about the life and literary works of Sri Raya in his kavya named “Bhaskaravilasa”. He is the author of Nityotsava also. Another source is from “Guru Parampara” written by Pandit Ramakrishna Somayaji. This book has been translated into Marathi by Mahajan Sahitya Prakashan, Nanded during 1978-79. Now the same book is being translated into Hindi by Dr.Prabhakar Sadashiv Pandit, son-in-law of Sri Batukanath Shastry Khistey of Varanasi.

    Sri Batukanath Shastry has done lot of work to publish the books of Sri Raya including a recent work in 1993 under the name “Bhaskararaya Bharati Dikshita vyaktitva Evam Krititva,” published by Sampurnananda Samskrit Vidyalay, Varanasi. His article on Sri Raya’s life history - jeevana charitre can also be seen in Kalyan magazine of February 1987, a special supplementary edition on Shakti upasana. His father Sri Narayana Sastry also contributed in writing introduction to Nirnaya sagar’s Lalitha Sahasranama with Saubhagyabhaskara bhashya giving details of Bhaskararaya’s life. Both of them were given deeksha by Sri Raghunath Shastry Godbole, of Mumbai who has done tremendous work in publicizing Sri Raya’s tradition brought through Vasmath sishya parampara originated from Sri Umapathyanandanatha, direct disciple of Sri Raya.

    Majority works of Sri Raya have been preserved in Saraswathi Pustakalaya, Varanasi. Sri Raya’s tradition is also being still continued through Umanandanatha, another direct disciple of Sri Raya with sadhaka’s like R. Krishnaswamy Shastry - Tanjore whose maternal grandfather’s grandfather was one of the direct disciples of Umanandanatha. Another source is the Tamil translation of “Soubhagya Bhaskaram’ By Sri G.V.Ganesa Iyer B.A., B.L We can find most of the information contained therein with some more additional details in the recent book named “Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam with Tamil commentary” published by Jnanabhaskara Sangham, Chennai-600018

2. Sri Bhaskararaya Janma and Vamsa Vrittavali-Birth & family background

    The moolapurusha (First known Ancestor) of Sri Bhaskararaya’s vamsa is Vishwamitra gothreeya Sri Ekanatha. Other known descendants in the family tree are:
GREAT GRAND FATHER: SRI TUKA DEVA
GRAND FATHER: SRI YAMAJI PANDIT     -     GRANDMOTHER: SSMT. CHANDRAMAMBA
FATHER:  SRI GAMBHIRA RAYA     -               MOTHER: SMT. KONAMBA

    The fact that Sri Gambhiraraya and his wife Smt Konambika (Konamamba) were the parents was confirmed in more than one source. Parents of Sri Bhaskararaya: - Even though Sri Gambhiraraya was the follower of Bhagavatha sampradaya, his wife (Sri Bhaskararaya’s mother) got initiation on Agamashastra through Sri Narayana Pandita, who has contributed, for the interest & study of Agamashastra by Sri Raya. Sri Gambhiraraya was a minister in Bijapur Adilshahi Darbar, now in north Karnataka. As desired by his King, he translated the whole Mahabharatha into Pharsi. The King honoured him with the title “Bharathi” which is mentioned in ‘Bhaskaravilasam’ also. The first son (Sri Narayana) of Sri Gambhiraraya was not so intelligent as compared to his father. Therefore, Smt Konambika prayed to Soorya Bhagavan to get another intelligent son as great as her husband. Accordingly she got a very intelligent son during 1690 A.D or so (Christian era) at Bhagyanagara, (now called Hyderabad) in Andhra Pradesh. But according to his sishyas and persons in his daughter’s lineage the illustrious personality named Bhaskara was believed to have been born on 26th April 1683 in Krittika nakshatra 4th pada in Vaisakha Masa, Sukla paksha tritiya when 4 planets were in their exaltation point.

3. Vidyabhyasa, Visesha Sastra Parignana & Uttirnata -
 Education, Study of Scriptures & expert higher studies

    Sri Gambhiraraya initiated Sri Bhaskararaya into worship of Saraswati when he was a mere boy of 5 years. By seventh year he was able to chant the Sarabheshwara stotra in Kashi, which made the pandits excited and forced his father to perform Upanayana. Sri Narasimha Dori - Dhvari (Yajwa) also called Sri Narasimhananda, a great teacher and sadhaka of Lokapalli samsthana (Narayanpet Dist. Mahaboobnagar A.P) had an occasion to visit Sri Raya’s house on the way to Shringeri Sharada Peetha. He was very much impressed by the intelligence of the boy and asked his parents to send him for Adhyayana in his Gurukul at Lokapalli. The parents with due respect sent Sri Raya for study where he was taught Ashtadasa - 18 vidyas.

    After mastering those vidyas, Sri Raya learnt Gowdataraka under Sri Gangadhara Vajapeyin who settled in Tiruvalankadu on the southern bank of Kaveri in Tanjavur district (therefore Sri Raya also chose a place, which is now called Bhaskararajapuram, for his stay which is on the northern bank of Kaveri). Sri Rukmanapandit taught Sri Raya Chandas and Alankarashastra. He completed all the above education at his age of 16 years. Sri Bhaskararaya wanted to rejuvenate and revive the Atharvana Veda. So he learnt the Atharvana Veda and did Adhyayana (regular chanting) and not only became an expert but also an exponent. He taught it to his disciples and had them chanting it too.

    He got married with Anandi at the age of 18 and they got a son named Panduranga. Not much was heard about him or other children. But it is believed Sri Raya had a daughter named Smt. Ambika who was married in Dev family and there is a continuous line of generations through her and even now there are persons living in Bangalore, Hyderabad and elsewhere. His father was very much interested to bring him into ministership in Adilshahi’s kingdom. But Sri Raya was not at all prepared to enter and was busy in studying shastras, performing homas & other religious functions, granthalekhana- writing books, undertaking tours - yatras, etc. Finally on the advice of his guru Sri Narasimha Dori, went to Surat to get initiated into Sakta & Srividya Upasana maarga.

4. Bhaskararaya’s Sakta (Srividya) Deeksha & Poornabhishekha – Devi Upasana & Consecration

    While Sri Raya was on tour in Paithan town, several pandits had suggested Sri Shivadatta Shukla’s name for initiation into Sakta & Sri Vidya. Sri Shukla was a great Srividya Upasaka of Sri Sankaracharya Upasana marga adorned with Sri Vidya Poorna Deeksha having Deeksha Nama of Sri Prakashanandanatha. Therefore Sri Bhaskararaya decided to go to Surat for further study on Sri Vidya and get Deeksha. He chose to meet Sri Shukla as a simple Brahman. He took the job of cleaning vessels and other utensils for pooja, cleaning the house etc. and studied Sri Vidya and practiced Upasana. At that time, so-called vidwans of vallabha sampradaya came there and challenged the Advaita marg (Non-dual theory). The followers of Advaita marg met Sri Shukla who was very old to move out of his house, as there was no alternative among those followers to meet the challenge with vallabha sampradayins. Sri Raya understood the situation and requested Sri Shukla to permit him to lead the group for discussions. Sri Shukla rightly judged the capacity of the boy and permitted him. As already anticipated by Sri Shuklaji, Sri Bhakararaya won the challenge and brought the Vijay Pataka (The Flag of Victory) to Sri Shuklaji. He was very happy and immediately performed Poornabhishekha to Sri Bhaskara Raya and bestowed the Deeksha Nama of “Sri Bhasuranandanatha”. Sri Raya’s wife was also blessed with Poornabhishekha and given Deeksha nama as “Padmavathyamba”. Both of them presented very valuable vastralankara, dakshina etc to their guru Sri Shukla, gurupatni – his wife and their daughter and worshipped.

5. Digvijaya yatra – Tours & conquests
 
    After getting Poorna Deeksha from Sri Sivadatta Shukla, Sri Raya returned to Bijapur to stay with his father. After staying for some time there, he undertook extensive tour (yatra) along with his learned disciples taking part in & winning debates. It is note worthy that during the yatra there were discussions on Sastras and writing of books simultaneously. He, being an Agnihotri, performed Ishti and Yaga during journey also. To protect Hindu samskara & dharma samstapana he struggled day and night and gave his whole attention by thought word and deed for that purpose. He initiated several eligible disciples into Upasana marg. He publicized the Siddhantas of Sri Adi Sankaracharya especially Advaita and had discussions with several opposite parties and won everywhere.

    During his journey in southern part of India, Acharya Sathyasraya of Madhwa Peeth had challenged on Sri Bhaskararaya’s tradition. Sri Bhaskararaya had successfully won the challenge and married his (Acharya Sathyashram) brother’s daughter as per agreement. Sri Bhaskararaya once again returned to Bijapur and lived with his father for sometime. Again he started the journey, performed yagnas, constructed temples, arranged discourses of great vidwans, travelled to the banks of Krishna and Kaveri, presented lands to Brahmins for their daily life. During this yatra, when he arrived in Tanjore, King of Tanjore presented a village, which is named now as Bhaskararajapuram. Sri Bhaskararaya installed a Srichakra Meru there and started regular puja. Much later Raya’s wife constructed / renovated a temple of Sri Bhaskareswara (God Siva) and Sri Anandavalli (Goddess Parameswari) there. Meanwhile Sri Raya received a message that his mother had expired. Therefore he returned to his native place and completed all the rituals. After some time his father also expired.

    Thereafter Sri Bhaskararaya visited Rameswaram, Madura-Meenakshi, Ananthasayana and reached Sringeri. There he met Sharada Peeth Swamiji Sri Purushottam Bharati and discussed his plans which were duly approved by Swamiji. He got presented Chatra, Chamara, Rajachinha etc. But Sri Bhaskararaya accepted only essential things. He toured south Karnataka, Mahabaleshwar & Gokarna and reached Kolhapur where he performed Pooja to Mahalakshmi. He received honours, gifts etc from several kings during the above tour. He visited Triambakeswar, Sapthashrungi and other temples in his yatra and arrived at Surat where he honoured his guru (Sri Sivadatta Shukla), gurupatni and their daughter with vastras and dakshina.

    He performed pooja at Somanath temple and then left for Kashmir. He interacted with Kashmiri vidwans. He visited Omkareshwar temple, Haridwar, Pancha Prayag, Gangotri etc. He continued his journey for Pasupati darshan in Nepal where the King with all learned Pandits welcomed him. On return, he visited Ayodhya, Mathura, Kasi, Gaya etc and finally reached Gautam Ashram and then Kamakhya Peeth where black magic was being performed and therefore people were afraid of the place. But those people welcomed Sri Bhaskararaya also and he performed pooja at Kamakhya temple. Then he visited Nagpur, Marathwada Jyothirling, Nagnath, Parli- Vaidyanath and lastly Thulaja Bhavani at Thulajapur. As his ancestors were devotees of Pandaripur Vitthala, he went there, performed pooja and wrote Pandurangashtaka. He also went to Sannathi Kshetra of Gulbarga Dist. in Karnataka where he constructed Sri Chandralaparameshwari temple in Sri Chakrakara, being his Kuladevatha. He also arranged through the administrator of the place for daily pooja and Agrahara for the Brahmins. He also wrote one of his works “Chandralashtaka” here.

6. Visesha Ghatanavali – Important events

1. Chathushshashti Koti Yogini: - As per introduction given by Srri Panashikar Vasudev Sharma to Nirnaya sagar’s Sri Lalitha Sahasranama Bhashya, there is an interesting incident in Kasi while writing Saubhagyabhaskara which is narrated as follows: The learned people of Kasi had decided to condemn the tradition followed Sri Bhaskararaya and met him under the leadership of Sri Narayana Bhatta. Sri Bhaskararaya welcomed and arranged for the ‘Vaada” – (debate). Sri Raya replied to all the queries raised by them. Finally they felt that they can defeat him only with the questions on mantra shastra which Sri Raya replied since he had learnt the Sastra very well. As the team had come with the intention to defeat him, they asked him to furnish a list of 64 crores of Yoginis’ names and their details as mentioned in the 237th nama (name) "Maha chathusshashti koti yogini gana sevita" appearing in Sri Lalita-Sahasranama.

    Sri Raya accepted the challenge and requested them to assemble on the bank of Ganga River at Chaoushashti ghat in the evening. Sri Bhaskararaya sat on dhyana mudra and asked the learned people to note down the names and details. It was found that all the two hundred people were writing different names and their details non-stop with the result all of them were tired and their hands aching but the flow from Sri Bhaskararaya continued on and on and seemed to be never ending. Sri Kumkumadi Saraswathi alias Kumkumanandanatha a learned sanyasi, who was present there saw this and by Divya drishti found that Sri Devi herself was speaking through Sri Bhaskararaya and therefore asked Narayana Bhatta to stop it and accept defeat. Sri Narayana Bhatta had not readily accepted and wanted full proof. Therefore Kumkumanandanatha took some water from the basin of which Sri Devi had been bathed by Sri Bhaskararaya and anointed the eyes of Narayana Bhatta with it. His eyes were at once regaled with the wonderful vision of Sri Devi sitting on the shoulders of Sri Bhaskararaya and speaking through his mouth. Sri Bhatta realized rightly and joined the tradition of Raya. The Choushashti ghat can still be seen at Kasi.

2.Veppattur Sanyasi: - Sri Bhaskararaya spent his old age at Madhyarjuna Kshetra, which is now known as Thiruvidaimarudur near Kumbhakonam in his house Bhaskara Nilaya on Mahadana Street. During evening hours Sri Bhaskararaya used to sit in veranda in front of his house easing his leg to the pole in front of it and teach his sishyas. At that time a sanyasi from Veppattur used to pass through Raya’s house to visit Mahalingeshwar temple. Sri Bhaskararaya did not see nor bow to sanyasi. The sanyasi raised the objection at the time of pradosha pooja in Mahalingeshwara temple for which Sri Bhaskararaya replied suitably and asked him to keep his hand stick away from him and bowed to it. The stick broke away into pieces. As Sri Bhaskararaya being a Srividya Poornabhishekha deekshita and having acquired siddhi by doing Mahapaduka, Navavarana Pooja and Mahashodanyasa, need not to bow to any body. However to maintain the dignity of sanyasavarga Sri Bhaskararaya avoided such scenes by going inside his house.

3. An incidence with Chandra Sen Jadhav: - He was a senapati in Maratha kingdom. Due to some political reasons with Maratha Maharaja he had to leave the kingdom along with some powerful sardars and went to Nizam, who gave a place called Bhalki. During those days Sri Chandra Sen had contact with a fakir, who subsequently made Chandrasen insane, since he had not accepted to get converted to Islam. Fortunately Sri Raya had come to Bhalki on yatra and heard about the incident through the wife of Chandrasen. Sri Bhaskararaya prayed & arranged for Bhagavathi Dandanayika through Vedic scholars. This cured Chandrasen & resulted in the running away of fakir and all his evil effects.

4. Soorya Upasana at Moolimadu: - The queen of Chandra Sen enquired one Sri Narayana Maharaj, a great sadhak and disciple of Sri Bhaskararaya as to whether she may get male child or female as she was pregnant at that time. Sri Narayana Maharaj predicted a female child. On a later day Sri Bhaskararaya also came there and the queen asked Raya the same question since she was not happy with the prediction of a female child. Sri Bhaskararaya predicted that she might get a male child (in some other versions the sequence of the event is reversed). The queen immediately pointed out the controversial predictions. Sri Raya got annoyed and said the prediction given by Narayana Maharaj cannot go wrong since he was a siddha purusha and his own disciple as well nor his (Raya’s) prediction. Thereby she got a very unhealthy weak child without any physical / mental progress (who was neither male nor female).

    Again after some years Sri Raya once again visited the place and Chandra Sen requested him to cure his child. Therefore Sri Raya meditated upon Soorya Bhagavan near the bank of the river Krishna to cure the child. During the stay there Sri Raya had to come to the bank of the river for daily Arghya Pradana and his disciples pointed out this difficulty and enquired for the remedy. Sri Bhaskararaya said in a lighter vein “why don’t we ask the river Krishna to turn towards their place to perform Arghya Pradana without making such avoidable travel”. The disciples were surprised to hear but had immense faith in their guru & his capability in doing anything. They insisted & prevailed over Sri Raya on performing this impossible task. Sri Bhaskararaya did it by praying Soorya. The prayer and Arghya Pradana to Soorya were recorded in the book “Trichabhaskara”. The place is called Moolimadu, which means turning point of water flow in Kannada. The place is now called Moolamalla with similar meaning in Telugu as this place is now in Andhra Pradesh. In Bhaskaravilasam, the place is called Moolahruda.

    Bhaskararaya made the village, gifted to him by King Bhonsle of Tanjore belonging to Mahratta dynasty, his headquarters for the rest of his life. It later came to be known as Bhaskararajapuram. During his stay there and in nearby towns the spiritual and psychic greatness of Bhaskararaya got revealed through scores of miracles. Near the end of his life he is believed to have lived in Tiruvidaimarudur, in a house called “Bhaskara Nilayam” in Mahadana Street, which is near to Bhaskararajapuram. According to his sishyas and persons in his daughter’s lineage he left his mortal body in the year 1776, Ashadha Sukla Trayodasi day at a ripe old age of 93 (according to some others he passed away in 1785 at age of 95). There is no end of important events since there may be many many other instances, which are not known to us but known to many others who may add to this list.
 
7.Vishesha sthala namavali– Important places

Bijapur: - It is the place in noorthern region of Karnataka where Sri Bhaskararaya’s parents lived. The place has historical importance with Adil Shahi monuments of world famous structures like Golgumbaj.
Bhagha: - Full name Bhagyanagara, now Hydeerabad, in Andhra Pradesh where Sri Bhaskararaya was born.
Lokapalli: - A village near Narayanpet (about 3 kms away). Here Sri Bhaskararaya learnt 18 vidyas from his Guru Sri Narasimha Dhvari.
Surat:- It is in Gujarat where Sri Shivadatta Shukla (Prakashanandanatha), who has initiated Sri Bhaskararaya into Sakta Upasana and gave him Srividya Poornabhisheka Deeksha, lived.
Kashipattanam (Varanasi): - The place where Sri Bhaskararaya won the debates and performed miracle about Chatusshashti Koti Yogini darshanas at Chousatti Ghat. Also wrote Khadyota-comentary on Ganesha Sahasranama at Trilochana Ghat
Narayanpet: It is a road railway station on Bombay-Madras line between Raichur and Gulbarga stations. Narayanpet is 40km from this stn. Here Sri Bhaskararaya’s daughter was living in Dev family after her marriage. Dev family at 8th descendent from her is still living here and some shifted to Hyderabad on employment. Here is the samadhi of Sri Vitthala Dev (Sri Dheeranandanatha). In this samadhi, during 1970, padukas of Sri Bhaskararaya have been installed. Sri Subhaganandanatha, Sriguru and father of Sri Anilkumar Nagarkatty of Bangalore lived here.
Tiruvidaimarudur: - In olden days, this town was called as Madhyarjuna. Here there is a very big temple with very big Shiva Linga of 2000 years old. A road connecting to this temple is called “Mahadana Rasta”. Just half kilometer away from this temple on the above Mahadana road, a house called “Bhaskara Nilayam” is there where Sri Raya spent his old age. In the above temple a big statue of Sri Bhaskararaya, a big Sri Chakra (golden) is also seen.
Sannathi: - This is a village in Gulbarga district of northern Karnataka near Nalwar railway station on Bombay-Madras line between Raichur and Gulbarga stations. Here lies Sri Chandralaparameshwari Devastanam in SriChakrakara, which is constructed by Sri Bhaskararaya.
Bhalki: - This is a taluk in Bidar district of north Karnataka. Sri Umapathyanandanatha, the direct disciple of Sri Bhaskararaya is from this place. Sri Bhaskararaya visited this place frequently. Samadhi of Sri Umaapatyaanandanatha is seen here.
Moolimadu: - This is now known as Moolamalla, a village in Atmakur Taluk of Mahaboobnagar district, A.P (11kms from Atmakur by bus). This is on the bank of river Krishna (in Bhaskaravilasam this place is named as Moolahruda). Sri Bhaskararaya built Sri Vitthala temple being his Kuladevatha, as evident from the sloka written on the frame of the door of the temple.
Vasmath: - A town in Nanded district where the tradition of Sri Umapathyanandanatha is still continued and there is a mutt called Sri Shukananda mutt. The present adhikari Sri Chintamani Siddha Maharaj is continuing the tradition.
Bhaskararajapuram: - It is a small village near Tiruvalankadu in Tanjavur district, Tamilnadu between Mayiladuturai (Mayuram) and Kumbhakonam gifted by King of Tanjore to Sri Bhaskararaya. Sri Raya’s wife Smt. Padmavati constructed Sri Anandavalli sameta Sri Bhaskareswara Alayam - temple there and made sthapana (installation) of the presiding deities Goddess Sri Parvathi & God Sri Parameshwara in the form of Shiva Linga. Kumbhabhishekam was performed in 1979 under the guidance of Sri Kanchi Sankaracharya and again on 26-8-2002 another Kumbhabhishekam was performed for the Temple after renovation.
PUJYASRI BHASKARARAYA ACHARYA MEMORIAL: Pujyasri Bhaskaracharya Memorial Foundation, with the help of Sri Lalitha Sahasranama Sahasra Suvasini Pooja Samithi, Srividyopasaka Mandalams and patrons & donors had established a monument consisting of a Memorial Hall and a Meru Mantapam at Bhaskararajapuram, to commemorate the memory of Pujyasri Bhaskararaya which was opened on 30-06-2004.
SRI BHASKARACHARYA BHAKTA SAMAJAM had installed Sakti Panchayatana Sahita Srichakra Poorna Maha Meru  and performed Maha Kumbhaabhishekam on 30-06-2004.

8. Sri Bhaskararaya Sishya Paramparagatha Namavali- Generation of disciples

    The parampara starts right from Sri Adinathanandanatha and the tradition goes through Sri Adishankaracharya. Thereafter the Guru-sishya parampara continues including Sri Vidyaranya swamiji after hundreds of names. From Sri Vidyaranya, Sri Anandanatha is 41st descendent. His (Sri Anandanatha) sishya is Sri Prakashanandanatha (Sri Shivadatta Shukla) of Surat Nagar and Sri Prakashanandanatha has initiated Sri Bhaskararaya into Sakta & Srividya and performed Poornabhishekha with the Deeksha Nama of “Sri Bhasuranandanatha”.
    Sri Bhaskararaya had several disciples including Sri Umanandanatha (Sri Jagannatha Shukla of Tanjore) who is author of Nityotsava, Bhaskaravilasa and several books. One more dearest disciple is Koundinya gothraja Sreekala Dikshitasya putra Sri Ganesha Dixit of Balki town, dist: Bidar, Karnataka from whom the following generation of sishya parampara emerged: -
Sri Bhaskararaya – I Line of sishyas
1. Sri Mishramba sahita Sri Anandanandanatha
2. Sri Sundaryamba sahita Sri Prakashanandanatha
3. Sri Padmavathyamba sahita Sri Bhasuranandanatha - (Sri Bhaskararaya)
4. Sri Krishnamba sahita Sri Umapathyanandanatha -Balki
5. Sri Gangamba sahita Sri Shukanandanatha -Author of Guru Parampara.
6. Sri Jayanthyamba sahita Sri Desikanandanatha}
7. Sri Gangamba sahita Sri Yagneshwaranandanatha
8. Sri Chandralamba sahita Dheeranandanatha - Sri Vitthala Dev, Narayanpet, Dist: - Mahaboobnagar, A.P.
9. Sri Suvarnamba sahita Sri Chakranandanatha- grand son of Sri Vitthala Dev (sl.no.8 above)
10. Sri Leelavatyamba sahita Sri Subhaganandanatha – Sri Shankar Bhat Nagarkatti, father of Sri Anilkumar Nagarkatty of Bangalore
11. Sri Ramanandanatha - Sri Anilkumar Nagarkatty of Bangalore

Sri Padmavathyamba sahita Sri Bhasuranandanatha -  II Line of sishyas
Ganesh Dev (Umapathyanandanatha)
Vinayaka (Shukanandanatha)
Chintamani (Deshikendranatha)
Mayureshwar (Yagneshwaranandanatha)
Dhundi Raj (Lakshmeeshanandanatha)
Gananjaya (Gagananandanatha)
Chintamani (Yagneshwaranandanatha)
III Line of Sishyas: -
Ganesh Dev (Umapathyanandanatha)
Vinayaka (Shukanandanatha)
Chintamani (Deshikendranatha)
Mayureshwar (Yagneshwaranandanatha)
Somayaji (Dharmanandanatha)
Gopala Shastry Aundekar (Dheeranandanatha)
Raghunath Godbole
IV Line of Sishyas: -
Ganesh Dev (Umapathyanandanatha)
Vinayaka (Shukanandanatha)
Balakrishna Tatya Maharaj
Desikanandanatha
Sadananda
Amrith Maharaj
Vishwanath Maharaj
Pandit Maharaj & Arvinda Maharaj
V Line of Sishyas: -
1. Sri Mishramba sahita Sri Anandanandanatha
2. Sri Sundaryamba sahita Sri Prakashanandanatha
3. Sri Padmavathyamba sahita Sri Bhasuranandanatha - (Sri Bhaskararaya)
4. Sri Krishnamba sahita Sri Umapathyanandanatha -Balki
5. Sri Gangamba sahita Sri Shukanandanatha -Author of Guru Parampara.
6. Sri Jayanthyamba sahita Sri Desikanandanatha}
7. Sri Gangamba sahita Sri Yagneshwaranandanatha
8. Sri Chandralamba sahita Dheeranandanatha - Sri Vitthala Dev, Narayanpet, Dist: - Mahaboobnagar, A.P.
9. Sri Suvarnamba sahita Sri Chakranandanatha- grand son of Sri Vitthala Dev (sl.no.8 above)
10. Sri Kasturiyamba sahita Sri Parashukanandanatha
(As per Sri Kesava Dutt of Hydrabad)

Late Sri Raghunatha Rao G.Sathe of Baroda was also follower of Sri Bhaskara Raya parampara through Sri Umapatyanandanatha.

9. Sri Bhaskararaya Grantha Rachananaavali – Books authored

    Sri Umanandanatha - the direct disciple of Bhaskararaya, having vyavahara nama as Sri Jagannatha Pandita of Vishwamitra Gotra has written a Kavyam, “Bhaskaravilasam” which gives the detailed life history of his Guru. Slokas from 42 to 69 of the above kavya give the details of books authored by his Guru Sri Bhaskararaya. His exhaustive works on Srividya which are famous as “Prasthana thraya” are Varivasya Rahasya, Saubhagya Bhaskara* and Setubandha. (*There is an interesting instance at Chousatti Ghat while writing this book in Varanasi, which is explained in some other chapter)    
   
    His creations on Vedanta are Chandabhaskara, Neelakalakapetika - on Mimamsa are Vadakauthuhala, Bhatta Chandrodaya and Rasikaranjani, which is a commentary on Madhya Siddhanta Kaumudi on vyakarana shasthra. He has written Chandobhaskara, Chandahkausthubha on gadya at his early age. The other books on gadya at his credit are Vrittachandrodaya, Vaarthikaraja and Mruthasanjivini. His kavya creations are Chandrashala, Madhuramala and Bhaskara Subhashitha. On smriti he has written Smrititatva, Sahasra Bhojana Kanda Tika, Shankhachakrankana prayaschitta, Ekaadasi nirnaya, Pradosha nirnaya, Trichabhaskara and Kundabhaskara. The stotras penned by him are Sivastava, Devistava, Shivadandaka, Shivastotra, and Shiva Satanamastotra vyaakhya. On Vedic subject he has written Vaideeka kosha, which is a short glossary on Vedic words. The most valuable creations on mantra Sastra are listed below: - 1 Khadyotha - Ganapati Sahasranama commentary 2 Chandralamba Mahatmya tika 3 Nadanavaratnamala Manjoosha 4 Bhavanopanishad Bhashya 5 Sree Sookta Bhashya 6 Kaulopanishad Bhashya 7 Thripuropanishad Bhashya 8 Soubhagya Chandrodaya 9 Tripurasundari Bhashya Varivasya 10 Ratnaloka - Parasuramakalpasutra commentary 11 Guptavati - commentary on Durgasaptasati 12 Satasloki 13 Malamantroddhara.

    The other miscellaneous works (unpublished) are as follows: -1 Avadhoota geeta vyakhya, 2 Ashtavakra geeta vakra vyakhya, 3 Atmabodha vyakhya, 4 Amnayapaddhati, 5 Eshwara Geeta Vyakhya, 6 Kathopanishad Bhashya, 7. Kenopanishad Tika, 8 Taitiryopanishad Tika, 9 Jabalopanishad Bhashya, 10. Uttara varivasya,

10. Grantha prakasana namavali-A list showing names of books published so far

  1. Lalitha Sahasranama with Soubhagya Bhaskara (original Sanskrit text)-By Nirayana Sagar Press Bombay - 1914/1935
  2. Lalitha Sahasranama with Soubhagya Bhaskara (with English translation)-By R.Krishna Shastry.
  3. Lalitha Sahasranama with Soubhagya Bhaskara (Hindi translation)-By Sri Bharat Bhushan-Chowkhamba Sanskrit Prathisthan Delhi 1999 Lalitha Sahasranama with Soubhagya Bhaskara (Telugu) -By Barooru Thyagaraya Shastry 1900.
  4. Lalitha Sahasranama with Soubhagya Bhaskara (Tamil translation)-By Sri G.V.Ganesa Iyer B.A., B.L
  5. Varivasya Rahasya (with a English translation)-By S.Subrahmanya Shastry-Adyar library Chennai 1934/2000.
  6. Varivasya Rahasya (Hindi translation) - By Vishwanatha Pandeya-Varanaseya Sanskrit sansthana Varanasi 1983.
  7. Varivasya Rahasya (Kannada translation) - By Mysore printing and publishing house on the authority of Mysore Maharaja.
  8. Varivasya Rahasya (Telugu translation) - At Hyderabad in 1994. Setubandha - By Hari Narayana Apte - Ananda Ashrama Press, Pune-1908.
  9. Guptavati Tika on Durga Saptasati - By Sri Venkateshwara Press -1989.
  10. Bhavanopanishad (original text) in Tantrik Texts vol 11 By Arthur Avalon in 1922.
  11. Bhavanopanishad (English translation) - Sri S.K.Ramachandra Rao Bangalore.
  12. Khadyodha - Commentary on Ganesha Sahasranama - By Nirnaya Sagar Press Bombay.
  13. Koulopanishad Bhashya in Tantrik Texts vol 11 Arthur Avalon 1922.
  14. Tripura Mahopanishad Bhashya in Tantrik Texts vol 11 Arthur Avalon 1922.
  15. Trichabhaskara - R.G.Sathe - Oriental institute Baroda 1982.
  16. Natha Navaratna Mala - By Peetambara Peetha Dathiya. -1984
  17. Madhuramlasubhashitha - By Oriental Thought series Nasik 1955.
  18. Shivadandakastrotra - Vani Vilas press Madras.
  19. Shivanamakalpalathalavala - By Mysore oriental series and by Gujarathi Printing Press, Bombay also.
  20. Shivashtakam - By Mysore oriental series.

11.Sri Bhaskararaya’s Sthree Santati Vamsavali –
Details of female lineage - descendants through Sri Bhaskararaya’s daughter

    Though Sri Bhaskararaya had a son named Panduranga the descendants are through his Daughter Ambika Dev only, who had 3 sons viz, Mathuranandanatha, Gopala Dev & Vitthala Dev.

Mathuranandanatha s/o Ambika Dev
Vishwanath Dev
Raghunath Dev
Bapu Dev                                                 Gopala Dev
Vitthala Dev (Adopted from Humnabad, Bidar Dist. Karnataka)
Vamana Dev                    KrishnaDev                     Samba Dev
Bhaskara Dev         Ganapati Dev     Bapu Dev
Prabhakara Dev*       Raghunath*
Padmakara Dev*         Anand*
                                   Vasudev*
 (* now at Hyderabad)

Sri Bhaskararaya is hailed as the unquestioned authority on “Sakta” - pertaining to the worship of Mother Goddess. India and the world in general owe a lot to Sri Bhaskararaya for his writings & works on a wide variety of subjects ranging from Vedanta to poems of devotion, from logic & grammar to the labyrinths and nuances of the science of Tantric worship and commentaries & original compositions on rare subjects. The homage paid by his disciple Sri Umanandanatha, aptly coveys everything about Sri Bhaskararaya in a nutshell. “There was not any part on earth (mainly India & neighbouring countries) unvisited by him, not any king known uninitiated by him, not any science (vidya) unknown to him. Indeed his form itself is the Parasakti.”

By Sri A.C.NAGARAJA PRASAD – 20 –06-2004

This was published in the book released on 30-06-2004, the occasion of opening of the Memorial to Pujyasri Bhaskararaya Acharya alias Sri Bhaskararaya

NOTE: This Jeevana Charitra / Life History Of Pujyasri Bhaskararaya Acharya alias Sri Bhaskararaya is written basing mainly on the Life History published by Sri Anilkumar Nagarkatty of Bangalore in Kannada Language and English Version given in his Website. Anilkumar whose Deeksha name is Ramanandanatha is a disciple of Sri Bhaskararaya Sishya varga in the first line. Please note that this version is not a translation of history of Pujyasri Bhaskararaya Acharya alias Sri Bhaskararaya given in Tamil in the book referred to above.
1