Kundapur: Birth Place of Sage Vadiraja Beckons Seekers of Spiritual-Bliss

News & Pics: Aishwarya Beejadi
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapura (RD/SB)

Kundapura, Aug 10: Hoovinakere is the birth place of contemporary sage Vadiraja which lies near Vakwady that comes under the limits of Asodu gram panchayat. There exists remnants of the places he spent his childhood in.

The birth place of Vadiraja of Sonde Mutt has become a significant worship centre for those seeking spiritual bliss. Vaduraja was born in Hoovinakere, located nearby Vakwady that lies a few kilometers away from NH 17 at Beejadi near here to couple Ramacharya and Gowri Devi. Vadiraja was born to the couple in their advanced age for the records state that Vadiraja was born in 1481 to the couple when they were blessed by a saint.

It is said that the sage pronounced that if Gowri Devi delivers a son in the house, he would shoulder the responsibility of their family, if she delivers outside the house or in the backyard, he would pursue the will of God and become a social reformer. Gowri Devi became pregnant as per the blessings of saintly sage and confined herself to her house.  Meanwhile, when she was in her advanced stage of pregnancy circumstances forced her to chase the wild animals that had arrived into their farmland and thus delivered a baby boy outside the house.

Still the field where Gowri Devi gave birth to Vadiraja is called as Gowrigadde. A worship centre in veneration of Vadiraja is also located in the same field. Vadiraja led saintly-life from childhood itself.  The places that he used to play in his childhood are still intact even now.  His foot-prints and toy, chennemane among others are located on a steep boulder here.  Many people come here to spend time in tranquility. The foot-prints of Vadiraja were preserved and a shrine has been built on the site.

Vadiraj was inducted into spirituality in his childhood by sage Madwacharya. Vadiraja embarked on creating social reforms and enlightening the common masses on spirituality.  His birth place Hoovinakere has become a significant worship centre, since there exisst a strong belief among the large number of devotees that whoever prays here will be granted of their wishes by the miraculous powers of sage Vadiraja.

There lies a Bhootaraja sanctuary in the close proximity to Vadiraja shrine at Hoovinakere, which also gets prominence as it was worshiped by Ramacharya besides Chennakeshava Swamy. A lake located nearby the mutt called as Vadiraja lake too has become sacred spot.

Sage Vadiraja was the first disciple to be anointed by cMadwacharya of Sonde Mutt, passed away at another Sonde Mutt in Sirsi, Uttara Karnataka. Sonde Mutt has significant prominence among the Ashta Mutts in Udupi district. Sri Vishvottamteerta Swami, who was serving as 108th head of Sonde Mutt, passed away in 2009, after giving a great scope for the tradition of mutt.  Since then, Swami Vishwavallabhateerta has been leading the mutt.

The birth place of Vadiraja that lies in the taluk has seen much progress, yet many are yet to be informed about the great place.