Some documents claim that Aksobhya was initiated directly by Madhvacarya. The Vyasa-raja Matha claims that Padmanabha, Nrhari, Madhava and Aksobhya were all direct disciples of Madhvacarya.
However, the three previous Acaryas of our line (Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati and Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura) dispute this claim and state that Aksobhya was a disciple of Madhava Tirtha (not to be confused with Madhva).
Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura says:
aksobhyas tasya sisyo
‘bhut tac-chisyo jayatirthakah
“Sri Madhava Vipra was a disciple of Sri Narahari, and Sri Aksobhya became the disciple of Madhava Vipra. Aksobhya’s disciple was Sri Jayatirtha[1].
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati says:
nhara madhava-bamse, aksobhya paramahamse, sisya boli ‘angikara kore aksobhyera sisya jaya-tirtha name paricaya, tara dasye jnanasindhu tore
“The other two main disciples of Madhva were Nrihari Tirtha and Madhava Tirtha. Madhava Tirtha accepted the great paramahamsa Aksobhya Tirtha as a disciple. The principal student of Aksobhya Tirtha was known as Jayatirtha, serving whom was the main purpose of Jnanasindhu’s life[2].
Sri Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada writes:
“Padmanabha Acarya is the disciple of Madhvacarya, and Narahari[3] is the disciple of Padmanabha Acarya. Madhava is the disciple of Narahari, Aksobhya is the direct disciple of Madhava, and Jayatirtha is the disciple of Aksobhya[4].
Pejavara Math
Over the course of time, Aksobhya was appointed head of the Math of Pejavara and received from Madhvacarya the Deity of Aja-Vitthala. This form is Krishna standing with his hands on his hips, accompanied by Shri Devi and Bhudevi. It is also stated elsewhere that this Krishna Deity is accompanied by Rukmini and Satyabhama.
[1] Jaiva Dharma, first part: Pramana, Evidence, and Prameya, Truth, by Bhaktivinode Thakura
[2] From Sri Guru-parampara, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati.
[3] Also known as Nrhari
[4] Caitanya Caritamrita, Adi-lila 6.40, purport
This is a section of the book “Brilliant as the Sun”.
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