Shree Hari Narayana Vittala Dasa – A Short Introduction.

Shri Hanumantha Rao (Shri Hari Narayana Vittala Dasa) lived in the Rama Mandir at AdavAni for studies and also for a short period later under the loving and generous care of pujya Shri Muttigi Swamirayacharya – a virtuous and exemplary scholar and poet. His father and Guru Shri Muttigi Srinivasacharya took sanyasa and was known as Shri Shri Raghuprema Teertha - acclaimed for renunciation, rich experience, and yogasiddhi - in the lineage of Shri Kudli Akshobhya Teertha mata. He installed Shri Ramachandra idol accompanied by idols of Seetha, Lakshmana and Hanuman and later entered brindavan there.

Shri Hanumantha Rao's unflinching devotion, dedication and service towards Shri Raghu Prema Teertha and other Great Masters, Shri Hari & Vayu earned him divine grace and blessings causing deep rooted conviction towards the philosophy of Acharya Shri Madhwa & his disciples thus further generating the crave to achieve higher pedestal in the sAdhana route.

With the blessings and inspiration from Sri Raghuprema Teertha, Shri Hanumantha Rao came to Hyderabad from Adavani in search of a job. During this period, when he was 20 years old, he had the privilege and access to high philosophical values, sadhana oriented tutelage and training under Shri Vidyamanya Teertha, his disciple Shri Vishwesha Teertha, Shri Kushtigi Prahaladacharya, Shri Gadachinti Ramacharya (who later took sanyasa as Shri Vidyavallabha Teertha - Prayaga Swamiji), Shri Manur Madhvacharya, Shri Chandigi Raghavendra Dasa, Shri Suladi Kuppu Rao, Shri Sirivara Ramacharya, Shri Sanketi Subburao, Shri Tande Venkatesha Vittala Dasa, Shri Kundapur Senior Swamiji, Shri Sagarakatte Pradyumna Teertha, etc. Spurred by the senior influence with craving for the divine blessings, with inward looking, special knowledge about bimba-prathibimba etc., strong previous samskara, he came under the influence of Shri Srinivas Rao, known as “Shri Engineer Rayaru” - principal disciple of Pratah Smaraniya Paramapujya Shri Aikur Narasimhacharya. After studying Shrimad Bhagavatha, Shrimad Bhagavatha Saroddhara, Shri Bramhasutrabhashya, Shrimad Hari Kathamrutha Sara, intense sravana, manana, and befitting upasana and anushtana, Shri Hari-vAyu-gurugalu united him with Paramapujya pratasmaraniya Shri Udupi Krishnacharya Waiker - in the heritage of Shri Shri Satyaparakrama Teertha Swamiji.

Shri Hanumantha Rao, in the great company of erudite scholars and their unflinching devotion, graceful sermons, and befitting anushtana, became intensely interested in Madhwashastra Sarabhootha Haridasa literature. Persistent study, enlightenment and anusandhana in the light of the deep findings of precious stones in the sanctum of the vast ocean of haridasa literature, incessant efforts resulting from strong will and determination persuaded him to dedicate the entire remaining part of his life to only haridasa sahitya, its study, anushtana, and dissemination. He took voluntary retirement from service as a bank officer, eleven years before it was due.

Since then, he engaged himself in knowledge dissemination activities doing pravachanas, jnana satras at home and outside. His lecture style is exemplary and splendid with expressions of involvement and rich experience of prameya ratnas through deep thinking and inquiry. His upanyasa was pouring rain of high adhyatma tatva prameyas, penetrating the audience with inspiration to dedicate themselves, drenched in the high flood of sublime thoughts delivered to the cause of haridasa movement. His motto was to lead sajjanas to their destination in the spirit of teachings of the dasa dynasty - Shri Purandara Dasa, Shri Vijaya Dasa, Shri Subba Raya Dasa of Devarayana Durga. The last in the latter’s lineage being 1,165th with rich contribution to the parampara, Shri Gurugovinda Vittala Dasa graced Shri Hanumantha Rao with meaningful ankita as Shri Hari Narayana Vittala. Since that auspicious moment, Sri Hanumantha Rao became Shri Hari Narayana Vitthala Dasa. It was a great incident that Pujyaguru Shri Gurugovinda Dasa installed Gurubimba Gurugovinda Vitthalatmaka no different from swabimba, Harinarayana Vitthala in Shri Hanumantha Rao. It was during the same auspicious moment when Shri Gurugovinda Vittala Dasa converted his house into a temple with prathistapana of idols of Shri Vittala, Shri Anjaneya and Shri Garuda at Mysore.

As a Chief organizer for Shri Purandara Dasa Aradhana Committee which was initiated by Shri Gurugovinda Vittala Dasa, inspired by Shri Hari-Vayu-Guru, Shri Hari Narayana Vittala Dasa earned extraordinary grace performing service with devotion to gurubimba. Since 33 years, with the help of important disciples, well-wishers and relatives of Shri Gurugovinda Vittala Dasa, Shri Purandara Dasa Aradhana celebrations are being organized on a grand scale in different parts of the country through samanvayathmaka tatva prachara of vyasa-dasa sahitya in most effective manner to the satisfaction and liking of sajjananthargata Shreesha.

34th ABH Sammelana is Special:
The Sammelana in 2011 is being conducted at Shri Purandara Ashrama, an institution founded by Shri Harinarayana Vittala Dasaru, an ardent disciple of Shri Guru Govinda Vittala Dasaru. There is no better way to offer Guru-dakshina to Guru Bimba than to conduct ArAdhana celebrations - focused primarily on Jnana Karya - at a place meant for propagating Haridasa Sahitya. This definitely is bound to please Guru Bimba.