Udupi: H.D. Deve Gowda, former Prime Minister of India, said on 30th January, Monday that the founder of Dwaita philosophy, Madhwacharya, had rendered invaluable contribution to the fields of philosophy and spirituality.

He was addressing at the inaugural function of the eight-day 700th anniversary (‘Sapta Shatamanotsava’) of Sri Madhwacharya (1238-1317), leaving for Badri in the Himalayas and making his exit after completing his spiritual journey, here.

Mr. Deve Gowda said that “it was Madhwacharya who had installed the beautiful idol of Lord Krishna at the Sri Krishna Mutt/Temple about 800 years ago. Lord Krishna had made it clear that it was only the devotion of devotees that mattered to Him and nothing else”. The teachings of Lord Krishna and the Mahabharata were eternal. Reading them helped people lead a righteous life especially in the confusing times society was passing through now, he said.

Vishwesha Tirtha Swami of Paryaya Pejawar Mutt said that Madhwacharya had laid emphasis on devotion and service to society. Madhwacharya had said that people right from the upper castes to the lower castes could attain ‘moksha’ or salvation through the path of devotion (bhakti marga). But at the same time, he had emphasised that it was not enough if people offered prayers, chanted mantras and did meditation. They also had to serve people. The objective of ‘Sapta Shatamanotsava’ was to spread the message and teachings of Madhwacharya, he said.

Vishwapriya Tirtha Swami of Admar Mutt, Vishwaprasanna Tirtha Swami, junior seer of Pejawar Mutt, B.M. Farook, general secretary, Janata Dal (Secular), and Pradeep Kumar Kalkura, president, Dakshina Kannada unit of the Kannada Sahitya Parishat, were present.