Sumadhva Vijaya 1: Prathama Sarga
A Bird's eye view
In this Sarga, the poet Narayana Panditacharya narrates the first two avatars of Vayu devaru as Hanumantha and Bhima.
The Sarga starts with a prayer to Lord Narayana who is the Supreme Controller of the Universe. Then he compares Shri Madhvacharya with Sun. He opines that Sun removes darkness with his rays, whereas Acharya is greater than Sun because he not only eradicates the darkness but also gives the right knowledge to righteous people. Then he acknowledges his father Shri Vikrama Panditacharya for giving a valuable grantha “Tatva Pradeepika” which was published with the permission of Acharya. Tattva Pradeepika is a commentary on Sri Madhva's Bhashya of the "Brahma Sutra”. He also implores that he might have gone wrong in his description of the avatars and likens it to possible misarrangement of beads when making a garland. He admits that it is an attempt to purify himself that he has taken this task.
Avatar of Hanuman: Anjaneya is the son of Kesari and Anjana Devi. Some people interpret that the name Hanuman is attributed to the Indra's Vajra Ayudha hitting him on the jaws - “Hanu” (jaw) and “man” (disfigured or prominent). However this is not the correct reason.
Hanu means Jnana (knowledge). Hence Hanuman means "Jnanavan".
When Hanuman prostrates to Rama, an emotionally overwhelmed Rama lifts him up with his both hands. Hanuman introduces Rama to Sugriva in order to get back Sugriva’s kingdom from his brother Vali with the help of Rama. But Sugriva doubts about Rama’s power and tells Rama about Vali’s power and shows to Rama about a hole in a saal tree made by Vali with one shot. To clear the doubts of Sugriva Rama penetrates 7 trees of saal in a row with one arrow. After going through the trees, the arrow passes through other lokas by killing asuras and returns to Rama. This makes Sugriva happy and he gets confidence in Rama’s strength. Sugriva recognized Rama as supreme man, whereas Hanuman recognizes Rama as Lord Narayana. Rama helps Sugriva to get back his kingdom by killing Vali. Afterwards, it is Hanuman only who persuades Sugriva to help Rama in constructing the bridge with his vanaras to reach Sri Lanka..
By the order of Rama, Hanuman crosses the Ocean and meets Akruti Sita and makes her happy by giving the message of Lord Rama’s welfare and gives the ring given by Rama to Akruti Sita to establish himself as a genuine messenger. In turn, Akruti Sita gives Hanuman Chudamani and tells him to give it to Rama.
After the war, when Rama was coronated in Ayodhya, with a view to satisfy people, he sends Sita for “Agni Pravesha” to test her purity. Akruti Sita enters Agni and comes back as real Sita from Kailasa and joins Rama. Sita Devi offers her necklace with precious stones to Hanuman and Rama asks Hanuman to take anything for the help and services rendered by him. Being a great devotee of Rama of highest order, Hanuman asks for a permanent place at Rama’s feet and seeks his blessing forever. This shows the true “vairagya “of Hanuman. Rama offers himself to Hanuman and grants him sahabhoga Brahma padavi in the next kalpa. In other words, poet justifies that "Hari is sarvothama and Vayu is jeevothama”. Hanuman is chiranjeevi and it is said that even now Hanuman is living in kimpurushakhamda serving Swamy Shri Ramachandra.
Next Bhīma’s avatar is described.
Pandu’s wife queen Kunti gave birth to Bhima by invoking the God of wind, Vayu. When he was an infant, he slipped from Kunti’s hand breaking down the shathashrunga parvatha when it was touched by him; such was his enormous strength. That is why Bhima is known as “akhanaashmasama”.
Duryodhana hated Bhimasena from childhood, because he was always defeated by Bhima in all the games played. Duryodhana hatched many plans to kill Bhima like giving poisonous food, by leaving poisonous snakes to bite, by dumping in a deep madavu pramanakoti. Bhima survived by all these tests. He digested the poisonous food easily; the snakes lost their teeth and died; he came up easily from the madavu.
Duryodhana hatched a plan to burn the Pandavas alive at a lac palace . Bhima set fire to the palace after carrying all five of them (Kunti and brothers) safely. This is a great role played by Bhima in escaping from wax palace. At that time Bhima kills the rakshasa Hidimba, he meets his sister Hidimbi, and by the advice of Vedavyasa Bhima marries Hidimbi. During their stay at Ekachakra they came to know of a demon, Bakasura a cannibal. The powerful Bhima killed Bakasura and made the people happy.
The Pandavas were successful at the Swayamwara. Due to instructions of Vedavyasa devaru Bhima married Droupadi. That is, Rajahamsa married Rajahamsi. Seeing Krishna in the Swayamwara Bhima was delighted. When Yudhishthira wanted to conduct Rajasuyayaga Krishna warns him that he cannot do Rajasuyayaga without killing Jarasandha who is very powerful. Then Bhima convinces Yudishtira that he will take up the responsibility of killing Jarasandha. Krishna tricked Jarasandha into having a wrestling bout with Bhima. Bhima killed Jarasandha and helped Yudishtira to conduct Rajasuyayaga.
Bhima killed Kitchaka who tried to dishonor Droupadi. He killed the Kichaka’s allies also.
Droupadi was attracted by Sougandika pushpas in Gandhamadhava parvatha in Badarikashrama forest. At the time of bringing Sougandika pushpas which was desired by Droupadi, Bhima killed wicked Manimantha who had two tongues with red eyes with several boons who was a leader of thousands of Krodavasas sarpas. Bhima killed Krodavasas also.
In Kurukshetra war, Bhima destroyed almost all akshohini sene (army) of Kouravas including Bhishma and all sons of Drutharashtra,
Bhima also was admired by his pupils as a noble Yuvaraja.
Bhima was a role model as a devotee to Krishna, as a husband, as a brother and as a Yuvaraja.
Bhima and his brothers made Parikshithth the grandson of Arjuna and Subhadra, the sister of Krishna as Emperor.
The poet then explains how Manimantha was born as Sankara in a Brahmin’s house in Kaladi and took Sanyastva and misinterpreted Brahma Sutra. He became known as “Prachanna Boudha” as he was a follower of Boudha Tatva. Shri Madvacharyaru has remarked in his several granthas that Boudhamatha and Mayavadi’s tatvas are similar to one another. The followers of Sankara started spreading the news in all directions that the Prapancha (Universe) is false; Bhagavantha is nirguna; there is no difference between Jeevathma and Paramathma. As a result, the existence of Supreme Lord Vasudeva was eradicated from the minds of wise people.
The Sarga closes with saying that Manimantha and other daityas, the haters of Bhima took birth in Kaliyuga, and spread philosophy similar to Buddhism. Hence good people also lost faith in Vasudeva, the supreme Lord. Hence incarnation of Vayu as Madhvacharya took place.
In the end of each Saga’s shloka(poem) the word “Ananda” appears. Hence Shi “Sumadhva Vijaya” is also called as “Anandanka”.