Ashrama Name: Shri Vidyaghanendra Sarasvati (1)
Appellations: Bhairavajit Vidyaghana, Mantravit Vidyaghana, Chala Vidyaghana
Birth Place: Andhra
Purvashrama Name: Naayana
Purvashrama Father’s Name: Bapanna Somayaji
Years as Pithadhipati: 45
Siddhi: 3417 Dhatu Margashirsha Amavasya (CE 0316-Dec-02)
Siddhi Place: Agastyachalam (Kodagu hills in today’s Southern Karnataka / Tamil Nadu)
Other: This Acharya had great mantra siddhi and was capable of granting the wishes of those that sought refuge in Him. By the practice of Laya Yoga, He used to be able to derive nourishment directly from the sun.
Hearing of His powers, the people of Agastyachalam sought His protection. There was an Ugra Bhairava deity in that area who had been causing much trouble to those living there. The people requested the Acharya to control the Bhairava and end their suffering.
By this time the Acharya had given sannyasa to His young disciple, Shri Gishpati Gangadhara. So He left His disciple to take care of the Peetham and left for Agastyachala. There He subdued the Ugra Bhairava by His tapas, and hence rendered the place safe for all.
Shortly afterwards, He attained Siddhi in that same mountainous area.
श्रीसर्वज्ञसदाशिवबोधेन्द्रकृता पुण्यश्लोकमञ्जरी
निवेश्य गङ्गाधरगीष्पतिं पदे प्रविश्य कूटं तद् अगस्त्यचिह्नितम्।
प्रमोटयन् मन्त्रत उग्रभैरवं निवेशनं स्वं तत एव कॢप्तवान्॥२८॥
श्रीमद्बापणसोमयाजितनयः श्रीनायनाभिख्यया
ख्यातः पूर्वम् उदारमन्त्रविभवः संयम्य सच्चिद्घनात्।
आस्थायाप्यधिकामकोटि स शिवान् (४५) अब्दान् अगेऽगाल्लयं
धातौ शालि-मणीशिखीक्षण(२३९)-सहे दर्शे च विद्याघनः॥२९॥
॥ श्रीसदाशिवेन्द्रसरस्वतीश्रीचरणविरचिता जगद्गुरु-रत्न-माला ॥
कलया मलयाद्र्यगस्त्य-कूट-स्थल-यातूयित-भैरव-प्रमोटम् ।
कलयाम लयाध्व-लीढ-भानुं चल-विद्याघनम् आप्त-काम-धेनुम् ॥ ४२ ॥
॥ पञ्चषष्टितमैः पीठाधिपतिभिः श्रीमत्सुदर्शनमहादेवेन्द्रसरस्वतीश्रीचरणैः प्रणीतः श्री-काञ्ची-कामकोटि-पीठ-जगद्-गुरु-परम्परा-स्तवः ॥
(१४) महा-भैरव-दुस्तन्त्र-दुर्दान्त-ध्वान्त-भास्करान् ।
विद्याघनान् नमस्यामि सर्व-विद्या-विचक्षणान् ॥ २२ ॥