Harivyas Devacharya ( 15th Century) also known as Harivyasadeva () was an Indian philosopher, theologian and poet. Born into a Gaud brahmin family, he became the 35th ÃÂchÃÂrya of the NimbÃÂrka SampradÃÂya. Residing in the sacred town of Vrindavana, he was a disciple of à Ârë à Ârëbhaá¹Âá¹Âa DevÃÂchÃÂrya ji and his nom-de-plume was Hari PriyÃÂ. He also played a pivotal role in expanding the reach of the NimbÃÂrka SampradÃÂya by sending twelve main disciples on missionary journeys across Indian Subcontinent, each establishing their own sub-lineage, some of which continue to thrive today.
HarivyÃÂsa DevÃÂchÃÂrya, born into a Gaur Brahmin family, is commemorated annually on the twelfth day of KartikâÂÂs waxing moon. All the NimbÃÂrkës prior to HarivyÃÂsa were likely trained in regions such as South India or Kashmir. In contrast, HarivyÃÂsa, a Gauá¸Âa-brÃÂhmaá¹Âa from MathurÃÂ, chose to pursue his education in VÃÂrÃÂá¹Âasi. Following the traditional brÃÂhmaá¹Âical custom, HarivyÃÂsa would have begun his formal studies in KÃÂà Âë at the age of eight, completing them by the time he reached twenty-two.
A disciple of à Ârë à Ârëbhaá¹Âá¹Âa DevÃÂchÃÂrya, he was entrusted by his guru to compose a detailed commentary on the "Yugal Shatak," known as 'Mahavani.' This work elaborates on the sentiments expressed in the Yugal Shatak's couplets through lyrical commentary. His influence led to the saints of his tradition being called 'HarivyÃÂsë.' His samadhi is located in Mathuràat 'NÃÂrada TëlÃÂ,' where a statue of NÃÂrada Ji is installed.
Under him, there were 12 disciples, after whom the 12 dvÃÂra (i.e., branches) of the tradition were established:
HarivyÃÂsa devÃÂchÃÂrya is linked with many extraordinary occurrences, The most renowned of these is his initiation by goddess Durgàin the village of Caá¹ÂathÃÂvala, an event famously recounted in the NÃÂbhàdÃÂsa BhaktamÃÂla chappaya 77. NÃÂbhàdÃÂsa wrote that "It is a matter of great wonder that a celestial goddess, who roams the heavens, made a disciple of a human. Saints, imbued with a sense of renunciation and deep devotion to the lotus feet of ShyÃÂmsundar, always surrounded him in great abundance. Among these saints, à Ârë HarivyÃÂsa shone resplendently, much like King Janaka of Videha shone amidst sages like Yajnavalkya and other enlightened beings. Due to his reverent service at the feet of his guru, à Ârë à Ârëbhaá¹Âá¹Âa, the entire world bowed before him. Through the spiritual power of devotion to Hari, he was once even accepted as a disciple of the great goddess."
Ká¹Âá¹£á¹Âadeva, a PÃÂñcarÃÂtrika scholar, authored a ritual manual titled Ná¹Âsiá¹ÂhaparicaryÃÂ. Gopinath Kaviraj, noted a manuscript of this work in the Sarasvatë Bhavana library at the Government Sanskrit College, VÃÂrÃÂá¹Âasi. This manuscript was part of a collection previously owned by Mahëdhara, a MÃÂdhyandinëya à Âuklayajurveda commentator who acquired it in 1583 CE. The collection was later donated to the library. Manuscript annotations indicate that it was transcribed by âÂÂHarivyÃÂsadevaâ in V.S. 1525 (1468 CE). Based on this evidence, Narayandutt Sharma concluded that HarivyÃÂsa devacharya lived approximately between 1443 CE and 1543 CE.
The suggested date of HarivyÃÂsaâÂÂs death can be corroborated through the following reasoning. In the lineage of Svabhà «rÃÂma DevÃÂchÃÂrya, HarivyÃÂsaâÂÂs eldest disciple, CaturacintÃÂmaá¹Âi NÃÂgÃÂjë is mentioned in NÃÂbhÃÂdÃÂsaâÂÂs BhaktamÃÂla chappaya 148 as a contemporary figure: "CaturacintÃÂmaá¹Âë NÃÂgÃÂjë resides in a house in the kuñja at this time." Based on this, NÃÂgÃÂjëâÂÂs lifespan is estimated to be approximately 1550âÂÂ1630. Accordingly, his predecessor, ParamÃÂnanda DevÃÂchÃÂrya, likely lived from 1520âÂÂ1600; his teacher, Kará¹Âahara DevÃÂchÃÂrya, from 1500âÂÂ1570; and his preceptor, Svabhà «rÃÂma DevÃÂchÃÂrya, from 1480âÂÂ1550. Svabhà «rÃÂma is noted to have been significantly older than Paraà ÂurÃÂma DevÃÂchÃÂrya. This chronology aligns with the assumption that HarivyÃÂsa passed away around 1540.
Works of Harivyasa Devacharya:
MahÃÂvÃÂá¹Âë is well recognized text in braj bhasha it has five chapters.
The five chapters of the MahÃÂvÃÂá¹Âë are: