Sri Ananda Thirtha was born near Udipi in Karnataka. During his childhood he was known as Vasudeva. He was a gifted child and became known for his vast scholarly knowledge, for his miraculous strengths and skills in debating sessions at a very young age. He declared his intention of taking up Sanyasa to his parents at the age of eight. Seeing his parents distressed on hearing this, he assured them that till another son is born to them, he would wait to take up Sanyasa.
Sri Ananda Thirtha became associated with Guru Achyutapreksha Tirtha at the age of eight years. It was Guru Achyutapreksha Tirtha who gave the title of Ananda Thirtha and introduced him into a life of renunciation. Sri Ananda Thirtha took up numerous noble activities during his entire lifetime. He is founder of the present day and very popular Krishna Temple located at Udipi. Many important works on the Tattvaveda have been composed by him. Many of his devotees and followers have attained tremendous inspiration from Sri Ananda Thirtha.
Sri Ananda Thirtha founded the Tattvavada School. Swami Jayathirtha and other eminent personalities later put in efforts to popularize the Tattvavada School. He is believed to be Sri Madhavacharya’s incarnation, who was the founder of the Dwaita School. His life was very eventful and in the early 14th century, he passed away.
According to his doctrine, there is more than one absolute real and the only entity praised in the Shrutis and their adjuncts is Lord Vishnu (Hari). Sri Ananda Thirtha associates the Brahman of the Upanishads with Lord Vishnu.
