Sringeri News Bulletin - October 2008
Jayanti of previous Acharyas Celebrated
The Jayantis of the 34th Acharya, Jagadguru Sri Chandrashekhara Bharati Mahaswamiji and 34th Acharya, Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji were observed on 24th and 27th October respectively. On both days, the present and 36th Acharya, Jagadguru Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji offered homage to His Guru and Paramaguru at the Adhisthanam shrines in Narasimha Vanam at noon. The Jagadguru also performed a special Puja at the shrines at night.
Scholars of the Pathashala
during the Jayanti Sabha
Both the Jayantis were also observed by Sri Sadvidya Sanjeevini Samskrta Mahapatashala of the Peetham. On both days, the Vidyarthis and Pandits of the Pathashala assembled at the Adhistana Mandapa for a Sabha. The Sabha began with Veda Parayana and salutations to the Jagadgurus of Sringeri. This was followed by a couple of Vidyarthis recounting the life of the Jagadgurus.
The Sabha for the Jayanti of Jagadguru Sri Chandrashekhara Bharati Mahaswamiji was presided over by Brahmasri Krishna Bhat. Alluding to the remarkable life of the Mahaswamiji, he said that the recollection of the lives of great ones gives great merit and guides one along the spiritual path. Reminding the Vidyarthis that the human birth is precious and has been obtained by the result of many good deeds performed in past lives, he called for the proper use of the human birth and quoted the Shloka - "samsaara-sarpa-damShTaanaam jantoonaam avivekinaam | Chandrashekhara-paadaabja-smaraNam paramaushadham" (The remembrance of the Lotus Feet of the Jivanmukta Jagadguru Sri Chandrashekhara Bharati Mahaswamiji is the Supreme medicine for living beings who have been bit by the serpent called Samsaara).
The Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekhara Bharati Mahaswamiji Birth Centenary Foundation Lecture Series was conceived in 1992, a hundred years after Mahaswamiji's birth, by Sri V R Subramaniam, Shankara Vidya Kendra, New Delhi. The series has been organising lectures by distinguished speakers every year on the Jayanti day every year. The first lecture in the series was the Anugraha Bhashanam by the present Jagadguru Himself in 1993 at Pravachana Mandiram, Sringeri. In the subsequent years, the lectures were held in various cities of the nation and given by prominent personalities in various fields including Vidwans, Justices, Professors. The Jagadguru had also rendered His Anugraha Bhashanam in 2004 when the lecture series was held in Sringeri as that year marked the 50th year of the Mahaswamiji's Videha Mukti. This year, the Administrator of the Peetham, Guruseva Dhurina Padmashri V R Gowrishankar delivered the lecture as part of the Jayanti Celebrations in New Delhi.
Vidyarthis of the Pathashala
during the Jayanti Sabha
On Oct 27th, Brahmasri Vinayaka Udupa presided over the Sabha for the Jayanti of Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji who was made the successor-designate of the Peetham by His Guru at the young age of 14. Brahmasri T Dakshinamurti also spoke on the occasion recounting many incidents relating to the Mahaswamiji's Poorvashrama in which He was called "Srinivasan". At school, the boy had expressed his desire to grow up and become a Sannyasi with the ultimate goal of seeing God. When asked for the proof of God's existence, the young Srinivasan explained with an illustration, "Just as we, who have not seen the city of Bombay believe that it exists when others who have been there tell us, we must believe that God exists considering the innumerable saints and philosophers who have experienced the Supreme." On another occasion, when Sri Srinivasan and his friends were faced with the question, "Why have you been given your respective names?", Sri Srinivasan replied, "I have been named thus so as to facilitate the remembrance of God." The subsequent Gurukula-vasa at Sringeri and inductance into Sannyasa Ashrama by Jagadguru Sri Chandrashekhara Bharati Mahaswamiji under the Yoga-patta of "Abhinava Vidyatirtha", and achievements as the 35th Acharya of the Peetham were also highlighted.
Jagadguru's Pattabhishekha Day
Poornahuti of Sahasra Narikela Homa.
Pattabhisheka day (marking the day of the ascendance to the Sharada Peetham) of Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji fell on October 19th. The Jagadguru had ascended the Peetham as the 36th Acharya on the same day 19 years ago. On this auspicious day, a Sahasra Narikela Homa was performed in the Jagadguru Sri Nrisimha Bharati Yagashalam, housed in the heritage structure opposite the Goddess Sharada temple. Poornahuti took place in the Jagadguru's Divine Presence. Despite the day being sunny, a short shower occurred for the entire duration of the Poornahuti indicative of Divine Blessings. In the evening, a public function was held in the Jagadguru's presence. The Jagadguru blessed all the staff of the Peetham and the assembled devotees.
Royal Scion of Travancore at Sringeri
Jagadguru blessing
the Royal Scion of Travancore
It is well-known that a number of pre-independence royal dynasties have revered the Jagadgurus of the Sharada Peetham at Sringeri. The kingdom of Travancore in present-day Kerala was no exception. The crowning moment in the relationship between Travancore and the Sharada Peetham occurred during the time of the 33rd Jagadguru (1879-1912 AD) of the Peetham, Jagadguru Sri Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Nrisimha Bharati Mahaswamiji. At the Mahaswamiji's direction, the ancient agrahara of Kalady, the birth place of Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya was discovered. The exact spot of the Samadhi of Sri Adi Shankaracharya's mother, Sri Aryamba had been identified by the Mahaswamiji Himself through divine revelation. At this juncture, the then Maharaja of Travancore, Sri Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma was instrumental in securing for the Peetham the lands connected with Sri Adi Shankaracharya's life.The Maharaja also offered assistance in building the shrines for Sri Adi Shankara and Goddess Sharada as well as the Samadhi shrine for Sri Aryamba that are housed today in the Sringeri Math at Kalady.
On October 15th 2008, the royal scion of Travancore Sri Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma came to Sringeri and had Darshan of Jagadguru Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji. Sri Uthradom Thirunal had brought the deities of his personal Puja to Sringeri and received them reverentially from the Divine hands of the Jagadguru
Sharan Navarathri Celebrations 2008
Goddess Sharada (Utsava Moorti)
during Sharannavaratri
On the Mahalaya Amavasya day (September 29th), Mahabhishekam was performed to Goddess Sharada. After the Mahabhishekam, Goddess Sharadamba gave Darshan as Jagat Prasutika signifying her role as the Divine Mother of the Universe. The Alankara is unique in that the Universe is represented symbolically as a baby in the arms of the Divine Mother Sharada. The Jagat Prasutika Alankara also portrays the Goddess as the one who nurtures with love the world and all beings in it. Goddess Sharada sported a number of Alankaras such as Hamsavahini, Mayuravahini, Rishabhavahini, Gajalakshmi, Simhavahini, Veena Sharada, Indrani, and Rajarajeshwari. Each aspect, inimitable and radiating bliss to all can only be ascertained by the Darshanam of the Goddess.
This Panchami day also marked the commencement of the Shata Chandi Yaga which extends for four days. During this Yaga, 10 Ritwiks chant the Durga Sapta Shati (Devi Mahatmyam) once on the first day, twice on the second day, thrice on the third day and four times on the fourth day. This completes the chanting of the Sapta Shati for 100 times and this is followed by the Purnahuti of the Yaga on Mahanavami. On Mahanavami, the Purnahuti of the Shatachandi Yaga, conducted for the welfare of all beings, was completed in the presence of Mahaswamigal. The Gaja Puja, Ashwa Puja, Ayudha Puja, Vahana Puja were all performed in the presence of His Holiness. The form of Chamunda (Simha Vahana Alankara) which Goddess Sharada adorned, thrilled the hearts of all devotees gathered. Even those, who were unable to come to Sringeri, had the golden opportunity of watching the events live on ETV Kannada. TTD's Sri Venkateshwara Bhakti Channel and Asianet Suvarna also telecast documentaries on the Navaratri Celebrations.
Goddess Sharadamba (of Jagadguru's Puja)
decorated in Mayura vahana alankara
On every day of Navaratri, the Utsava Moorti of Goddess Sharada was taken in a Dindi Utsava every evening along the main street of Sringeri. The Utsava Moorti was also decorated exquisitely in a number of Alankaras. The various forms of the Goddess were also depicted in the Vigraha of Goddess Sharada worshipped as part of the daily Sharada Chandramoulishwara Puja performed by the Jagadguru.
During the Navaratri festival, Parayana of the four Vedas, the commentaries on Vedanta (Prasthana-traya Bhashya of Sri Adi Shankaracharya), Sri Devi Bhagavatam, Sri Devi Mahatmyam, Ramayanam, Srimad Bhagavatam, Sri Harivamsha Puranam, Sri and Madhaviya Shankara Vijayam took place in the Goddess Sharada temple. During Navaratri, the Jagadguru performed the Sharada Chandramoulishwara Puja in the first floor of the new building "Sharada Prasada", adjacent to "Sri Bharati Tirtha Prasada", the main Annadana complex of the Peetham. The Jagadguru also gave Darshan in the evenings here.
The Sringeri Jagadguru as the
Karnataka Simhasana Prathisthapanacharya
Every night after the Chandramoulishwara Puja, the Jagadguru in accordance to the centuries-old tradition, adorned in royal attire conducted the Golden Dindi Utsava of Goddess Sharada in the temple and held the Navaratri Durbar. During the Durbar, Sri Durga Sapta Shati (Sri Devi Mahatmyam) Parayanam took place followed by Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva Veda Sevas. On the night of Moola Nakshatra, when the Goddess is decorated as Veena Sharada, offerings of the various Maharajas including Mysore, Gwalior, Indore, Thiruvananthapuram, Kashi, Nepal were placed before the Goddess by the Administrator on their behalf. On Ekadashi, the Sharadamba Maharathotsava was held at Sringeri. An unprecedented number of devotees thronged the holy town. The Jagadguru was reverentially carried in the Golden Adda pallaki (palanquin) facing the front of the Chariot carrying the Utsava Moorti of Goddess Sharada.
On the first day of Navaratri, the Jagadguru released a DVD, Anugraha Bhashanam Video Series Volume 4 containing two Anugraha Bhashanams, one in Hindi, titled "The Goal of Human Birth" and another in Kannada titled "The Importance of Human Birth". Both the Anugraha Bhashanams have English subtitles for other language speakers to understand the content of the Bhashanams. Besides the Anugraha Bhashanams, the DVD features excerpts of the Jagadguru performing Puja at Sri Kumaraswamy temple in Sandur, Bellary District, Karnataka. The footage has for its background music Dhandapani Panchakam and Subrahmanya Bhujanga Prayaatastuti - Two compositions on Lord Subrahmanya by the 33rd Acharya, Jagadguru Sri Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Nrisimha Bharati Mahaswamiji. The DVD also has excerpts of the Vamana Jayanti Puja performed by the Jagadguru in the Mumbai Shankara Math.
The Anugraha Bhashanam DVD Volume 5
released by the Jagadguru
On Vijayadashami day, the Pattabhisheka Sarga from Srimad Valimiki Ramayanam was read by the Jagadguru at Pravachana Mandiram. On this occasion also, the Jagadguru released a DVD, Anugraha Bhashanam Video Series Volume 5. The DVD contains a total of three Anugraha Bhashanams (supplemented by English subtitles) given by the Jagadguru. One of the Bhashanams is in Kannada titled "What should we pray to Goddess Sharada for?". Two of them are in Hindi, titled "Importance of the Mother Cow" and "Worship without any expectation". Besides the Anugraha Bhashanams, the DVD features excerpts of the Jagadguru performing the Kumbhabhishekams at the Sringeri Shankara Maths in Nasik and Dharwad as well as the Narasimha Jayanti Puja at Bangalore. The DVD also contains exclusive footage of Jagadguru in the Goshala at Sringeri.
The Sharannavaratri Celebrations ended with Mahabhishekha of the Goddess on Poornima (Oct 14th) followed by Teppotsava in the evening in the Jagadguru's presence.