Sri Sharadamba Rathotsava 2025

Sharadamba Maharathotsava took place on February 15, 2025. The Utsava Murti of Goddess Sharada was taken along the main streets of Sringeri in a decorated Ratha. Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati Sannidhanam led the procession amidst chants of the Vedas and bhajans.

The previous day, Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahasannidhanam performed a special Puja to Goddess Sharada. As part of the Celebrations, a Shatachandi Yaga was conducted in the premises of the Peetham.

The Prabodhotsava and Poornahuti of the Shatachandi Yaga took place on February 16 in the Jagadguru’s presence. Teppotsava of Goddess Sharadamba took place that evening.

Bhagavan Sri Ramlalla at Ramjanmabhoomi Mandir & the Vigraha of Sri Rama Darbar at Sundar Sadan, Ayodhya – The Amazing Connect

Sri Sannidhanam at Ayodhya Ram lalla Mandir

With the blessings of Dakshinamnaya Sringeri Sharada Peethadheeshwara, Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahasannidhanam, Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati Sannidhanam consecrated the beautiful monolithic black stone Vigraha of “Sri Rama Darbar” at Sundar Sadan, Ramkot, Sringeri Shankara Math, Ayodhya on February 10, 2025 (Krodhi Samvatsara – Vikram Samvat 2081 – Magha Shuddha Trayodashi, Punarvasu Nakshatra).

Earlier in the day, Jagadguru Sri Sannidhanam had Darshan of Bhagavan Sri Ramlalla at the Ramjanmabhoomi Mandir while at night, Jagadguru Sri Sannidhanam performed the Chandramoulishwara Puja at the Praarthana Mandap located beside the Garbha Griha in the Ramjanmabhoomi Mandir. The entire visit was coordinated by dignitaries involved with the Mandir such as Sri Champat Rai, Chief Secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra and Sri Gopal ji of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. Later in the evening, the dignitaries had special Darshan of Sri Sannidhanam and briefed on the progress to-date of the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir construction and what remain to be completed, and received blessings.

On February 11, Jagadguru Sri Sannidhanam in His Anugraha Bhashanam commended Sri VK Singh ji and his family for approaching Sringeri Shankaracharya Jagadguru Sri Mahasannidhanam with great devotion to offer Sundar Sadan and take over its management located in the proximity of the Ramjanmabhoomi Mandir.

The Vigraha of Sri Rama Durbar consecrated at Sundar Sadan in Ayodhya is a unique creation by a master sculptor and has been connected to the Sringeri Math for nearly 80 years. The Vigraha is so exquisite that it is impossible to not get moved by its beauty. Bhagavan Sri Rama has Maata Sita sitting on his lap and tenderly holds Her. Sri Lakshmana and Sri Shatrughna fan Bhagavan with chamara and Sri Bharata stands in front devotedly with folded hands. Sri Hanuman sits in front holding Bhagavan Sri Rama’s Lotus feet and fully absorbed in it. 

The connection between the Vigrahas of Bhagavan Sri Ramlalla at Ramjanmabhoomi Mandir and Sri Rama Darbar at Sundar Sadan have a connection that thrills anyone who comes to know about the connection.

In the middle of the 20th century, Sri M.R. Balasubramaniam from Manathattai village near Trichy, was a Chief Engineer in Public Works Department of the erstwhile Madras Presidency. He was an ardent devotee of the Jagadgurus of the Dakshinamnaya Sringeri Sri Sharada Peetam and was serving the Sringeri Math in many ways. He was instrumental in building the Ratna Garbha Ganapati temple and Shankara Matha at Sivaganga in Tamil Nadu. In 1958, the Sringeri Jagadguru had graced his residence at Manathattai and later his residence at Chennai too. Pleased with his immense devotion, the Jagadguru blessed him with the title, “Guru Bhakta Ratnam”.

Sri M.R. Balasubramaniam used to frequent Sringeri to have Darshan of the Sringeri Jagadgurus. Once in 1951, he was in Sringeri to have Darshan of the renowned Jivanmukta, the 34th Shankaracharya of Sringeri, Jagadguru Sri Sri Chandrashekhara Bharati Mahaswamiji. The Mahaswamiji would often be in the state of Antarmukha and there would be occasions where devotees would wait for months together to have Darshan of the Mahaswamiji who revelled in the highest spiritual state of the bliss of the Atman.

When Sri M.R. Balasubramaniam 1951, he happened to meet Sri Siddhanti Siddhalinga Swami, a renowned sculptor patronised by the Mysore Maharaja. Sri Siddhalinga Swami had been waiting for a long time in Sringeri to obtain darshan of Jagadguru Sri Chandrashekara Bharati Mahaswamiji. Coming to know of this, Sri MR Balasubramanian promised to try and help him have the Darshan of the Jagadguru. Soon it transpired that both could have Darshan of the Jagadguru. The joyous Sri Siddalinga Swami asked Sri Balasubramaniam to visit his Shilpa Vidyalaya Gurukula in Mysore at the earliest opportunity.

When Sri Balasubramaniam visited within a span of few months, Sri Siddalinga Swami showed him around and asked him to select any Vigraha he wished and he would give it to him as a token of gratitude for ensuring that he could have the darshan of the Sringeri Jagadguru. Sri Balasubramaniam chose an incredibly beautiful Sri Rama Vigraha that is essentially the present-day Sri Rama Darbar. Initially taken aback by this request, Sri Siddalinga Swami mentioned that he had not expected that this particular Vigraha would be chosen as it had been sculpted by him, not to be sold or given, but as a testament of his skill that had been handed down through generations. He had single-handedly worked on the Vigraha for over ten years! 

However, Sri Siddalinga Swami kept up his word, and had the Vigraha of Sri Rama Darbar sent to Manathattai in the summer of 1952.

In all earnestness, Sri Balasubramaniam purchased a piece of land and began preparations for the construction of a temple in his beloved Manathattai agraharam. However, Sri MRB’s efforts were beset with numerous obstacles. His son Sri B Raju, was based out of Chennai and building the temple in Manathattai did not seem possible due to domestic commitments. In recent years after his retirement, he did take some preliminary steps towards building the temple, however even this effort did not fructify. When his wife, Smt. Sujatha read about the Sringeri Sharadha Peetham establishing a new branch Math at Ayodhya, a thought crossed her mind – why not offer Sri Rama to the Sringeri Shankara Math at Ayodhya?

With this thought, they came to Sringeri on August 17th 2022 to have Darshan of the Jagadgurus and to seek Their guidance. Both Sri Maha sannidhanam and Sri Sannidhanam were very happy to and instructed them to bring the Vigraha to Sringeri at the earliest. Thus, it seemed it was pre-ordained that the sequence of events pertaining to the Vigraha began in Sringeri more than 70 years ago and again culminated in Sringeri. This is what is called Ram leela.

On January 22, 2024, the day Bhagavan Sri Ramlalla was consecrated in Ayodhya, Sringeri Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahasannidhanam and Jagadguru Sri Sannidhanam worshipped the Vigraha carved by Sri Siddalinga Swami at the same time as the Vigraha of Bhagavan Sri Ramlalla carved by Sri Arun Yogiraj, grandson of Sri Siddalinga Swami’s disciple was consecrated and worshipped at Ayodhya.

Likewise on February 10, 2025, Sringeri Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati Mahaswamiji consecrated this Vigraha which was offered by Shilpi Siddalinga Swami as a gratitude for having been able to obtain the Darshan of Jagadguru Sri Chandrashekhara Bharati Mahaswamiji.

Prana Pratishtha Mahakumbhabhisheka of Bhagavati Annapoorneshwari of Kashi and Sringeri Sri Sharadamba decorated in Sri Annapoorneshwari Alankara

Prana Pratishtha Mahakumbhabhisheka of Bhagavati Annapoorna of Kashi performed by Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati Mahaswamiji on 7th February 2025

With the blessings of the Dakshinamnaya Shringeri Sharada Peethadheeshwara, Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahasannidhanam, the Uttaradhikari of Sringeri Peetham, Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati Sannidhanam performed the Pratishtha Mahakumbhabhisheka of the new Vigraha offered by Sringeri Math at Sri Annapurneshwari temple, located beside the famous Vishwanatha temple at Varanasi on Krodhi Samvatsara (Vikram Samvat 2081) Magha Shukla Dashami (February 7, 2025). The air resonated with the chanting of Vedic mantras and a wave of devotion swept through the ancient city, as devotees gathered to partake in this historic occasion.

On this auspicious occasion, a Swarna Shikhara Gopura was dedicated as a humble offering to Sri Annapurneshwari by the Sringeri Math. Jagadguru Sri Sannidhanam also performed the Kumbhabhisheka of the Swarna Shikhara Gopura atop the sanctum sanctorum of Sri Annapurneshwari.

The Kumbhabhisheka has been performed after Mahant of Sri Annapurna Mandir, Sri Shankar Puri ji Maharaj had come to Sringeri last year reverentially inviting the Sringeri Jagadguru to Varanasi to perform the Maha Kumbhabhisheka. Acceding to the request, Sringeri Jagadguru Sri Mahasannidhanam fixed the Muhurta and directed Sri Sannidhanam to perform the Kumbhabhisheka.

As part of the grand Kumbhabhisheka, various dharmic activities are being conducted including Sahasrachandi Mahayajna, Kotikumkumarchana, Maharudra Yajna. Parayana of the four Vedas, the 18 Puranas and Srimad Valmiki Ramayana also took place. The japa of many powerful mantras meant for the wellbeing of mankind was also performed. Nearly 500 Vedic scholars have been involved in these dharmic activities as part of the Mahakumbhabhisheka ceremonies that began on 31st January and will end on February 9, 2025.

The Kumbhabhisheka day began on the most sacred note with Jagadguru Sri Sannidhanam arriving at 4 am at the sanctum sanctorum of Sri Vishwanatha temple and performing special Abhisheka and Puja. Mahant of Sri Annapurna Math Mandir Sri Shankar Puri ji Maharaj, Mahant Sri Subhash Puri ji Maharaj, Shri BVR Subrahmanyam, Chairman, Niti Aayog, Shri Avanish Awasthi, Advisor to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and Shri N Venkataraman, Additional Solicitor General, Supreme Court of India were amongst the dignitaries present on the occasion.

At around 10:30 am, Sri Sannidhanam graced the Poornahuti of Pratishthanga Homa, prayed to Chintaharan Ganapati in the premises of Sri Annapurna temple and then performed the Kumbhabhisheka.

After performing the Suvarna shikhara Kumbhabhisheka, the Jagadguru blessed the devotees with an Anugraha Bhashanam. In that the Jagadguru said, “The leela of Bhagvan Vishwanath seeking alms and Sri Annapoorna offering it is indicative of the fact that we owe our lives to the compassion of Bhagavati Sri Annapoorna who is nourishing us.” After explaining the greatness of Amba, the Jagadguru said, “Kashi and Sringeri are connected from the times of Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya. He had stayed at Kashi for long. Likewise Sri Shankaracharya had established the southern Peeth, the first and foremost of the four Amnaya Peeth, Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peeth at Sringeri.. We have Darshan of Bhagavan Vishwanath ji and Ganga Ma at Varanasi, while we have Darshan of Bhagavan Sri Chandramoulishwara / Sri Malahanikareshwara and Tunga Ma in Sringeri. In Kashi, Jagadamba is gracing devotees as Vishalakshi and Annapurna while at Sringeri, Jagadamba is gracing the devotees as Sharadamba.

48 years ago, as per the request of the then Mahant of Annapurneshwari temple, Sri Tribhuvan Puri ji Maharaj, our Paramaguru, Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji and our Guru, Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji had come to Varanasi and performed the Kumbhabhisheka at Sri Annapurneshwari temple.

The various dharmic activities are meant for the wellbing of all mankind as well as the peace and prosperity of our entire nation. We have also prayed that the farmers of our country be blessed by Sri Annapurneshwari and there be abundant food security and wealth in our nation. Offering our pranams at the Lotus Feet of our revered Guru, we convey our blessings to all.”

The Sringeri Shankaracharya then blessed hundreds of scholars who took part in the function. The CEO and Administrator of the Sringeri Math Sri P A Murali, Mahant of Sri Annapurna Mandir, Sri Shankar Puri ji Maharaj, Mahant Sri Subash Puri ji Maharaj felicitated the scholars. In the evening Guruvandana Sabha held at Sri Sringeri Shankara Math, Baradwankoti, Mehamorganj Varanasi, various dignitaries of Varanasi and devotees from all parts of Bharat attended.

Today in Sringeri Sharada Peetham, devotees had Darshan of Sri Sharadamba decorated in Sri Annapoorna Alankara and the Mahamangala arati was held in the divine presence of Dakshinamnaya Sringeri Sri Sharada Peethadhishwara Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji. Likewise Sri Sharadamba was adorned in the Annapoorna Alankara in Sharadamba temple in various branches of Sringeri Math across our nation.