Sri Shankara Jayanti Celebrations 2010
Jagadguru performing Abhisheka to Sri Adi Shankaracharya at
Kalady Sri Adi Shankaracharya Janma Bhoomi Kshetram
The Shankara Jayanti Celebrations took place from 14th to 18th May all over the country. The crowning glory was the observance of the Celebrations by the Mahaswamiji at the Adi Shankara Janmabhoomi Kshetram at Kalady. The Celebrations commenced on Vaishakha Shukla Prathama (May 14th). Ekadasha-vara Rudra Abhishekha with Mahanyasa was performed daily at the shrine of Sri Adi Shankaracharya – the shrine itself being the very place where the great philosopher’s home was once located and the exact place of his birth.
Parayana of the four Vedas, the Prasthanatraya Bhashya, Madhaviya Shankara Vijaya – the traditional account of Sri Shankara’s life, was performed daily. The Mahaswamiji Himself was performing Parayana even as He was giving Darshan in the mornings.
Vedic scholars from all over India took part in the Veda Sammelan conducted on the occasion in the Jagadguru Mahaswamiji’s presence. Examinations were conducted for advanced students of the Vedas. In the evenings, Veda Parayana was followed by Shastra Sadas held under the august presidentship of the Jagadguru Mahaswamiji, Himself a great scholar, in front of Sri Adi Shankaracharya’s shrine. Scholars and advanced students in the Shastras of Vedanta, Vyakarana and Tarka presented deliberations entirely in Sanskrit on various topics of the Shastras in the Mahaswamiji’s presence.
On May 14th, the Mahaswamiji delivered a short Anugraha Bhashanam in Sanskrit describing the Kshetra of Kalady. On May 15th, the Mahaswamiji in His Sanskrit Anugraha Bhashanam spoke on the Upadeshas (instructions) of Sri Shankara Bhagavatpada to Sadhakas. During the evening programme on May 16th, the Kerala Brahmana Samooham organized a function to felicitate Dharmadhikari of the Sringeri Shankara Math at Thiruvanantapuram, Dr. M. Sambasivan, who is a renowned neuro surgeon, and a Vedic Scholar. Dr. Sambasivan received the title of “Dharma Shreshta” awarded by the Samooham from the Mahaswamiji.
On 18th May, Shankara Jayanti day, the Jagadguru Mahaswamiji performed an elaborate Puja to Sri Adi Shankaracharya in the afternoon. The Mahaswamiji concluded the Puja with the grand ‘Kanakabhisheka’ to the Vigraha of Sri Adi Shankaracharya. The Mahaswamiji offered a gold crown on the occasion. The entire event was webcast live via the Peetham’s website www.sringerisharadapeetham.org. In the evening Sabha, the Jagadguru rendered an Anugraha Bhashanam highlighting Sri Shankaracharya’s knowledge, compassion and Paropakara, and expressed great joy in having celebrated the Shankara Jayanti at Sri Shankaracharya’s birthplace.
Vedic scholars were honoured while successful Vidyarthis were awarded certificates and shawls. Gold rings were awarded to Vedabrahmasri Nanjunda Sharma (Rig Veda) of Bangalore, Vedabrahmasri Shivasubrahmanya Avadhani (Krishna Yajur Veda) of Hyderabad and Vedabrahmasri Rajamani Dikshitar (Sama Veda) of Chennai.
The Mahaswamiji released a number of books including five books in Malayalam
- Sri Shankara Dig Vijaya Saaram – A short biography in Malayalam on Sri Adi Shankaracharya based on the Madhaviya Shankara Digvijayam, compiled by Sri Sivakumar, Kollam.
- Sringeri Mahatmyam – A book in Malayalam on the history and Acharyas of the Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham, compiled by Sri Sivakumar, Kollam.
- Prachodanamarulunna Acharyan – A Malayalam biography compiled by Sri Sivakumar, Kollam on the present Acharya of the Peetham, Jagadguru Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji.
- Vazhvum Varamozhigalum – A Malayalam biography compiled by Sri Sivakumar, Kollam on the 34th Acharya of the Peetham, Jagadguru Sri Chandrashekhara Bharati Mahaswamiji.
- Acharyanumaayulla Samvaadangal – Translation of the book “Dialogues with the Guru” containing dialogues with the 34th Acharya of the Peetham, Jagadguru Sri Chandrashekhara Bharati Mahaswamiji.
- Jagadguru Grantha Mala Volume 10 – containing Sri Adi Shankaracharya’s work Sarva Vedanta Siddhanta Sara Sangraha along with Tamil translation and notes.
- Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankara – A short biography in English on Sri Adi Shankaracharya based on the Madhaviya Shankara Digvijayam, compiled by Sri K Suresh Chandar.
- Illuminating Interactions – A reprint of the book, authored by Sri K Suresh Chandar, featuring interactions with the present Acharya of the Peetham, Jagadguru Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji.
- The Goal of Human Life – An English book containing Vedantic discourses of the 34th Acharya of the Peetham, Jagadguru Sri Chandrashekhara Bharati Mahaswamiji delivered in the year 1927 at Coimbatore and Thiruvanantapuram.
The Celebrations concluded with a grand procession of Sri Adi Shankaracharya’s Utsava Murti through the Agrahra of Kalady and adjoining areas to the accompaniment of Veda Ghosha by scholars and Bhajans by devotees.