Keertanakara Mahasammelan at Sringeri
Haridasas offering Pranams to Jagadguru during the Keertanakara Mahasammelan at Sringeri
As part of the Celebrations of the 60th year of Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji, a Karnataka State Keertanakaara Mahasammelan was held in Sringeri from November 19th to 21st at Sringeri. Held in association with the Akhila Karnataka Keertana Kala Parishat, the programme witnessed hundreds of Bhaktas taking part with great dedication and devotion.
The Jagadguru inaugurated the Mahasammelan on 19th morning. In His Anugraha Bhashanam, the Jagadguru explained that it is possible to reason out the existence of a Supreme Power responsible for the creation, sustenance and destruction of the Universe, and also responsible for dispensing the fruits of actions performed by man. This is not a conclusion that we arrive at through our own logic. Rather, it is only a logical deduction of what the Vedas have stated as “yato vaa imaani bhootani jaayante. Yena jaatani jeevanti. Yat prayantyabhisamvishanti. Tad vijijnasasva. Tad brahmeti” – “Know that Paramatma as the One from whom the creation has sprung, through whose power the creation is sustained, and into whom the creation dissolves”.
And this Paramatma is only one – “Eko devah sarvabhooteshu gooDah” (it is the one God that resides in all beings). However, people do get confused because there are many gods and even ask whom should we worship? Some people not stopping with differentiating between Shiva and Vishnu, even differentiate between different aspects of the same deity – such as between Lord Venkateshwara and Lord Narasimha.
It must be understood that the same Divine Consciousness is manifest as different names and forms. Just because a person performs various roles in various plays, he does not become many. Just because the Lord assumes many forms, does not mean He is many. If this is kept in mind, confusion shall not arise.
Our scriptures say that chanting the divine Name leads to Shreyas. But some people ask the question, “Which name should I chant”. Whether you take the Shiva, Hari, Ganesha or Subrahmanya, the essence is the same. Our Sanatana Dharma instructs that the Lord is to be worshipped in the respective forms on special days. That is why we worship the same Lord as Ganapati on Ganesha Chaturthi, as Goddess during Navaratri, as Surya on Ratha Saptami, as Rama on Rama Navami, as Krishna on Gokulashtami, and as Shiva on Mahashivaratri. It is also for this reason that Sri Adi Shankaracharya has composed Stotras on Ganapati, Devi, Vishnu, Shiva etc.
The Jagadguru was pleased that the exponents of Harikatha, always engaged in describing the greatness of the Lord, help to strengthen the devotion of the masses and lead them in the right direction.
Sri V R Gowrishankar, Administrator & CEO of the Peetham opined that Harikatha has been thrusted with a great responsibility in the sustenance of Sanatana Dharma and such programmes are organized by the Peetham towards meeting this objective.
Sri Sarvottama Dasa, President of the Akhila Karnataka Keertana Kala Parishat, expressed his happiness to be holding the event at the holy centre of Sringeri, prominent as the centre of the first Peetham established by Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya.
The programme then began with Keertanas by eminent Haridasa, Sri Bhadragiri Achyuta Das, and enthralled the pilgrims visiting Sringeri for the next two days.