The Jagadguru at Bangalore
Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji reached Bangalore on the evening of 28th February to a massive welcome. Dignitaries including the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Justices of the High Court and officials of Bangalore Metropolitan Corporation joined thousands of devotees in welcoming the Jagadguru.
When the procession accompanying the Jagadguru reached the premises of the Sringeri Shankara Math, Shankarapuram, the Jagadguru had Darshan of Goddess Sharada (consecrated in 1939 by His Paramaguru) and Sri Adi Shankaracharya (consecrated in 1907 by His Parameshti Guru). Dhuli Pada Puja was performed by Sri V R Gowrishankar, Administrator & CEO of the Peetham. Karnataka Chief Minister, Sri Sadananda Gowda spoke on the occasion and offered a reverential welcome to the capital city on behalf of the 6.5 crore people of Karnataka. Sri Ananth Kumar, Member of Parliament, in his speech stated that the Sringeri Jagadguru is the Meru Purusha of Sanatana Dharma and sought His Blessings for the welfare of all.
In His Anugraha Bhashanam, the Jagadguru said that Sri Adi Shankaracharya’s incarnation is unique as His efforts were not directed towards the vanquishing of evil but towards transforming the minds of the people. The Jagadguru said by undertaking the Yatra and teaching the tenets of Dharma, He was following the ideal set forth in the Shastras for one in the position of a Guru. The Jagadguru also said that Bangalore always had a special place in His heart as it is the place of birth of His Guru, Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji.
Kumbhabhisheka of Subrahmanya Swamy temple
On 29th February, the Jagadguru performed the Kumbhabhisheka of Sri Valli Devasena Sameta Subrahmanya Swamy temple, constructed in the last century by late Sri Sajjan Rao. In His Anugraha Bhashanam, the Jagadguru said that the Shastras declare that one’s wealth is usually spent either by enjoying, or by charity or by loss to the ruling government (via taxes) or thieves or accidents. The kings of yore had set an example by directing their wealth towards Dharmic purposes and had built huge temples, places for Annadanam and other means of social welfare. It is the duty of the wealthy to follow in their footsteps. Sri Sajjan Rao had a similar bent of mind and had constructed the temple with the divine Blessings of Jagadguru Sri Chandrashekhara Bharati Mahaswamiji. Sri Sajjan Rao was one of the few who was blessed with a title by the Mahaswamiji, who conferred the title “Dharmatma” on him. The Jagadguru invoked the blessings of Lord Subrahmanya for protecting those engaged in Dharmic activities, blessed the descendants of Sri Sajjan Rao and the devotees assembled.
Jagadguru graces institutions of the Peetham at Bangalore
On 1st March, the Jagadguru graced Jnanodaya School and Pre-University College, run by the Peetham. The school children sang select verses from the Guru Stuti Shatakam (composed by the 25th Acharya of the Peetham, Jagadguru Sri Sacchidananda Bharati Mahaswamiji) extolling the Guru. The Jagadguru offered flowers to Dashabhuja Ganesha in the school premises, and a Rudraksha Mala to the Murti of His Guru, Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji (the founder of the school). The Jagadguru then graced the Kanaada Physics Lab, and its constituent Chitrabhanu Optics Lab, the Chemistry Lab, and looked at some Mathematical models. Teachers and students were overjoyed when the Jagadguru used the apparatus in the Physics Lab and performed an experiment illustrating the law of conservation of linear momentum. The Jagadguru specially blessed the students of 10th grade who to take up their board exams the following day. As the Jagadguru offered flowers to the Murti of Goddess Sharada, students sang the Sharada Bhujanga Stotram of Sri Adi Shankaracharya and the Sharada Geetham of Jagadguru Sri Chandrashekhara Bharati Mahaswamiji. The Jagadguru spent about 45 minutes in the school, graced the new building, and blessed the teachers and students.
The Jagadguru also graced Sri Vidya Bharati Press, the in-house printing wing of the Peetham that was begun a few years back and blessed those rendering service in the printing and publication activities of the Peetham.
In the afternoon, the Jagadguru graced the healthcare facilities of the Peetham at Bangalore, including Rangadore Memorial Hospital and the centers of Sharada Rotary Healthcare.
Inauguration at Malleswaram
On 2nd March, the Jagadguru inaugurated Sri Bharati Tirtha Niketana and Sri Adi Shankara Sabhangana at Malleswaram. His Excellency, Governor of Karnataka and Kerala, Sri Hansraj Bhardwaj was present on the occasion and spoke about the unparalleled philosophic exposition of Sri Adi Shankaracharya and stressed that it is the need for all to take efforts to understanding His works. He expressed it was a pleasure and blessing to be present on the occasion when the Jagadguru was inaugurating a building that would be used for religious and spiritual purposes. Sri V R Gowrishankar, Administrator & CEO of the Peetham conveyed that it was the Sankalpa of the Jagadguru to have such a building constructed in commemoration of the Centenary of the establishing of the Shankara Math at Bangalore. It may be noted that the Jagadguru had laid the foundation stone in 2007 during the Centenary. Sri D K Adikeshavulu, architect Sri Sundaram and others, who had contributed to the construction of the complex received the Jagadguru’s Blessings.
Inauguration of Jyothy Institute of Technology
On 3rd March, the Jagadguru inaugurated the Jyothy Institute of Technology. The Jagadguru was received by the Managing Trustee of the Jyothy Group, Sri B N V Subrahmanyam, an industrialist and social worker. The institute had been ready for inauguration for sometime, but was awaiting the arrival of the Jagadguru to Bangalore. Sri V R Gowrishankar spoke on the occasion and mentioned that it is only in the Sharada Peetham that we can see such an instance of disciples awaiting the Guru.
In His Anugraha Bhashanam, the Jagadguru also said that our country’s standing in the world is unique because Dharma is it’s life force and because it is the source of the summum bonum of all knowledge – the Upanishadic philosophy of Advaita. Today, many foreigners seek the shores of India because of these very reasons. Some even pray the Lord to grant a birth in this holy land. When this is the case, would it not be a matter of shame if Indians do not realize the importance of the land, and fail to act in accordance to Dharma or strive to understand the essence of the Upanishads?
The Jagadguru also mentioned that one does not become a Mahatma merely because of wealth, learning or power. Sri Adi Shankaracharya in His commentary says that people call a person a Mahatma because He adheres to Dharma – “धर्मं चरत्येष महात्मा“. The Shastras enunciate 5 principles – “never hurt anyone”, “never tell a lie”, “never desire the property of another” “revere all women as your mother” “do not desire everything that you come across”, and declare that whoever who follows these, is a Dharmika and is worthy of respect.
The Jagadguru bestowed a Srimukha on the occasion conferring the title of “Dharmika Pravara” on Sri B N V Subramanyam for his dedicated services in the field of propagation of Vedas, education and in social work.
The Jagadguru released the 9th Volume of the translation of the Sayana Bhashya of Krishna Yajur Veda being undertaken by the Trust with the Jagadguru’s direction and blessings. Vidwan S T Nagaraj, the editor was felicitated. Vedic scholars were honored on the occasion and successful Vidyarthis of the Pathashala run by the Trust were rewarded.
Prathishta at Sadguru Chaitanya Mandiram
The Sadguru Chaitanya Mandiram houses the Paduka Bhavanam where Padukas of many Gurus have been kept. The consecration of two deities representing the Guru Tattva, namely Sri Dakshinamurti and Sri Dattatreya was performed by the Jagadguru on 4th March 2012. In His Anugraha Bhashanam, the Jagadguru said that Guru is much revered in Sanatana Dharma because knowledge is essential for life’s purpose to be fulfilled and such knowledge can be had only from a Guru. Hence even if one has the sense of oneness with all else, one has to always revere the Guru – “अद्वैतं त्रिषु लोकेषु नाद्वैतं गुरुणा सह“. The Guru Parampara has begun from Lord Dakshinamurti. Though the Lord is One, the form of Dakshinamurti is the one that bestows knowledge. It was Sri Dakshinamurti who first taught the knowledge of the Self to Rishis such as Sanaka. Sri Adi Shankaracharya has penned Sri Dakshinamurti Stotram that contains the essence of the Vedantic teaching. The Jagadguru blessed the people who had constructed the Mandiram – Sri Venkatanarayana and other disciples of the late Avadhoota of Sakkarayapatna who in turn had great reverence to Jagadguru Sri Chandrashekhara Bharati Mahaswamiji.
Earlier, enroute to the Mandiram, the Jagadguru had visited the Shanmukhaswamy temple at Rajarajeshwari Nagar, where He had performed the Prathishta Kumbhabhisheka in 2007.
At Kengeri
On 5th March 2012, Poornahuti of the Rik Samhita Yaga conducted at the Shankara Math was held in the Jagadguru’s presence. The Jagadguru then travelled to Kengeri and performed Prathishta Kumbhabhisheka of Shakti Ganapati, Goddess Sharada, and Adi Shankaracharya. Today, if we are able to see Vedic studies thriving, and the conduct of Dharmic activities and consecration and maintenance of temples, it is due to the efforts of Sri Adi Shankaracharya. The Jagadguru blessed the members of Sri Shankara Seva Samiti at Kengeri.
It is worth noting that tens of thousands of devotees thronged the Shankara Math everyday during the Jagadguru’s stay at Bangalore. The Jagadguru compassionately gave Darshan for long hours in the evenings speaking to many individually. Those groups who were involved in Dharmic activities were pleasantly surprised and thrilled that despite the rush, the Jagadguru gave them special attention. On 1st March, when the Jagadguru had also given Darshan in the morning at the Math, the timings of the Jagadguru Darshan started from 10 AM in the morning to 2:30 pm, and again from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm in the evening. On each day, the Jagadguru would go in for His evening bath and Anushtana around 7:45 p.m., return to do the Sharada Chandramoulishwara Puja until 10 p.m. and blessed hundreds of devoted performers of Pada Puja until 11 p.m.