Sharan Navaratri Celebrations at Sringeri
The Sharada Sharan Navaratri Celebrations at Sringeri commenced on the Mahalaya Amavasya day falling the 4th of October 2013. Mahabhisheka was performed to Goddess Sharada amidst chants of Saraswati Sukta, Devi Sukta, and Ratri Sukta from the Rig Veda and Saraswati Sukta, Medha Sukta, Sri Sukta and Durga Sukta from the Yajur Veda. After the Mahabhisheka, Goddess Sharadamba gave Darshan as Jagat Prasutika signifying her role as the Divine Mother of the Universe.
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Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji arrived at the temple before noon to have Darshan even as the Mahamangalarati to the Goddess in Her Jagat Prasutika Alankara took place. 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.
On 5th October morning, the Jagadguru as part of Sharada Prathishta, offered a special Puja. The Puja took place near the Sannidhi of Sri Adi Shankaracharya. The Jagadguru then went to the temple of Goddess Sharada and offered elaborate worship to the Goddess sporting the Hamsa Vahana Alankara (Brahmi). The Jagadguru then had Darshan at all the temples. On the subsequent days, the Jagadguru first had Darshan at all temples and then offered worship to the Goddess from around noon to about 2 pm in the afternoon. During the 9-day Navaratri period, Goddess Sharada sported a number of Alankaras such as Hamsavahini (Brahmi), Mayuravahini (Kaumari), Rishabhavahini (Maheshwari), Garuda Vahini (Vaishnavi), Veena Sharada, Mohini, Gajalakshmi and Simhavahini. On the subsequent days leading upto the Poornima, devotees also beheld the splendor of Goddess Sharada in the Alankaras of Rajarajeshwari, Kamadhenu Alankara, Annapoorneshwari, Indrani, and Bhuvaneshwari.
As part of 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 Jagadguru Sri Narasimha Bharati Yagashala opposite to the Goddess Sharada temple.
During 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.
Throughout the nine days, eminent music artistes offered Navaratri seva to the Goddess by performing at the Jagadguru Chandrashekhara Bharati Mahaswami Sabha Bhavana in the precincts of the Math. Of special note this year were Bhajan performances by the winners of Bhajan Samrat Season I from Sankara TV, and a concert filled with the compositions of Sringeri Acharyas by the students of the Peetham’s Jnanodaya School at Bangalore.
This Panchami day also marked the commencement of the Shata Chandi Yaga which extended for four days. During the Yaga, 10 Ritwiks chanted 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 completed the chanting of the Sapta Shati for 100 times and was followed by the Poornahuti of the Yaga on Mahanavami. On Mahanavami, the Poornahuti 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 live on ETV and Sankara TV, the events of the day that began with the Jagadguru’s detailed worship of Goddess Sharada in Her form as Chamunda.
After giving Darshan to the devotees in the evening, the Jagadguru performed the Sharada Chandramoulishwara Puja in the first floor of “Sharada Prasada”, adjacent to “Sri Bharati Tirtha Prasada”, the main Annadana complex of the Peetham. The Jagadguru also gave Darshan in the evenings here.
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 was decorated as Veena Sharada, offerings of Maharajas of various Samsthanams including those of Mysore, Thiruvananthapuram, Gwalior, Indore, Sandur, Kashi, Nepal were placed before the Goddess by the Administrator on their behalf.
On Vijayadashami day (October 14th), the Pattabhisheka Sarga from Srimad Valimiki Ramayanam was read by the Jagadguru at Pravachana Mandiram.
On Ekadashi (October 15th), 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 Ratha with the Utsava Moorti of Goddess Sharada.
The Sharannavaratri Celebrations ended with Mahabhishekha of the Goddess on Poornima (18th October) followed by Teppotsava in the evening.