Kumbhabhisheka at Sulya
Jagadguru’s Anugraha Bhashanam at Kantamangalam, Sulya on February 19 2014. Hebbur Mathadhipati Sri Madhavashrama swamiji is also seen
On 19th February 2014, Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji started from Sringeri towards South Canara district and was received at Sulya with great devotional welcome. After the Dhuli Padapuja, Hebbur Kodandashrama Mathadhipati, Sri Madhavashrama Swamiji spoke a few words as per the instruction of the Jagadguru. The Swamiji had been granted Sannyasa in Sringeri and had been installed as the Mathadhipati of the Kodandashrama Math under the Jagadguru’s direction and guidance. The Swamiji said that we see both a father’s strictness and a mother’s affection in our Jagadguru, and prayed for the grace of the Jagadguru to guide one and all in every step.
In His Anugraha Bhashanam on arrival at Sulya, the Jagadguru talked about how to make our lives become purposeful.
No one agrees that eating, sleeping, earning wealth etc. alone makes a human life purposeful. The Shastras point out that eating, sleeping, fear, and procreation are common to animals and humans –
आहारनिद्राभयमैथुनानि सामान्यमेतत्पशुभिर्नराणाम्.
Human life becomes purposeful only when a work of significance is done in it. What work can be classified as significant? That which brings about the welfare of the society, and pleases God.
Everyone of us receive so much from the society. If we do not give back, then this life can be termed useless.
The Jagadguru quoted His own Guru (Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji) who once said to Him, “Swamiji, I have planted coconut saplings in the Math premises so that many in future can reap benefits out of them”. The lesson out of the Guru’s statement is that such works that benefit others must be undertaken in our lives.
Of course, the Lord too would be pleased. Bhagavan is described as a Supreme Power that is unimaginable and limitless – अचिन्त्य अपरिमित शक्ति. The very existence of this vast Cosmos created by Him is proof of this Power – यस्येच्छयैव भुवनानि समुद्भवन्ति तिष्ठन्ति यान्ति च पुनर्विलयं युगान्ते । (By the wish of whom, the worlds come into existence, exist for a finite time, and into whom they dissolve at the end of the Yuga).
Sri Gaudapada too has said that the Lord creates out of His own volition – इच्छामात्रं प्रभोः सृष्टिः. Such a vast Cosmos came into existence by the mere will of God. Hence we must remember, worship and become a recipient of the Omnipotent God.
How does one serve God who does not appear before us? Some question why does God not appear before us? Even if a minister were to come into our presence, we would pester him with many of our requests. What to say If God Himself were to appear before us! People would ask for the Kalpavriksha – the celestial wish-fulfilling tree to be planted in their backyards, and for the divine cow, Kamadhenu to be a part of their own Goshalas!
This does not mean God never appears before anyone. When one remains devoted to God merely for the sake of devotion, God does appear. We have heard that God gave Darshan to many in the past. We need not go to the previous Yugas to find examples. Even in this very Yuga, we know that Bhagavan Sri Ramachandra gave Darshan to Sri Tulsidas, and Bhagavan Sri Krishna used to come and sit in front of the great blind devotee, Sri Soordas.
You need not feel that I am unable to serve God because He hasnt appeared before me. Whatever you offer with devotion in His temple is in itself a great Seva to Him. It is Bhakti that is of paramount importance when worshipping God. Bhagavan Himself says in the Gita –
पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति ।
तदहं भक्त्युपहृतमश्नामि प्रयतात्मनः ॥
Even if a Vilwa leaf is offered with devotion, God accepts. Whether you meditate, pray, praise through hymns, or offer prostratrations, it must be performed with Bhakti.
Bhakti is classified into nine categories – hearing the Lilas of God as portrayed in Puranas such as Srimad Bhagavatam is one type of Bhakti. People today instead go to entertain themselves at shows and movies. Some excuse themselves stating they have not received an invitation to the Pravachana! Does one need to be invited to a discourse that details God’s exploits? Why would you expect an invitation when it is you who would be benefitted by attending the Pravachana? Yet it is the ego that impels one towards giving such an excuse. This ego must be shed and opportunities to hear such Pravachanas be utilized.
Performing Nama Japa is another type of Bhakti. Remembering God always is the third type. That is why Sri Adi Shankaracharya has said – गेयं गीतानामसहस्रं ध्येयं श्रीपतिरूपमजस्रम् – Chant the Gita and the Names of God, and ever be engaged in meditating upon His divine form.
Often times, we think of unnecessary things and get depressed. Instead, we would do well to remember God.
Worshipping God is another Bhakti.
Some hesitate to chant God’s names in a Bhajan. They feel – chanting the Names are for the immature. They must realize that they are nothing in front of God and must take up His name loudly without hesitation.
Performing Prostrations to God is another type of Bhakti.
Even having friendship with God – Sakhyam – is a type of Bhakti. Arjuna is the epitome of this type of Bhakti. After Arjuna had the vision of Bhagavan’s Vishwa roopam, the Cosmic form, he realizes that he had regarded the Supreme Being as his very friend – सखेति मत्वा प्रसभं यदुक्तं हे कृष्ण हे यादव हे सखेति. In Rama Avatara, Sugriva is the finest example of Sakhya-Bhakti.
Atma-nivedanam is another type of Bhakti – Bali Chakravarti offered himself to the Lord who appeared as Vamana. Jatayu in the Ramayana offered himself to the service of Sri Rama by trying to save Mother Sita from the clutches of Ravana. Such was the sacrifice of Jatayu, that Sri Rama Himself, who could not perform His own father Dasharatha’s obsequies, performed Jatayu’s obsequies.
Constructing a temple, a Dharmashala, or a school is a great Dharmic act as it would benefit many. However this possible only for some. Others who dont have the capacity can also engage in Dharma. The Shastras do not state only the wealthy can engage in Dharma, which is possible to perform physically too –
अर्था न स्युर्यदि विजहिमो धर्ममर्थैकसाध्यम् ।
कायक्लेशैः कति कति विधः साधनीयो न धर्मः ॥
Going to a temple and offering Namaskara is itself a Dharma. Even the lame can engage in Dharma by remembering God from the very place of his stay –
कायः श्रान्तो यदि भवति कस्तावता धर्मलोपः ।
चित्तं दत्वा सकृदपि शिवे चिन्तितं साधयामः ॥
Hence everyone is capable of engaging in Dharma in accordance to his abilities.
A poor man once came to a rich man and said – “I have come here to give to wish you well.” – On being questioned, replied – “I had not performed any charity in my previous lifetime. Hence I have become a beggar in this lifetime. You on the other hand have done a lot of Dharmic activities in your previous lifetime and have been born rich. If you continue to engage in charity towards people like me, you will remain rich in your next lifetime also. Otherwise, in your next life, you will become as I am!” –
द्वारं द्वारमटन् भिक्षुः शिक्षत्येवं न याचते ।
अदत्वा मादृशो मा भूः दत्वा त्वं त्वादृशो भव ॥
This is how our elders lived – by understanding the teaching of the Shastras and living their lives purposefully.
A scholar belonging to the Bharadwaja Gotra once said, “Our ancestor, Bharadwaja Maharshi offered hospitality to Sri Rama Himself when He was in exile and living in the forest. Such is the greatness of our ancestor.” –
मुनिरस्ति भरद्वाजः ख्यातस्त्रिभुवनेष्वपि ।
अन्नैर्यस्य जहो रामोऽप्यरण्यभ्रमणश्रमम् ॥
However, having born into illustrious lineages, the present-day people too must engage in worthy acts following in the footsteps of their ancestors.
The Jagadguru also pointed out that everyone of us must ensure that we should never hurt or harm others.
The Jagadguru thus conveyed that one can make life purposeful by serving others, refraining from hurting others and by engaging in God’s service and worship.
The Jagadguru mentioned that He had graced the occasion because the devotees led by Sri Shivarao insisted that the Sringeri Jagadguru alone must perform the Brahma Kalashabhisheka of the renovated Subrahmanya Swamy temple in Kanthamangalam. The Jagadguru also appreciated Sri Shivarao for organizing the event in a grand manner and said that Sri Shivarao had made the Darshan of the Jagadguru possible for people of Kantamangalam who cannot afford come to Sringeri.
The Jagadguru blessed Sri Madhavashrama Swamiji who was present on the occasion. Known as Sri Atmarama Shastri in his Poorvashrama, he had taught many in the Ajjavaram Pathashala. He had recently taken up Sannyasa at Sringeri and had been appointed as the Mathadhipati of the Hebbur Math in accordance to the Jagadguru’s direction. The Jagadguru said that the Hebbur Math would develop to serve the society in all aspects during the Swamiji’s reign.
The Jagadguru ended the Anugraha Bhashanam invoking the Grace of God for the welfare of all devotees.
Special Puja to Subrahmanya swamy on the occasion of Brahma Kalashabhishekam
In the morning hours of 20th February 2014, the Jagadguru Mahaswamiji performed an elaborate Pooja in the Sannidhi of Subrahmanya Swamy and Brahma Kalashabhisheka. The devotees assembled there felt that it was really a blessing for their eyes to watch the Shikhara Abhisheka performed by the Jagadguru amidst the sky-high trees of Mother Nature in Kantamangalam. The trustees of the temple offered the Swagata Patrika to the Jagadguru Mahaswamiji in the Guruvandanam programme held immediately after the Kumbhabhishekam. The Jagadguru Mahaswamiji in the Anugraha Bhashanam said whatever we donate as a service to God with sincere devotion will be decupled and centupled and returned to us by the grace of God. Ahuti in homa yields rain, rain yields rice and it is from rice that the people get nourished. Veda-Mantra-Poorva Japa and Homa are the ways our elders have shown to us for attaining Shreyas.
Brahma kalashabhishekam at Subrahmanya swamy temple in Kantamangalam, Sulya
The Jagadguru blessed Sri Shivarao, who sees his Kuladevata Subrahmanya and Kulaguru Sringeri Jagadguru as one and the same, for having made all the necessary arrangements for the Kumbhabhisheka. The Jagadguru also commended Sri Naveen Rai, the Brahmakalasha Abhisheka Samiti’s president for ensuring the smooth conduct of the function.