Jagadguru graces Badami – Banashankari, North Karnataka
On the evening of 15th March 2014 the Jagadguru Mahaswamiji arrived at Badami – Banashankari of Bagalkot District. The Jagadguru was given a traditional welcome and was taken in a procession to the Banashankari temple. After having the Darshan of Goddess Shakambari, the Jagadguru gave an Anugraha Bhashanam and blessed the assembled devotees. In the Anugraha Bhashanam the Jagadguru elaborated how Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya has praised the greatness of the Goddess in the Saundaryalahari.
The Jagadguru emphasized that we have to worship the Goddess with complete faith and devotion so that She will forgive us for all our mistakes, and bestow shreyas on us. The Jagadguru said that He had first come to Banashankari during His Poorvashrama in the year 1967 when His Guru Jagadguru Srimad Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji had come to Banashankari. The Jagadguru added that He had also graced Banashankari afterwards. The Jagadguru ended the Bhashanam by stating that He was pleased with the sincerity and the respect that the temple authorities show on the Sringeri Jagadgurus. Next day morning, the Jagadguru Mahaswamiji performed Puja to Goddess Shakambari and gave Darshan to the devotees and blessed them with Phala Mantrakshata and Tirtha Prasada. In the evening, the Jagadguru departed towards Bijapur.
Jagadguru Mahaswamiji performing Special Puja to Devi Shakambari at Banashankari temple
Special pujas in Badami – Banashankari
On 16th Mar 2014 morning, Poornima day, the Jagadguru Mahaswamiji performed Special Puja to Devi Shakambari at Banashankari temple. The forests around the temple have coconut trees, plantains and betel leaf creepers. Legend has it that during a severe famine, the Goddess provided vegetables and food for the people to survive and hence the Goddess came to be revered as Shakambari. The Jagadguru performed an elaborate Puja to Goddess Shakambari amidst the chanting of Vedas by the Pandits of the Sringeri Math. After the Trishati Archana and Mangala Arati, the Jagadguru instructed the Pandits to chant verses from Durga Saptashati wherein the Divine Mother is referred to as Shakambari. The Jagadguru offered a Silver bowl to the temple to be used for offering the Nitya Naivedyam of Gudannam (Sweet rice), and a donation of one lakh eleven thousand rupees for the everyday preparation of Naivedyam of the Goddess. The Jagadguru then blessed all the Archakas of that temple.