Jagadguru graces Goa
Jagadguru liting the traditional lamp in the newly constructed Dhyana Mantapa
On the evening of 29th November 2014, the Jagadguru Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji reached Varenyapuri, Verna in Goa. The Jagadguru was first received at the state border and then in front of the Sri Mahalasa Narayani Devi temple in Verna with a traditional Purnakumbha. The Jagadguru had Darshan of Sri Mahalasa Narayani Devi and lit the traditional lamp in the newly constructed Dhyana Mantapa and gave a brief Anugraha Bhashanam. The Jagadguru said that 39 years ago, He had come with His Guru, Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji, the 35th Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Sringeri Sharada Peetham for laying the foundation stone for this temple. The Jagadguru had performed the Prathishta Kumbhabhisheka of the Goddess in 2005. The Jagadguru noted that it was the Divine Will of Goddess Mahalasa Narayani that the same Swamiji had laid the foundation stone, performed the Prana Pratishtha Kumbhabhisheka, and inaugurated the Dhyana Mantapa. Once again, it was divine will that the Jagadguru had come to perform the Prathishta Kumbhabhisheka of Goddess Sri Sharadamba, Sri Adi Shankaracharya, Sri Swarnaakarshana Bhairava and Sri Samhara Bhairava in the temple premises.
Jagadgru Inaugurating the Foundation Stone of the Dhyana Mantapa at Sri Mahalasa Narayani Devi temple, Verna in Goa
On 30th November 2014, the Jagadguru gave Darshan to all the devotees and accepted the Phala Pushpa, Padapuja kanike from them. In the evening the Jagadguru visited an ancient Shiva temple, a Hanuman temple and a Malhaara swami (Shiva) temple and returned back to the Sri Mahalasa Narayani temple. There the Jagadguru did Ratna nyasa in the place readied for the installation of Sri Sharadamba and Sri Adi Shankaracharya.
The Jagadguru performing Puja to Goddess Sri Mahalasa Narayani at Verna, Goa
On 1st December morning, the Jagadguru Mahaswamiji first performed a short Puja to Goddess Sri Mahalasa Narayani and then performed the elaborate Puja-Prana Prathishta-Kumbhabhisheka Pratishtha of Sri Sharadamba, Sri Adi Shankaracharya, Sri Swarnaakarshana Bhairava and Sri Samhara Bhairava. The Kumbhabhisheka rituals performed by the Pandits of Sringeri Math had started a couple of days before, and ended with the Jagadguru performing the Prana Prathishta and Kalashabhisheka atop the Vimanas.
Kumbhabhisheka to Goddess Sharadamba at Mahalasa Narayani temple, Verna
Kumbhabhisheka to Goddess Sharadamba at Mahalasa Narayani temple, Verna
Kumbhabhisheka to Sri Adi Shankaracharya at Mahalasa Narayani temple, Verna
Kumbhabhisheka to Sri Swarnakarshana Bhairava at Mahalasa Narayani temple, Verna
Kumbhabhisheka to Sri Samhara Bhairava at Mahalasa Narayani temple, Verna
Dignitaries have Darshan of the Jagadguru in Goa
Sri Manohar Gopalkrishna Prabhu Parrikar, Defence Minister, Government of India and Sri Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, (Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting) during the Jagadguru’s Darshan
Hon’ble Defence minister of India, Sri Manohar Gopalkrishna Prabhu Parrikar and Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore had Darshan of the Jagadguru after the Kumbhabhisheka. In the evening, before the Guruvandana function, Hon’ble Governor of Goa, Smt. Mridula Sinha and her spouse, ex. Cabinet minster of India, Dr. Ram Kripal Sinha had the Jagadguru’s Darshan. Hon’ble Chief Minister of Goa, Sri Laxmikant Parsekar and Speaker of Goa Assembly, Sri Rajendra Arlekar then had Darshan and received the blessings of the Jagadguru. The Governor stayed for the entire Guruvandana Programme and delivered an inspiring speech. Later in the evening, Minister in charge of the department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) Sri Shripad Naik had Darshan and received the blessings of the Jagadguru. Former Chief minister of Goa, Smt. Shashikala Kakodkar who had invited Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyatirhtha Mahaswamiji and Jagadguru Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji for the foundation ceremony of the temple in 1975 also took the blessings of the Jagadguru in the morning of 1st Dec 2014 and attended the Guruvandana Programme in the evening.
Governor of Goa Smt. Mridula Sinha and her spouse Dr. Ram Kripal Sinha having Darshan
Chief minister of Goa, Sri Laxmikant Parsekar and Goa Assembly Speaker, Sri Rajendra Arlekar during Darshan
Guru Vandana Programme in Verna
Earlier in the evening, the Jagadguru opened a plaque and formally inaugurated the Dhyanamantapa and arrived for the Guru Vandana Program. Many dignitaries from all walks of life participated in the Guruvandana Programme, paid their gratitude to the Jagadguru, talked about the greatness of the temple and its relationship with Sringeri.
The Jagadguru in His Anugraha Bhashanam said that everyone takes birth on this earth, lives for some years and then leaves the body one day or the other. During his lifetime, man regards many people to be his friends, relatives and well-wishers, and helps them all. However, when he leaves the body, will any of these people be able to accompany him? Eventhough he helped many of them with affection, none of them would be able to accompany him in his journey after death. No one would even be able to understand what his plight would be after death. The Shastras proclaim that only Dharma accompanies man after death, whereas all near and dear ones return after doing the last rites –
मृतं शरीरमुत्सृज्य काष्ठलोष्टसमं क्षितौ ।
विमुखा बान्धवा यान्ति धर्मस्तमनुगच्छति ॥
In the Mahabharata, when Maharaja Yudhishthira decides to ascend to heaven, he is accompanied by his wife Draupadi and his four brothers. During the course of the journey, his wife and brothers are unable to go along with him and stop by one-by-one. However a dog accompanies Yudhishthira all the way. In the end, a celestial chariot appears and the charioteer asks Yudhishthira to step in, but denies entry for the dog. Yudhishthira declines the offer to board the celestial chariot if the dog too would not be allowed into it. Pleased with Yudhishthira’s compassion, Lord Indra Himself appears and tells Yudhishthira, “The dog is a personification of Dharma. It is Dharma alone that has accompanied you all the way to the doorsteps of heaven.”
Hence we must all adhere to Dharma in our lives. The Jagadguru expressed joy at the consecration of shrines for Goddess Sharada, Sri Adi Shankaracharya, Sri Swarnaakarshana Bhairava and Sri Samhara Bhairava and blessed all.
Front View of the newly constructed Dhyana Mantapa at Sri Mahalasa Narayani Devi temple, Verna in Goa
On 2nd December 2014 morning, the Jagadguru gave Darshan to the devotees of Goa and blessed the organisers and volunteers involved in the Kumbhabhisheka programme before departing to the next camp at Karwar.
Gallery
(Click to Enlarge)
