Rajatotsava of the Jagadguru’s Peetharohanam
Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji, the presiding Acharya of the Peetham and the thirty sixth in the Guru Parampara, is a scholar nonpareil. Since becoming the Peethadhipati in 1989, the Jagadguru has propagated and spread the tenets of Sanatana Dharma and the Vedanta philosophy. The Jagadguru has consecrated many new temples and renovated dilapidated ones. He has undertaken several Vijaya Yatras across the country. Known for His ease in giving discourses in various languages, the Jagadguru has been expounding Dharma to people in a simple, yet profound manner. The Jagadguru has fostered Vedic learning by establishing traditional Pathashalas. Under His direction, many new branches of the Math in India and abroad have been established to serve as centres of Dharma. With His blessings and guidance, the Peetham has undertaken a number of social causes in the fields of education and healthcare. Amidst His various duties as a Peethadhipati over the last 25 years, the Jagadguru has upheld His Sannyasa Dharma like His illustrious predecessors.
To commemorate the silver jubilee year of the Jagadguru Mahaswamiji’s accession to the Peetham, on January 3, 2015, Dasha Laksha Gayatri Japa was performed at the Jagadguru Sri Chandrashekhara Bharati Sabha Bhavanam. The Japa was performed by Pundits, Vidyarthis and alumni of the Sringeri Pathashala as well as devotees from various parts of the coutnry. Once the Japa was completed, the Jagadguru blessed all who participated in the Japa. In His brief Anugraha Bhashanam, the Jagadguru said there is no Mantra greater than the Gayatri mantra – न गायत्र्याः परमो मन्त्रः and instructed the devotees to perform more Gayatri Japa as part of their regular lives. The Jagadguru Mahaswamiji then graced the Poornahuti of the Chatur Vimshati Sahasra (24,000) Sankhyaaka Gayatri Homa performed at the Jagadguru Sri Nrisimha Bharati Yagashala to mark the completion of the Dasha Laksha Gayatri Japa.
In the evening the Jagadguru inaugurated the Cultural programme by lighting a traditional lamp. Sevakas of the Peetham offered a silver statue of Jagadguru Sri Chandrashekhara Bharati Mahaswamiji on the historic occasion and many devotees performed Phala Samarpanam. The Jagadguru then released a DVD containing the highlights of 2012-2013 Vijaya Yatra and produced by the Sri Shankara Advaita Research Centre of the Peetham. Thereafter, the Jagadguru blessed Sri Villivakkam S Raghu Ram & group who performed Instrumental Fusion Music concert.
On January 4, 2015, in the morning, the Jagadguru graced the Poornahuti of Laksha Modaka Ganapati Homa. In the evening, devotees assembled in large numbers in Sringeri to celebrate the silver jubilee of the Jagadguru’s Peetharoham were blessed to behold the Adda Palakki Utsava of the Jagadguru. At the Guru Vandana function organized in the evening, the Jagadguru accepted the Abhivandana Patram and offerings by devotees. In His Anugraha Bhashanam spoke about the greatness of the Acharyas who had adorned the Guru Parampara of the Peetham – from Sri Adi Shankaracharya to His own Guru, Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji. The joy of devotees knew no bounds when the Jagadguru announced that He had received Goddess Sharada’s divine decree to appoint His successor designate. The Jagadguru announced that He would be initiating into Sannyasa a young Brahmachari Sri Kuppa Venkateshwara Prasada Sharma, who had been studying the Shastras under His tutelage for the past 5-6 years and was endowed with Dharmic conduct, Guru Bhakti, dispassion and all the qualities of a spiritual person. The Jagadguru expressed that by the divine will of Goddess Sharada, the initiation into Sannyasa and the Shishya Sweekara ceremonies would take place on 22nd and 23rd January 2015.