Historic Uttaradhikari Shishya Sweekara
On January 23, 2015, continuing this unbroken Guru-Shisya lineage that stretches directly back to Sri Adi Shankaracharya, the 36th Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Sringeri Sharada Peetham, Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji anointed His successor. In a traditional ceremony, the Jagadguru initiated Brahmachari Sri Kuppa Venkateshwara Prasada Sharma into Sannyasa and bestowed upon him the Yoga Patta (monastic name) of Sri Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati.
The evening programmes began with a Guruvandana Sabha where Sri Mahasannidhanam and Sri Sannidhanam graced the devotees with a Anugraha Bhashanam.
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In His first Anugraha Bhashanam, Sri Sri Sannidhanam mentioned that the Shastras deem that among living beings, human beings are foremost. The purpose of our lives will be fulfilled if we take efforts towards Moksha or liberation. For that, one needs the grace of God and grace of great souls. One must have accumulated good deeds over many lifetimes. It is very difficult to obtain the grace of a great soul. Hence, Sri Bhagavatpada Shankaracharya has said –
दुर्लभं त्रयमेवैत् दैवानुग्रहहेतुकम् ।
मनुष्यत्वं मुमुक्षुत्वं महापुरुषसंश्रयः ॥
To be born as a human being, to have a strong resolve to attain Moksha, and to be graced by a great soul – all these three are rare and can be obtained only by the Grace of God.
Sri Sri Sannidhanam mentioned that because of the Grace of Goddess Sharada, He had obtained the refuge and blessings thereof of a great soul (the Jagadguru Mahaswamiji) in the lineage of Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada; a great soul who is essentially Bhagavatpada Himself. Having accepted His reverential request to teach the Shastras, the Jagadguru had taught Nyaya and other Shastras and has always wished for His progress. Sri Sri Sannidhanam said that He could not take credit for any of His accomplishments and they were all due to the Anugraha of the Jagadguru. Sri Sri Sannidhanam ended the Anugraha Bhashanam highlighting the greatness of devotion to the Guru.
Subsequently, Sri Sri Mahasannidhanam, Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji gave an Anugraha Bhashanam. Speaking about the importance of Dharma. The Jagadguru said that Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada had established the Chaturamnaya Peethams with Sannyasis as their heads to ensure that the propagation of Dharma will continue for all time. Describing the qualities of a Sannyasi fit to be the head of the Peetham, Sri Adi Shankaracharya says in His work “Mathâmnâya” that the Sannyasi must be of pure character, should have conquered his senses, should have studied the Vedas and Vedangas, and must have a deep understanding of the Shastras. Sringeri Sharada Peetham has abided by that dictate — this is the uniqueness of the Peetham; that everyone who has headed the Peetham has had these qualities. The Jagadguru said that when selecting a successor-designate, the qualities and character of the individual are looked at; his detachment; his conduct being compassionate and affectionate towards all. The Jagadguru added that it is actually Goddess Sharada who determines who the successor-designate would be. The Jagadguru reflected on the similar event conducted 40 years back related to His own Sannyasa and attributed everything to the Grace of Goddess Sharada and His own Guru (Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji).
The Jagadguru made special mention and conveyed blessings to Mathadhipatis present on the occasion including Sri Purushottama Bharati Swamiji of Shivaganga Math, Sri Shankara Bharati Swamiji of Yadathore Yoganandeshwara Saraswati Math, Sri Sacchidananda Saraswati Swamiji of Dharmapuri in Andhra Pradesh. The Jagadguru also blessed various representatives of the Karnataka State Government and dignitaries such as Sri Jayachandra, Sri Abhayachandra Jain, Sri Yedyurappa, Sri Shankara Murthy, Sri Ananth Kumar, Smt. Shobha Karandlaje, Sri Ramachandra Gowda, Sri Jeevaraj amongst others.
The Jagadguru said that He had named His successor-designate “Vidhushekhara Bharati” because of the reverence He had for His Paramaguru (Jagadguru Sri Chandrashekhara Bharati Mahaswamiji). As the same Yogapatta as that of His Paramaguru would not be appropriate, He had chosen “Vidhushekhara Bharati” because “Vidhu” and “Chandra” both refer to the moon in Sanskrit. The Jagadguru said that the Shishya Swamiji is highly qualified, with great scholarship in the Shastras, and has always stayed away from worldly affairs and focused on Shastric studies over the last 5-6 years under His tutelage. The Jagadguru said that it was due to all these qualities that Goddess Sharada had divinely ordained Him to grant Sannyasa to the disciple, and prayed to the Divine Mother that She fully equip the Shishya Swamiji and bestow upon Him the ability to take the Peetham to new heights. The Jagadguru ended the Anugraha Bhashanam blessing the tens of thousands of devotees gathered on the occasion.
Thereafter at about 9:30 PM, the “Adda Pallaki Utsava” of Sri Mahasannidhanam and Sri Sannidhanam took place with Their Holinesses in the splendor of the Durbar attire. It was a a sight to behold as the Peetham’s CEO Sri Gowrishankar and JEO Sri Venkataramanan reverentially led Sri Mahasannidhanam and Sri Sannidhanam respectively from outside the sanctum of Goddess Sharadamba to begin the Utsava. Sringeri was overflowing with the devotees and everyone felt blessed to behold Sri Mahasannidhanam gracing all from the Golden palanquin and Sri Sannidhanam gracing all from the Silver palanquin. The Utsava ended around 11:30 pm and this concluded the Shishya Sweekara ceremony.
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