Durgamba Rathotsava
The annual Durgamba Rathotsava, took place at Sringeri on February 27, 2015 at the temple of Goddess Vanadurga. Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahasannidhanam and Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati Sannidhanam led the Rathotsava. Earlier Sri Mahasannidhanam arrived at the temple of Goddess Durgamba at around 11AM. After completing His afternoon Anushthanam, the Jagadguru began the Puja by around 12PM. Sri Sannidhanam after giving Darshan at Gurunivas crossed the river by boat and reached Sri Chaturmurti Vidyeshwara temple. (Note: This temple has a beautiful Murti made as per the instruction of the 10th Acharya, Jagadguru Sri Vidya Tirtha Mahaswamiji before He entered into Lambika yoga). There, Sri Sannidhanam was given a traditional welcome by Bovi Samaja, a community whose members traditionally serve the Sringeri Math during special occasions and carry the Palanquins of the Sringeri Jagadgurus. Sri Sannidhanam had Darshan at the temple, and proceeded towards Sri Durgamba temple by walking through paddy fields. On the way many devotees did Phala and Pushpa Samarpanam. Sri Sannidhanam also had Darshan of Naga Devata installed at a place called Hemmane by the devotees of the Peetham. Sri Sannidhanam then laid the foundation stone for the Samudaya Bhavana / Kalyana Mantapa being built by the Math, just adjacent to Durgamba temple and went for His afternoon Anushthanam. Meanwhile Sri Mahasannidhanam performed an elaborate Puja to Goddess Durgamba amidst chanting of Veda Mantras by the Pandits of Sringeri Math. During the Arati time, Sri Sannidhanam also had Darshan and then both Sri Mahasannidhanam and Sri Sannidhanam circumambulated the temple. The Ratha was moved a few steps symbolically and stopped. Annadanam was performed for all the assembled devotees. In the evening Sri Mahasannidhanam and Sri Sannidhanam led the Rathotsava amidst chants of the Vedas and singing of Bhajans. The event was witnessed by many devotees who had gathered at the temple for the function. The event concluded at around 5:45 PM the Jagadgurus departed from the temple. The day being a Friday, the Jagadgurus went directly for the Darshan in all the temples in the Math premises. Later, Sri Sannidhanam again went to Sri Sharadamba temple by 8:30 PM for Dindi Utsavam while Sri Mahasannidhanam performed the Sri Chandramoulishwara Puja and Sri Chakra Puja.