Centenary Celebrations at Radha Krishna temple
Starting from the Kotekar Math, Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahasannidhanam and Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati Sannidhanam arrived to a grand reception at Mangalore city. The Jagadgurus were taken in a grand procession to the Radha Krishna temple whose Centenary Celebrations was under way. On arrival, Dhuli Pada Puja to the Padukas of Sri Mahasannidhanam was performed by the family that maintains the temple. Sri Sannidhanam then blessed the family. Sri Mahasannidhanam then performed the Sharada Chandramoulishwara Puja.
On the morning of April 12, 2015, the Jagadgurus graced the Poornahuti of the Rik Samhita Yaga that was being performed as part of the Centenary Celebrations of the temple. Sri Mahasannidhanam and Sri Sannidhanam then performed Brahma Kalasha abhisheka to the Vigrahas of Radha and Krishna and those of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha. After the Puja was completed, Sri Sannidhanam performed Kalashabhisheka to Goddess Durga Parameshwari and Naga Devatas, and Shikhara Kumbhabhisheka atop the Vimana of the Radhakrishna temple. The Jagadgurus then gave Darshan.
In the afternoon, a Guru Vandana program was organized in the temple premises. Sri Satyakrishna Bhat, belonging to the family that maintains the temple, mentioned that invitation to the Jagadguru for conducting the Brahma Kalashabhisheka had been placed, with a suggested date of December 2014 for the event. However, the Jagadguru had suggested that the event be held in the Chaitra Masa of the Manmatha Samvatsara. Sri Satyakrishna Bhat expressed that everyone was thrilled because it was now realized that the Jagadguru had actually graced them by postponing the event, for He was blessing the occasion along with His Uttaradhikari Shishya and thereby granting people Darshan of Ubhaya Jagadugurus. Two elderly scholars were honoured on the occasion.
Anugraha Bhashanam of Sri Sannidhanam
In His Anugraha Bhashanam, Sri Sannidhanam said that even though everyone in this world desires happiness, it is a matter of experience that man experiences more of suffering and less of happiness in his lifetime. The Shastras reason this as a direct effect of Paapa (sins committed in the past and present). Man is driven towards wrong deeds because of Kama – the desire for acquiring something after associating happiness with it – and Krodha (anger). When he is unable to acquire it by just means, he resorts to Adharma and goes out of the moral path to acquire it – all this effort for the little joy he gets initially and the eventual suffering that is bound to ensue. Hence, we must refrain from Kama. One can gain victory over Kama by doing Vastu-Vichara (the analysis that acquiring the desired object gives very temporal pleasure).
The second impediment to our welfare is Krodha or anger. Krodha clouds our intellect and we lose our Viveka (the ability to distinguish between good and bad). Sage Valmiki writes –
क्रुद्धः पापं न कुर्यात्कः क्रुद्धो हन्याद् गुरूनपि |
क्रुद्धः परुषया वाचा नरः साधूनधिक्षिपेत् ॥
“What sinful act would an angry man not commit? Seething with anger, He would not hesitate to hurt even his own teachers. With his uncontrolled speech, the angry person will even insult those worthy of worship.”
Sri Sannidhanam advised that when we become angry, we must pause for an instant and inquire into the ramifications of any act that we wish to indulge in, under the influence of anger. If we do this, we will not act in haste and be free of the effects of anger.
The third impediment is Ahankara (ego). When a person develops a sense of superiority due to his position or power, Sri Sannidhanam cautioned, he fails to understand that he cannot do anything without the grace of Ishwara. We must realize that even great personages have faltered at certain important junctures in their lives. Even in the Mahabharata, we find that the great Arjuna had become so dejected that he gave up his own Dharma and wished to beg. It was Bhagavan Himself who imparted the Bhagavad Gita and blessed him. When even such great personages could do nothing without the Grace of Ishwara, how could ordinary people like us develop any sort of ego? Attributing everything to the Anugraha of Ishwara and the Guru, we must try to give up our ego.
Thus, if we shed Kama, Krodha and Ahankara, we will abstain from sins and avoid suffering.
Some may feel that they already have the above three qualities, and yet experience suffering. This is explained in the Shastras as a consequence of wrong deeds committed in previous lifetimes. What can be done now to alleviate this kind of suffering is to constantly remember the Lord and chant His Names.
Sri Sannidhanam declared that by resorting to Bhakti and by having Kama, Krodha and Ahankara in check, everyone can sanctify their lives and attain bliss.
Sri Sannidhanam then paid obeisance to His Guru who had blessed Him in every way, and ended His Anugraha Bhashanam.
Anugraha Bhashanam of Sri Mahasannidhanam
In His Anugraha Bhashanam, Sri Mahasannidhanam said that of all Avataras, Krishna Avatara is unique for it is in this Avatara that the Lord has graced us with the spiritual jewel of wisdom – Srimad Bhagavad Gita. The Gita assumes paramount importance in Shastraic literature as it has been directly taught by the Lord –
गीता सुगीता कर्तव्या किमन्यैः शास्त्रविस्तरैः ।
या स्वयं पद्मनाभस्य मुखपद्मात् विनिःसृता ॥
One may ask – Has not the Gita been instructructed for Arjuna’s sake? How would the teachings of the Gita apply to us in these times? Sri Mahasannidhanam responded that it must be realized that the Gita is the essence of the Upanishads that contain the knowledge of the Atman. The Gita can be compared to nectarine milk that was provided to Arjuna (akin to the calf) by Lord Krishna, who milked the cows of the Upanishads -as
सर्वोपनिषदो गावो दोग्धा गोपालनन्दनः ।
पार्थो वत्सः सुधीर्भोक्ता दुग्धं गीतामृतं महत् ॥
Just as milk is first drunk by a calf, and then everyone else gets to partake of it, the teachings of the Gita too are for all. It is to show our devotion, gratitude and reverence that we construct a temple for Lord Krishna and worship Him.
Speaking about the Supreme, Sri Mahasannidhanam mentioned how some may raise an objection stating that the Supreme is ultimately without attributees and without form. All the Avataras including those of Sri Rama, Sri Krishna, Sri Dattatreya and Sri Adi Shankaracharya are Maayika i.e. in the empirical world of Maya. So, why must temples be constructed for Avataras when the Supreme Reality is, in truth, beyond name and form? The Shastras respond that it is true that, from the non-dual Paaramaarthika (transcendental) standpoint, the names and forms of various Avataras are not real. However, remembrance of, worship towards and meditation upon these Avataras leads to our Shreyas in our Vyaavahaarika state (the state of empirical existence). Prayers offered with Bhakti and Shraddha definitely result in our welfare, declared Sri Mahasannidhanam. We will do well to remember that Shraddha (faith) is defined as unflinching faith in the Shastras and in the words of the Guru. When we engage in activity without Shraddha, the activity is bound to not bear fruit. This has been stated in the Gita. That is why we find people who, when instructed to perform a rite or a ritual, perform it mechanically without Shraddha and consequently reap no benefit. They instead blame the person or Jyotishya, who suggested the performance of the rite in the first place. Also, it is to emphasize Shraddha and Bhakti that Bhagavan declares that whatever is offered to Him with Bhakti is accepted by Him.
Hence, it has been our Sampradaya since time immemorial that temples have been established and Vigrahas are consecrated according to the Shastras, and worship and prayers are offered. Following this Sampradaya, Sri Mahasannidhanam stated, Sri Balakrishna Bhat consecrated this temple a hundred years ago with great Bhakti and Shraddha. It is a matter of joy that his descendants are continuing to maintain the temple well and ensuring that it serves as a Dharmic center for all devotees living around the area.
The Jagadguru said that it was fitting to conduct the Rig Samhita Yaga during the Centenary Celebrations of the temple, for the Vedas are the directives of the Lord Himself – श्रुतिस्मृती ममैवाज्ञे. The Jagadguru said that many respectful invitations to conduct the Brahma Kalasha Abhisheka for temples in the Dakshina Kannada region are received by Him. Usually, He would bless the event saying that as there are many Swamijis in the region, the event could be conducted in the presence of any one of them. While most return with this blessing, a small percentage of devotees insist that as Sringeri is the Guru Peetham, only the Jagadguru should come and conduct the event. The Jagadguru said that as Sri Satyakrishna Bhat, who is a descendant of Sri Balakrishna Bhat, insisted and prayed thus, He had come to bless and conduct the event.
Sri Mahasannidhanam expressed great happiness at the conduct of the event and felicitated elders Sri Narayana Bhat and Sri Keshava Bhat. Sri Giridhara Bhat and Sri Satyakrishna Bhat were also felicitated at the event.
- At Talipadi Math
Starting from Mangalore, the Jagadgurus graced Talipadi Matha en route to Ashwathapura. The Jagadgurus had Darshan at the Venkataramana Swamy temple there, and then gave Darshan to the devotees. Sri Mahasannidhanam gave an Anugraha Bhashanam and then blessed the devotees with Phala Mantrakshata.