The Jagadgurus’ camp in Bangalore
Ubhaya Jagadgurus being received at the at the entrance of Bangalore by Ministers and eminent personalities
Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahasannidhanam and Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati Sannidhanam arrived at Bengaluru on 14 June, 2015 to a rousing reception. Dignitaries led by Sri Anant Kumar, Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers, welcomed the Jagadgurus at the outskirts of Bengaluru. After entering the city, the Jagadgurus were welcomed by a huge gathering of devotees and arrived in a huge procession at the Sringeri Shankara Math, Shankarapuram around 7 pm. Just as the Jagadgurus had Darshan at the temples of Goddess Sharadamba and Sri Adi Shankaracharya in the Math premises, a huge downpour arrived as if to join in the joy being experienced by the devotees on the occasion. Shortly afterwards, a public function to welcome the Jagadgurus took place in the massive Pandal erected in the sprawling campus of the Math. Guru Seva Dhurina Dr. V R Gowrishankar and family performed the Dhuli Pada Puja.
After Veda Ghosha and a prayer, Sri KL Shrinivas welcomed the Jagadgurus, quoting verses from the Valmiki Ramayana to indicate the blessed feeling in the hearts of all assembled devotees –
यथाऽमृतस्य सम्प्राप्तिर्यथावर्षमनूदके।
यथा सदृशदारेषु पुत्रजन्माऽप्रजस्य च ।।प्रणष्टस्य यथालाभो यथा हर्षो महोदये।
तथैवागमनं मन्ये स्वागतं ते महामुने ।।“O great sage, welcome! Your arrival is like the acquisition of the divine nectar, like rains to a parched land, as joyous as the joy experienced on the birth of an offspring to a couple that has long remained childless, or on the recovery of lost property, or the festive joy experienced in a great achievement.”
Sri Gowrishankar, speaking on the occasion, spoke about the purpose of the Vijaya Yatras of the Jagadgurus and recounted some of the major ones in the recent past. He also pointed that rains accompany the Jagadguru wherever He goes. He remembered that in 2007, the Jagadguru had graced Hirehal1 in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, and after visiting the temple in the drought-stricken village and blessing devotees had continued His Yatra into North Karnataka and Maharashtra. Sri Gowrishankar informed that he came to know from the temple authorities that even three years later, in 2010, the temple tank which had got filled with rain water immediately after the Jagadguru’s visit in 2007 had never gone empty. He also said that even last year in July, the ministers of the State Government, worried about the water situation in the city, had come to Sringeri, performed Pada Puja, had Darshan of the Jagadguru, offered prayers to Lord Rishyashringa at Kigga and were joyous to note that torrential showers in the later part of July ensured that none of the Hydel Projects would hit a roadblock. Sri Gowrishankar then expressed joy, on behalf of all citizens of Bengaluru, that Sri Mahasannidhanam had graced Bengaluru along with His Uttaradhikari Shishya Swamiji.
Anugraha Bhashanam of Sri Sannidhanam
Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Vidhushekara Bharati Sannidhanam, in His first Anugraha Bhashanam in Bengaluru, recounted the multitude of blessings bestowed on the city’s Shankara Math by the Jagadgurus of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham.
Beginning His speech with an invocation to Goddess Sharadamba, Sri Sannidhanam described how Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya, in an effort to ensure the permanence of Sanatana Dharma, established four Peethams in the four corners of the country. In addition to instituting these Peethams, the Jagadguru also established rules for all Peethams to adhere to. Sri Sannidhanam spoke of one such rule which mandates all Jagadgurus to embark on Desha Sanchara i.e. travelling to various regions and instructing all Shishyas (disciples) in that region, with a view to bringing everyone to the path of Dharma. Sri Sannidhanam explained that it is precisely for this purpose of bringing people into the Dharmic fold that Bhagavatpada had ordered all Jagadgurus to embark on Vijaya Yatras. Starting from Sri Sureshwaracharya to our Guru, Jagadguru Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji, all Gurus of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham have abided by this dictate.
Sri Sannidhanam recounted how, a few days back, His Guru told Him about Goddess Sharada’s desire that Sri Mahasannidhanam and Sri Sannidhanam travel to Bengaluru. Sri Sannidhanam stated that while He immediately accepted the Goddess’ and His Guru’s order, He also pondered over the significance of the Goddess’ direction that the Ubaya Jagadgurus travel to Bengaluru. Sri Sannidhanam opined that amongst all branches of the Sringeri Math, the Bengaluru branch has a special significance. Deconstructing His view, Sri Sannidhanam chronologically outlined key events and milestones in the Bengaluru Math’s history.
The Math was established in 1907 by Sri Sannidhanam’s renowned Parapara Guru, Jagadguru Sri Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Nrisimha Bharati Mahaswamiji, who is considered an incarnation of Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya Himself. For the welfare of the world, the Jagadguru consecrated a Murti of Sri Adi Shankaracharya at the Math, and also started a Shastra Paathashaala.
To further underscore the speciality of the Math, Sri Sannidhanam spoke about His Paramesthi Guru, Jagadguru Sri Chandrashekara Bharati Mahaswamiji, and His association with the Bengaluru Math. Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekhara Bharati Mahaswamiji, during His Brahmachari/ pre-monastic days, studied Shastras in the Paathashaala instituted by Jagadguru Sri Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Nrisimha Bharati Mahaswamiji. Later, in 1939, after He became the Peethadipati, Jagadguru Sri Chandrashekara Bharati Mahaswamiji consecrated Goddess Sharada in the Math premises.
Speaking about His Parama Guru, Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidya Tirtha Mahaswamiji, Sri Sannidhanam mentioned that Bengaluru was the birthplace of His Parama Guru. His Parama Guru had constructed Gopuras for the shrines of Goddess Sharada and Sri Adi Shankaracharya and had also performed Kumbabhisheka. Sri Sannidhanam culminated the chronology by stating that the centenary celebrations of the Math in 2007 was organized in the divine presence of His Guru, Jagadguru Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji.
Proclaiming again that the Bengaluru Math has a special significance which cannot be attributed to any other branch Math, Sri Sannidhanam stated that it was His view that the Goddess willed Him to start His first long Yatra from this special place. Sri Sannidhanam expressed happiness over His arrival at Bengaluru.
Linking all significant factors, Sri Sannidhanam asserted that the Bengaluru Math has been specially blessed by His Guru, His Parama Guru, His Parameshti Guru and His Paraapara Guru.
Sri Sannidhanam also recalled that during His Poorva-ashrama (pre-monastic) days, the first Yatra of which He had been a part of was the Yatra to Kalady undertaken by His Guru, Jagadguru Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji. During the Yatra at Kalady, the centenary celebrations (of the rediscovery of Sri Adi Shankaracharya Janmabhoomi Kshethram) and Shankara Jayanti were observed; Kumbabhisheka was also performed at the temple. Drawing a parallel between this Yatra to Kalady with His Guru and His first Vijaya Yatra with His Guru, as a Sanyasi, Sri Sannidhanam stated that while the former Yatra was to the birthplace of Sri Adi Shankaracharya, the latter is to the birthplace of Jagadguru Srimad Abhinava Vidya Tirtha Mahaswamiji. Sri Sannidhanam exclaimed that this fact gave Him great joy.
In conclusion, Sri Sannidhanam said that He had come to Bengaluru with His Guru, at the direction of the Goddess. Sri Sannidhanam expressed joy over His arrival and declared that the faith and devotion of the people of Bengaluru gave Him immense happiness. Offering His salutations at the Lotus Feet of His Guru, Sri Sannidhanam concluded His Bhashanam.
Anugraha Bhashanam of Sri Mahasannidhanam
Sri Mahasannidhanam blessed the gathering with an Anugraha Bhashanam. Sri Mahasannidhanam commenced by stating that it is the foremost duty of Peethadhipatis1 of the Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham, established by Sri Adi Shankaracharya, to fulfil Bhagavatpada’s primary intention for establishment of the Peetham. The primary intention is propagation of Dharma, enlightening people on Dharma, ensuring that people stay away from Adharma, and to increase the desire for spirituality in them. It is to fulfill this intention that the tradition of undertaking Vijaya Yatras has come about. In the Peetham, there was a time when a Yatra took many years to complete. For instance, Our Parapara Guru Jagadguru Sri Nrisimha Bharati Mahaswamiji once started from Sringeri, went to Mysore, selected His successor-designate and initiated him into Sannyasa, and along with the Shishya travelled for twelve years and returned to Sringeri. It seems beyond imagination how such a long Yatra took place; it must also be stated that when the Shishya Sweekara happened, the Shishya was eight years old and the Guru sixty-eight years old! In such a long Yatra, the Guru ensured that the Shishya became proficient in all Shastras. Even Our Guru (Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji) undertook a Vijaya Yatra that spanned six long years.
Sri Mahasannidhanam stated that in accordance to the needs of the present-day, He too has been undertaking Yatras such as those in 1994 and 2012. Sri Mahasannidhanam said that He had undertaken the current Yatra because He had received a directive from Mother Sharada a few weeks ago, during His morning Anushtaham: “Go to Bengaluru”. Sri Mahasannidhanam said that everything happens in accordance to the divine will of the Mother and quoted the Bhagavad Gita, “भ्रामयन् सर्वभूतानि यन्त्रारूढानि मायया”. We all read the Bhagavad Gita, but do not venture to understand the meaning of the verse that states that the Lord makes all beings function through His Maya.
Sri Mahasannidhanam also quoted the Gita verse – यदहङ्कारमाश्रित्य न योत्स्य इति मन्यसे । मिथ्यैष व्यवसायस्ते प्रकृतिस्त्वां नियोक्ष्यति ॥, pointing out that the Lord had told Arjuna that it is the ego that declares “I won’t fight”, and that it is a folly to think so, as Arjuna’s nature of being a Kshatriya will make him fight. Sri Mahasannidhanam said that rather than undertaking ventures on His own, He relies on being inspired by the Lord to take up all activities, and the ongoing Yatra was also a result of such divine inspiration. Sri Mahasannidhanam also recounted that it was such an inspiration received during the morning Anhika, that brought about the selection and appointment of Sri V R Gowrishankar as the Administrator of the Peetham.
Sri Mahasannidhanam then extolled the virtues of His Shishya, Sri Sannidhanam, and said that the Shloka —
विद्याविनयसम्पन्नं वीतरागं विवेकिनम् ।
वन्दे वेदान्ततत्त्वज्ञं विधुशेखरभारतीम् ॥
chanted on the latter is apt, as Sri Sannidhanam is indeed endowed with knowledge and humility, free of desires, endowed with Viveka (discrimination between the real and unreal), and is a knower of the Vedanta Tattva. Praising Sri Sannidhanam for His Guru Bhakti, Sri Mahasannidhanam said that even as Dileepa followed the cow Nandini like a shadow when serving her – स्थितः स्थिताम् उच्चलितः प्रयातां निषेदुषीम् आसनबन्धधीरः । जलाभिलाषी जलम् आदधानां छायेव तां भूपतिरन्वगच्छत् ॥ – Sri Sannidhanam is ever ready by His side when required, does what He wishes, even without being instructed, and is a source of great joy.