121st Varshikotsava of Sringeri Pathashala
The 121st Varshikotsava of Sri Sadvidya Sanjeevini Samskrita Mahapathashala took place on 20th August, 2015. As per the Chandramana Panchanga (lunar calendar of the Indian almanac), the day marked exactly 120 years since the foundation of the Pathashala. It was on the Shravana Shukla Shasti of the Manmatha year (1895) that Jagadguru Sri Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Narasimha Bharati Mahaswamiji founded the Pathashala. With the Shravana Shukla Shasti of the current Manmatha year (20 August, 2015), the Pathashala had completed exactly two Samvatsara-chakras as per the Indian almanac.
As per the direction of Sri Mahasannidhanam, the Celebrations of this academic year’s Varshikotsava that is usually held in the Magha or Phalguna Masa every year, was advanced and held on 20th August, 2015 at Guru Nivas.
At about 9 AM, scholars and students of the Pathashala assembled at Guru Nivas. Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahasannidhanam and Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati Sannidhanam arrived and bowed to the silver Vigraham of the Pathashala’s founder, Jagadguru Sri Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Narasimha Bharati Mahaswamiji. It may be remembered that the Vigraha was offered by all the Pathashala teachers, students (past and present) during the Amrita Mahotsava (120th Year Celebrations) of the Pathashala that took place in January, 2015.
The morning program on the 121st Varshikotsava Celebrations day began with Guru Vandanam to the Jagadgurus. The Guru Vandanam that included the chant of the Sringeri Jagadguru Birudavali was led by the Pathashala Principal, Vidwan MA Nagaraja Bhat.
Then Veda Ghosha by Veda Brahmasri Vishwanatha Bhat Ghanapaati and Vedabrahmasri Ramesha Bhat Ghanapaati in Rig Veda, and by Vedabrahmasri Meenakshi Sundara Ghanapati, Vedabrahmasri Guru Raghavendra Sharma and Vedabrahmasri Srirama Sharma in Yajur Veda took place. Prarthana Geetam was sung by Srimati Bharati Madan Mohan and Kum. Srilakshmi.
Vidwan Vinayaka Udupa then reverentially welcomed the Jagadgurus; Phala Pushpa Samarpanam to the Jagadgurus was performed by the faculty of the Pathashala led by the Principal Vidwan MA Nagaraja Bhat and the Superintendent Vedabrahmasri C Krishna Bhat. Vidwan Udupa welcomed the Chief Guest of the function, Prof. Kotemane Ramachandra G. Bhat, Vice-chancellor of SVYASA University. He also welcomed the Administrator & CEO of the Peetham, Guru Seva Dhurina Dr. V R Gowrishankar; Chairman of the Sringeri Vidya Bharati Foundation, Dharmatma Dr. Yegnasubramanian; Ayyanavaru Sri T Dakshinamurthy; Principal of the Sri Venkateshwara Veda Pathashala of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, Vedabrahmasri Kuppa Shivasubrahmanya Avadhani; scholars from the Sringeri Rajiv Gandhi Vidyapeetham; Vidwan Ganesha Ishwara Bhat and Vidwan Chandrashekhara Bhat.
The Principal of the Pathashala, Vidwan MA Nagaraja Bhat then read out the annual report of the Pathashala. Speaking on the occasion, CEO Dr. Gowrishankar mentioned that the Central Government had conferred the President’s Certificate of Honour for scholarship in Sanskrit on Asthana Vidwan G. Mahabaleshwara Bhat, and the award would be received by the scholar from the President in the coming months. Asthana Vidwan G. Mahabaleshwara Bhat was specially felicitated on the occasion. The Chief Guest, Prof. Kotemane Ramachandra G. Bhat, then distributed prizes to Vidyarthis (students) who were successful in various competitions and exams conducted in the Pathashala. Yajur Veda Krama Vidyarthis, Rig Veda Pada Vidyarthis, Shastra Vidyarthis and Sahitya Vidyarthis also received awards through endowments instituted by various devotees. Vidyarthis who secured prizes in oratorical competitions then gave speeches on their chosen topics and received the blessings of the Jagadgurus. The Chief Guest, Prof. Kotemane G. Ramachandra Bhat, speaking on the occasion stressed upon the treasure trove of knowledge in the Shastras and the importance of studying it well. He also remembered gratefully the July visit of the Jagadgurus to the Veda Vijnana Gurukulam, where he functions as the Director. Sri Mahasannidhanam then released a book containing Sanskrit prose titled “Ramodanta”.
Sri Sannidhanam then blessed all with an Anugraha Bhashanam. Sri Sannidhanam advised students on the right approach towards study of the Vedas, Shastras and Sahityam (literature).
Sri Sannidhanam started His discourse by paying homage to His Parapara Guru, Jagadguru Sri Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Narasimha Bharati Mahaswamiji, who had resolved to propagate and sustain Dharma in our country in a significant way. As a first step, the Jagadguru had resolved to foster the Vedas and Shastras. The Sadvidya Sanjeevini Samskruta Veda Pathashala at Sringeri is a consequence of that resolve. Sri Sannidhanam stated that the Pathashala, established by the Lotus Hands of the Jagadguru Himself, has been functioning uninterrupted since then, teaching several Vidyarthis (students) and thereby instilling in them a feeling of dhanyata-bhaava (blessedness). Sri Sannidhanam recalled that the recent observance of the 120th anniversary (Amrita Mahotsava held in January) of the Mahapathashala in the divine presence of His Guru, Jagadguru Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji, was indeed a great source of joy to all.
Addressing all students pursuing the Vedas at the Pathashala, Sri Sannidhanam declared that the Vedas are the very foundation of our Sanatana Dharma and are hence accorded the highest respect. Sri Sannidhanam explained that all Vedic Mantras carry immense power. Hence, if the Vedas are not studied in a proper manner and there occurs even a slight deviation in the swara (tone) or akshara (syllable) chanted by the student, then the student will come to harm. Sri Sannidhanam clarified that the Vedas cannot be compared with any laukika-vidya (worldly knowledge) which allows for all such misinterpretations without any resultant harm. Therefore, the study of the Vedas requires utmost shradda (faith) and a student has to be extremely alert while studying it. Referring to our forefathers who studied the Vedas with extreme attention and without allowing for the mispronunciation of even one syllable, Sri Sannidhanam advised all students to follow suit and not allow for even the slightest mistake when memorising each Mantra.
In an effort to demonstrate the power of the Vedic Mantras, Sri Sannidhanam recounted an episode from the Mahabharata where King Janamejaya, the son of King Parikshit who had died of the serpent Takshaka’s bite, performed a sarpa yaaga (serpent-sacrifice) to fulfill his vow to kill Takshaka and all serpents. As the priests chanted the mantras, serpents from various Lokas were dragged into the sacrificial fire, much against their desire and any resistance they could offer. Seeing that his entire clan was being destroyed by the power of the mantras, Takshaka sought refuge in Lord Indra. Lord Indra advised Takshaka to stay in his territory, with the assurance that the fire would not harm him. Given that there was no sign of Takshaka and realizing that Takshaka was under the protection of Lord Indra, the priests chanted a Mantra to pull both Lord Indra and Takshaka. As a result, even the powerful Lord Indra began to get dragged into the sacrificial fire. Realizing that his power was nothing compared to that of the Mantras and that he ran the risk of himself being pulled into the sacrificial fire, Lord Indra was forced to abandon Takshaka. Sri Sannidhanam summarized that even though Lord Indra was the king of the heavens and all Devas, he was still powerless against the force of the Mantras. Underscoring thus the power of the Mantras, Sri Sannidhanam declared that the duty of all students studying the powerful Vedic Mantras was to be ever alert and not give room for even the slightest difference in pronunciation.
Sri Sannidhanam next addressed those students pursuing study of Sanskrit sahitya (literature) at the Pathashala. Declaring Sanskrit to be the mother of all languages, Sri Sannidhanam invoked all sahitya students to study the language with utmost sincerity and attain proficiency in it. Sri Sannidhanam explained that the perpetuity of the language was due to its sophisticated grammar. No other language has this characteristic. Be it Kannada, Tamil, Telugu or any other language, there is always a stark difference between the language spoken in the past and present times. So much so that if one were to speak any language in a manner that it was spoken even a century back, no one in present times would understand its meaning. However, that is not the case with the Sanskrit language. Sri Sannidhanam explained that the Sanskrit adopted even Yugas back, in terms of the words and style, is used even now. The language used in Maharshi Valmiki’s works or in Srimad Bhagavatam is used even now. Sri Sannidhanam explained that this is possible because of the accurate grammatical rules of Sanskrit. Sanskrit has thus remained unchanged through the passage of time. Sri Sannidhanam called for all students of sahitya to appreciate this aspect of Sanskrit, study the language staying true to its rules and to use words appropriately.
Sri Sannidhanam also urged those studying the Shastras at the Pathashala to study it in the same manner that it is taught by the teacher, register what is taught, understand the correct purport of what is taught, contemplate time and again on its essence, and finally practise it. Sri Sannidhanam remarked that only then would a student attain scholarship in the Shastras.
Sri Sannidhanam remarked that this opportunity merited by the students to study in this exceptional Pathashala is the result of punya (merits) accumulated over several births. Sri Sannidhanam concluded His Bhashanam by remembering His Parapara Guru, Sri Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Nrisimha Bharati Mahaswamiji, who established the Pathashala, and also offering His prostrations at the Lotus Feet of His Guru.
The event ended with Vidwan BL Ganapati Bhat proposing a vote of thanks and offering Pranams to the Jagadgurus.
In the evening, a cultural programme, that included a Sanskrit drama “Bhakta Prahlada”, was conducted by the Vidyarthis in the presence of the Jagadgurus at Guru Nivas. A Kannada play “Sangolli Rayanna” was also staged.