Jagadgurus at Narasimharajapura and Aduvalli
Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahasannidhanam and Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati Sannidhanam started from Sringeri on the afternoon of March 24 2016 and arrived at Narasimharajapura (NR Pura). A festive atmosphere prevailed as thousands of devotees welcomed the Jagadgurus and organised a procession through the arterial roads of the town. A grand public function was organised by the authorities of the temple of Goddess Mareekamba. Many dignitaries inclusive of Sringeri MLA Jeevaraj, MLC M. Shrinivas also participated in the function to welcome the Jagadgurus. After Dhuli Pada Puja and formal welcomes to the Jagadgurus, devotees were blessed with Anugraha Bhashanams by the Ubhaya Jagadgurus.
Sri Sannidhanam in His Anugraha Bhashanam said that residents of Narasimharajapura had deemed the arrival of the Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Sringeri as a rare event that comes only once in a few years, and celebrated it by welcoming the Acharya fittingly and with great devotion.
Years back, people of the town had approached the Jagadguru to grace their town that had been suffering from lack of development. Acceding to the request, Sri Mahasannidhanam had then graced Narasimharajapura, camped for a day in the town, performed the Chandramoulishwara Puja on the night of arrival, and had blessed that that the town will be rid of all its wretchedness and welfare will ensue. True to these blessings of Sri Mahasannidhanam, NR Pura soon set upon the path of development and the people of the town and its adjoining areas have been much benefited.
Man can be deemed worthy not by the temporal wealth, power or external beauty he possesses, but only by adherence to Dharma. One may resort to Adharma and escape the long arm of the law, but he has to definitely face the consequences of his actions in the course of his journey in this life or hereafter. Hence one must remain steadfast to one’s Sva-Dharma as ordained by our Sanatana Vaidika Dharma.
Once a foreigner had come to have Darshan of the 34th Acharya, Jagadguru Sri Chandrashekhara Bharati Mahaswamiji, expressing his admiration of the Hindu religion and offering to convert himself formally into Sanatana Dharma. The Acharya replied that no true religion advocates violence or harm or deceit of any form to the other. Rather every religion advocates ethics, abstinence from violence of all kinds, and helping whoever is in need. The Acharya advised him that it would suffice for him to adhere to the noble tenets of his own religion, and such adherence would automatically make him a proper follower of Sanatana Dharma. Such was the conviction of the Acharya, that even when someone wished to convert into the Hindu fold, the Acharya enlightened him and set him along the necessary path.
Sri Sannidhanam explained that we, who have been born as followers of the ancient Sanatana Dharma, must be steadfast in our own adherence to the tenets expounded by our Shastras, and the ideal way of life led by our ancestors.
Sri Mahasannidhanam in His Anugraha Bhashanam said that it has been a tradition for the Sringeri Jagadguru to grace Narasimharajapura and stated that His Guru, Paramaguru and Parameshti Guru had all graced the town. Sri Mahasannidhanam expressed happiness that this Guru-Shishya bond between the Sringeri Jagadgurus and the people of NR Pura is being continued.
Sri Mahasannidhanam then spoke about Sanatana Dharma and its essential tenets. He pointed out that Ishwara, faith in Him and His remembrance is fundamental for all followers of Sanatana Dharma. We must always remember that the Lord is one and His names and forms are many – एको देवः सर्वभूतेषु गूढः. Just as a stage actor dons many roles but does not become many, so too does the Lord assume many forms only to grace devotees. Our Shastras even state that those who differentiate and try to establish the superiority of one form of the Lord over another suffer from stomach-related ailments in their future births.
Devotion to the Lord is of utmost importance, not the quantity of offerings. We find in the Mahabharata that Sri Krishna Paramatma Himself indicated the importance of devotion by accepting the hospitality of the devout Vidura and rejecting that of the haughty Duryodhana. The Puranas and Itihasas abound with numerous examples of devotion. Be it Prahlada, a young boy belonging to the clan of demons; Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas in a hapless state; the young Dhruva, shunned by his father; or Gajendra the elephant – we find the common factor of Bhakti in all of them.
We must also refrain from all kinds of violence. Even if we cannot help others, we never indulge in harming others. There are the noblest of people who help others selflessly. The next best amongst men are those who help as long as their own interests are not affected. Even if we are unable to fall into one of these two categories, we must never fall into the category of people who harm others, either for their own selfishness, or worse, just for the sadistic pleasure of causing harm. This abstinence from violence, termed Ahimsa, is so potent that when practised well, even natural enemies become amicable to each other when in front of such a practitioner of Ahimsa. Sri Adi Shankaracharya saw the sight of a snake and a frog living in harmony (in Sringeri), due to the Tapas of Rishis such as Sri Vibhandaka and Sri Rishyashringa.
We must also serve others with what we have been blessed. This is done by service to God or by service to the society.
A poor man once came to a rich man and said, “I have come here to wish you well.” On being questioned, the poor man replied, “I had not performed any charity in my previous lifetime. Hence I have become a beggar in this lifetime. You on the other hand have done a lot of Dharmic activities in your previous lifetime and have been born rich. If you continue to engage in charity towards people like me, you will remain rich in your next lifetime also. Otherwise, in your next life, you will become as I am!” –
द्वारं द्वारमटन् भिक्षुः शिक्षत्येवं न याचते ।
अदत्वा मादृशो मा भूः दत्वा त्वं त्वादृशो भव ॥
Hence we must cultivate the quality of offering in charity whatever is possible. We must also reflect on why temples were built by the Maharajas of yore and wealthy people. This was their way of returning what they were blessed with. Temples were built as they would prove to be a centre of spiritual succour and devotion to many thousands of people. Even our physical bodies is to be used for helping the poor and the needy, and to engage in Dharmic service – परोपकारार्थमिदं शरीरम्.
Sri Mahasannidhanam also stated that our ancestors have warned that we must always stay away from Kama (unrighteous desires) and Krodha (anger). Quoting the examples of Ravana and Shishupala, Sri Mahasannidhanam called for staying away from these internal enemies, as we tread upon the path of Dharma.
Sri Mahasannidhanam ended His Anugraha Bhashanam commending the ardent devotion of the people of Narasimharajapura and blessing one and all.
The following day, Sri Mahasannidhanam performed the Prathishta Kumbhabhisheka of Goddess Marikamba. Sri Mahasannidhanam then gave Darshan to the thousands of devotees who were in attendance.
Earlier in the morning, Sri Sannidhanam started for Aduvalli, about 30 km from Narasimharajapura, and arrived at the small hamlet to a devout reception. Sri Sannidhanam then performed the Punahprathishta Kumbhabhisheka at the Sri Varadarajaswamy temple in Aduvalli, by offering a special Puja and doing the Prana Prathishta of the five foot tall Vigraha. Sri Sannidhanam then had Darshan at the adjacent Sri Venkataramana Swamy temple and then graced a Sabha to bless the devotees. In His Anugraha Bhashanam, Sri Sannidhanam described the importance of maintaining the temples in a village and also stressed that daily Puja at the temples brings about the welfare of the villagers.
Sri Sannidhanam then returned to Narasimharajapura, had Darshan of Goddess Marikamba and then performed the Shikhara Kalashabhisheka atop the Vimanam of the temple.
In the evening, the Ubhaya Jagadgurus visited the Subrahmanya Swamy temple run by the Brahmana Samaja in NR Pura and had Darshan. Sri Mahasannidhanam in His brief Anugraha Bhashanam explained the importance of the performance of Sandhyavandanam. The Jagadgurus also visited the temple built by Sri Jeevaraj, MLA of Sringeri and blessed him, and then returned to Sringeri by the evening of March 25, 2016