Sri Mahasannidhanam offers worship at Kigga
Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahasannidhanam offered worship at the temple of Lord Rishyashringeshwara at Kigga near Sringeri on May 16 2016. Acceding to the request of the devotees, officials of the Chikmagalur district, and the authorities of the temple to offer worship for the welfare of the region, Sri Mahasannidhanam arrived at Kigga at around 11:30 a.m. After being accorded a devout welcome by devotees and officials led by the Executive Officer of the temple, Sri Mahasannidhanam offered an elaborate Puja to Sri Rishyashringeshwara Swamy, after whom the holy town of Sringeri gets its name. It was Sage Rishyashringa who had officiated in Dasharatha’s Putra Kameshti Yaga and paved way for the advent of the Avatara of Sri Rama. The Shiva Linga that this sage had worshipped and had become one with at the end of his earthly sojourn is revered as Sri Rishyashringeshwara, and is often worshipped for a good monsoon by devotees.
Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati Sannidhanam was also present during the Puja by Sri Mahasannidhanam. Sri Mahasannidhanam also offered Pujas to Lord Mahaganapati and Goddess Shanta, the consort of Sage Rishyashringa. After the Puja, a Sabha was organised by the temple authorities.
Sri Mahasannidhanam began His Anugraha Bhashanam with the following shloka to Rishyashringeshwara, offering obeisance to the Sage, the son of Vibhandaka and the harbinger of rains.
ऋष्यशृङ्गाय मुनये विभाण्डकसुताय वै ।
नमः शान्ताधिपतये सद्यः सद्वृष्टिहेतवे ॥
Sri Mahasannidhanam recalled that as described in the Ramayana, it was the sage who had brought relief to the drought in the Anga desha. Such is the greatness of the sage, who had performed Tapas in this place and had merged with the Linga here. When Sri Adi Shankaracharya came to this region, he realised the sanctity here and established the Sharada Peetham at Sringeri. The great Acharya had also noted here that even natural foes live in peace. This was in accordance to what is stated in the Yoga Shastras that such peace prevails in regions where Yogis established in Ahimsa live. Given that the Sringeri region has had such sanctity due to sages such as Rishyashringa, it is natural that worship to the Sage has been a tradition from the times of Sri Adi Shankaracharya.
Sri Mahasannidhanam said that all the preceding Acharyas of the Peetham have come to Kigga and offered worship to Rishyashringeshwara Swamy. Rains have been abundant in the region consequently. In addition, Sri Mahasannidhanam said that the Sringeri Jagadgurus too have been revered as harbingers of rain and that this epithet was always attributed to His Guru, Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji for rains would occur wherever He toured.
Sri Mahasannidhanam said that at the request of the devotees and officials led by District Collector of Chikmagalur, MLA and Tahsildar, He had come and offered worship to Lord Rishyashringeshwara to end the period of decreasing water supplies and bring about the welfare of people. By evening, rains lashed the region to the joy of all devotees.