24th Vardhanti celebrations of Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati Sannidhanam
Ahnika Darshanam of Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati Sannidhanam
The 24th Vardhanti of Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati Sannidhanam was celebrated at the Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri on August 7, 2016 (Naga Panchami). At around 7:30 in the morning, Sri Sannidhanam gave Ahnika Darshan to thousands of devotees at the Sri Sacchidananda Vilas in Narasima Vanam.
Poornahuti ceremony of the Sahasra Modaka Ganapati Homa performed on the occassion of the 24th Vardhanti of Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati Mahaswamiji, on August 4, 2016 at Narasimhavanam in Sringeri
The celebrations had commenced on August 4, 2016 with a Sahasra Modaka Ganapati Homa. The Sankalpa was taken in the morning around 7 am by the CEO & Administrator of the Peetham, Sri V R Gowrishankar. The Poornahuti of the Homa took place in the divine presence of Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahasannidhanam and Sri Sannidhanam.
Around 9:30 am, the Mahasankalpa for the Maharudra Yaga performed as part of the celebrations took place in the presence of the Ubhaya Jagadgurus near the Adhishthanam of Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji (the 35th Acharya). Sri Mahasannidhanam blessed the Pradhana Acharya Sri T V Shivakumara Sharma and Ritwiks. The Maharudra Yaga commenced and continued over the next 3 days with Ritwiks chanting the Rudra Prashna 1331 times as part of the Yaga.
Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji blessing a Ritwik during the Ritwik Varanam ceremony of the Maharudra Yaga.
In the afternoon of August 6, 2016, as part of the Vardhanti Celebrations, Sri Sannidhanam, offered special worship to Lord Kalabhaidenirava at the Kalabhairava temple in Narasimha Vanam.
Around 10 am on the Vardhanti day (August 7), a public function was organised at Guru Nivas. The function began with a Veda Ghosha and prayer. The Principal and teachers of the Sadvidya Sanjeevini Samskrita Mahapathashala then performed Phala Samarpanam.
Speaking on the occasion, CEO VR Gowrishankar, stated that on the Naga Panchami day, it is a tradition in the Math to offer prayers to Goddess Sharadamba and commence preparations for the upcoming Sharan Navaratri Celebrations. It is so befitting that Sri Sannidhanam’s Vardhanti falls on this very Tithi and that the day is being celebrated in such grandeur.
Jagadgurus at the inauguration ceremony of mobile hospital, affiliated to the Sharada Rotary Health Centre (a unit of Sri Sharada Peetham and Rotary Bangalore West). This will move around and offer dental and eye care.
Sri Gowrishankar also said that on the occasion, a mobile hospital, affiliated to the Sharada Rotary Health Centre (a unit of Sri Sharada Peetham and Rotary Bangalore West), was being newly commissioned with the blessings of the Jagadgurus to move around Karnataka and offer dental and eye care.
Sri Sannidhanam also released a book titled “Guru Devata Stuti Manjari” containing Stotras (in Devanagari script) chanted during various festivals, Pujas and Aradhanas in Sringeri.
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Sri Sannidhanam then blessed the devotees assembled in Guru Nivas with an Anugraha Bhashanam and spoke about the greatness of the Guru.
Anugraha Bhashanam by Sri Sannidhanam
Every person needs the Grace of the Guru. It is known that man’s mind is by nature fickle and is compared to a monkey that is naturally restless. Consequently man tends to go astray. It is the Guru who instructs and guides man towards the right path. The instruction of the Guru is potent because the Guru is a knower of the Truth. This is why Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada explains the qualities of a Guru as अधिगतत्त्वः (one who has realised the Truth) and शिष्यहिताय उद्यतः सततम् (one who constantly strives for the upliftment of the disciple).
It is the Guru who can remove our misapprehensions and point us to the truth. Even in ordinary life, when a person walking along a path sees a rope and mistakes it for a snake, he would stand paralysed. He would however be immediately relieved of his fear if another person who knows the fact conveys to him that what is seen is merely a rope. Likewise, the Guru’s Upadesha is potent enough to relieve us of misapprehensions, such as identifying the Self with the body.
Everyone desires to be happy and does not want to suffer. However, the means to it can be truly known only when we receive the Guru’s Upadesha and live accordingly. This is why the Guru is accorded a unique position in our Sanatana Dharma. Hence the popular Shloka – गुरुर्बह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः । गुरुः साक्षात् परं ब्रह्म तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥ – conveying that the Guru is Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshwara and even the eternal Para Brahman, is taught at a very young age.
Everyone, irrespective of their learning or position in society or wealth, must respect the Guru. This is because of the knowledge that is inherent in the Guru.
Sri Sannidhanam then recounted an anecdote that appears in the Chandogya Upanishad of the Sama Veda. Maharaja Jaanashruti was known for his Dharmic acts. He was very popular amongst his subjects and everyone revered him. Once, a flock of swans passed by his kingdom. One of the swans said to the swan at the front of the flying flock, “There lies the residence of Jaanashruti! His splendour arising out of his adherence to Dharma is so intense that it can burn us if we pass over his residence. So let us not fly over his residence. Let us take a different path.” To this, the swan at the front replied, “Oh! Jaanashruti’s splendour and deeds are nothing in comparison to those of Raikva”.
This conversation was overheard by Jaanashruti. Curious to find out who Raikva was, he organised a search. Eventually he came to know that Raikva led a renunciate life under a tree. Jaanashruti approached Raikva and beseeched him to teach the Tattva. Raikva initially refused. After repeated requests by Jaanashruti, Raikva satisfied with his sincerity and faith, instructed Jaanashruti and taught him “Samvarga Vidya”, a kind of Upasana.
Sri Sannidhanam stated that this Upanishadic anecdote serves to convey that whatever may be one’s accomplishments, they all fade into obscurity when compared to the knowledge that the ever-content Guru bestows.
Even the all-knowing Sri Adi Shankaracharya, Himself an Avatara of Lord Parameshwara, approached Sri Govinda Bhagavatpada, became the latter’s disciple and studied the Vedanta Tattva.
Sri Sannidhanam then referred to an incident from the life of His Paramaguru (Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji) and His Parameshti Guru (Jagadguru Sri Chandrashekhara Bharati Mahaswamiji). Once on a cold winter night, the Latter’s personal attendant left his assigned place near the Acharya’s place of stay, and rested in a warm area. However, after a couple of hours, the attendant felt he had neglected his duty and returned to his position only to find that someone was already present there to do his duty. As he came closer, he realized that it was none other Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji, who had personally come to ensure that someone was always ready at the beck and call of His Guru. The Acharya told the attendant that the opportunity to do such Seva to the Guru only comes after innumerable good deeds performed in past lives and he must make the best use of it. The Acharya had also added that the attendant must not feel that there would be none else to perform his assigned duty, if he neglected it. The Acharya further said that He Himself would engage in such service to His Guru. Sri Sannidhanam said that such is the Bhakti and Shraddha we must develop towards the Guru.
Sri Sannidhanam said that the relation between the Guru and the disciples of the Sharada Peetham must continue uninterruptedly as the uninterrupted flow of the holy Ganga.
Sri Sannidhanam, reminiscing over the Anugraha bestowed upon Him by Sri Mahasannidhanam, offered His Pranams at the Lotus Feet of Sri Mahasannidhanam.
Sri Sannidhanam mentioned that this year is special because of His Guru’s Sankalpa of providing a golden covering to the Vimana above the Garbha Griha of Goddess Sharadamba. Sri Sannidhanam expressed happiness that many disciples have come forward to support the cause and work has been proceeding along this direction. Sri Sannidhanam then ended His Anugraha Bhashanam conveying His blessings for all.
Thereafter, Sri Mahasannidhanam and Sri Sannidhanam gave Darshan to all devotees, and then graced the commissioning ceremony of the mobile hospital.
Purnahuti ceremony of the Maharudra Yaga performed on the occassion of the 24th Vardhanti of Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati Mahaswamiji, on August 07, 2016 at Narasimhavanam in Sringeri
At around 8:30 AM, the Homa ceremony of the Maharudra Yaga commenced with 13 priests offering oblations into a sacrificial fire, reciting the Rudra-mantras..
Later, at about 11 am, Sannidhanam, blessed the assembled devotees at Gurunivas with an Anugraha Bhashanam elucidating the importance of a Guru in one’s life.
At around 1:15 PM, Purnahuti ceremony of the Maharudra Yaga was performed in the august presence of the Ubhaya Jagadgurus. This marked the conclusion of the Maharudra Yaga.
At night, the Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati Sannidhanam, performed special puja to Lord Sri Chandramoulishwara with Phala-Panchamrita Abhisheka accompanied by the sonorous chanting of Vedic Mantras by the pandits of Sri math, the vidyarthis of the Samskrita Mahapathashala and other scholars who had gathered at Sringeri for the occassion.