25th Vardhanti Celebrations of Sri Sannidhanam
The 25th Vardhanti of Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati Sannidhanam was celebrated at the Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri on July 28, 2017 (Naga Panchami). At around 7:30 a.m., Sri Sannidhanam gave Ahnika Darshan to thousands of devotees at Sri Sacchidananda Vilas in Narasimha Vanam.
The Celebrations had commenced on July 25, 2017 with a Sahasra Modaka Ganapati Homa. Poornahuti of the Homa took place in the divine presence of the Ubhaya Jagadgurus. Thereafter, Sankalpa for the Maharudra Yaga was taken in the divine presence of the Ubhaya Jagadgurus in the Adhishthana Mandapam in Narasimha Vanam. Sri Rudram was chanted for 1331 times over the next three days. On every evening of those three days, Rudra Kramaarchana, Shivasahasranama, Rudratrishati and Ashtavadhana Seva were performed.
On July 27, 2017, Sri Sannidhanam performed a special Puja at the Kalabhairava temple in Narasimhavana.
On July 28, 2017, the Vardhanti Day, a Guru Vandana Sabha started at 10am in Guru Nivas with Vedic chants. Phala-Samarpanam was performed to Sri Sannidhanam on behalf of the Sri Sadvidya Sanjeevini Mahapathashala and the Math staff.
Sringeri Math CEO Sri V R Gowrishankar speaking on the occasion remembered that the beginning of the year had seen the installation of the Suvarna Shikhara and the Kumbhabhisheka of Goddess Sharadamba temple, by the grace of the Goddess, Sri Adi Shankaracharya and the Jagadgurus. He mentioned that the Vijaya Yatra of the Ubhaya Jagadgurus to Tamil Nadu and Kerala were undertaken with the prime intent of blessing the devotees. He remarked that the Yatra which took place with much grandeur has left an indelible mark on the hearts of the people. He concluded the speech by offering his pranams at the Lotus feet of Sri Sannidhanam on behalf of all the assembled.
Sri Sannidhanam then released ”My Stamp” (featuring the Vidyashankar temple) brought out by India Post.
Sri Sannidhanam then blessed the gathering with an Anugraha Bhashanam. Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada incarnated in this country and showed the path to obtain welfare to every individual. Each individual in this world is of a distinct nature, every individual’s calibre too is distinct. Bhagavatpada has prescribed various methods to obtain welfare in accordance with an individuals’s calibre. It is due to this reason that Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada is revered as the “Jagadguru”.
While many sought Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada and became His Shishyas, Sri Sureshwaracharya stands unique in that Shankaracharya sought him, defeated him in a debate, and made him His disciple, and appointed him as the head of this Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham at Sringeri.
Sri Sannidhanam stated that worship of God and Guru are mentioned as a part of one’s daily Anushthanam in order to obtain welfare in life. Stating that one has to first serve God and one’s Guru who is a personification of God, Sri Sannidhanam illustrated an incident explained one context from Bhagavan Sri Krishna’s life where Sri Krishna had indicated that the first respects of Nanda and his citizens would have to be paid to the Govardhana hill, that was the source of all for the cowherds and their cows.
अतियजेत निजां यदि देवतामुभयतश्च्यवते जुषतेऽप्यघम् ।
क्षितिभृतैव सदैवतका वयं वनवताऽनवता किमहिद्रुहा ॥
The import of this verse is that one who neglects his own Aaraadhya devata and offers worships to other deities, he neither gets the Anugraha of his Aaraadhya devata nor the other deity; he neither gets welfare in this world or the next. He even incurs sin.
For example, a person who has underwent Upanayanam must perform the Gayatri Upasana. If he neglects the Gayatri Upasana and resorts to chanting any other Mantra be it the Panchakshari or the Ashtakshari, no benefit will accrue. Other Mantras may be chanted only after the Gayatri Upasana is performed.
The idea expressed in the above verse finds its origin in the Vedas that state –
यो वै स्वां देवतामतियजते प्रस्वायै देवतायै च्यवते । न परां प्राप्नोति पापीयान् भवति ।
Hence, God and Guru are the foremost object of service and worship for us.
Sri Sannidhanam further stated that a Shishya must not unduly relax when serving the Guru and conveyed this through an anecdote pertaining to Chanakya & Chandragupta. While being groomed to be the emperor of Magadha by Chanakya, Chandragupta was often taxed with various tasks and was even at the receiving end of the former’s anger and admonitions. Eventually, he questions Chanakya regarding the treatment being meted out to him. Chanakya points out that a Guru, a Shishya and a king can never relax. Even if a single person is suffering in the kingdom, the king will have to take measures to alleviate that suffering. Likewise, a Guru is always intent on the Shishya’s welfare. The Shishya in turn needs to be sincere in his service and following the instructions of the Guru to secure his own welfare.
Indicating that the Guru is present to guide anyone who approaches Him with devotion, Sri Sannidhanam stated a verse –
त्यक्तव्यो ममकारः त्यक्तुं यदि शक्यते नासौ ।
कर्तव्यो ममकारः किन्तु स सर्वत्र कर्तव्यः ॥
Mamakaara – the sense of mine-ness – has to be given up. If you cannot however give it up, then nurture Mamakaara! However, have that sense of mine-ness on everyone and everything. This is to indicate that we must be broadminded. Such broadmindedness is to be found naturally in the Guru who is impartial and accessible to all.
Sri Sannidhanam also talked about the mentality prevalent among many in the present-day – that of quickly dismissing what cannot be directly perceived. Sri Sannidhanam indicated that we must realise that we function everyday without direct perception of all that we live with. Even an every-day gadget (such as a mobile phone) makes connections that are beyond the ken of our senses. Just because Ishwara is beyond our senses, it would be inappropriate to conclude Ishwara does not exist. Sri Sannidhanam stated it is essential to cultivate Astikyam.
Recounting the events of the recent Vijaya Yatra, Sri Sannidhanam stated that it had been his duty and blessing to accompany His Guru, Sri Mahasannidhanam on the Vijaya Yatra. Just as had happened during the 1974-75 Vijaya Yatra of His Paramaguru and His Guru, Sri Sannidhanam mentioned that during this Yatra Sri Mahasannidhanam had directed Him to travel to various towns and villages to bless all the residents. Sri Sannidhanam then concluded His Anugraha Bhashanam by blessing the gathering.
After the Vardhanti Sabha concluded, Sri Mahasannidhanam and Sri Sannidhanam gave Darshan to the devotees. Later, Poornahuti of the Maharudra Yaga took place in the divine presence of the Ubhaya Jagadgurus. That night, Sri Sannidhanam performed a special Puja to Sri Chandramoulishwara Sphatika Linga.