Vikari Samvatsara Shankara Jayanti Celebrations
The birth anniversary of Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada, the rejuvenator of Santana Dharma, was reverentially observed at Sringeri by Their Holinesses Jagadguru Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji and Jagadguru Sri Sri Vidhushekara Bharati Mahaswamiji from May 5, 2019, to May 10, 2019. An assembly of Vedic scholars from across the country gathered to participate in the celebrations led by Sri Mahasannidhanam and Sri Sannindham, and to pay their respects to Bhagavatpada. The Jayanti celebrations witnessed an array of Vedic and scholarly activities that paid a fitting tribute to the great philosopher-saint.
Daily Events
The traditional observances at the Adi Shankaracharya temple on the northern bank of the river Tunga commenced on May 5, 2019. Every morning, until the Shankara Jayanti day, Mahanyasa Poorvaka Shata Rudra Abhisheka was performed to the Vigraha of Bhagavatpada. Parayana of the four Vedas, the Prasthanatraya Bhashya and Madhaviya Shankara Vijaya (the biography of Sri Shankara’s life) was performed daily.
Vedic scholars from all over India took part in the Veda Sammelan conducted on the occasion by the Sringeri Math’s Veda Poshaka Sabha. Under the auspices of the Sabha, examinations were conducted for advanced students of the Vedas a fortnight earlier.
Every day during the Shankara Jayanti Celebrations, Sri Mahasannidhanam engaged in Bhashya Parayanam sitting in the Adi Shankaracharya temple, even as the Shata Rudra Abhisheka was being performed. Sri Mahasannidhanam then directed the Vedic scholars to chant various Upanishads. Over the course of the celebrations, the Taittiriya, Aitareya, Kaushitaki, Chandogya and Brihadaranyaka Upanishads were chanted in the forenoon. Archana to Sri Adi Shankaracharya, accompanied by group chanting of Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada’s Ashtottara followed by Mahamangalarati, concluded each day’s morning program at the temple. Sri Sannidhanam too graced the proceedings in the temple after granting Darshan to devotees in Guru Nivas.
In the evenings, Sri Sannidhanam presided over a Sabha at the Pravachana Mandiram. Asthana Vidwan Sri T V Shivakumara Sharma performed the Parayana of the Madhaviya Shankara Digvijaya. The scholars who rendered Upanyasas in the Jagadgurus’ presence this year were Vidwan Mahesh Shastri Hampiholi of Belagavi, Vidwan Sri Vasudeva Bhat of Shivamogga, Vidwan Sri Ganesh Hegde of Jayapura and Vidwan Sri GN Srikara Bhat of Sringeri.
This year, Sri Sannidhanam blessed the audience with Anugraha Bhashanams on the Vedanta Tattva every day.
On May 5, Sri Sannidhanam explained that the Jagadguru Sri Vidyaranya, in his biographical text, Madhaviya Shankara Digvijaya, has used the adjective “कलिमलच्छेत्री” – that which removes the evils of the Kali Yuga – to highlight the greatness of studying and listening to the life account of Bhagavatpada Shankaracharya. Sri Sannidhanam explained that this was so because we not only get merit (Punya) from studying the life of Bhagavatpada, but also gain Jnana outlined the need for Sadhana Chatushtaya and the need to study the Vedanta Tattva at the Lotus Feet of the Guru.
On May 6, Sri Sannidhanam explained the necessity to understand “Adhyaasa” or superimposition defined as “अतस्मिन् तद्बुद्धिः” – “Cognizing something as that which it is not”. The classical illustration given here is to cognise or perceive out of ignorance a snake in a rope that is lying on the ground. This understanding of what constitutes Adhyaasa is explained at the very beginning of His magnum opus, the Brahma Sutra Bhashya, in order to illustrate that we, out of ignorance, perceive or attach the notion of Self or the “Atma” to our body, senses etc when these are not truly the Self.
On May 7, Sri Sannidhanam explained the cause of Samsara, Maaya or Moola-avidyaa, the primordial nescience and its Aavarana Shakti (the power of Maya to conceal reality) and Vikshepa Shakti (the power of Maya to project the existence of something that truly does not exist). Sri Sannidhanam also explained that the apparent difference that exists between the Paramatma and Jeevatma using the illustration of Bimba (object that gets reflected) and Pratibimba (reflection), and proceeded to explain the Aikya (unity) between the two.
On May 8, Sri Sannidhanam explained in detail the Pramaana-s or means of acquiring valid knowledge. Sri Sannidhanam also explained the term “Mithyaa” (that which is neither real nor unreal) and how true knowledge of Self is brought about by Vedic statements.
Shankara Jayanti Day
On May 9, 2019, Shankara Jayanti day, Sri Sannidhanam performed an elaborate Puja to Sri Adi Shankaracharya from around noon. The Puja was witnessed by hundreds of Vedic scholars as well as the assembled devotees. Sri Sannidhanam performed the Mahamangalarati and Kanaka Abhisheka to the Vigraha of Sri Adi Shankaracharya in the divine presence of Sri Mahasannidhanam.
In the evening Sabha, Sri Sannidhanam blessed the devout audience in an elaborate Anugraha Bhashanam spoke about the remarkable life of Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya, the greatness of His works and His message to mankind. Sri Sannidhanam described in detail the Advaita Siddhanta (the established conclusion of the non-dual nature of Reality) as expounded in the Upanishads and commented upon by Sri Adi Shankaracharya.
After the Anugraha Bhashanam, Mahamangalarati and Ashtavadhana Seva in the presence of the Ubhaya Jagadgurus. The Murti of Sri Adi Shankaracharya was taken in a procession along the streets of Sringeri by the Vidyarthis of the Sringeri Pathashala.
Adi Shankaracharya Maha Rathotsava
On the morning of May 10, 2019, the Mahajanas of Sringeri arrived at the Pravachana Mandiram and reverentially extended a formal invitation to the Ubhaya Jagadgurus to conduct the Adi Shankaracharya Maharathotsava. Sri Sannidhanam graced the Maharathotsava with His divine presence. The Utsava Murti of Sri Adi Shankaracharya was placed on the Maharatha and the grand Maha Rathotsava of Sri Adi Shankaracharya took place along the main Bharati street of Sringeri amidst the chanting of four Vedas, Bhajans to the accompaniment of musical instruments and the chanting of the Ashtottara Shatanama of Bhagavatpada.
Valedictory function of the Veda Poshaka Sabha
In the evening, the Valedictory function of the Veda Poshaka Sabha was held in the divine presence of Sri Sannidhanam.
In His Anugraha Bhashanam, Sri Sannidhanam explained that the Vedas are the supreme Pramana and that it is our foremost responsibility to study the Vedas, preserve them and pass on to the next generations. It is for the sustenance of the Vedas and the nurturing of Vedic scholars that His Paramaguru, Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji had commenced the Veda Poshaka Sabha. Mahamangalarati to the Murti of Bhagavatpada and Ashtavadhana Seva then took place.
Sri Sannidhanam then awarded gold rings for excellence in Vedic scholarship to Vedabrahmasri Virupaksham Ramanatha Ghanapathi (Secunderabad) in Rig Veda, Vedabrahmasri Duvvuri Phani Yajneswarayajulu (Rajamahendravaram) in Krishna Yajur Veda, Vedabrahmasri R. Ananda Ghanapathi (Chennai) in Shukla Yajur Veda and Vedabrahmasri V. Raghava Shrouti (Chennai) of Chennai in Sama Veda.
Then followed the felicitation of 62 successful students out of the 112 who appeared for the advanced Vedic exams. 19 of these 62 students who had cleared the Ghanapatha level examination were first felicitated – 8 in Krishna Yajur Veda, 2 in Rig Veda, 1 in Shukla Yajur Veda Kaanva Shaakha, 5 in Sama Veda Kauthuma Shaakha and 3 in Sama Veda Ranayaneeya Shaakha. The remaining 41 successful candidates had successfully cleared the Kramapatha level examination – 16 in Krishna Yajur Veda, 9 in Rig Veda, 3 in Shukla Yajur Veda Kaanva Shaakha, 4 in Shukla Yajur Veda Maadhyandina Shaakha, 6 in Sama Veda Kauthuma Shaakha and 3 in Sama Veda Ranayaneeya Shaakha. This year, 2 candidates from Maharashtra were successful in the Shadanga examination.
Rig Vedic scholar Vedabrahmasri BK Lakshmi Narayana Ghanapathi was conferred the “Bharati Thyagaraja” Samman, that is conferred annually on a Vedic scholar by the Sri Sadguru Thyaga Brahma Aradhana Kainkarya Trust, which conducts, with the support of the Sringeri Math, the Vaidika Aradhana of the Carnatic music composer and saint, Sri Tyagaraja at Tiruvaiyaru.
All Vedic scholars were then blessed by the Jagadguru and felicitated.
The Shankara Jayanti Celebrations ended with the Teppotsava on the evening of May 11, 2019, in the divine presence of Sri Sannidhanam.
Under the umbrella of the Shaankara Tattva Prasaara Abhiyanam of the Sringeri Math, many centres in various districts of Karnataka have and various branch Maths observed the Shankara Jayanti across the nation.