Ubhaya Jagadgurus complete Chaturmasya Vrata
Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahasannidhanam and Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati Sannidhanam completed their Chaturmasya Vrata and undertook Seemollanghanam in the afternoon of Bhadrapada Poornima (September 13, 2019). Crossing over from Narasimha Vanam to the northern banks of the Tunga, the Jagadgurus had Darshan at the Goddess Sharadamba temple as well as other temples in the Math premises. The Jagadgurus also had Darshan at the hillock temple of Lord Malahanikareshwara.
During the period of Chaturmasya, a number of events had taken place.
Samskritotsava
The Sanskritotsava organised every year by the Kendriya Samskrita Vidya Peetham, Rajiv Gandhi Campus (Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan) was inaugurated by the Ubhaya Jagadgurus on August 16, 2019 at Guru Nivas. The event started with Veda Ghosha. After Phala Samarpanam to the Ubhaya Jagadgurus, Prof. A.P. Sacchidananda Udupa, the Principal of the institution offered his respectful Pranams to the Jagadgurus.
Sri Mahasannidhanam then released the book, Vakyartha Bharati containing a compilation of scholarly deliberations in the Shastras held at the Vidyapeetham in the past year.
After Phala Samarpanam to the Ubhaya Jagadgurus, Prof. A.P. Sacchidananda Udupa, the Principal of the institution offered his respectful Pranams to the Jagadgurus.
Sri Sannidhanam in His Anugraha Bhashanam spoke about the greatness of Sanskrit literature. When we study poetic works of devotion in Sanskrit, we also find in them references to the Upanishadic tenets. Quoting the following verse from the Varadaraja Stava of Srimad Appayya Deekshita —
Varadaraja Stava verse 87.आश्रित्य नूनममृतद्युतयः पदं ते
देहक्षये विधृतदिव्यपदाभिमुख्याः |
लावण्यपुण्यनिचयं सुहृदि त्वदास्ये
विन्यस्य यान्ति मिहिरं प्रतिमासभिन्नाः ||āśritya nūnamamṛtadyutayaḥ padaṃ te
dehakṣaye vidhṛtadivyapadābhimukhyāḥ |
lāvaṇyapuṇyanicayaṃ suhṛdi tvadāsye
vinyasya yānti mihiraṃ pratimāsabhinnāḥ ||
Sri Sannidhanam pointed out that while the verse directly praises the glory of the Feet of the Lord and the unparalleled beauty of His divine countenance, it also refers to the Upanishadic tenet of how Jnanis bless those who revere them.
Sri Sannidhanam also mentioned how aspects of our culture and world perspective are woven into works composed in Sanskrit. For instance, in the culture of Sanatana Dharma, a river is not merely looked upon as a source of water. Rather, a river is considered so sacred that we offer our prostrations to the Nadi-Devataa (deified personification of the river) before stepping into it. We do not approach the river merely to have a physical bath. We consider taking a bath in the river as holy.
Sri Sannidhanam also said that when parents send their sons and daughters to study Sanskrit literature, they naturally expect that they return home not merely with academic scholarship but also with well-imbibed values that are inherent to our culture.
Sri Sannidhanam expressed joy at the regular conduct of the function to remember and reflect upon the uniqueness of the Sanskrit language, and blessed the gathering.
Sri Krishna Janmashtami Celebrations at Sringeri
Sri Krishna Jayanti Mahotsava was celebrated with devotion at Sringeri on Friday, August 23, 2019. The special puja to Lord Sri Krishna performed by Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahasannidhanam commenced at around 10:30 PM a little while after the Chandramoulishwara Puja and Srichakra Puja which was performed by Jagadguru Sri Sri Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati Sannidhanam. Lord Krishna was propitiated with Phala-Panchamrita-Abhisheka accompanied by the sonorous chanting of Vedic mantras from the Yajurveda and Rigveda by scholars of the Math. Sri Mahasannidhanam then performed Archana with the Krishna Ashtottara Shatanama and Sri Vishnu Sahasranama, and then performed the Mahamangalarati.
After Mahamangalarati, the Jagadguru performed Parayana of the 3rdAdhyaya of the 10th Skandha of Srimad Bhagavata Mahapuranam, describing the avatara of the Lord and concluded the Puja. Sri Sannidhanam was present throughout the puja.
After the puja, Prasadam was distributed to all the devotees who had gathered from various parts of the country to witness the special puja.
Earlier, as part of the celebrations, Lord Krishna was propitiated with special puja performed by the Math Purohita at the Pravachana Mandira. Virgrahas of Rukmini Satyabhama Sameta Sri Gopalakrishna Swamy, Vasudeva, Devaki, Nandagopa, Yashoda and Balarama were all placed in the Puja Mandapa. Parayana of Vedic Mantras and Stotras was performed by devotees and students of the Sadvidya Sanjeevini Samskrita Mahapathashala.
Shravana Somavara Pujas
On the auspicious Somavaras of the Shravana Masa, special Pujas were performed by Sri Sannidhanam to Lord Chandramoulishwara. Sri Sannidhanam performed the Shravana Somavara Pujas on August 5, 12, 19 and August 26, 2019.
Adi Shankaracharya Day in schools
In accordance to the direction of the Sringeri Jagadgurus, Sri Vidyatheertha Foundation at Chennai organised “Sri Adi Shankaracharya day” in various schools in Tamil Nadu with an objective to spread the valuable teachings of Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada. As ordained by Sringeri Jagadguru Sri Mahasannidhanam, the inaugural event took place on the sacred Rishi Panchami day – Tuesday, September 3, 2019.
Reaching out to 27000 children in 64 schools across Tamil Nadu, the event at every location started with the screening of benedictory addresses specially blessed by Sri Mahasannidhanam and Sri Sannidhanam for this occasion. A Self Development Seminar based on the life and teachings of Bhagavatpada was conducted by a team of trained faculty members of the Foundation. The seminar was greatly appreciated by the schools and well received by the students. Students took this opportunity to actively participate and sought clarification on various matters pertaining to Sanatana Dharma.
The inaugural function of the event was held at SRDF Vivekananda Vidyalaya, Chrompet, Chennai on the morning of 3rd September. Dr. V.R. Gowrishankar, Administrator and CEO of Sri Sringeri Math formally inaugurated the programme & in his talk, explained to the students the relevance of Bhagavatpada’s teachings in today’s world. He also answered various questions posed by the students at the end. Sri R.Krishnan, Managing Trustee of Sri Vidyatheertha Foundation and various dignitaries of the school were present. The function was telecast live by Sri Sankara TV. Many important personalities participated in the seminar at various other places. Sri L. Ganesan, Member of Parliament delivered the key note address at Bhavan’s Rajaji Vidyashram, Chennai and Sri P.R. Venketrama Raja, Chairman, Ramco Group of Industries participated in the programme at Rajapalayam.
As part of the event, some schools also took this initiative further and conducted various activities. Shloka recitation, painting, skit, oratorical and essay competitions based on topics pertaining to Bhagavatpada’s life and works were held.
All the Schools conducted the programme in their auditorium. A fully decorated portrait of Bhagavatpada was specially presented to the School with the blessings of the Jagadgurus. Sri Ganesha Pancharatnam of Bhagavatpada was chanted by all at the commencement of the program. Students sang in chorus a verse in praise of Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada to conclude the event.
All the students were presented with a book containing pictorial biography of Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada, brought out by the Sringeri Math. Students also received a book mark containing the brief life history of Bhagavatpada.
Sri Varasiddhi Vinayaka Chaturthi Vrata
Vinayaka Chaturthi was observed with great festivity at Sringeri on September 2, 2019. Sri Mahasannidhanam and Sri Sannidhanam performed special Pujas at noon.
In the afternoon, at around 4:30 PM, the annual Mahaganapati Vakyartha Vidwat Sabha for the ensuing Vikari Samvatsara commenced in the divine presence of the Jagadgurus and under the august presidentship of Sri Mahasannidhanam.
Karnataka CM visits Sringeri Math
On September 11, 2019, the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Sri BS Yeddyurappa paid a visit to Sringeri, had Darshan of Goddess Sharadamba, then reached Gurunivas at Narasimhavanam and obtained blessings of the Ubhaya Jagadgurus.
Kedareshwara Vrata
Sri Mahasannidhanam performed a special Puja as part of the Kedareshwara Vrata (September 7) with Sri Sannidhanam present during the Mahamangalarati.
Sri Vamana Jayanti Puja
Sri Vamana Jayanti Vrata Puja was performed on the night (Ekadashi) of September 9. After performing the Chandramoulishwara Puja, Sri Mahasannidhanam performed the first Puja as part of the Chaturyama Puja done during Vamana Jayanti. Sri Sannidhanam then performed the remaining three Pujas and also did Parayanam of the Puranic verses related to Vamana Avatara. The following morning, Sri Mahasannidhanam performed the Uttara Puja with Sri Sannidhanam present during the Mahamangalarati.
Sri Ananta Padmanabha Vrata
Ananta Padmanabha Vrata was performed by Sri Mahasannidhanam at noon on September 12.
Sri Uma Maheshwara Vrata
Sri Mahasannidhanam performed the Uma Maheshwara Vrata at 12 noon on September 13, with Sri Sannidhanam witnessing the Mahamangalarati.
During the Chaturmasya period, hundreds of thousands of devotees had Darshan of the Ubhaya Jagadgurus. Many communities and Bhakta Samajas from various parts of the country also arrived with their members, numbering in thousands, during the weekends, had Darshan, performed Bhiksha Vandanam and sought the Jagadgurus’ blessings. All devotees who came to Sringeri during the Chaturmasya deemed themselves most fortunate to have Darshan of the Ubhaya Jagadgurus.