Kumbhabhisheka of the historic Sri Chaturmurti Vidyeshwara temple
Sringeri Jagadgurus Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji and Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati Mahaswamiji performed Kumbhabhisheka at the renovated historic temple of Sri Chaturmurti Vidyeshwara Swami at Simhagiri, on April 28, 2022.
Simhagiri, near the Sringeri town, is commonly referred to as ‘Old Sringeri’. It is the oldest agrahara/village established and named after the 7th Jagadguru Sri Simhagiri Mahaswamiji, who had adorned the Sringeri Peetham in the 11th century.
Illustrious History
The hallowed history of Sri Chaturmurti Vidyeshwara Temple is traced to the 10th Jagadguru of Sringeri Peetham, Sri Vidya Tirtha Mahaswamiji, who was a great yogi and tapas-chakravarti. The great Acharya had been initiated into sannyasa at the hands of the 9th Jagadguru of the Peetham, Sri Nrisimha Tirtha Mahaswamiji in 1228 CE.
Sri Vidya Tirtha Mahaswamiji adorned the Sringeri Peetham for a long period of 104 years, from 1229 to 1333 CE. His fame had spread far and wide, which attracted two brahmacharis with intense vairagya (dispassion) from the distant Ekashilanagaram (present day Warangal in Telangana). They sought refuge in the Jagadguru.
The younger of the two brothers first arrived at Sringeri, and Sri Vidya Tirtha Mahaswamiji blessed him with sannyasa-deeksha, with the monastic title (yoga patta) ‘Bharati Tirtha’. He also blessed the elder brother, Madhava, who arrived later, with sannyasa, and the yoga patta ‘Vidyaranya’.
Origin of Vijayanagar Empire
While Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji stayed at Sringeri, Sri Vidyaranya Mahaswamiji travelled across the country as per his Guru’s directive. During his travels, he meditated for a while at the Sri Virupaksha Swami Temple in Hampi in Karnataka.
It was the time foreign rulers had invaded India and attacked various regions. Two local royals, Harihara and Bukka sought refuge in Sri Vidyaranya Mahaswamiji in Hampi and by his grace, drove the invaders away. The Swamiji then advised the brothers to establish their rule as a Dharma Samrajya, and performed pattabhisheka to Harihararaya, and crowned him as the ruler of the Vijayanagar empire.
It is now history how the empire had prospered and fostered Sanatana dharma throughout southern India for many generations. Most of the major temples in southern India were renovated by the Vijayanagar emperors over centuries.
For the benevolent blessings showered on them, King Harihara and his brother Bukka offered with utmost devotion to the Jagadguru a golden simhasana (royal throne), crown, palanquin, chatra (umbrella), and other royal insignia, which Sri Vidyaranya Swamiji graciously accepted. It then became the tradition for the Acharyas of the Peetham to adorn the royal robe and crown on select occasions.
Sri Vidyashankara Temple
In 1333 CE, the 10th Jagadguru Sri Vidya Tirtha Mahaswamiji entered an underground cave to perform Tapas with instructions that the door to the cave must not be opened for twelve years. He also got made an unique structure at Simhagiri and declared that a similar structure would appear in the cave.
After sometime, Sri Vidyaranya Mahaswamiji had travelled to Hampi, and Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji also embarked on a yatra for a long spell.
Three years after the commencement of Sri Vidya Tirtha Mahaswamiji’s penance, certain curious people in Sringeri, wondering what happened to the Acharya, opened the door to the cave. They could not see the Acharya, but saw a Shivalinga in his place. Struck with fear, they closed the cave.
The same day the Guru appeared in the dream of Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji, and instructed Him to consecrate a shivalinga over the cave, which the Swamiji readily resolved and started plans to construct a beautiful temple at the very spot where His Guru vanished from sight.
Learning about this development, the Vijayanagar king Sri Harihara arrived at Sringeri along with Sri Vidyaranya Mahaswamiji, and offered to construct a magnificent temple himself. As the Jagadguru had taken the form of the Shivalinga, the temple came to be known as the Vidyashankara Temple.
The Vidyashankara temple in the precincts of Sringeri Peetham, adjoining the temple of Mother Sharadamba, thus came to be built with the support of the Vijayanagar emperors, and it shines as a magnificent architectural wonder.
Glorious Inscriptions
As outlined in the Abhivandana Patra submitted to the Sringeri Jagadgurus after the Kumbhabhisheka, we see many inscriptions in Sringeri which refer to Sri Vidya Tirtha Mahaswamiji. A 1346 CE stone inscription present in the Math premises records the offering of obeisance to Sri Mahaswamiji describing him as being resplendent as a param jyoti (supreme divine light):
विद्यातीर्थाय गुरवे परस्मै तेजसे नमः |
यस्य नाङ्गीकृतस्नेहः दशाहानिः कदाचन ||vidyātīrthāya gurave parasmai tejase namaḥ |
yasya nāṅgīkṛtasnehaḥ daśāhāniḥ kadācana ||
The inscription further reads that, at the victory celebrations conducted at Sringeri to mark emperor Harihara’s conquest of all the lands ranging between the eastern and western seas, the emperor performed the supreme dharmic act of gifting lands to Jagadguru Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji –
पूर्वापरसमुद्रान्तांं जित्वा हरिहरो भुवम् |
जयोत्सवं ख्यापयितुमकरोद्धर्ममुत्तमम् ||pūrvāparasamudrāntāṃṃ jitvā hariharo bhuvam |
jayotsavaṃ khyāpayitumakaroddharmamuttamam ||
There are also inscriptions that state that the Vijayanagara emperors who came to Sringeri donated several acres of land for worship rituals and for Veda-samrakshanam to continue uninterrupted. Even in these inscriptions, we find references to the Jagadguru. For instance, the emperor Bukka eulogises the Jagadguru in the third copper plate inscription of Sringeri –
विद्यातीर्थयतीन्द्रो यमतिशेते दिवाकरम् |
तमो हरति यत्पुंसामन्तर्बहिरहर्निशम् ||vidyātīrthayatīndro yamatiśete divākaram |
tamo harati yatpuṃsāmantarbahiraharniśam ||The best of renunciates, Jagadguru Sri Vidya Tirtha Mahaswamiji outshines even the sun. The sun destroys only the darkness of the night and ushers in the light of the day. However, Jagadguru Sri Vidya Tirtha Mahaswamiji dispels the inner darkness (of ignorance giving rise to all duality) and external darkness during the day and during the night.[/meaning]
We see that Sri Vidya Tirtha Mahaswamiji has been praised not just in inscriptions, but also in various texts. Sri Sayanacharya in his commentary on the Vedas has glorified the Jagadguru in the following two verses –
यस्य निःश्वसितं वेदा यो वेदेभ्योऽखिलं जगत् |
निर्ममे तमहं वन्दे विद्यातीर्थमहेश्वरम् ||yasya niḥśvasitaṃ vedā yo vedebhyo’khilaṃ jagat |
nirmame tamahaṃ vande vidyātīrthamaheśvaram ||He whose every breath is the Vedas and who has created the entire world from the Vedas, to that Sri Vidya Tirtha, who is verily Lord Maheshwara, I offer My salutations.
वेदार्थस्य प्रकाशेन तमो हार्दं निवारयन् |
पुमर्थांश्चतुरो देयाद्विद्यातीर्थमहेश्वरः||vedārthasya prakāśena tamo hārdaṃ nivārayan |
pumarthāṃścaturo deyādvidyātīrthamaheśvaraḥ||May Sri Vidya Tirtha, who is verily Lord Maheshwara, who dispels the darkness of ignorance in minds by propounding the purport of the Vedas bestow upon us the four purusharthas (i.e. dharma, artha, kama and moksha).
In Vaiyasika Nyayamala, Jagadguru Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji has glorified His guru Sri Vidya Tirtha Mahaswamiji as:
प्रणम्य परमात्मानं श्रीविद्यातीर्थरूपिणम् |
वैयासिकन्यायमाला श्लोकैः सङ्गृह्यते स्फुटम् ||praṇamya paramātmānaṃ śrīvidyātīrtharūpiṇam |
vaiyāsikanyāyamālā ślokaiḥ saṅgṛhyate sphuṭam ||
In Jeevamukti Viveka, Jagadguru Sri Vidyaranya Mahaswamiji has eulogised His Guru as:
जीवन्मुक्तिविवेकेन बन्धं हार्दं निवारयन् |
पुमर्थांश्चतुरो देयाद्विद्यातीर्थमहेश्वरः ||jīvanmuktivivekena bandhaṃ hārdaṃ nivārayan |
pumarthāṃścaturo deyādvidyātīrthamaheśvaraḥ ||
The Madhaviya Sankara Digvijaya begins with the following invocation:
प्रणम्य परमात्मानं श्रीविद्यातीर्थरूपिणम् |
प्राचीनशङ्करजये सारस्संगृह्यते स्फुटम् ||praṇamya paramātmānaṃ śrīvidyātīrtharūpiṇam |
prācīnaśaṅkarajaye sārassaṃgṛhyate sphuṭam ||
Sri Vidyaranya Mahaswamiji also pays obeisance to his Guru in the work, Vivarana Prameya Sangraha:
यद्विद्यातीर्थगुरोः शुश्रूषाऽन्या न रोचते तस्मात् |
अस्त्वेषा भक्तियुता श्रीविद्यातीर्थपादयोस्सेवा ||yadvidyātīrthaguroḥ śuśrūṣā’nyā na rocate tasmāt |
astveṣā bhaktiyutā śrīvidyātīrthapādayossevā ||
The following references are found in a 1386 CE copper inscription that describes the Vijayanagar emperor Bukka as a swan that sports in the lotus named Jagadguru Sri Bharati Tirtha, who was formed in the tirtha (holy waters) named Jagadguru Sri Vidyatirtha, blossomed by the light showered by the sun of Jagadguru Sri Vidyaranya and filled with the fragrance of the bliss of divine consciousness –
विद्यातीर्थाज्जनिमति शुभे भारतीतीर्थपद्मे
नित्यव्यक्ताद्वयचिदमृतानन्दसौरभ्यभाजि |
विद्यारण्य-द्युमणि-महिम-प्राप्तलक्ष्मी-विकासे
भूयो भूयो विहरति सुखी बुक्कभूपालहंसः ||vidyātīrthājjanimati śubhe bhāratītīrthapadme
nityavyaktādvayacidamṛtānandasaurabhyabhāji |
vidyāraṇya-dyumaṇi-mahima-prāptalakṣmī-vikāse
bhūyo bhūyo viharati sukhī bukkabhūpālahaṃsaḥ ||
The Symbolism of Vigraha in Simhagiri
At the conclusion of the Kumbhabisheka at Simhagiri, Sri Sannidhanam blessed the assembled devotees with an Anugraha Bhashanam, explaining the significance of the Chaturmurti Vidyeshwara Murti. Sri Sannidhanam extolled the greatness of Sri Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji, the 10th Acharya of Sringeri Peetham, as a great yogi who was steeped in penance at Simhagiri.
The exquisite stone murti in Simhagiri is unparalleled. The front portion of the murti depicts Sri Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji seated in a yogic posture, bearing the chinmudra (the hand gesture indicating union of individual soul, jiva, with the supreme, Brahman).
His two disciples, Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji and Sri Vidyaranya Mahaswamiji, are depicted to His left and right, offering salutations to their Guru. Above the carving of Sri Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji is a figurine of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy, with Sri Mahalakshmi and Sri Sharadamba visible on either side.
To the right of Sri Vidya Tirtha Mahaswamiji’s vigraha is a figurine of the four-faced Lord Brahma. In the western direction, and behind is a figurine of Sri Mahavishnu along with a depiction of his dasa-avataras (ten incarnations). In the northern direction is a figurine of Lord Siva with five faces, surrounded by the ashta-dikpalakas (guardian deities of the eight directions). The upper portion of the murti depicts a Sivalinga.
The significance of the murti is that Sri Vidya Tirtha Mahaswamiji is manifest here in the form of Lord Dattatreya, with Lord Brahma in the eastern side, Vishnu in the west, Siva in the north, and in the upper portion a Linga symbolic of the parabrahma (Supreme Consciousness).
Brahma, Vishnu and Siva in this murti represent the saguna tattva (Brahman manifest as form), while the upper portion (form of Shivalinga) of the murti represents the nirguna tattva (the unmanifest Brahman).
Sri Sannidhanam explained that the murti symbolised the highest advaitic doctrine of non-duality as advocated by the Vedas and the Upanishads, and as propagated by Sri Adi Sankara Bhagavatpada in Prasthana Traya bhashyas and texts like Vivekachudamani.
The advaita siddhanta declares that there is only one nirguna (devoid of attributes), nirakara (devoid of form), sat-chit-ananda-svaroopa (of the nature of existence-consciousness-bliss) Para Brahman, which manifests through varied forms and names. We perceive and worship this manifested creation and the varied kinds of saguna-rupa. However, one must not stop with worshipping such saguna Brahman, but progress towards nirguna Brahman.
How is it possible? When worship of the saguna-svarupa is performed devotedly under the guidance of the Guru, we earn the eligibility to learn the Vedanta Tattva. By means of Vedantic study under the Guru, we attain the non-dual realisation and remain established in the Self. Moksha or liberation is when the jivatma, in its quest for deliverance from the fetters of this transmigratory cycle of birth and death attains this state of realizing its true nature as sat-chit-ananda.
In order to attain this moksha, one must correctly understand advaita and perform the necessary sadhana seeking refuge in the Guru.
Sri Sannidhanam described the relevance of Sri Chaturmurti Vidyeshwara as a powerful symbol of the advaita siddhanta, explaining that the lower portion of the six-feet tall Linga symbolized the saguna aspect of Paramatma, while the upper portion symbolised the nirguna aspect. When the Paramatma creates this universe, He is referred to as Lord Brahma. When He maintains and sustains this creation, He is addressed as Vishnu, and when He engages in dissolution of this creation, He is referred to as Siva.
Sri Sannidhanam stressed that such profound matters are not something that can be grasped by our limited intellect. In matters pertaining to this preeminent advaitic principle, we need the guidance of a Guru. This is why in our tradition, to inculcate such regard for Guru even from a very young age, this sloka is taught to children:
गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः |
गुरुर्साक्षात् परब्रह्म तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमः ||gururbrahmā gururviṣṇuḥ gururdevo maheśvaraḥ |
gurursākṣāt parabrahma tasmai śrī gurave namaḥ ||
Only if one perceives the Guru with such deep reverence, he will understand the abstruse philosophical truth. This sloka teaches us to regard the Guru in the same way that we regard the Supreme Lord and the Trimurtis (Brahma, Vishnu and Siva).
The Chaturmurti Vidyeshwara Vigraha thus tells us that the Guru is to be regarded as akin to the trimurtis. This is its uniqueness and significance, and there is no vigraha similar to this anywhere in the world.
Extolling the greatness of Jagadguru Sri Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji, Sri Sannidhanam narrated how the Jagadguru, in order to create a similar vigraha, proceeded to engage in tapas for 12 years in the underground cave adjoining the Sharadamba Temple, and to manifest a form similar to that of Chaturmurti Vidyeshwara at the end of the period. While the door to the cave was opened prematurely as stated earlier, this is the spot where the Vidyashankara Temple stands today as a monumental landmark and highlight of Sringeri.
Jagadguru Sri Vidyaranya
Eulogizing Sri Vidyaranya Mahaswamiji, Sri Sannidhanam explained that, just like Sri Bhagavatpada, he too had authored several works, including commentaries for the Vedas, texts on Vedanta, Mimamsa, Vyakarana, Dharma Sastra, Jyotisha, etc. These are supremely authoritative texts that are considered pramana (authority) even by great scholars.
In addition, the Acharya and his successors at Sringeri also established several branch Maths in the southern region to continue propagation of Sanatana dharma, such as the Avani Math, Hebburu Math, Kudali Math, Sivaganga Math, and so on. It has been the custom for the Jagadgurus of Sringeri to nominate a suitable sannyasi to head such Maths as and when requests are received.