Shobhakrit Samvatsara Sharada Sharan Navaratri Celebrations
The Sharada Sharan Navaratri Celebrations of the Shobhakrit Samvatsara commenced at Sringeri on the Mahalaya Amavasya day (October 14, 2023). Mahabhisheka was performed to Goddess Sharada in the presence of Jagadguru Sri Sannidhanam amidst chants of Saraswati Sukta, Devi Sukta, and Ratri Sukta from the Rig Veda and Saraswati Sukta, Medha Sukta, Sri Sukta and Durga Sukta from the Yajur Veda. After the Mahabhisheka, Goddess Sharadamba gave Darshan as Jagat Prasutika signifying her role as the Divine Mother of the Universe. Mahamangalarati was performed in the presence of Jagadguru Sri Mahasannidhanam and Sri Sannidhanam.
On the morning of October 15, 2023, the first day of Navaratri (Ashwayuja Shukla Pratipat), Sri Mahasannidhanam first performed Sharada Prathishtha and offered a special Puja. The Puja took place near the Sannidhi of Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya. Sri Mahasannidhanam then went to the temple of Goddess Sharadamba and offered elaborate worship to the Goddess who was sporting the Hamsa Vahana Alankara (Brahmi). Sri Sannidhanam crossed the river Tunga in a beautifully decorated boat and performed Ganga Puja on the northern banks. Sri Sannidhanam then had Darshan at all the temples in the premises of the Math. Sri Sannidhanam then gave Darshan to devotees. After Sri Mahasannidhanam completed His elaborate Puja, Sri Sannidhanam entered the sanctum sanctorum and worshipped Goddess Sharadamba.
On the subsequent days, Sri Sannidhanam performed the Ganga Puja, had Darshan at all the temples, and then offered worship to the Goddess from around 10:30 AM to about 12:15 pm, distributed Prasada to Navaratri Sevakartas and then gave Darshan to devotees. Sri Mahasannidhanam then arrived at the Goddess Sharadamba temple and offered worship until about 2:00 pm. Sri Sannidhanam also granted Darshan in the evenings to devotees. During the Navaratri period, Goddess Sharada sported a number of Alankaras such as Hamsavahini (Brahmi), Vrishabhavahini (Maheshwari), Mayuravahini (Kaumari), Garuda Vahini (Vaishnavi), Veena Sharada, Mohini, Rajarajeshwari and Simhavahini (Chamunda). On the subsequent days leading up to the Poornima, devotees also beheld the splendour of Goddess Sharadamba in the Alankaras of Gajalakshmi, Kamadhenu, Indrani, and Bhuvaneshwari.
As part of the Navaratri festival, Parayana of the four Vedas, the Prasthana-traya Bhashyas of Sri Adi Shankaracharya, as well as texts like Sri Devi Bhagavatam, Sri Devi Mahatmyam, Lalitopakhyanam, Srimad Ramayanam, Srimad Bhagavatam, Sri Harivamsha Puranam, Sri Vishnu Puranam and Sri Madhaviya Shankara Vijaya took place. While the Parayana of Sri Shaankara Bhashyas took place in the Sri Adi Shankaracharya temple, all the other Parayanas and Japas took place in the Jagadguru Sri Narasimha Bharati Yagashala located east of the Goddess Sharadamba temple. Suvasini Pujas and Laksharachanas also took place every day.
During Navaratri, the Utsava Moorti of Goddess Sharada was taken in a Utsava every evening along the main street of Sringeri. The Utsava commenced every evening from outside the Sharadamba temple in the divine presence of Sri Sannidhanam. The Utsava Moorti was also decorated exquisitely in a number of Alankaras. The various forms of the Goddess were also depicted in the Murti of Goddess Sharada worshipped as part of the daily Sharada Chandramoulishwara Puja performed by the Jagadguru. Members of many Satsangas and Bhajana Mandalis from Sringeri Taluk and other parts of the state participated in the evening Utsava on each day.
During all the days of the Navaratri celebrations at Sringeri, a special event Sri Sharada Mahadeepotsava took place in the evenings from about 6:45 to 7:30 pm in the Sharadamba temple in the divine presence of Jagadguru Sri Sannidhanam. Sri Sannidhanam inaugurated the event by lighting lamps on the Navaavaranas of the Sri Chakra Yantra. As part of this event, the Dolotsava of Goddess Sharadamba took place. The event consisted of special Puja, lighting of the Sri Chakra Deepa, Veda Parayanam, chanting of Soundarya Lahari and other Devi Stotras, and Sangeeta Seva.
On all the days of Navaratri, music artistes offered Navaratri seva to the Goddess with their musical performances at the Jagadguru Chandrashekhara Bharati Mahaswami Sabha Bhavana in the precincts of the Math.
The Panchami day also marked the commencement of the Shata Chandi Yaga which extended for four days. During the Yaga, 10 Ritwiks chanted the Durga Sapta Shati (Devi Mahatmyam) a hundred times over four days. On Mahanavami (October 23), the Poornahuti of the Shatachandi Yaga, conducted for the welfare of all beings, was completed in the presence of Sri Sannidhanam. The Gaja Puja and Ashwa Puja were then performed in the presence of Sri Sannidhanam. Aayudha Puja and Vahana Puja were also performed on the same day. Vijayotsava took place in the evening. The Utsava Murti of Sharadamba was taken in a procession to Kalikamba temple. A Puja was performed to the ‘Shami’ tree present near the temple in the divine presence of Sri Sannidhanam and Shami leaves were distributed as Prasadam to the devotees. Then the Utsava Murti of Goddess Sharadamba was worshipped in the temple and the Utsava returned back.
Every evening, Sri Sannidhanam performed the Sharada Chandramoulishwara Puja in the “Sharada Prasada” building, adjacent to “Sri Bharati Tirtha Prasada”, the main Annadana complex of the Math.
Every night after the Chandramoulishwara Puja, Sri Sannidhanam in accordance with the centuries-old tradition, adorned in royal attire conducted the Golden Dindi Utsava of Goddess Sharada in the temple and held the Navaratri Durbar. During the Durbar, Sri Durga Sapta Shati (Sri Devi Mahatmyam) Parayanam took place followed by Ashtavadhana Seva including Rig, Yajur, Sama, Atharva Veda Seva, Panchanga Shravana, Vadya seva and Sangeeta Seva. On the night of Moola Nakshatra, when the Goddess was decorated as Veena Sharada, offerings on behalf of the titular Maharajas of various Samsthanams including those of Mysore, Thiruvananthapuram, Gwalior, Indore, Jamakhandi, Sandur, Burdwan, Kashi and Nepal were placed before the Goddess by the Math’s CEO Dr. VR Gowrishankar on their behalf.
On Vijayadashami day (October 24), Sri Sannidhanam graced the Poornahuti of Lakshmi Narayana Hridaya Homa. Thereafter, Sri Sannidhanam had Darshan at the shrines of Goddess Sharadamba, Sri Shakti Ganapati and Sri Adi Shankaracharya. Thereafter, the Pattabhisheka Sarga from Srimad Valmiki Ramayanam was read by Sri Sannidhanam at the Pravachana Mandiram and Mahamangalarati to Lord Sri Rama followed.
Talking on the occasion Sringeri Math CEO, Sri VR Gowrishankar mentioned that the coming year marks the 50th year of Sannyasa Sweekara of Jagadguru Sri Mahasannidhanam and year long events have been planned not only at Sringeri but also throughout India and abroad as per the directive of Jagadguru Sri Sannidhanam. He also stated that the 32 foot tall Shankaracharya statue coming up in Sringeri would be inaugurated on November 10 (Ashwayuja Krishna Dvadashi marking the commencement of 50th year of Sannyasa Sweekara of Jagadguru Sri Mahasannidhanam) along with conduct of Dharmic events such as Atirudra Mahayajna and Sahasrachandi Mahayajna.
Titles bestowed on eminent devotees
Three eminent devotees were bestowed with honorific titles during the Navaratri Darbar this year. A Srimukham blessed by Sri Mahasannidhanam and declaring the conferment of the title for each of these three devotees was read out during the Darbar. Jagadguru Sri Sannidhanam gave the Srimukham to each of these devotees and blessed them.
Sri S Balasubramanian, Dharmadhikari of the Sringeri Shankara Math at Salem was conferred the title “Guru Seva Paraayana” (गुरु-सेवा-परायण) on October 15 (Ashwayuja Shukla Prathama) for dedicated service to the Sringeri Jagadgurus and to the Salem branch.
Sri PA Murali who hails from the village Pattai in Tirunelveli and presently based in Bengaluru, was conferred the title “Guru Seva Nirata” (गुरु-सेवा-निरत) on October 19 (Ashwayuja Shukla Panchami) for his extensive contribution to various dharmic activities of the Sringeri Math and service rendered during the Vijaya Yatras of Jagadguru Sri Sannidhanam.
Sri N Venkataraman, who hails from Kodimangalam and Melmangalam in Tamil Nadu and is presently serving as Additional Solicitor General of the Government of India, was conferred the title, “Guru Bhakta Mani” (गुरु-भक्त-मणि) on October 23 (Ashwayuja Shukla Navami) for dedicated service to the Sringeri Jagadgurus and commencing and running successfully a Veda Pathashala at Melmangalam village that was once known for its Vedic scholars.
All the three were felicitated by Sringeri Math CEO Sri VR Gowrishankar with a shawl and a garland of pearls.