Vyasa Puja and Commencement of Chaturmasya Vrata
Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahasannidhanam of Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham performed Vyasapuja and undertook His 50th Chaturmasya Vrata Sankalpa on July 21, 2024 along with His successor-designate, Jagadguru Sri Sri Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati Sannidhanam, at Guru Nivas, Narasimha Vanam in Sringeri.
During the course of the elaborate worship, three groups of Acharyas were worshipped by the Jagadguru Sri Mahasannidhanam. The Jagadguru first worshipped Lord Krishna surrounded by the four Sanatkumaras. This was followed by worship to the Vyasa Panchakam with Bhagavan Veda Vyasa in the centre and surrounded by His four principal disciples, namely, Maharshis Paila, Vaishampayana, Jaimini and Sumantu. The Acharya Panchakam had Sri Adi Shankaracharya in the centre surrounded by His four primary disciples – Sri Padmapadacharya, Sri Sureshwaracharya, Sri Totakacharya and Sri Hastamalakacharya.
Then the Guru Parampara Stotram was recited and Tulasi Archana was offered to all the previous Acharyas of the Peetham.
Sri Mahasannidhanam and Sri Sannidhanam then took the Chaturmasya Vrata Sankalpa, wherein They pledged to stay in one place, spending more time in solitude and contemplation, and in reflection of the Vedantic import.
The entire event was aired live on Sri Sankara TV, through which devotees from various parts of the country beheld Sri Mahasannidhanam taking His 50th Chaturmasya Sankalpa and Sri Sannidhanam taking His 10th Chaturmasya Sankalpa.
Pada Puja to the Jagadguru was offered on behalf of all devotees. Offerings on behalf of various royal scions were then submitted by the Sringeri Math CEO Sri P A Murali. Jagadguru Sri Sannidhanam then distributed Tirtha Prasada to all devotees.
In accordance with the practice of having Darshan of the presiding deity before commencing the Vrata, the Jagadgurus had Darshan at the Adhishthanams of the predecessor Acharyas, and at all the temples including those of Goddess Sharadamba, Lord Vidyashankara and Sri Adi Shankaracharya. Sri Sannidhanam also had Darshan at the temple of Bhagavan Veda Vyasa in Narasimha Vanam. A couple of days earlier, on the Pradosha day (July 18), the Jagadgurus had Darshan at Sri Sharadamba temple and at all other shrines as well as the Malahanikareshwara temple situated on the Ishwaragiri hillock.