Chennai: SEPTEMBER 19 – OCTOBER 1, 2012
Vinayaka Chaturthi
On September 19, Vinayaka Chaturthi was celebrated with a Ganapati Homa and a special puja performed by the Jagadguru. In the afternoon, the Mahaganapati Vakyartha Vidwat Sabha commenced.
Below is an archival video from around 1990, where the Jagadguru speaks about the Glory of Lord Ganesha.
VIDEOS
Photos
Mahaganapati Vakyartha Vidwat Sabha
The Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Sringeri is widely revered as the supreme authority in the Shastras. The annual Mahaganapati Vakyartha Vidwat Sabha was conducted for 12 days starting on Vinayaka Chaturthi. With the Jagadguru presiding over the Sabha and all discussions in Sanskrit, the proceedings of the Sabha fascinated the audience. More than 60 of the brightest of Shastra scholars across the country attended the Sabha. The scholars deliberated for about an hour on a chosen topic in one of the four Shastras: Vedanta, Mimamsa, Vyakarana or Nyaya. The Jagadguru was present throughout the 4 hour session every day and mediated the discussions.
The Valedictory function of the Sabha took place on October 1, 2012 with Sri B N Srikrishna, former Justice of the Supreme Court as the Chief Guest. The Jagadguru released the 12th publication of the Sri Bharati Tirtha Veda Shastra Granthamala Series of the Sri Shankara Advaita Research Centre in Sringeri. This publication is the critically researched text of Shiva Gita Bhashyam containing the commentary by the 24th Acharya of the Peetham, Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Narasimha Bharati Mahaswamiji. The Jagadguru also released “Vidwat Pratibha” containing the proceedings of the Vidwat Sabha of the Khara (2011) year. The Jagadguru also released the first Volume (DVD) of the Vedanta Anugraha Bhashanams given in Tamil during the Chaturmasya. This first Volume contains the first 8 discourses contained in 2 DVDs.
In his address, Sri V R Gowrishankar, Administrator & CEO, mentioned that the Peetham would be happy to support and print research material in the Shastras. Sri B N Srikrishna spoke in Sanskrit and expressed great joy at being present on the occasion.
In His Sanskrit Anugraha Bhashanam, the Jagadguru spoke about the publication of the text “Shiva Gita Bhashyam” and expressed joy at the number of scholars attending the Sadas, noting in particular the presence of many young scholars. The Jagadguru announced the award of the title “Darshanaalankara” on Vidwan Vishwanatha Gopakakrishna Shastri of Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh for his command over many Shastras such as Nyaya, and for his efforts towards spreading the Shastras.
Gold rings were awarded to Vidwan Swaminatha Shastri of Tirpuati in Vedanta Shastra, Vidwan O.S. Ramalala Sharma of Tirupati in Nyaya Shastra and Vidwan Chandrashekhara Bhat of Sringeri in Vyakarana Shastra.
Earlier during the conduct of the 12-day Sabha, the Nori Srinatha Venkata Somayaji award for excellence in Vedanta was awarded to Asthana Vidwan M.A. Nagaraja Bhat, Principal of the Sadvidya Sanjeevini Samskrita Mahapathashala at Sringeri.
Around two decades ago, the Shastra Poshaka Sabha of the Peetham was established under the Jagadguru’s direction for fostering young scholars. Under the umbrella of the Shastra Poshaka Sabha of the Peetham, many students of the Shastras have been supported during their period of study and have grown to become scholars. This year, Sri Rajeshwar Vishwas Deshmukh of Nandigram (Nanded) gave the Nyaya exam to Vidwan Naveena Holla of Sringeri and did exceedingly well. Blessed by the Jagadguru, He was awarded the “Vidwat Pravara” certificate, a shawl and a monetary award. Vidwan Vishwanatha Gopalakrishna Shastri, Convenor of the Shastra Poshaka Sabha gave away the awards. Vidwan Devadatta Patil, the Vidya Guru of Sri Deshmukh, was also felicitated on the occasion.
