Kallidaikurichi: May 29-30, 2017

Jagadgurus in Kallidaikuruchi

ARRIVAL

Devotees in the Agrahara of Kallidaikurichi welcomed the Sringeri Jagadgurus in the evening of May 29, 2017. Sri Sannidhanam was led in a procession through the streets of the Kallidaikurichi Agrahara. The Ubhaya Jagadgurus then had Darshan at the shrines of Sri Valamburi Vinayakar and Sri Kothanda Ramar.

At the public function organised to welcome the Jagadgurus, Dhuli Pada Puja was performed by Sri Shankar Subramaniam. After Veda Ghosha and Samarpanam of Sanskrit and Tamil Swagata Patrikas, the Jagadgurus graced the gathering with Anugraha Bhashanams.

ANUGRAHA BHASHANAM

Sri Sannidhanam in His Anugraha Bhashanam remembered the depiction of the situation where Sri Rama is asked by mother Kaikeyi to go to exile and how Sri Rama gladly accepts it and inspires his crestfallen father, Dasharatha:

भीतो भूभरतः किमम्ब भरतः किं वा वनात्पावना-
त्त्रस्तोऽहं सगरान्ववायककुदस्तातः कुतः शोचति ।
दिव्यायाः सरितो निवापकरणाल्लघ्वीं प्रतिज्ञामिमा-
मावाभ्यामभिपूरयिष्यति न चेत्पुत्री कथं स्यादयम् ॥

(Sri Rama says to Kaikeyi: “Has the brave Bharata become afraid, given the prospect of ruling over the kingdom? Have I expressed fear towards going and living in the serene forests (Dandakaaranya), where several sages have performed intense Tapas? Have not our ancestors, the descendants of Emperor Sagara, upheld vows such as the seemingly impossible one of bringing down the heavenly river Ganga to the earth and further down to the netherworld to offer Pitru-Tarpanam (scriptural rite for the deceased) to the souls of their forefathers? What reason exists for father, coming in such an illustrious lineage as that of Emperor Sagara and having begotten able sons as I and Bharata (capable of fulfilling our respective assignments), to fret over the fulfilment of such an ordinary vow (of fulfilling the two wishes of mother Kaikeyi)?”)

Sri Sannidhanam pointed out that just as we look up to Sri Rama as an exemplar in following Dharma, Sri Rama quoted His ancestors’ firm adherence to Dharma as an example to substantiating His stand on embracing Vanavasa. Sri Rama cited events connected to the Ashwamedha Yaga (horse sacrifice) performed by Emperor Sagara of the Suryavamsha (solar dynasty). When Lord Indra stole the sacrificial horse and hid it in the Paataala Loka, the emperor’s 60,000 sons set out in search of the horse. Having searched the whole of Bhu Loka in vain, they ventured down to the Patala Loka and commenced their search. On reaching Paataala Loka, the men found Maharshi Kapila in deep penance with the horse stationed right next to him. Concluding that the sage had stolen the horse, the men prepared to confront the sage. However, the all-knowing sage, disturbed out of his penance, reduced the 60,000 princes to ashes by a mere glance directed at them.

Sagara Maharaja’s grandson soon went to Paataala Loka in search of his relatives and on coming to know about the turn of events, decided to perform Pitru-Tarpanam (scripturally-ordained rituals for the deceased) for his dead uncles. He learned that since his 60,000 uncles were Mahapurushas (noble personages), their tarpanam could not be performed with ordinary water springing forth from this earth; it could only be performed with water from the holy river Ganga, which at that time was flowing in Swarga Loka (heaven). Despite the seeming impossibility of the task, Amshuman avowed to bring Ganga down to Bhu Loka (earth) and perform tarpanam for his deceased relatives with her water. He made intense efforts in this regard, but could not fulfill his vow in his lifetime. The succeeding kings in the lineage also spent their lives in pursuit of the same end. Finally, King Bhageeratha, by virtue of his intense efforts and penance, succeeded in bringing the holy Ganga to Bhu Loka and performed Tarpanam for his deceased ancestors.

Sri Sannidhanam concluded the aforementioned illustration by stating that Dharma was thus singularly important to our ancestors who followed it with immense faith and it is only Dharma that brings about our shreyas.

Sri Sannidhananm then commended Kallidaikurichi traditional devotees of the Peetham and come to Sringeri regularly to seek the blessings of the Jagadguru.

Sri Mahasannidhanam in His Anugraha Bhashanam spoke about the greatness of Sri Adi Shankaracharya. In his brief life of 32 years, the great Acharya mastered the Vedic literature, wrote commentaries of the highest order, penned many Vedantic works and devotional hymns, traversed the land thrice on foot, established with great foresight the four Amnaya Peethams and ascended the Sarvajna Peetham (the seat of Omniscience) in Kashmir. It is a matter of astonishment and even disbelief as to how a person could accomplish so much in such a short lifespan. Drawing parallels from the miraculous deeds of Sri Krishna Paramatma, Sri Mahasannidhanam stated that it can be discerned similarly that Sri Adi Shankaracharya was a divine incarnation.

Sri Mahasannidhanam then mentioned that His Paramaguru had celebrated Navaratri in Kallidaikurichi in 1926. This is testimony to the devotion of the residents of the Kallidaikurichi Agrahara that a festival of the dimension of Navaratri was conducted here.

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VISITS & NAVACHANDI HOMA

The following day (May 30), Sri Sannidhanam graced Sri Ramachandra Bhajana Madam in Ambasamudram and blessed the devotees with an Anugraha Bhashanam.

Sri Sannidhanam  then returned to Kallidaikuruchi, and had Darshan at Sri Adi Varaha Swamy temple and Sri Dundi Vinayakar temple. Sri Sannidhanam also graced the Sri Bharati Tirtha Mandapam.

A Navachandi Homa was conducted on the occasion in the premises of the Sringeri Shankara Math. The Poornahuti of the Homa took place in the divine presence of the Ubhaya Jagadgurus.

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OTHER VISITS — VILLAGES, PATASHALA & TEMPLES

In the afternoon, Sri Sannidhanam graced villages of Brahmadesham, Rangasamudram and Pappankulam. At Brahmadesham, Sri Sannidhanam had Darshan of Sri Rukmini Satyabhama Sameta Sri Krishna Swamy temple.

In His Anugraha Bhashanam, Sri Sannidhanam extolled the Avatara of Sri Krishna as Poorna Avatara quoting the words “कृष्णस्तु भगवान् स्वयम्” and talked about the importance of listening to Srimad Bhagavatam as a means to welfare in Kali Yuga.

At Rangasamudram, Sri Sannidhanam graced the newly constructed premises  of Sringeri Bharathi Vidyalaya school and then arrived at the Sri Bharati Tirtha Veda Pathashala. In His Anugraha Bhashanam, Sri Sannidhanam pointed out that Bhartruhari has stated that a Brahmana loses his sanctity by not studying the Vedas — विप्रो नश्यति अनध्ययनात्. Praising the efforts of Sri Sundaram, Sri Sannidhanam blessed the teacher and students of the Pathashala.

Sri Sannidhanam then graced Pappankulam and had Darshan at the temple of Gomati Ambal Sameta Shankara Swamy temple. In His Anugraha Bhashanam, Sri Sannidhanam highlighted the importance of Astikyam, Bhagavad Bhakti and Satsanga.

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