Kovilur: May 14-15, 2017

Jagadgurus in Kovilur

Sri Mahasannidhanam and Sri Sannidhanam arrived at Kovilur to a reverential welcome by Sri Meiyyappa Jnana Deshika Swamigal, head of the Kovilur Math. Dhuli Pada Puja was performed by the Swamigal.

SRI MEIYAYAPPA JNANA DESHIKA SWAMIGAL’s ADDRESS

After Veda Ghosha and prayer, the Swamigal in his address expressed joy that the Sringeri Jagadgurus had graced Kovilur even as the bicentennial celebrations of the Kovilur Math (established in 1818 CE) was coming up. The Swamigal mentioned that the Guru-shishya relationship between the Sringeri Jagadgurus and the devotees of the region can be traced to the times of Jagadguru Vidyaranya, and that the Vedantic texts in Tamil propagated by the Swamis of the Math were all done in accordance to the guidance received from the Sringeri Jagadgurus. The Swamigal also mentioned that the Kumbhabhisheka of the main temple (Kottra Vaaleeshwarar temple) in Kovilur had taken place in the divine presence of the 33rd Acharya of Sringeri, Jagadguru Sri Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Nrisimha Bharati Mahaswamiji in 1908 CE. In 1925, the 34th Acharya of Sringeri, Jagadguru Sri Chandrashekhara Bharati Mahaswamiji had graced Kovilur and blessed the then Kovilur Mathadhipati Sri Mahadeva Jnana Deshika Swamigal. Likewise, Sri Mahasannidhanam had graced Kovilur accompanying His Guru, Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji in 1980 when the then Kovilur Mathadhipati Sri Ramanatha Jnana Deshika Swamigal welcomed the Jagadgurus. In 1987 Sri Mahasannidhanam had graced Kovilur again and had been received by the then Kovilur Mathadhipati Sri Kashi Vishwanatha Jnana Deshika Swamigal. Expressing joy once more at the arrival of the Sringeri Jagadgurus to Kovilur after 30 years, Sri Meiyyappa Jnana Deshika Swamigal stated that the Mathadhipatis of Kovilur only perform Sashtanga Namaskara to the Jagadgurus of Sringeri.

ANUGRAHA BHASHANAM

Sri Sannidhanam in His Anugraha Bhashanam said that the philosophy of Advaita was not newly put forth by Sri Adi Shankaracharya. Rather, Sri Adi Shankaracharya expounded the Advaita philosophy of the Upanishads through His commentaries on the Brahma Sutras, Upanishads and Srimad Bhagavad Gita. Many great scholars of lore considered it their fortune to study Bhagavatpada’s texts and wrote many sub-commentaries to further, and felt such efforts brought a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction to their own scholarship. Such was the impact of Bhagavatpada’s efforts that Vedantic literature began to be produced in vernacular languages also, either as translations of the original Sanskrit texts or as condensations.

Sri Mahasannidhanam in His Anugraha Bhashanam extolled Bhakti as the means to Shreyas in Kali Yuga. Though Kali Yuga is beset with problems, chanting the Names of God is considered the Supreme Dharma (by Bhishma himself) because everyone can adhere to it irrespective of their background and situation. Sri Mahasannidhanam then stated that the Sringeri Math has always guided the Kovilur Math and that the Nagarattars of the region have always been devoted to the Sringeri Jagadgurus and have sought the path of welfare from the Jagadgurus over many centuries. Sri Mahasannidhanam also remembered the hospitality and reverence accorded by the earlier Mathadhipatis of Kovilur – Sri Ramanatha Jnana Deshika Swamigal during the 1980 Yatra and Sri Kashi Vishwanatha Jnana Deshika Swamigal during the 1987 Yatra. Sri Mahasannidhanam said that He had gladly accepted the invitation from the present Mathadhipati who had come to Madurai to invite the Jagadgurus to Kovilur, and ended his Anugraha Bhashanam conveyed His Blessings.

Later Sri Mahasannidhanam performed the Chandramoulishwara in the main hall of the Kovilur Math.

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TIRUNELLAI AMBAL SAMETA KOTTRA VAALEESHWARAR TEMPLE

On May 15, Sri Mahasannidhanam first had Darshan at the Tirunellai Ambal Sameta Kottra Vaaleeshwarar temple. Sculptures on the various pillars in this temple resemble those of the Goddess Sharadamba temple in Sringeri. Sri Mahasannidhanam also visited the Kovilur Aandavar Library.

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PADA PUJA & VISIT TO DEVAKOTTAI

Thereafter, the Kovilur Mathadhipati, Sri Meiyyappa Jnana Deshika Swamigal performed Pada Puja and received the blessings of Sri Mahasannidhanam.

Sri Sannidhanam graced the nearby town of Devakottai and blessed the devotees. Sri Sannidhanam also gave an Anugraha Bhashanam on the occasion. Upon returning to Kovilur, Sri Sannidhanam also gave Darshan and distributed Mantrakshata. Later, Sri Sannidhanam visited the Tirunellai Ambal Sameta Kottra Vaaleeshwarar temple and had Darshan. The Jagadgurus started from Kovilur towards Sivagangai the same evening.