Pudukkottai: May 13-14, 2017

Jagadgurus in Pudukkottai

ARRIVAL

On May 13, the Jagadgurus arrived at Pudukkottai. Swami Omkarananda, head of the Bhuvaneswari Avadhoota Vidya Peetham (founded by Sri Shantananda Swamigal) and Swami Pranavananda led the devotees in welcoming the Jagadgurus. The Jagadgurus first had Darshan of Goddess Bhuvaneshwari. Swami Omkarananda performed the Dhuli Pada Puja.

Swagata Patrikas in Sanskrit and Tamil were then read out by Swami Omkarananda and Swami Pranavananda respectively and submitted respectfully to the Jagadgurus. Swami Pranavananda spoke on the occasion expressing his Pranams to the Sringeri Jagadgurus. Sri Mahasannidhanam released a book “Prashnottara Ratnamalika” containing a Tamil translation (along with Sanskrit original) of the famous Prakarana Grantha of Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada.

ANUGRAHA BHASHANAM

Sri Mahasannidhanam in His Anugraha Bhashanam quoted Lord Krishna — न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशं पवित्रमिह विद्यते । There is nothing here in this world, that is as sacred as Jnana (knowledge). Some wonder what this knowledge is. Do we all not have knowledge of various entities. Do we not know the difference between what is real and everlasting (Nitya) and what is not. Sri Nilakantha Dikshita states that our knowledge of Nitya and Anitya is confined to ordinary entities — नित्यानित्यविवेकः सर्वेषां घटत्वाघटत्वयोरास्ते — and not to the transcendental knowledge of the Self.

While, Purushartha is defined as that which is sought by man — पुरुषेण अर्थ्यते इति पुरुषार्थः , the four Purusharthas being Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha, it is Moksha that is the supreme Purushartha. Moksha puts an end to the cycle of births and deaths and it is Self-Knowledge (as mentioned / Bhagavan Sri Krishna in the above verse), that is the means to it. And this can be had only by approaching a Guru — आचार्याद्धैव विद्या विदिता साधिष्ठं प्रापत्.

Sri Mahasannidhanam then remembered that He had come to Pudukkottai with His Guru (Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji) in 1980 and had been received reverentially by Sri Shantananda Swamigal. Sri Mahasannidhanam also gave His blessings for the impending Kumbhabhisheka of Goddess Bhuvaneshwari in 2019. Sri Mahasannidhanam ended His Anugraha Bhashanam conveying His Blessings to Swami Omkarananda, Swami Pranavananda and the assembled devotees.

Sri Sannidhanam in His Anugraha Bhashanam extolled Srimad Bhagavad Gita. Explaining how Gita is holier than the holy river Ganga, Sri Sannidhanam said that while Ganga originated from the feet of the Lord, Bhagavad Gita was uttered by His mouth; while Ganga drenches and drowns people immersing themselves, Bhagavad Gita lifts up those who immerse themselves in the teachings contained therein; whereas the Ganga eventually ends up in the ocean, Srimad Bhagavad Gita culminates in the ocean of Atmic bliss! Such being the greatness, how can anyone truly sing Thy praise! :

जातासि त्वं मुरहरमुखाज्जाह्नवी तस्य पादा-
त्सर्वानभ्युद्धरति भवती सा तु मग्नान् विधत्ते ।
प्रत्यग्ब्रह्मामृतरसनिधिं प्राप्य विश्राम्यसि त्वम्
मातर्गीते जडनिधिमियं माति न त्वत्प्रभावः ॥

Such is the description of the greatness of Srimad Bhagavad Gita as contained in one of the commentaries on the Gita. Sri Sannidhanam said that Swami Omkarananda was fortunate to have done Dhuli Pada Puja twice (the earlier one being at Theni) during this Vijaya Yatra.

Later Sri Mahasannidhanam performed the Sharada Chandramoulishwara Puja.

Photos

SPECIAL PUJA FOR GODDESS BHUVANESHWARI & CHANDI HOMA

At 6:30 AM on May 14, Sri Sannidhanam performed a special Puja to Goddess Bhuvaneshwari in the temple premises.

Later in the morning, Sri Sannidhanam blessed devotees at the Gopalakrishna Bhagavatar Bhajan Hall with an Anugraha Bhashanam. Thereafter, Sri Mahasannidhanam and Sri Sannidhanam gave Darshan to devotees. Devotees offered Bhiksha Vandanam and performed Pada Puja.

The Poornahuti of the Chandi Homa performed the temple premises took place in the divine of the Jagadgurus.