Thiruvanthapuram: June 10-13, 2017

Jagadgurus Welcomed As State Guests in Kerala

ARRIVAL

In the evening of June 10, 2017, Sri Mahasannidhanam and Sri Sannidhanam entered the state of Kerala at Kaliyikkavila en route to Thiruvananthapuram and were first accorded a ceremonial reception by Kerala state authorities and devotees. The Sringeri Jagadgurus then proceeded towards the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram and were received with Poorna Kumbha Swagata in front of the Rajagopuram of Sri Padmanabha Swamy temple. The Jagadgurus were then led in procession to the Krishna Vilas Palace complex. The titular Maharaja of Travancore, Sri Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma offered Poorna Kumbha Swagata to the Jagadgurus at the entrance of the Palace. Dhuli Pada Puja was then performed by the Maharaja at the Levee Hall (लेवी हाल्). A Swagata Patrika was read out in Sanskrit welcoming the Sri Mahasannidhanam and Sri Sannidhanam to Thiruvananthapuram and submitted. Welcoming the Jagadguru as State Guest, Sri Moolam Thirunal (तिरुनाळ्) offered the Venkotta Kuda or Shweta Chatra, an official honour from the Kerala state Government.

Sri Mahasannidhanam in His Anugraha Bhashanam said that the Sringeri Jagadgurus have a special regard for the state of Kerala, for it is here that Sri Adi Shankaracharya incarnated. Sri Mahasannidhanam then recounted the finding of Kalady in the late 19th century by His Parameshti Guru, the 33rd Acharya, Jagadguru Sri Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Narasimha Bharati Mahaswamiji and the role played by the then devout Maharaja of Travancore (Sri Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma) in securing the lands at Kalady. The construction of temples for Sri Adi Shankaracharya and Goddess Sharadamba at Kalady and the Kumbhabhisheka of the temples (performed in 1910) by the 33rd Sringeri Acharya deserve to be engraved in gold in the annals of history. The relationship between the Sringeri Jagadguru Mahasamsthanam and the Travancore Samsthanam is evident in the respect and devotion and respect of the Travancore royals towards the Sringeri Jagadgurus and the benediction of the Sringeri Jagadgurus has been fostered to this day. Sri Mahasannidhanam then conveyed His blessings to Sri Moolam Tirunal and to all the assembled devotees and concluded His Anugraha Bhashanam.

Later, Sri Mahasannidhanam performed the Sharada Chandramoulishwara Puja.

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SRI PADMANABHA SWAMY TEMPLE, OTHER VISITS & GURU VANDANA

On June 11, Sri Mahasannidhanam and Sri Sannidhanam visited the Sri Padmanabha Swamy temple and had Darshan. Thereafter, members of the royal family had Darshan of the Jagadgurus.

Sri Sannidhanam then graced the Murugan temple, had Darshan, inaugurated the Kalyanamandapam in the temple premises and blessed the assembled devotees. Sri Sannidhanam also visited the Kalpakamba Sameta Agnishwarar temple in Puthen (पुत्तॆन्) Street Agrahara, had Darshan and blessed the devotees with an Anugraha Bhashanam. Sri Sannidhanam then went to Mitranandapuram, and blessed the renovation of the pond of the Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple.

In the evening, the Jagadgurus graced a Guru Vandana Program organised at the Pattom Thanupillai Memorial Priyadarshini Hall in East Fort. Kerala State MLAs V S Sivakumar and O Rajagopal, Thiruvananthapuram Mayor V K Prasanth and BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan were amongst the dignitaries present. MLA Sivakumar spoke on the occasion recounting the connection between the Travancore royals and Sringeri. MLA Rajagopal offered his obeisances to the Jagadgurus stating that the Yatra of the Jagadgurus will serve infuse a greater sense of morality in the masses. Sri Sannidhanam and Sri Mahasannidhanam then blessed the gathering with Anugraha Bhashanams. Later, Sri Mahasannidhanam performed the Sharada Chandramoulishwara Puja at the Krishna Vilas Palace.

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OTHER VISITS

After granting Darshan to devotees in the morning of June 12, the Jagadgurus graced Mulayara at noon and had Darshan at the Goddess Sharadamba temple. Sri Sannidhanam offered Puja to Goddess Sharadamba. The Jagadgurus returned to the Krishna Vilas Palace late in the afternoon.

In the evening, Sri Sannidhanam first graced the Valiyasala Agrahara, had Darshan at the Vinayakar temple, and blessed devotees with an Anugraha Bhashanam. Sri Sannidhanam then graced the Vinayaka Nagar Agrahara, had Darshan at the Mahaganapati temple and blessed devotees with an Anugraha Bhashanam. Sri Sannidhanam then graced the Karamana Agrahara, had Darshan at the Gomati Amba Sameta Satyavageeshwara Swamy temple and blessed devotees with an Anugraha Bhashanam.

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SEERS, DIGNITARIES, MORE VISITS & DEPARTURE

During the stay of the Jagadgurus at Thiruvananthapuram, seers such as the Pushpanjali Swamiyar of the Padmanabhaswamy temple, and dignitaries including former Kerala Chief Minister Sri Oommen Chandy had Darshan of the Jagadgurus.

On June 13, Sri Sannidhanam visited the Durga Devi Kshetram in Sreekanteshwaram, had Darshan of the Goddess and blessed the devotees. The Jagadgurus after distributing Phala Mantrakshata to devotees at the Krishna Vilas Palace Complex, graced the Sringeri Shankara Math and had Darshan. In the afternoon, the Jagadgurus blessed the organiser-devotees of Thiruvananthapuram and started towards Kollam.