Thoothukudi: MAY 1 – 4, 2012

Kumbhabhisheka in Thoothukudi

“The Lord is pleased only by a devotee who is humbler than a blade of grass and more tolerant than a tree.” – Jagadguru Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji

Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji started from Palamadai in the evening of 1st May 2012 and arrived at Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) to a tumultuous reception. The devotees expressed their happiness and good fortune that the Jagadguru had graced Thoothukudi at the southern end of the nation to perform the Punah Pratishtha Kumbhabhisheka of the deities at the Math.

On the evening of 2nd May 2012, the Jagadguru was offered Poornakumbha at the entrance of Sri Shankara Rameswarar temple. The Jagadguru then graced the Bhajana Madam, and gave an Anugraha Bhashanam to bless the devotees at the nearby Jayashri Kalyana Mandapam. The Jagadguru talked about the qualities of a true devotee as described by the Lord in the Gita – that he would hate no living being, be compassionate and friendly to all, be without the sense of I and mine, and equanimous in the midst of joy and sorrow. Quoting a verse, the Jagadguru said that the Lord is pleased only by a devotee who is humbler than a blade of grass and more tolerant than a tree –

तृणादपि सुनीचेन तरोरपि सहिष्णुना ।
अमानिना मानदेन सेवनीयः सदा हरिः ॥

From 7:30 am to 9:30 am on the morning of 3rd May 2012, the Jagadguru performed the Punah Pratishtha Kumbhabhisheka of Lord Bala Venkatachalapati, Goddess Sharada and Sri Adi Shankaracharya at the Sringeri Shankara Math, Thoothukudi.

The devotees expressed great joy after the completion of the Shikhara Kalashabhisheka by the Jagadguru. It was during the 1924-1927 of the 34th Acharya of the Peetham, Jagadguru Sri Chandrashekhara Bharati Mahaswamiji that the Jagadguru had graced Thoothukudi and had given directions for consecrating the temple of Sri Bala Venkatachalapati. The temple was duly consecrated in 1928. The 35th Acharya of the Peetham, Jagadguru had performed the Kumbhabhisheka in 1957 and the current Acharya, Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji had performed the Punah Prathishta Kumbhabhisheka during His Vijaya Yatra in 1987.

In the evening, a public function was held in the Jagadguru’s divine presence to commemorate the Kumbhabhisheka. At the start of the Sabha, Sri Nagai Mukudan, who had earlier given a discourse on the grace of the Guru and the Lord, spoke about the Jagadguru’s practical advice of countering anger by laughter. Sringeri Shankara Math branch head, Sri Anantha Srinivasan and elderly devotee Sri Swamikulathu Iyer spoke on the occasion submitting their Pranams to the Jagadguru.

In His Anugraha Bhashanam, the Jagadguru spoke of the difference between the attitude of Mahatmas in the past and that of the present-day people.

In times gone by, we know of many Mahatmas who performed Sadhanas, and acquired Siddhis and even went on to attain Self-realization. However, eventhough we perform Sadhanas and act in accordance to the Shastras, the results do not follow.

For instance, the first qualification for a person engaged in penance is patience. Some may praise, some may insult and some may make fun. But the person must be patient and be unperturbed. Today, just like the Mahatmas of yore, people remain patient, though only in certain occasions. We also find that people have certain other qualities comparable to the great personages of the past. People are in in certain circumstances free from desire. They also at times remain unconcerned about changes in weather, and strive to remain in meditation. However, why is that there is a huge difference in the results.

The Jagadguru then pointed out the difference in the attitude of the present-day people eventhough they have qualities similar to the Maharshis of yore. We remain patient because we are powerless. For instance, our patience is observed only when someone who is senior to us hurts us and we are unable to retaliate. If it is possible to retaliate against the person, people do retaliate.

Similarly, people bear with changes in the environment only when their job relocates them to a place with extreme weather. If they protest, they are likely to lose their job.

People sit down for worship and meditation but seldom think about the Lord during that time. Instead, they think about their bank deposits, interest rates and shares even when they sit down to meditate. Hence it is inappropriate to complain that Sadhanas do not bear fruit. This is what is said in the Shastras:

क्षान्तं न क्षमय गृहोचितसुखं त्यक्तं न सन्तोषतः
सोढा दुःसहशीतवाततपनक्लेशा न तप्तं तपः ।
ध्यातं वित्तमहर्निशं नियमितप्राणैर्न शम्भोः पदं
तत्तत्कर्म कृतं यदेव मुनिभिः तैस्तैस्फलैर्वञ्चिताः ॥

The Shastras point out that wealth and woman are the cause of one’s downfall. Duryodhana went after wealth while Ravana went after a woman. The fate they met with is known to all. He whose mind does not get oriented towards either of these two – wealth and woman – is indeed praiseworthy.

Hence it is essential to realize the faults in oneself, and strive accordingly. Nothing is impossible if we exert the proper effort. The event ended with the honouring of devotees who assisted with the activities of the Kumbhabhisheka. The Jagadguru performed that night’s Sharada Chandramoulishwara Puja in the temple premises.

On 4th May 2012, the Jagadguru performed a special Puja to Lord Narasimha on the occasion of Narasimha Jayanti and blessed the devotees.