Tiruchendur: MAY 4-5, 2012
Jagadguru Welcomed to Tiruchendur
Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji arrived at the holy sea-shore temple town of Tiruchendur in the evening of 4th May 2012. The Jagadguru was taken in a grand procession and was welcomed with Poornakumbha by devotees led by authorities of the famous temple of Lord Subrahmanya at Tiruchendur. Dhuli Pada Puja was performed to the Jagadguru followed by the reading of a formal welcome (Swagata Patrika) in Sanskrit and Tamil. The Patrikas mentioned the strong relationship between the Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham at Sringeri and the Tiruchendur Subrahmanya Swamy temple, ever since the time of Sri Adi Shankaracharya who composed the Subrahmanya Bhujangam at Tiruchendur. The Jagadguru of Sringeri alone has the special privilege of entering the Garbha Griha and offering special Puja to Lord Subrahmanya.
In His Anugraha Bhashanam, the Jagadguru quoted the Vedic verse that states that the very existence of the world depends on Dharma. The Lord incarnated as Sri Adi Shankaracharya in Kali Yuga to protect Dharma. Prior to Sri Shankaracharya’s incarnation, Lord Subrahmanya incarnated as Sri Kumarila Bhattapada to resuscitate the faith in Karma Kanda of the Vedas. Sri Bhattapada was a great Mimamsaka and defeated many Buddhists in debate and established that Vedas are the supreme source of knowledge.
The Jagadguru then spoke about a couple of incidents in Sri Bhattapada’s life. King Sudhanva had told the followers of Sanatana Vaidika Dharma and the Buddhists that whosoever climbs a hill, leaps from the top of it and returns unhurt will be the victor. While the Buddhists hesitated, Sri Bhattapada immediately went atop the hill, shouted “If the Vedas are true, may no harm befall me” and he leapt from the hill and returned unharmed. However, when the Buddhists objected to this kind of a test, King Sudhanva thought of another test. He placed a snake inside a pot and asked the two factions to guess what was contained in the sealed pot.
Overnight, the Buddhists used their logic and inferred what was inside the pot. The following day, they replied to the king that the pot contained a snake. With the blessings received from Lord Surya, the Vedic followers told the King that the pot contained an idol of Lord Narayana lying on the serpent – “भोगीशभोगिशयनो भगवानिति भूसुराः”
Even as the king was surprised at their respective answers, a heavenly voice directed the king to believe the answer of the Vedic followers and check the pot. King Sudhanva checked the pot and indeed found an idol as described by the Vedic followers. Sudhanva realized that the greatness of the Vedas and the fact that whatever words come forth from a Vaidika who has studied the Vedas properly become true.
Thus it was Lord Subrahmanya who incarnated as Sri Bhattapada and initiated the rejuvenation of Sanatana Dharma. The Jagadguru spoke about the greatness of the Lord as expressed by Sri Adi Shankaracharya –
चिदेका षडास्या हृदि द्योतते मे
मुखान्निःसरन्ते गिरश्चापि चित्रम् ॥
The Lord’s power is such that He can make even a dumb speak, cure the greatest of diseases, destroy all evil and bestow all auspiciousness. Hence, it is essential to worship Lord Subrahmanya with great Bhakti. Whenever in Tiruchendur, the Jagadgurus of Sringeri have worshipped Lord Subrahmanya for the welfare of everyone. The Jagadguru remembered His visit to Tiruchendur in 1983 when He had come to perform the Kumbhabhisheka under the direction of His Guru. The Jagadguru also recounted that He had also offered worship to the Lord during the Vijaya Yatra in 1987. The Jagadguru expressed His happiness at the fact that the people of Tiruchendur had come for His Darshan with the feeling that their Guru had graced Tiruchendur, and blessed them all.
Jagadguru Worships Lord Subrahmanya and Offers a Golden Door
Before 5 a.m. on the morning of May 5, the Jagadguru reached the Subrahmanya Swamy temple to Poornakumbha Swagata by the temple officials and members of the Thiru-svatantrar community, whose lives have traditionally been centered around the temple. The Jagadguru then proceeded for His Snanam and entered the Garbha Griha to begin the special elaborate Pooja to Lord Subrahmanya. The Jagadguru first performed the Udaya Marthanda Abhisheka with thailam, oil, coconut water, fruits, honey, Panchamritam, milk, curd, panneer (rose water), sandalwood paste and Vibhuti. The Jagadguru performed Deeparadhana after the Abhishekas of milk, sandalwood paste and Vibhuti. This was followed by a beautiful Alankara to the Lord even as the Jagadguru came out to bless the devotees.
Soon afterwards, the Jagadguru dedicated a golden door leading to the Garbha Griha, offered to the temple by the Sringeri Sharada Peetham. The Jagadguru formally blessed the authorities of the temple. Sri V T Kottai Manikanta Deekshitar, Thakkaar of the temple and the Joint Commissioner, and handed over the keys of the golden door. The Jagadguru then formally opened the door and re-entered the Garbha Griha and performed an Archana to the Lord for Loka Kshema (welfare of the world). The Jagadguru performed this Archana using gold and silver coins. The Jagadguru then performed the Udaya Marthanda Deeparadhana. This was followed by Pushpa Archana. The Jagadguru then had Darshan of the Utsava Moorti, Shanmukha Swami.
The entire Puja took two hours and the Jagadguru returned to the Shankara Math in Tiruchendur. Later, the Jagadguru gave Darshan to the devotees and blessed them with Mantrakshata.
On this occasion, the Jagadguru’s blessings was also given for work undertaken at the Ananda Vilas Mandapam where Sri Shanmukha Swami (the Utsava Moorti) will be placed during the festival season.
In the evening, the Jagadguru started from Tiruchendur and graced the towns of Karungulam, Seithunganallur, Gopalasamudram and Viravanallur en route to Kallidaikuruchi.
