Tirunelveli: APRIL 19 – 29, 2012
Jagadguru in Tirunelveli
Jagadguru Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji entered Tirunelveli on April 19th 2012 to a warm welcome. Led by a procession to Sringeri Sharada Kalyana Mandapam, the Jagadguru was offered Poornakumbha by Auditor K. Ramakrishnan. The Jagadguru had Darshan of Lord Ganapati and Goddess Sharada and blessed the gathering with an Anugraha Bhashanam. The following day, Poornahuti of Rudra Homa was performed in the Jagadguru’s presence. The Jagadguru then moved to Sri Sringeri Shankara Kendra, Thiyagaraja Nagar.
On 21st April, the Jagadguru made a visit to Tirunelveli Town to have Darshan of Lord Nellaiappar and Godesss Kantimati. The Jagadguru was received near the Arch in town from where the procession started with the Jagadguru seated on a decorated chariot pulled by the devotees. The Jagadguru had Darshan of Lord Nellaiappar and Goddess Kantimati, and the golden chariot of the Goddess was pulled in the presence of the Jagadguru. It may be mentioned here that the golden chariot that had taken a long time to be readied had been completed within a short period after the Peetham donated 2.5 kg of gold.
Shankara Jayanti Celebrations
The Shankara Jayanti Celebrations commenced on Vaishakha Shukla Prathama (22nd April). Ekadasha-vara Rudra Abhishekha with Mahanyasa was performed daily at the shrine of Sri Adi Shankaracharya. Parayana of the four Vedas, the Prasthanatraya Bhashya, Madhaviya Shankara Vijaya – the traditional account of Sri Shankara’s life, was performed daily. The Mahaswamiji was present at noon for the Mahamangalarati and engaged in Bhashya Parayana and engaged the Vedic scholars in chanting Yajur Veda Ghana.
Vedic scholars from all over India took part in the Veda Sammelan conducted on the occasion in the Jagadguru Mahaswamiji’s presence. Examinations were conducted for advanced students of the Vedas by the Peetham’s Veda Poshaka Sabha.
In the evenings, the Jagadguru presided over a Sabha at Pravachana Mandiram. As part of the Sabha, Madhaviya Shankara Digvijaya Parayana and Upanyasas on the life and teachings by eminent scholars such as Sengalipuram Keshava Dikshitar, Swami Omkarananda and Nochur Venkataraman took place. This was followed by Mangalarati and Ashtavadhana Seva.
On 26th April – the Shankara Jayanti day, the Jagadguru Mahaswamiji performed an elaborate Puja to Sri Adi Shankaracharya in the afternoon. The Mahaswamiji concluded the Puja with the grand ‘Kanakabhisheka’ to the Vigraha of Sri Adi Shankaracharya.
The evening function began with Veda Ghosha and prayer followed by a 10-minute talk by Sri Nochur Venkataraman.
During the function, the Jagadguru released a coffee table book titled “Kalady 100” commemorating the 2010 Centenary Celebrations of the rediscovery of the birthplace of Sri Adi Shankaracharya. The Jagadguru also released the first ebook of the Peetham – the biography of the 33rd Acharya, Jagadguru Sri Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Narasimha Bharati Mahaswamiji, titled “A Sage Par Excellence” and a new website https://vijayayatra.sringeri.net covering the Vijaya Yatra of the Jagadguru.
The Jagadguru then presented the first Adi Shankaracharya Award to Swami Dayananda Saraswati of Arsha Vidya Gurukulam for his in recognition of the exemplary service rendered for the sustenance and propagation of Sanatana Dharma, Advaita philosophy, the Hindu Cause & the welfare of mankind. Speaking on the occasion, Sri Gowrishankar, Administrator and CEO of the Peetham said that it was the Sankalpa of the Jagadguru that the first award instituted in the name of Sri Adi Shankaracharya be conferred on Swami Dayananda Saraswati.
Swami Dayananda Saraswati said that he considered it a great blessing to accept the award in the name of Sri Adi Shankaracharya and conferred by the Jagadguru.
The Jagadguru in His Anugraha Bhashanam spoke about Sri Adi Shankaracharaya, the greatness of Jnanis and expressed joy that the first Adi Shankarcharya award of the Peetham was giving deservingly to Swami Dayananda Saraswati who has strived to hoist the flag of Vedanta. The Jagadguru also expressed joy in celebrating Shankara Jayanti at Tirunelveli.
The Vedic Scholars and successful candidates were then felicitated. Gold rings were awarded to Vedabrahmasri Jambunatha Ghanapati, Coimbatore (Yajur Veda), Vedabrahmasri R. Raghurama Ghanapati, Chennai (Rig Veda) and Vedabrahmasri Balaji, Chennai (Sama Veda) for their scholarship.
The 5-day Shankara Jayanti Celebrations concluded with the Rathotsava of the Murti of Sri Adi Shankaracharya around the Shankara Kendra.
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Visits in Tirunelveli and Guru Vandana Programme
On the morning of 27th April, the Jagadguru performed the Shilanyasa for Rajagopuram of Anandavalli Sameta Kailasanathar temple. In the evening, Bharati Tirtha Veda Pathashala, Maharaja Nagar
On 28th April, the Jagadguru graced Sanatana Veda-Shastra Rig Veda Pathashala, Krishnapuram and blessed the teacher and students। The Jagadguru also had Darshan of Gomati Ambal Sameta Mahadeva Swamy temple, graced the Astika Samajam and had Darshan at Dundi ganapati temple. In the evening, Vaidika Sambhavana was done in the Jagadguru’s presence followed by a Guru Vandana programme attended by Tirunelveli MP, MLA, Mayor and Deputy-Mayor. In His Anugraha Bhashanam, the Jagadguru pointed out by quoting from the Mahabharata, that people see living beings die every day yet desire for themselves a long life and a state of permanence. What can be a greater wonder?
अहन्यहनि भूतानि प्रविशन्ति यमालयम् ।
शेषाः स्थावरमिच्छन्ति किमाश्चर्यमितः परम् ॥
The Jagadguru stressed on the need to realize the importance of the time we have and use it in pursuit of Dharma.
Kumbhabhisheka at Tirunelveli
Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji performed the Pratishtha Kumbhabhisheka of Lord Mahaganapati, Sri Adi Shankaracharya and Goddess Sharada at the Sri Sringeri Shankara Kendra, Thiagaraja Nagar, Tirunelveli on 29th April 2012.
The Pratishtha Kumbhabhisheka ceremonies had begun on 27th April. The Jagadguru first performed Abhisheka and then Archana-Mangalarati-Pratishtha to Mahaganapati, Sri Adi Shankara and Goddess Sharada. Subsequently, the Jagadguru performed the Shikhara Kalashabhisheka atop the Vimanas of the three temples watched by thousands of people. Having soaked themselves in the vision of the Kumbhabhisheka performed by the lotus hands of the Jagadguru, the devotees then soaked themselves in the holy Kalasha waters sprinkled from the top of the temple.
In His Anugraha Bhashanam, the Jagadguru explained that we need the grace of Sri Ganapati for any of our endeavours to be fruitful. We revere and respect our Guru, Sri Adi Shankaracharya who rejuvenated Sanatana Dharma. The great Acharya installed Goddess Sharada at Sringeri. The Acharyas of Sringeri have also been installing Goddess Sharada at various places for the benefit of the local community. Goddess Sharada resides in all these places and graces all the devotees. The Jagadguru conveyed that He had prayed for the Kshema of all the devotees at the newly consecrated temples.
The Jagadguru said to the citizens of Tirunelveli that their devotion to the Sringeri Acharyas had been handed down for generations and blessed that the next generation also continue this tradition of ardent devotion. The Jagadguru ended the Bhashanam expressing joy for having spent 10 days at Tirunelveli.
The Jagadguru started from Sri Shankara Kendra, Thiagaraja Nagar, Tirunelveli and visited the Viveka Samvardhani Sabha at Tirunelveli junction. Having spent an hour at the library in the Sabha, the Jagadguru started towards Ramayanpatti.
