Friday, September 30, 2016

Sringeri Chandrasekhara Swamigal's Siddhi day on Mahalaya Amavasya!




Friday September 30th, 2016 is Mahalaya Amavasya day, HH Sri Chandrasekhara Bharathi Maha Swamigal, the 34th Shankaracharya of Sringeri Saradha Peetham attained Siddhi on this day.This is Sri Chandrashekhara Bharati Navaratnamalika, a kriti on Jagadguru Sri Sri Chandrashekhara Bharati Mahaswamigal composed by Jagadguru Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamigal, the 36th Shankaracharya of Sringeri.


श्री चंद्रशेखरभारती नवरत्नमाला स्तोत्रम् ॥

This is a composition by Jagadguru Sri Bharati Teertha Mahaswamiji on the 34th Jagadguru, HH Chandrasekhara Bharati Mahaswami that adorned Dakshinamnaya Sringeri Sharada Peetham. The nine Slokas comprising this are examples of HH Bharati Teertha Mahaswami ji's immaculate poetic genius and are full of deep meaning invoking instant adoration towards Sri Chandrasekhara Bharati Mahaswami. This composition is hence aptly named as "Navaratnamaala".

Lyrics:
श्रीमच्चन्दिरशेखरभारत्यभिधानमाश्रये यमिनम् ।
निरवधि संसृतिनीरधिमग्न जनोध्धरण बध्धदीक्षं तम् ॥ 1 ||

काषायांबर परिवृतमीषत्स्मितवदनं इष्टदातारम् ।
शेषाख्येयगुणाळिं भूषायित शमदमादिकं वंदे ॥ 2 ||

गांगझरीसमवाचं स्वांगत्विण्णिर्जिताच्च गांगेयम् ।
मांगळिकमाश्रयेहं जांगलिकं भव महाविषस्येशम् ॥ 3 ||

करुणामृत सरिदीशं गुरुणापि स्तुत्यमतुलधीयुक्तम् ।
तरुणारुण वदनाब्जं च नृणां गम्यं तमाश्रये सततम् ॥ 4 ||

अतिवेल मधुरभाषितमतितरल स्वांतमखिलवंद्यपदम् ।
यतिवर्यं हृदि कलये मतिमांद्यस्यापनुत्तये सततम् ॥ 5 ||

पालित निजभक्तततिं शीलित वेदांत गूढतत्त्वम् तम् ।
मीलितलोचनयुगलं लालित भुवनत्रयं नमामि सदा ॥ 6 ||

राकाशशिनिभवक्त्रं पाकारिप्रमुखकीर्त्य चारित्रम् ।
आकाशकेश-भक्तं शोकापहमाश्रये गुरूत्तंसम् ॥ 7 ||

तापारण्यकृशानुं भूपालकवन्दनीय पदयुगळम् ।
पापापहनामानं शापानुग्रहसमर्थमहमीडे ॥ 8 ||

शंकरदेशिक विरचित पीठाधिपमालिका महारत्नम् ।
प्रणमामि चंद्रशेखर भारत्यभिधान देशिकं हृदये ॥ 9 ||
Here is a video link of the Navarathna Mala:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jEUvCLl8wk

*****

Source: Sringeri Videos Page in Facebook.

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Meaning for 'RaMa' --- Sringeri Bharatithirtha Swamigal!




Sringeri Jagadguru HH Bharati Thirtha Swamigal explains the meaning of Rama in the below Video in simple Tamil when He was in Trivandrum camp:

https://www.facebook.com/298228120325658/videos/659806760834457

When we open our mouths to say RA, the Papas (Sins) inside us will go out. When we close our mouths to say MA, the papas that went out will not go back inside. Valmiki Maharishi said about Lord Rama: "Ramo Vigravahan Dharmaha", Dharmam took a human form in this Earth as Rama!

*****

Thanks to Sringeri Video page in Facebook.

Monday, September 26, 2016

Bala Periyava visits Temples and Veda Patashala in Vijayawada!









His Holiness Bala Periyava Pujyashri Shankara Vijayendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya Swamigal visited Vinayaka Swamy Temple in Canal Road and Shivarama Kshetram at Satyanarayana Puram, Vijayawada. His Holiness addressed the gathering at Shivarama kshetram on September 20th, 2016.











On Thursday September 22nd, Bala Periyava visited Kanchi Paramacharya Devalayam at Cheena Kanchi, Nunna town about 12 kms from Vijayawada town. Situated in a serene village atmosphere and surrounded with mango orchards, the place houses shrines for Adi Shankaracharya, Shanmata Devatas, Navagraha Murthis & a special shrine for Kanchi Paramacharya. A Veda Smartha Pathashala & Goshala also functions in the site. His Holiness blessed the gathering with Anugraha Bhashanam.

His Holiness then proceeded to Akkiripalli town which is about 18 kms from Cheena Kanchi. The town is famous for a Veda Shastra Pathashala established in the year 1908. His Holiness graced the pathashala. Currently about 40 students are pursuing Veda, Smartha & Sanskrit courses. His Holiness was received by the Pathashala management and students. His Holiness first visited the 100 year old Pathashala building and then graced the new ones. There is a small tank & a Goshala in the premises. Large number of people had gathered to have glimpse of His Holiness. His Holiness blessed the assembled with Anugraha Bhashanam.

*****
Source: Thanks a lot to Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam.

Saturday, September 24, 2016

Sringeri Abhinava Vidyathirtha Swamgal's Upanyasam!

"Pleasure and Pain not for us. We are Brahman, of Supreme Bliss!"





We are blessed to hear a rare Upanyasam by Sringeri Acharya HH Jagadguru Abhinava Vidyatirtha Swamigal, Who explains Advaita Siddhanta concepts beautifully. Please listen by clicking on the below Four minute plus video link:

https://www.facebook.com/298228120325658/videos/739041722910960/

Source: Sringeri videos page in Facebook.

Sringeri Bharatitirtha Swamigal about His Guru!




Sringeri Shankaracharya Jagadguru Sri Sri Bharatitirtha Mahaswamigal's speaks beautifully in simple Tamil about His Guru, Jagadguru Sri Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamigal. Please click the link below, it is two and a half minutes long:

https://www.facebook.com/298228120325658/videos/739182942896838/

Thanks to Sringeri Videos Page.

His Guru is seen in the picture. How beautiful it is! Shankara.

Friday, September 23, 2016

Chandramouliswara Pooja clips of Sringeri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Swamigal!




Here are some Rare Chandramouliswara Pooja clips performed by Jagadguru Sri Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamigal, the 35th Shankaracharya of Sringeri! Please click this video link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJZD0PCKGTo



Thanks to Madhu for sharing it from Sringeri Video Page in Facebook. Swamigal is seen the picture. The 27th Aradhana of Swamigal was on September 23rd, 2016.

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Lotus Feet of Bala Periyava and other latest Pictures!









Thanks a ton to Shri Krishnamurthy Guruvayurappan for the pictures.

A blessed Guruvaram day to Everyone.

Shankara.

Sunday, September 18, 2016

HH Pudhu Periyava left for Kanchi after completion of Chaturmasya Vratham!












And Back in Kanchi!




After the completion of Chaturmasya Vratam at Labbipet in Vijayawada on September 16th, 2016, HH Pudhu Periyava has left for Kanchi. He reached Shankara Matam in Chetpet, Madras on Sep 18th.

Thanks to Shri Vanjari Shankar and Shri Hariharan for the lovely pictures.

Friday, September 16, 2016

"The Man in the simple Loin Cloth (Kaupeenam) is the Lucky One!" --- Adi Shankara.





Kaupeena Panchakam

This is a very short poem with five stanzas which glorifies the life of a Sannyasi (Ascetic). An ascetic in India is supposed to give away all his wealth before entering in to renunciation and get a loin cloth (kaupeena) from his teacher. That would be his only property. (Notes taken from youtube link.)

It has religious significance attached to asceticism for the Hindus. Bhagavata Purana enjoins that a true ascetic shouldn't wear anything other than a kaupina. Sometimes Lord Shiva himself is depicted wearing Kaupina. Even Lord Murugan of Palani and Hanuman are said to be wearing this garment. Langot or kaupinam is associated with celibacy. Sri Shankaracharya composed a verse called Kaupina Panchakam to assert the significance of asceticism. Famous Maharashtrian saint Samarth Ramdas is always depicted wearing a langot in popular pictures.

It is beautifully sung here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqrQjiXkpvs

Vedantha Vakhyeshu Sada ramantho,
Bhikshannamathrena trishtimantha,
Vishokamantha karane charantha,
Kaupeenavantha Khalu bhaghyavantha 1

Always thinking about words of philosophy,
Always getting satisfied with food got by begging,
And always without trace of sorrow, thinking of the inner self,
The man with the loin cloth is indeed the lucky one.

Moolam tharo kevalam ashrayantha,
Panidhvayam bhokthuma manthrayantha,
Kandhamiva sreemapi kuthsayantha,
Kaupeenavantha Khalu bhaghyavantha 2

Always depending on only roots and plants,
Always taking only two hands full of food,
And always thinking of wealth as a torn piece of cloth,
The man with the loin cloth is indeed the lucky one.

Swananda bhava pari thushti mantha,
Sushantha sarvendriya vruthi mantha,
Aharnisam brahma sukhe ramantha,
Kaupeenavantha Khalu bhaghyavantha 3

Always getting elated in his own thoughts,
Always peacefully controlling all his senses,
And always drowned in the pleasure of Brahmam,
The man with the loin cloth is indeed the lucky one.

Dehadhi bhavam parivarthayantha,
Swathmana athmanyavalokayantha,
Naantha na Madhyam na bahi smarantha,
Kaupeenavantha Khalu bhaghyavantha 4

Always witnessing his own changes of the body,
Who is seeing himself as his soul,
And who never thinks of ends, middle and outside,
The man with the loin cloth is indeed the lucky one.

Brahmaksharam pavanamucharantho,
Brahmahamasmeethi vibhavayantha,
Bhikshashano dikshu paribramayantha,
Kaupeenavantha Khalu bhaghyavantha 5

Always reciting the name of Brahmam with devotion,
Always thinking that he himself is Brahmam,
And who wanders aimlessly depending on alms obtained,
The man with the loin cloth is indeed the lucky one.

*****

The above has been translated to English by Shri PR Ramachander. The first two pictures are of Kanchi Mahaperiyava and Ramana Maharshi in a rare one. The third is Samartha Ramdas.

Shankara.

Lakshmi Rajagopalan's concert on Kanchi Mahaperiyava!



A concert on HH Sri Mahaperiyava of Kanchi Mutt by Bombay Smt Lakshmi Rajagopalan was held under the auspices of Saraswathi Vidyalayam, School of Classical Music and Dance, at Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL) campus near Tiruchi in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday September 14th. It was an amalgamation of different ragams and the concert commenced with ‘Guruvarulum Thiruvarulum’ in Abhogi ragam. It was followed by a composition by HH Sri Vijayendra Saraswathi Swamigal, the Pontiff of the Mutt, on Sri Paramacharya.

The composition ‘Chandrasekara krupa nithae’ in Sankarabaranam testified to her skill in ‘niraval’. She was accompanied by Govindarajan on the Violin, Koviladi Madhwaprasad on the Mridangam and S. Krishnaswamy on the Ghatam.

Source: The Hindu

Guru Puja & Recitation of Vishwaroopadarshana Yoga in London - 17 Sep. 2016




Guru Puja & Recitation of Vishwaroopadarshana Yoga (Ch XI of B. Gita)

5.00 pm 17th September, 2016
6, West Hill Road, East Putney, London, SW18 1LN
Our Acharyas, PujyaSri Jayendra Saraswathi Sankaracharya Swamigal and PujyaSri Vijayendra SaraswathiSankaracharya Swamigal of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, began their Chaturmasyam in Vijayawada with a Vyasa Puja on 19th July, 2016. Many of you participated in a Guru Poornima Puja in London at that time. Their Holinesses conclude the vratham on 16th September, 2016, by symbolically leaving the town and bless the Bhaktas by reciting Bhagavat Gita, Chapter XI, and Viswaroopa-darshana-yoga.Coinciding with this event - but on Saturday, the17th September,–with their Holinesses’ express blessings, we will have a special Guru Puja in London.
PROGRAMME:

500 pm Purvanga pujas, Guru vandanam, Swasti Vachanam
545 pm Chanting of Rudram, Ashtothra Archanas of Acharyas
630 pm Recital from Chapter XI of Bhagavat Gita and a discussionon Viswaroopa Darshan and Bhakti Yoga
715 pm Deepa Aradhanai, followed by Prasadam
As the Puja is being held on a Saturday, do try and attend and receive the blessings of the Acharyas. You will also have the opportunity to reflect on the incredible wisdom, philosophical as much as practical, contained in Bhagavat Gita. Chapter XI concludes with a verse, which, to quote Sri Adi Sankara, contains ‘Gitasastra saram - the essence of the whole Gita-sastra and conduces one to the Highest Bliss’.
Please RSVP either by email tokamakotikainkaryasabha@gmail.com, or, nsundar@btinternet.comor by phone to 02089495755/07803207632/ 07470211825 so that arrangements could be made. In particular we will send the recitation and puja materials in advance, so that you can actively participate in the satsang.
Hara Hara Sankara, Jaya Jaya Sankara; Jaya Jaya Sankara, Hara Hara Sankara

Source: Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Kanchipuram

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Gems of Pictures from the Lens of Shri Neelamraju Muralidhar!




HH answering devotees' questions in Venkatagiri, a town in Nellore district in Andhra Pradesh, after an Anugraha Bhashanam.







HH, Flush with Divine Radiance, just after Anushtanam in Vijayawada.




HH in front of Srisailam Kanchi Matham in Andhra Pradesh near Adi Shankara Sannidhi.


HH performed Abhishekam to the Shiva Linga which is on the roadside on the way to Tripurantakam. It is a village in Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh.







HH in Sri Kalahasti in the above two pictures. Fomer Prime Minister Shri Narasimha Rao is seen seated at the extreme left in the above picture.





HH performing Godavari Mahanadi Snanam.




HH planting a Bilva plant in the land donated by Late Sri Neelamraju Venkata Seshaiahgaru in Yetapaka (near Bhadrachalam). Now that Sapling is a big Tree, she says.





HH doing Anushtanam on the banks of Godavari river while visiting Bhadrachalam!


HH having Dip during Krishna Pushkaram in Vijayawada in 1968.


Former Prime Minister Shri Narasimha Rao with Kanchi Mahaperiyava.




No notes are available for the above two pictures.


HH Kanchi Pudhu Periyava doing His Anushtanam during Krishna Pushkaram in Vijayawada in 1968.



Most of us have seen all the above pictures but we may not be aware that they were taken by Shri Neelamraju Muralidhar, seen above. Thanks a ton to his Niece Smt Kanakadurga Bhattiprolu for the helpful Notes about the pictures and for safeguarding these precious Snaps. 


She says:


"Shri Muralidhar clicked Sri Kanchi Paramacharya photos with His Holiness' permission on several occassions. I am his niece and collector of his works!"


Shri Neelamraju Muralidhar was a Multi-faceted person. 
Born in Narsaraopet on March 17, 1934, Muralidhar started his career as a news photographer in Andhra Prabha in Vijayawada in 1956. He later shifted to Hyderabad to work as a staff reporter of The Indian Express in 1977. He was known for his incisive analysis of news and comments. He was equally adept in literary, cultural and spiritual reporting.

An ardent devotee of Kanchi Paramacharya, he was instrumental in the publication of the book “Arya Dvishati”, a revisit of Sri Chakra. After retirement as a special correspondent, he worked as Editor in News and Services Syndicate for four years before rejoining The New Indian Express as its copy editor and continued there till 2007.

Shri Muralidhar passed away in Hyderabad on a Wednesday, August 6, 2008.