His Holiness Jagadguru
Shankaracharya Bharati Teertha Swamiji of Sharada Math, Sringeri visits Datta
Peetham on 2nd April 2002
It is indeed a
very historic event in the annals of Avadhoota Datta Peetham that today morning
Sri Bharati Teertha Swamiji of Shringeri Sharada Peetham visited this place.
A cordial
welcome was accorded to the visiting saint, who inaugurated Samaveda school in
the Ganapati Sachchidananda Ashrama. Upon arrival He was received at the Hanuma
Dwara with traditional Nandi Dhaja and Dollu Kunita of Karnataka state. He was
then received with Purna Kumbha at the entrance of Datta temple with Veda
scholars chanting passages from Yajur Veda. Sri Swamiji was waiting for the
visiting saint at the sanctum of Datta Temple. The joy of the two saints coming
together was pulsating in the air.
After Arati to Dattatreya, Sri Swamiji took the Pontiff to the prayer
hall under renovation and showed him around. The Shankaracharya was inquisitive
about the various religious symbols. He was informed about the large number of
disciples Sri Swamiji has from other religious communities. There after they
proceeded to the first floor to have Darshan of Moola Virat Dattatreya.
After looking
around at the amazing collection of collectible crystals in the private museum,
the pontiff was taken to the Dharma Stupam around which the Pontiffs went
around. Sri Swamiji explained the concept to the Shankaracharya. From there
both of the Swamis came to Nada Mantapa in a procession and Sri Swamiji
explained the uniqueness of the hall.
In this welcome
address Sri B. Krishna Bhat, Vice President of Bangalore branch of Datta
Peetham expressed the feelings of Aapekshe, Ase and Aakankshe (pure love, yearning and deep desire) of
Datta Peetham to welcome Shringeri Swamiji. n the bgbeginningf the function, the Vedic scholars of Datta
Peetham sonorously sang the mantras of Vedas followed by the sweet singing of
Mysore Ashrama prayer by its Bhajan Mandali.
Sri Ganapati
Sachchidananda Swamiji and the visiting saint gave the following benedictory
addresses to the devotees in the Nada Mantapa on this auspicious occasion.
Benedictory
of Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji:
As has been
sung by the pious poet saint of Karnataka in the past, today a very auspicious
day in all aspects of the almanac.
(Tithi, Vaara, Nakshatra, Yoga and Karana). Really I feel that Sharadamba
(Sarasvati, the Goddess of learning) has visited Datta Peetham in the form of
the pontiff of Sharada Peetham of Shringeri. We are blessed by the vision of the visiting saint. I consider my father Sri Narasimha
Sastry as my guru. He took the sanyasa diksha (vow of monkhood), his new name in that stage
being Sri Narahari Tirtha, from a monk of Sri Shringeri Sharada Peetham. He used to tell me quite often about
the spiritual grandeur of Shringeri Sharada Peetham. Moreover, before I commence any large project, I remember
the Sharada Peetham.
In Datta
Peetham, there is a synthesis of Veda, Nada, and Yoga. Moreover Datta and Shiva stay here
together. Idols of a dilapidated
temple in K.R. Peta were grouped by me and installed in a new temple. The then Pontiff of Shringeri Peetham
encouraged me then. 25 years ago I
visited Shringeri and Sri Chandrasekharendra Bharati Swamiji, the pontiff then
spoke to me with flashes of humour.
Though he left the mortal
world my association with him is evergreen in mind.
The senior
Swami of Shringeri used to called affectionately as Audumbara Avadhoota, where
as Vishnu is Pitambara (silk) Swami (Lord). He said “I am unwell. Hence I cannot visit Datta Peetham”. Today, he came in this form (the
present pontiff ). I always
remember him. He was so affectionate. However, the bond of mutual affection
the Sharada Peetham of Shringeri and Datta Peetham is still strong.
Seven years ago
there was Sarva Dharma Sammelan (confluence of all religions) conducted by
Krishna Bhatt of Bangalore. Then I
asked him to arrange the visit of the present pontiff to Datta Peetham, somehow
or other. Now my wish is fulfilled
as he is visiting our Ashrama. I
feel that Shiva and Sarasvati have come to our Ashrama. I would like that the chief guest hear
my music. I wish to visit
Shringeri once again. In foreign
countries Shankaracharya is identified with Shringeri Peetham. It is to be noted in this context that
there is an unbroken spiritual lineage of successive pontiffs who presided over
the Shringeri Sharada Peetham right from the day Adi Shankaracharya established
the same centuries ago up to these modern times.
Nowadays, most
of the priests do not perform Pujas properly. Hence I wish to give good training by which they do Pujas
with more concentration and devotion, understanding the mantras they utter
without money-mindedness. That is
my intention to start smarta schools.
Though I made
foreign trips, I still do not feel like leaving for permanent stay. Dr. Harish of U.S visits Shringeri whenever he comes to India.
Turning to the
visiting saint Sri Swamiji cordially said “ This is your Peetham. Whenever you visit Mysore please do
step in to my Ashrama also. You
may stay in Yati Kutira, which is exclusively constructed for the visiting
saints. Please visit the Ashrama
and bless Datta devotees!”
Shringeri Dakshinamnaya Sharada Peethadhipati
(Pontiff; of Shringeri Sharada Peetham)
Slokam: Shruti Smriti
puranam alayam karunalayam
Namami
Bhagavadpadam Shankaram Lokashankaram
Meaninga: I prostrate to Adi Shankaracharya, an
incarnation of Lord Shiva, who causes welfare to the universe, who is the
repository of the Divine Knowledge of Vedas, Upanishads and texts of mythology
and who is the embodiment of mercy.
Dharma,
righteousness is most cherish able aspect of human life. Money, bookish knowledge or any type of
wealth may be human achievements.
It is O.K. However, righteousness translated to activities with
attention, humility and faith, surpasses all possessions. Dharma has the greatest and the best
place in human life.
In Bhagavadgita
(The Song Divine), Lord Krishna exhorted:
Sreyan
svadharmo vigunah paradharmo bhayavaha (One’s own righteous duty, though apparently
hard or tasteless if done properly, brings about welfare. However if one does other’s duty,
it causes fear)
However some
people are afraid of the rigour and extent of one’s righteous duty. For this Lord Krishna’s assurance
in Bhagavadgita may be recollected.
“Svalpamapsya
dharmasya trayate mahate bhayat”
(Righteousness performed properly even to a little extent, will
definitely relieve the doer from great fear)
Some people say
in despair “I cannot follow the righteous path to the full extent. I do not wish to be righteous
partially. Hence I do not approach
that path at all and I give it up in total”. What a peculiar way of escapism?
Let us consider
an example. Take the case of a
student facing an examination. He
is asked to answer 100 questions in the test. He may not be able to answer them all. Does he return the blank answer book to
the invigilator which results in 0% mark?
He can attempt those questions to the extent possible to him which
fetches him at least 40% of marks, and thereby pass grade in the test. Don’t you agree. So also Dharma.l
Let us look at
another example.
It is
preferable to do japa (repetitive chant)
of Gayatri mantri for 1000 times during Sandhya vandana (The stipulated
prayers of the morning, noon and evening). Suppose it is not possible to do so. One can do the japa of the mantra for
at least 300 times and if that too is not possible, he can recite for a minimum
of 108 chants. Simply because the
total task is not possible, it is not wise to give up Sandhya vandana totally,
as some people do nowadays.
In a nutshell
the srauta karmas(
rituals stipulated by Vedas) are categorised as mukhya karma (principal method of rituals) and anukalpa (the secondary method, i.e. an
alternative, which may be followed as an exception which proves the rule.
Let us consider
another aspect of Dharma. It is
stipulated that in some specified contexts, a cow and calf must be brought to
the place of the performance of the ritual, where at the cow must be milked..
Moreover, showing a stick of a particular tree by name Patara danda, the cow and calf must be brought. In these modern days is it physically possible. Alternatively, get good milk and utter
the specified mantras.
(In case the
procedure cannot followed fully, proceed ahead with the ritual uttering mantras
in such context) The importance is
to be given to the totality of the ritual and not to minor details of procedure
beyond the scope of action.
Adi
Shankaracharya established the pithas (seats of spiritual power) throughout Bharat (India) with a view to uplift, nourish and
protect Dharma and not to encourage unrighteousness conduct.
Let us consider
another example.
There was an
erudite scholar of Veda. He
offered to teach Veda to whichever eligible student approached him. There was a wealthy man who expressed
his readiness to donate any amount for the study of Veda. The intentions of these two people are
O.K. The crux of the problem is something. The Veda scholar when asked about the
study of his own son declared “No, No. My son is going to engineering course. I won’t teach him
Veda”. The wealthy man replied
the same question thus “myself ad my son are not interested in the
pursuit of study of Veda by him.
My donations for Veda study are meant for those boys who failed to get
good grades in their school classes”. The donor feels that Veda is studied only by dull
boys!.
It is the
dharma of a Brahman to study Veda and follow its principles. Lucia vyamoha i.e. infatuation to worldly pleasures
only will make one Dharma vimukha i.e. unrighteous.
One must preach
the righteous way after following the same. It is essential to know the rules of righteousness and act
accordingly so as to bring out welfare to one and all. You know the fundamentals of righteousness,
you can protect Dharma.
Dharmao
Visvasya Jagatah pratishtitah (Dharma – righteousness is firmly
establioshed in the entire universe).
This means one must never transgress the code of righteous conduct. Hence protect nourish and encourage
Veda which enlightens us with Dharma (righteousness).
Datta idol made
of sandal wood was presented to the saint by Datta Peetham.
Sri Ganapati
Sachchidananda Swamiji likes Veda Very much and is prepared to spend amount to any required extent for
Veda both for study and for honouring the scholars and students. I am very happy for this.
Swamiji! Doubting whether I could accept his
invitation for a mere visit to Datta Peetham, Mysore, you invited me to
inaugurate the Sama Veda school.
Twenty five years ago I visited this Ashrama. There is a great improvement here since then!
Shankarananda
of Shringeri Peetham gave initiation of monk hood to Swamiji’s father.
These are the
several links between Shringeri and Datta Peetham. Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji told Sri Krishna Bhatt of
Bangalore thus “Somehow or other, you bring Shringeri pontiff to Mysore
Ashrama”. I say now “
Swamiji! You need not take such a
trouble. I like Mysore Ashrama,
whenever possible, just be a mere invitation from you” May our friendship be everlasting!
Rules of
admission to the study of Veda must be followed in letter and spirit.
Krishna
Bhatt’s philanthropy in serving and developing all religious
organisations has actually made Girinagara of Bangalore as Gurunagara. Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji
suggested this locality be renamed thus seven years ago. However gratitude of V.V. Giri, a
former president who helped for the establishment of this residential area,
Krishna Bhatt chose the existing name to the area. I bless Krishna Bhatt with good health and longevity to
render more service for noble causes.
Dattatreya is
adorable to Shringeri Peetham also.
I do the japa of Datta mantra daily after doing Sri Chakra Puja.
May the pious,
noble activities of Ganapati Sachchidananda Ashrama continue and flourish for
ever and ever! May Datta bless and
improve this Ashrama further! May
righteousness be preserved and propagated more and more! May Bharat (India) prosper in all
aspects.
Jaya Guru Datta