JAGADGURU SHANKARACHARYA SRI SRI SRI BHARATI TIRTHA MAHASWAMIJI Compiled by Nirupama

71st VARDHANTI JAGADGURU SHANKARACHARYA SRI SRI SRI BHARATI TIRTHA MAHASWAMIJI

Compiled by Nirupama

Sri Adi Shankaracharya was the founding father of Advaita Vedanta and his entire life was spent for the preservation of Sanatana Dharma.

My father Dr. B. V. Raman, in his book Notable Horoscopes works out the birth date of Sri Adi Shankaracharya as 25th March 44 B.C. Adi Shankara, was born in Kalady. He met his Guru Sri Govindapada when he walked a distance of 1250 miles (about 2000 kilometers) to the banks of the sacred river Narmada. He stayed there for four years serving his Guru. Under the teacher’s compassionate guidance, the young Shankaracharya mastered all the Vedic scriptures.

At the age of twelve, Acharya Sri Govindapada felt that Sri Shankara was ready to write commentaries on major classical texts. At his Guru’s command Sri Shankara wrote commentaries elucidating the subtle meanings hidden in the teachings of the scriptures. At the age of sixteen, he completed writing all the major treatises. These included Yogasutra Vivarana Bhashya, commentary on the Adhyatma Patala of the Apastamba Dharmasutra, and commentaries on the Vishnu Sahasranama and Lalita Trishati. A Sankhya work called Jayamangala and a Nyaya work called Sthirasiddhi are also attributed to him.

From the age of sixteen to thirty-two Sri Shankara travelled across the length and breadth of India and spread the importance of Advaita Vedanta and its philosophy through discourses and debates with other thinkers.

He established four Peethams in four zones of India - and entrusted his four disciples to teach and propagate Advaita though them. Each of these ashrams was assigned the task of maintaining and preserving for posterity, the four Vedas (the main knowledge books of Sanatana Dharma) and a Maha Vakya. The primary disciples given the responsibility were Hastamalakacharya (Govardhana Puri), Sri Sureshwaracharya (Dakshinamnaya Sringeri Sharada Peetham), Sri Totakacharya (Badarinath) and Sri Padmapadacharya (Dwaraka).

Apart from his immense intellectual and organisational abilities, Adi Shankaracharya was an exquisite poet, with a heart brimming with love for the divine. He composed 72 devotional and meditative hymns like Soundarya Lahari, Sivananda Lahari, Nirvana Shatakam, Maneesha Panchakam. He also wrote 18 commentaries on the major scriptural texts including the Brahma Sutras, the Bhagavad Gita and 12 major Upanishads. He also authored 23 books on the fundamentals of the Advaita Vedanta philosophy which expound the principles of the non-dual Brahman. These include Viveka Chudamani, Atma Bodha, Vaakya Vritti, Upadesa Sahasri, among many others. Considered to be an incarnation of Lord Siva, Sri Shankara lived only a short life span of 32 years. There are many inspiring legends about him.

Sringeri also called Sri Kshetra Sringeri is a hill town and taluk headquarters located in Chikkamagaluru district in Karnataka, on the embankment of river Tunga. Great sages like Vibhandaka, Rishyashringa, and others have meditated here in the ancient times. The serene and calm environs of Sringeri charmed Sri Shankara and he established his first Vedanta Jnana Peetha here. He installed there the idol of Sri Sharada, the Goddess of Learning, and named Sri Sureshwaracharya as the head of the Sharada Peetham. This illustrious Peetham has been adorned by an unbroken succession of 37 illustrious Gurus right from Sri Adi Shankaracharya’s direct disciple, Sri Sureshwaracharya. On the ocassion of Adi Shankara's Jayanti this year, let us all pay our reverential pranams to his lotus feet.

Mahasannidhanam’s 71st Vardhanti

Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahasannidhanam’s (the presiding Pontiff and the

36th in the line of Jagadgurus of the Sringeri Sri Sharada Peetham) 71st Vardhanti (birthday) was on 11th April 2021. (As we go to the press, we understand from the sacred Sringeri Peetham, that though the Vardhanti celebrations will be there, they will be in a restricted domain. General public and devotees will not have access.) भारती कणापां भारती पदभषणम । भारती पदमाढ भारती तीथमाये ॥

Sri Mahasannidhanam was born on Apri 11th 1951 to a Telugu Smartha family from Alugumallepadu village in Guntur. Seetharama Anjaneyalu (as he was named in his Poorvashrama) showed increasing signs of devotion towards God in his childhood. His Brahmopadesha was performed at the young age of seven years. He was regular in the performance of the prescribed karmas of Sandhyavandanam and Agnikaryam. At school, he spent his time studying Sanskrit and took Vedic lessons from his father who was himself a Vedic scholar. In the year 1966 at the age of 15, Anjaneyalu approached the 35th Jagadguru of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham, Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji, as a bachelor, seeking his blessings and tutelage in the Sastras. The Acharya accepted the disciple and the lessons in the Tarka sastras commenced. Krishna Yajur Veda, Purva and Uttara Mimamsa, Nyaya Sastra and many other treatises and commentaries. He also became a poet in Sanskrit.

Shishya Sweekaram

Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji announced his desire to appoint Seetharama Anjaneyalu as the successor-designate (as the 36th Jagadguru Acharya) and gave him Sanyasa. The Shishya Sweekaram ceremony took place on the 11th day of November, 1974 and the brahmachari received the saffron robes, the sacred staff and the kamandalu (water pot) from Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahasannidhanam. Anjaneyalu was given the yogapatta Bharati Teertha in line with the Dashanami Sampradaya of Adi Shankaracharya. What prompted the boy who had just finished high school studies, and who was advised by his father to go for higher education, to leave his home? Why did he go all the way to Ujjain from his home in Narasaraopet in Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh? When the same question was put to brahmachari Sitarama Anjaneyulu, he replied: “I had the good fortune of having the darshan of the Jagadguru quite early in life. Once I was asked to talk in Sanskrit by my teacher before His Holiness in Vijayawada. I got a special prize from him. At that time, it struck me that His Holiness was my teacher and my saviour. His beaming smile was giving me a message. I thought I got what I wanted. His Holiness has since been in my mind always. I used to feel that I was guided by His Holiness whenever there was a problem. This feeling grew in me to such an extent that I could not stay in my place.” Since then, Sitarama Anjaneyulu did not leave the lotus feet of the Acharya. He accompanied Acharya during all his tours. Within eight years he finished the study of

Reign as Jagadguru

Bharati Teertha Mahaswami has studied shastras like Vedanta, Mimamsa, Tarka, Nyaya, Vyakarana amongst others and has completed his studies in the Yajur Veda in Sadvidya Sanjivini Pathasala prior to taking up Sanyasa. The devotees of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham pay frequent visits to the matha seeking guidance and blessings. Many notable personalities like Sri Narendra Modi, Sri Abdul Kalam and others have visited Mahasannidanam and sought his guidance.The Acharya delivers benedictory addresses in Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil and Hindi which are now available on YouTube. As part of the tradition, the acharya also undertakes Vijaya Yatras (tours) to visit different places and guide the devotees. The various events involved in the Vijaya Yatra are covered by Sri Sankara TV, which broadcasts the highlights on a daily basis during the course of the Vijaya Yatra. During his reign as the Jagadguru, assisted by V. R. Gowrishankar - the current CEO and administrator of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham, the mutt has undertaken activities in the field of education and social service in addition to being a seat of Vedic learning.

Sri Bharati Teertha Mahaswami appointed brahmachari Kuppa Venkateswara Prasada Sharma as his successor designate, (the 37th Jagadguru of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham) on 23rd January 2015 and gave him the Yogapatta (monastic name) Sri Vidhusekhara Bharati Mahaswami.

Appointment of the Successor

Childhood Days of Sri Sri Sri Bharati Thirtha Mahaswamiji

Sitarama Anjaneyulu’s childhood is worth recalling in the context of his spiritual background. He was born into a Smartha family bearing the name “Tangirala”, of Apasthamba Sutra, Krishna Yajur Sakha, Kutsasa Gotra, living in Alugumallepadu village in Palnadu area of Guntur, on the banks of river Naguleru. He was born - as a result of long prayer and vrata (fast) by his father Venkateshwara Avadhani and mother Anantha Lakshmamma. Venkateshwara Avadhani had studied the Vedas, though learning English was the current fashion.

The pious couple desired very much to have a son after begetting four daughters. Avadhani used to wake

up early in the morning, bathe in the river and worship Lord Bhavani Shankara, the local deity, with Rudrabhishekha. This he did for a year. He also used to perform Sri Rama Navaratrotsava. He took a vow to name his child after Sita and Rama if his wish was fulfilled. The Lords Shankara and Rama were kind to him. He was blessed with a son. For her part Smt. Anantalakshmamma had sought Lord Anjaneya’s favour and promised to name the male child born to her ‘Anjaneyulu’. Hence the infant was named Sitarama Anjaneyulu.Sitarama Anjaneyulu even at the age of three evinced signs of great devotion towards god. The name of Lord Shiva was on his lips constantly. During his boyhood days he used to forget himself worshipping the Lord.

Outside school hours, he always devoted time to Sanskrit studies. By the time he was nine, he had considerable command over the language. He was aware of its subtleties. Scholars and poets, including the Kavi Samrat Sri Viswanatha Satyanarayana, praised him for his eloquence. He won a number of prizes and was invited by All India Radio Vijayawada to participate in Sanskrit programmes.

At night, he learnt the Vedas from his father. He studied Samhita, Brahmana and Aranyaka so well that he could take part in the Guntur District Vedapravardhaka Vidwat Pariksha. He passed the examination with honours.

Command over Languages

Jagadguru Sri Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji was seen more often talking in Sanskrit than in Telugu, his mother tongue. Quite early in life, he completed his study of grammar, literature, logic and philosophy. With an inborn love of Sanskrit, he composed poetry at a very early age. Even at games he would talk in verse. Rules of prosody were never violated. Rhyme, rhythm, irony, suggestion: every poetic beauty came naturally to him. Even ordinary things of life found expression in his poetry.

The mastery of His Holiness in Indian languages is well known to devotees. The Sringeri Mutt has under its preview Andhra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. People of these states visit him to pay their respects and are naturally drawn by his amazing versatility in the languages together with a command over the local idiom.

In 1974 on the day in which he was initiated into Sanyasa, His Holiness spoke in Kannada for the first time at the felicitation meeting with such a telling eloquence that all those present, including ministers, High Court judges, members of the Legislature and University professors, could not control their admiration while listening to him. A few months after Sishya Sweekaram both the Holinesses started on a Vijayayatra to Rameshwaram. Enroute at Gobichettipalayam, the Acharya delivered a speech in chaste Tamil, electrifying the devotees as they had never expected such a clear language flow from someone whose language was not Tamil and who had not been taught Tamil by anyone. The eloquence with which he delivers speeches in Telugu, his mother tongue, is indeed a matter of rare experience. Sri Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji accompanied his Guru in his tour of the northern parts of India, and lectured in Hindi. His benedictory speeches were highly appreciated. Even scholars in Hindi language and literature were fascinated with his melodious Sanskritised Hindi.

All his speeches have one thing in common. They are built brick by brick on a sound proposition. They are forceful, thought-provoking and inspiring. The language is always within the reach of the listeners. He reminds us of the ancient sages who taught in the gurukulams.

The Guru Gita instructs : “One should meditate on one’s Guru throughout one’s life. Even though one enjoys independence, one should not show even a fraction of indifference in one’s attitudes towards one’s Guru.” For Jagadguru Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji (also Sri Sannidhanam), His Guru

Jagadguru Sri Sri Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamigal (also Sri Maha Sannidhanam) was everything. He never let the fact that he had been given a separate identity as the Peetadhipati, distract him at any time. Sri Sannidhanam’s mind was ever engrossed on his guru.

Those who have had the great fortune of seeing both the Acharyas together, could have noticed the great reverence with which Sri Sannidhanam conducted himself in the presence of his Guru. Sri Sannidhanam used to visit Sri Mahasannidhanam every morning, offer His prostrations at the sacred lotus feet of His beloved Guru and only then commence the day’s work. Whenever Sri Maha Sannidhanam spoke to Sri Sannidhanam, the latter would reverentially bend forward and listen. Whenever they walked together, Sri Sannidhanam would never over-step his Guru. Whenever both of them were to occupy their seats,

Devotion to Guru

Sri Sannidhanam would wait for Sri Mahasannidhanam to be seated first. Sometimes when Sri Sannidhanam arrived a little later than Sri Mahasannidhanam to attend a function, He would pay his respects to His Guru first and only then take his seat. Sri Sannidhanam would listen to Sri Mahasannidhanam’s discourses intently. While conducting the Vidwat Sadas (an assembly of scholars), Sri Sannidhanam would ensure that whatever He talked met with Sri Mahasannidhanam’s approval. Admiring the divine relationship between Sri Mahasannidhanam and Sri Sannidhanam, Dr. Mandana Mishra, a reputed educationalist and Sanskrit scholar, once said to Mahasannidhanam: “We have read that Shankara’s disciples went with him. How was he? How were his disciples? I was only conjecturing. Now I have come to the conclusion that they must have been like this. It is so satisfying.”

Ideal Pontiff

For the convenience of the increasingly large number of devotees and pilgrims coming to Sringeri, the most compassionate Guru, Sri Mahasannidhanam, had decided in the mid-1980s to construct a bridge across the river Tunga to link the Mutt complex on the northern bank with Narasimhavanam on the southern bank. He had entrusted the design and construction of the bridge to a reputed concern with the requisite expertise. The top management of the company held His Holiness in great regard and undertook the task with dedication. Sri Mahasannidhanam lucidly explained the requirements and his conception of the bridge. He unfailingly kept himself fully posted with the developments. Unmindful of the strain, he regularly visited the construction site, keenly observed the work and, whenever appropriate, proffered encouragement and sagacious counsel. By his grace considerable progress was made by the time he attained Maha Samadhi in September 1989. Actively interested in the quick completion of the noble task commenced by iis Guru, His Holiness finally inaugurated the bridge on 21st May 1990. He named the bridge Vidyatirtha Sethu.

The Sharada Dhanvantari Charitable hospital run by the Mutt at Sringeri is the brainchild of Sri Mahasannidhanam who strongly felt that the residents of Sringeri and of the neighboring areas should be given proper medical facilities. The 100-bed hospital received constant attention from Sri Mahasannidhanam who took all steps to modernize it in all respects. The hospital now has separate units for ‘Ayurveda’ and ‘Homeopathy’ too. A ‘Photo Gama Isotope Scanner’ was installed in the hospital in November 1992.

Sri Mahasannidhanam always gave priority to the needs of Vedic Scholars. He was very firm in His view that in order to protect the Vedas, we must protect Vedic Scholars. Sri Sannidhanam was fully aware of His beloved Guru’s praiseworthy intentions. Following Sri Mahasannidhanam’s magnanimous attitudes, Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji has compassionately announced a lifetime allowance of Rs.1000/- per month to deserving Sastra Pundits. Paying a fitting tribute to Sri Mahasannidhanam, Sri Sannidhanam had a beautiful and majestic granite Adhistanam (Samadhi temple) built at Narasimhavanam. Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji performed the Kumbabhisheka of the Adhistanam on the 12th of May 1993. At Sringeri, under Jagadguru Sri Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji, the Mutt has undergone many changes. Now one can write to the office in any of the Indian languages, or in English. Under the directions of His Holiness, a lot of improvement has been made in the Veda Patashalas. Most competent and well-learned scholars have been appointed to teach the students. Free food, textbooks and comfortable accommodation have been provided to the students. Sri Mahasannidhanam not merely supervises the schools, but also teaches the senior students. He personally conducts tests, encourages deserving students, tries to help the slow learners and encourages even the teachers through some programmes. The Veda Patashala has been producing competent scholars who settle down in various parts of the country and serve as Pundits or Purohits. As for performances of Homas and Yagnas Sri Mahasannidhanam personally supervises them so that the scriptural injunctions are implemented to the last letter. The Mutt conducts Sata Chandi Homa, Sahasra Chandi Homa, Atirudra Homa and the like for the welfare of the world.

Sri Mahsannidhanam, an authority on the scriptures, sees to it that they serve their purpose. Sri Mahasannidhanam, being aware of the increasing inflow of pilgrims and devotees, has had new guest houses built and named them ‘Sri Sharada Krupa’ and ‘Yatri Nivas’.

Sri Mahaswamiji is accessible to the devotees twice a day, in the morning during the theertha prasadam distribution and in the evening. His Holiness receives everyone cheerfully, with a smile. He poses tender questions, listens to what they have to say and offers valuable suggestions. He accepts Bhiksha and witnesses the Pada Puja, which the devotees perform to his Guru’s and to Goddess Sharada’s Padukas.

Even though his daily schedules are very tight, His Holiness attends to all his pontifical duties with admirable enthusiasm and sincerity keeping in mind not only the rich traditional values of the Sringeri Guru Parampara but also the great responsibility entrusted to him by His peerless Preceptor, Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji.

Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji’s unquestionable scriptural knowledge would be evident to anyone who has watched His Holiness during the Vidwat Sadas dedicated to Lord Ganapati, conducted every year for 10 days commencing on the fourth day of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Bhadrapada. The Sadas is held every evening in the august presence of His Holiness. Learned scholars and philosophers, invited from all over India and Nepal, assemble in the Sadas. It is customary for each Vidwan to choose some text and analyze it in the mornings with other Vidwans and discuss it in detail in the evenings in the august presence of His Holiness. His Holiness encourages candid communication among the scholars and intervenes when any issue remains undecided and settles the same in his characteristic style. The most impressive aspect in the Sadas is Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji’s off-hand quoting of Sastraic passages and his encouragement to young scholars and debutants.

For the past many years, during the Chaturmasya period, his Holiness has been conducting classes in the Brahma Sutras to a select band of sincere devotees. The students invariably assert that they are delighted by the lucid way in which His Holiness makes them understand the text.

Sri Shankara Bhagavatpada in his Mathamnaya Sashana said that any sage occupying the position of the Jagadguru of Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham in the unbroken apostolic succession is an incarnation of himself. Jagadguru Sri Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji is a worthy example.

The Astrological eMagazine family offers its reverential pranams to the lotus feet of our Kula Guru Sri Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji on the sacred occasion of his 71st Vardhanti.

Sarve Janah Sukhino Bhavantu ! (Source: www.sringeri.net and other online sites)

PLANETS AND COVID-19 THIRD WAVE Continued from page 14

on May 22 only adding to the misery. As days progress, the cases around the world will continue to rise, becoming deadlier. Mars moves to Cancer on June 3, 2021 easing things a bit. It will no longer be aspecting Virgo and Sagittarius. This is when we can see the cases mortality rates to reduce but the number of cases will continue to rise across the globe. Around third week of July 2021 is when we will see the cases to flatten and by August they will decline.

Fast forward to second week of October 2021. Jupiter retrogrades back to Capricorn. Around that time, Mars, Mercury, and the Sun are in Virgo activating the sign. Venus, Moon and Ketu are in Scorpio activating it. Sagittarius gets mildly activated due to the aspect of Mars. Capricorn will be activated by biggies Jupiter and Saturn. A third wave of the coronavirus is seen at this time. The wave will be deadlier. As all the nine

planets – the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Rahu, and Ketu will be affecting the crucial signs – Virgo, Scorpio, Sagittarius, and

Capricorn. Things will be quite bad in October and November. As Jupiter enters Aquarius again, the mortality rates might improve. The trends will continue till April 2022. As planets move further and leave Capricorn, the situation will improve. By April 2022.

In summary, it appears that a third wave is expected in the month of October 2021. The wave will be deadlier. And the wave is likely to end by July 2022. I’ve made an attempt to design an astrological model for the Covid-19 pandemic. The outlook basis this model looks scary and terrifying. I sincerely hope that my model is flawed and that the Covid-19 pandemic ends very soon without a third wave. I also earnestly request you to stay safe, maintain personal hygiene, observe physical distancing and help #breakthechain. Astrological indications are not deterministic. With considerable human effort coupled with Mantra japams and Yagnas, the intensity of the evil events can be diminished. I recommend you do Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra japam daily. The japam should be done immediately after sunset for 108 times or as many multiples of that. Along with the Japam, I recommend performing Agnihotra Homa weekly. The homam can be done in your respective houses. You can do the homan yourself and without the service of a priest.

Sarve Janaha Sukhino Bhavantu