Friday 30 May 2014

మీరాబాయి


మీరాబాయి 1498 లో రాజస్థాన్‌లో మెర్బా పట్టణంలో రాధోర్స్ రాజవంశంలో జన్మించింది. ఈమె తండ్రి రావు రతన్‌సింగ్ గొప్ప వైష్ణవ భక్తుడు. వీరు నివసించే ఇంటికి సమీపంలో ఒక విష్ణు దేవాలయం ఉండేది. మీరాబాయి తన తల్లిదండ్రులతో తరచు ఈ విష్ణుదేవాలయానికి వెళ్ళి పూజలు చేస్తూండేది. అక్కడ విష్ణువుని స్తుతించే స్తోత్రాలు, కీర్తనలు మిరాబాయి మనస్సులో పూర్తిగా నాటుకున్నాయి. 

నాలుగైదు సంవత్సరాల బాలికగా ఉన్న మీరాబాయి ఒకనాడు ఒక పెళ్ళి ఊరేగింపులో గుర్రం మీద పెళ్ళికొడుకుని, పల్లకిలో పెళ్ళికూతురుని చూచింది. వెంటనే తనుకూడా పెళ్ళి చేసుకోవాలని పట్టుపట్టింది. మీరాకి ఇంకా పెండ్లి ఈడు రాలేదని, కొంచెం పెద్దదైన తరువాత పెళ్ళి చేసుకోవాలని తల్లి చెప్పింది. కానీ మీరా పట్టినపట్టు వీడలేదు. అప్పుడు తల్లి పరిహాసంగా " అయితే చేసుకో, పూజామందిరంలో కృష్ణుని పెళ్ళి చేసుకో అంది. మీరాకి పట్టరాని సంతోషం కలిగింది. ఆనందంతో పూజామందిరంలో కృష్ణుని విగ్రహం దగ్గరకు చెంగు చెంగున పరుగెత్తి వెళ్ళింది. విగ్రహాన్ని రెండు చేతులతో ఎత్తి ముఖానికి అద్దుకుంది. 

ఆనాటినుంచి శ్రీకృష్ణ విగ్రహం మీద మీరాకి భక్తి పెరిగింది. రాను రాను ఈ భక్తి దివ్య ప్రేమగా మారిపోయింది. ఇంతలో మిరాబాయి యుక్తవయస్సులో తల్లి మరణించింది. మీరాకి 18 సంవత్సరాలు వయస్సు వచ్చింది. మీరాకి వివాహం ఎంతమాత్రం ఇష్టం లేదు. శ్రీకృషునికి తన హృదయాన్ని ఏనాడో అర్పించుకున్నానని చెప్పింది. కానీ ఈమె మాటను ఎవరూ వినలేదు. 

వివాహం అయిన తరువాత మీరాబాయి ప్రతీదినం గంటల తరబడి తన శ్రీకృష్ణ విగ్రహాన్ని తన్మయత్వంతో పూజిస్తూ ఉండేది. దీనివల్ల నిత్య గృహకృత్తాలకు ఆటంకం కలుగుతూండేది. అత్తవారింట్లో ఆమెను తరచు దూషిస్తూండేవారు. ఆమెకు వివాహ జీవితం సుఖం అనిపించలేదు. 1523 లో భోజ్‌రాజ్ విస్పంతుగా మరణించాడు. ఒకదానిపై ఒకటి అనేక కష్టాలు ఏర్పడ్డాయి. రాజపుత్రులకు మంచి రోజులు మారిపోయాయి. 

మిరాబాయికి ప్రాపంచిక సుఖాలమీద విరక్తి కలిగింది. శ్రీకృష్ణునిపై విశ్వాసం, భక్తి స్థిరపడిపోయింది. తరచు దివ్యోన్మాదంతో తన్మయం పొందుతూండేది. దేవాలయంలో శ్రీకృష్ణుని దివ్య విగ్రహహం ముందు కూర్చుని కూర్చి పాడుతూండేది. ఈమెపాడే పాటలకు ముగ్ధులై అనేక మంది భక్తులు చేరేవారు. ఏమే పారమార్థిక జీవితం ఉపద్రవకరంగా ఉందని రాజవంశీయులు తమ గౌరవాన్ని నిలబెట్టుకోడానికి ఈమెను హత్యచేయడానికి ప్రయత్నించారు. 

ఒక బుట్టలో పామును పెట్టి పూవులదండ అని చెప్పి ఆమె ఆ పామును పూలమాలగా కంఠంలో ధరించింది.మరొకసారి ఒక చిన్న బంగారుగిన్నెలో విషం కలిపిన పాలు ఇచ్చారు. నిర్భయంగా ఆ పాలను త్రాగింది. 

మీరా చిత్తూరులో నివసించడానికి ఇష్టపడ లేదు. శ్రీకృష్ణుని వివాహం చేసుకున్నాననే విశ్వాసం ఆమెలో
జనించింది. భక్తితో సేవలు, పూజలుచేస్తూ పాటలు పాడుకుంటూ దివ్యనామ సంకీర్తనంతో రాజస్థాన్‌కు ప్రయాణం ప్రారంభించింది. భక్తురాలైన మీరాని దర్శించడానికి వివిధ మూలల నుంచి అనేక మంది భక్తులు వచ్చేవారు. జనం మూగి తన భక్తికి అంతరాయం కలిగిస్తున్నారని తలచి ఆమె దూరంగా గుజరాత్ లో ద్వారక చేరుకుంది. ఊరువిడిచి వెళ్ళిపోయినందుకు అనేకమంది విచారించారు. కొంత మంది ఆమెను తిరిగి స్వగ్రామానికి తీసుకురావడానికి ద్వారకకు వెళ్ళారు. 

మీరా శ్రీకృష్ణ విగ్రహం ముందు నిలిచి వెళ్ళడానికి అనుజ్ఞ ఇమ్మని వేడుకుంది. నాట్యంచేసి శ్రీకృష్ణునిపై రచించిన భక్తి పాటలు పాడింది. శ్రీకృష్ణ విగ్రహం పాదాలపై బడి పాదాలను కళ్ళకు అద్దుకుంది. చూస్తూండగానే శ్రీ కృష్ణ విగ్రహంతో ఐక్యమైపోయింది. రాజస్థాన్‌కి తిరిగి వెళ్ళలేదు.

Wednesday 28 May 2014

మతాలకి పునాది విగ్రహారాధనే...!

ఒక బిడ్డకి తన తల్లి, తన పాఠశాలలోనే ఉపాధ్యాయినిగా పనిచేస్తే ఎలా ఉంటుందో అలా ఉంటాడు భక్తునితో పరమాత్మ. పాఠశాల సమయమంతా బాధ్యతతో ఉపాధ్యాయినిగా ఉన్నా, తల్లి తన బిడ్డని మాత్రం అమ్మగానే కనిపెట్టుకుని ఉంటుంది. తనకేమన్నా అయితే మాత్రం అన్నీ మరిచి వెంటనే అమ్మైపోతుంది, ఆదుకుంటుంది, అప్పుడు ఆ విషయం మనకు అర్థమౌతుంది. 

పరమాత్మ కూడా అంతే. దీనినే సౌలభ్యత అంటారు. ఇది పరమాత్మ అనంత కళ్యాణ గుణాలలో ఒకటి.
పనుల్లో, బాధ్యతల్లో అమ్మ అనేక రూపాలలో ఉంటుంది, ఎక్కడ ఎలా ఉన్నా బిడ్డకి అమ్మ అమ్మలాగే కావాలి. సృష్టి, స్థితి, లయలలో, భగవంతునికి ఎన్ని రూపాలున్నా తనకి అత్యంత సౌలభ్యమైన సౌకర్యవంతమైన దగ్గరైన రూపంలో భగవంతుడు భక్తుల కోసం ఉంటాడు. అలాంటి ఊతాన్నే, అలాంటి రూపాన్నే భక్తుడు కోరుకుంటాడు. ఇక్కడి నుండే బయలుదేరుతుంది విగ్రహారాధన. రూప్యోపాసన, సగుణోపాసన, ప్రతిమోపాసన, సాకారాధన, అర్చారాధన, విగ్రహారాధన ఇలా ఎన్నో పేర్లు.
ఎన్నో మతాలలో ప్రత్యక్ష విగ్రహారాధన లేకపోయినా ప్రతి మతంలో ప్రతీకాత్మక ఆరాధన జరుగుతుంది. ఇది కాదనలేని సత్యం. నిర్వికారుడైన, నిరాకారుడైన పరమాత్మకి రూపం ఎలా వుంటుంది అనేది విగ్రహారాధనని నమ్మని వారి వాదన. సర్వశక్తిమంతుడు, ప్రేమమయుడైన పరమాత్మ అన్నీ చేయగలిగిన వాడై ఉండి రూపం మాత్రం ఎందుకు దాల్చలేదు అన్నది ప్రతిమోపాసకుల వాదన.
తాదాత్మ్యత పొందడానికి, ఏకాగ్రత-శ్రద్ధ పెరగడానికి, ప్రతీకోపాసన ఉపయోగ పడుతుంది అని కొందరు ఆస్తికుల వాదన. అలాగే నిర్గుణుడైన పరమాత్మని చేరడానికి సగుణోపాసన ప్రాథమికంగా దారి వేస్తుంది అనేది ఇంకొందరి వాదన. కాని విగ్రహా రాధన ప్రాథమికమైనదే కాదు, ప్రధానమైంది కూడా అని, అది మోక్షసోపానమని ఆళ్వారులు, ఇంకా భక్తి ఉద్యమకారులైన చైతన్య మహాప్రభు, వల్లభాచార్య, సూర్‌దాస్, మీరాభాయి, కబీర్, తులసీదాస్, రవిదాస్, జ్ఞాన్‌దేవ్, నామ్‌దేవ్, తుకారామ్ వంటి వారు సశాస్త్రీయంగా నిరూపించారు.
సర్వవ్యాపకుడైన పరమాత్మ విగ్రహంలో మాత్రం ఎందుకు ఉండడు? ఇది అధ్యాత్మిక కోణమే కాదు తాత్విక కోణం కూడా. జగమంతా నిండిన విష్ణువు నుండి, శ్రీరంగ వేంకటాచల క్షేత్రాల నుండి, మన గ్రామ ఆలయాల నుండి, ఇంట్లో పెట్టుకునే చిన్ని అర్చా మూర్తి వరకూ, భగవంతుని కృపా సౌలభ్యమే విగ్రహారాధన.
ఇది దారే కాదు గమ్యం కూడా. విగ్రహారాధనలో ఎంత సౌలభ్యం వుంటుందంటే ప్రాపంచికమైన విషయాలని మాత్రమే గ్రహించగల ఇంద్రియాలు సైతం ఇందులో సంతృప్తి పొందుతాయి. మనో నిగ్రహానికి, ఏకాగ్రతకి, శ్రద్ధకి, విశ్వాసానికి, అంతర్ముఖులు కావడానికి, మొదలగు ప్రాపంచిక విషయాలే కాకుండా భక్తి, జ్ఞాన, వైరాగ్య, మోక్షాలు కూడా విగ్రహారాధనతో పొందవచ్చును.
అమ్మకి బిడ్డతో ఉండే అనుబంధమే సృష్టితో పరమాత్మకి వుంటుంది. కాబట్టి పరమాత్మ లీలా విభూతుల ఆనవాళ్ళు సృష్టిలో తప్పనిసరి. దానికి సంబంధించిన ప్రతీక-ప్రతిమోపాసనే మన సంప్రదాయం!. ప్రతిమోపాసనతో ఆ దివ్యపురుషుని లీలలు, గాథలు, బోధలు మనసున నిల్పుకోవడం, మననం చేసుకోవడం, ముక్తులమవడం సులభతరమౌతుంది. 
దైవం తప్ప ద్వైతం లేదని చెప్పే ఆది శంకరులు కూడా విగ్రహారాధననే సూచించారు. గోవిందుడి నుండి శివ, శక్తి, సుబ్రహ్మణ్యుని వరకు తను చేసిన మహిమాన్విత అద్భుత స్తోత్రాలే అందుకు నిదర్శనం. చరిత్రలోనే మొట్టమొదటిసారి దళితులకి ఆలయప్రవేశం కల్పించి, రహస్యమైన నారాయణ మంత్రాన్ని గోపురమెక్కి జనులందరికీ ఎలుగెత్తి పంచి, లక్షలాది మందిని ప్రభావితం చేసిన భగవద్రామానుజుల విప్లవ చైతన్యానికి విగ్రహారాధనే పునాది. అద్వైత, విశిష్టాద్వైత, ద్వైత, వైష్ణవ, శైవ, శాక్తేయ, గాణాపత్య, పంచాయతన.. ఇలా సనాతన ధర్మంలోని ఎన్నో మతాలకి పునాది విగ్రహారాధనే.
 
ఆచారాన్ని పెద్దల మాటని నమ్మి ఆచరించే వాడు కారణ-హేతువులని పెద్దగా ఆలోచించడు. ప్రభాత సమయంలో సింహంలా లేచిన రాముడు, 'ఈ అడవిలో మనం ఎటువైపు వెళ్లాలి?' అని గురువు విశ్వామిత్రుడిని వినయంతో ప్రశ్నిస్తాడు. అప్పుడు విశ్వామిత్రుడు,"ఏష పంధా మయొద్దిష్ఠో ఏషయాంతి మయర్షయ:", మహర్షులు ఏ దారిలోనైతే వెళ్ళారో అదే దారిలో మనమూ వెళ్లదుము గాక అని చెబుతాడు.   

Tuesday 27 May 2014

Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahasamsthanam, Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri.

Welcome to Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahasamsthanam, Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri. The Peetham is the first and foremost of the four Peethams established by the renowned 8th century philosopher saint Sri Adi Shankara, the principal exponent of Advaita (non-dualism). The Divinity of Knowledge, Goddess Sharada, installed at Sringeri by Sri Adi Shankara, graces the Peetham as the presiding deity. Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamigal, the 36th in the illustrious and unbroken lineage of Acharyas presently adorns the throne of transcendental wisdom - the Vyakhyana Simhasana, the title associated with the Pontifical Seat of the Peetham. The Jagadguru upholds the activities of the Peetham towards the propagation and sustenance of Sanatana Dharma while pervading the lives of many thousands of disciples as their spiritual guide.

Location

Located amongst the lush green mountain ranges of the Sahyadri, Sringeri is located in the modern day district of Chickmagalur in the state of Karnataka in India.

History

Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada established the first of the four Amnaya Peethams1 at Sringeri more than twelve centuries ago to foster the sacred tradition of Sanatana Dharma.
Hallowed for all times by Sage Rishyashringa who stayed and performed Tapas here, Sringeri attracted the great Acharya with a remarkable sight.
Sringeri
A contemporary painting of Sringeri
Tradition has it that after the Acharya had dispersed all the non-Vedic creeds prevailing in the country, He was on the look-out for a convenient and holy place where he could establish an institution to spread the truths of Advaita Vedanta. When the Acharya came to Sringeri, he saw an unusual sight on the banks of the Tunga. A cobra was seen spreading out its hood over a frog in labour pains, to give it shadow from the scorching mid-day sun. Struck with the sanctity of the place, which could infuse love between natural adversaries, the Acharya chose this very location to establish His first Math.

Sri Kappe Shankara - A Shrine on the banks of the Holy Tunga river in memory to the
glorious sight witnessed by Sri Adi Shankaracharya; A serpent giving shade  from the
scorching sun to a pregnant frog in labour pains
The Madhaviya Shankara Digvijayam describes that the Acharya came across many virtuous people at Sringeri and taught them the doctrine of Advaita. He then invoked the Divinity of Knowledge, Goddess Sharada and consecrated an icon of the Goddess. Thus the Peetham He founded at Sringeri in South India for fostering the Vedas and the sacred tradition of Sanatana Dharma came to be known as the Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham.
The Acharya appointed his prime disciple, Sri Sureshwaracharya as the first Acharya of the Peetham. Since then, the Peetham has been blessed with an unbroken Guru Parampara, a garland of spiritual masters and Jivanmuktas representing Sri Adi Shankaracharya. The succeeding Acharyas have led a life of such austere penance that it has led disciples to adore in them the radiance of Sri Adi Shankara Himself.
Besides being a centre of spiritual power, Sringeri also came to be known as a great place of traditional learning owing to the presence of Goddess Sharada and the erudition of the Acharyas of the Peetham. The Acharyas were instrumental in bringing forth commentaries on the Vedas and in further expounding the Bhashyas of Sri Adi Shankaracharya. The Acharyas also wrote a number of independent works related to Advaita besides producing a number of hymns underlining their ardent devotion to the non-dual Supreme worshipped in multifarious forms. The Peetham thus came to be regarded as the Vyakhyana Simhasana, The Throne of Transcendental Wisdom. Consequently, the Birudavali hails the Acharya as the occupier of this throne. Many regard Goddess Sharada Herself to be moving in the form of the presiding Acharya of the Peetham.
In the 14th century, royal patronage to the Peetham began with the founding of the famous Vijayanagar empire under the divine guidance of the 12th Acharya, Jagadguru Sri Vidyaranya. The austerity of the Acharya influenced the rulers to such an extent that they began ruling in the name of the Acharya and granted the Peetham the rights over secular administration of the land. At the rulers’ request, the Acharya began conducting a Durbar during the Navaratri festival - an occasion deemed by the rulers to honour their Guru. Subsequently, the Acharya came to be known as the Karnataka Simhasana Prathisthapanacharya and the Peetham became a mighty institution - a Samsthanam and is known to this day as the Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahasamsthanam, Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham at Sringeri. Over the succeeding centuries, a number of empires and rulers including the Mysore Maharajahs Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, the Nizam of Hyderabad, the Peshwas and the Keladi rulers and Travancore Rajas were drawn towards the Peetham and respected the Acharya as their Guru.

Sri Vidyaranya Mahaswami being accorded royal honour in the Adda-Pallaki by the
Vijayanagara Emperors,  Harihara and Bukkaraya. A 17th century painting based on the
mural at Virupaksha temple at Hampi. This tradition has continued
since then and is followed even today.
In the recent past, the Sharada Peetham has shone through the lives of the Acharyas - Jagadguru Sri Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Nrisimha Bharati Mahaswamigal, the re-discoverer of Sri Adi Shankara’s birthplace at Kalady and the founder of the famous Pathashala at Sringeri; followed by the renowned Jivanmukta, Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekhara Bharati Mahaswamigal; succeeded by the crest jewel of Yogis, Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamigal. They have all left indelible impressions in the hearts of the disciples.
With such a rich history associated with Sri Adi Shankaracharya’s first and foremost Peetham, many wonder at the aptness of the Acharya’s choice of locating the Peetham at Sringeri, a spot replete with a hoary past, and bountiful with natural splendour and serenity.
Today, the Sringeri Sharada Peetham bedecked with an unbroken chain of Acharyas continues to uphold the principles of Sanatana Dharma with the 36th Acharya Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji acting as a treasure of spiritual wisdom and peace for all seekers.

Jagadguru Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji worshipping Lord Chandramoulishwara

Glossary

1. Amnaya Peetham
Amnaya–The Veda; Peetham–Throne. Lit. throne of the Veda. Seat of learning established for the preservation and propogation of the Veda. Jagadguru Shankaracharya established four centres in the four corners of the country for the safeguard and propogation of the four Vedas and appointed each of his prime ascetic disciples as the heads of each centre respectively.
2. Sanatana Dharma
Hoary / Universal Dharma. Lit. Universal law that is binding on all creation since time immemorial.

Sage Rishyashringa


A sculpture of Sage Sri Rishyashringa in the temple at Kigga
Sringeri is hallowed for all times by the ancient legend of the sage Sri Rishyasringa. Sage Vibhandaka, by a curious combination of circumstances, became the father of a child, with a horn in the forehead, born of a deer. He found himself responsible for the proper upbringing of the child, whom he named as Rishyasringa. He thought that the easiest way to keep his son innocent of the worldly ways was to keep him in forest isolation. He succeeded to such an extent that when the boy matured into manhood, he had never set eyes on any human being other than his own father. He was even unaware of sexual distinction.
It so chanced that a neighbouring kingdom, which was then ruled by a king named Romapada, suffered from a severe drought. The king was advised by his ministers that there would be rains if sage Rishyasringa, blessed his kingdom with the touch of his holy feet. Romapada sent a number of fair damsels to the forest to bring the sage. They were however afraid of sage Vibhandaka, and so approached the hermitage when he was absent.
King Romapada, learning that the boy-sage had started from his hermitage, waited to receive him at the frontiers of his kingdom. The instant the holy sage stepped on the soil, the heavens opened up and poured-down life giving showers. The king, thankful for the favour conferred on him, showed his gratitude by offering the hand of his daughter, Santha, in marriage to the sage. Rishyasringa accepted her as his wife and remained in the king’s palace as an honoured guest for sometime.

Doll arrangement depicting the performance of Putrakameshti Yaga by
King Dasharatha officiated by Sage Rishyashringa
It was during this period that Dasaratha, King of Ayodhya, invited him to officiate in the yaga named Putrakameshti, by which he was blessed with four sons, Sri Rama and others. Sage Rishyasringa felt that his married life was not without its merits. It gave him an opportunity to usher into this world Sri Rama, the personification of Dharma.

The Linga

Yet he felt himself called back to his native forest with its holy atmosphere. He retired to the forest to spend the remainder of his life in divine contemplation. When he shuffled off his mortal coil, a lightning issued forth from his body and disappeared into the Linga he was worshipping as a symbol of formless Absolute.

The Shiva-Linga of Sage Rishyashringa at Kigga
This Linga can be seen even now in the temple at Kigga, a village about 7 Km from Sringeri. Unlike others, this Linga is invested with a horn on its head, to commemorate the merger of the sage Rishyasringa.
The Linga that was worshipped by the sage Vibhandaka and into which he himself disappeared in the end is on the summit of a hillock. This is situated in the centre of Sringeri. The Linga is known as Malahanikareshwara (destroyer of the impurities of the Jiva) and is worshipped even today.

Sculpture at the temple of Sri Malahanikareswhwara at Sringeri
depicting Sage Vibhandaka worshipping a Shiva Linga

Sri Adi Shankaracharya

Sri Adi Shankaracharya
Sri Adi Shankaracharya (CE 788 - 820)

What is An Avatar?

The Supreme power assumes form from time to time to bring erring humanity back to the correct path. Leaving His all pervading spirit unaffected, He incarnates choosing a form, place and time. The form and nature He takes will depend on the cause and circumstances leading to the Avatara. Avataras differ in the vehicles or medium through which the Supreme manifests itself, according to the requirement. This is understandable as whenever we find the emergence of a great personality of Superhuman strength advocating or championing the cause of the eternal principles and values of life and Dharma and achieving great things, we are apt to call it an ‘Avatar’. The ultimate purpose of an incarnation is always the re-establishment of right values, of Dharma in the world. Accordingly, we accept Sri Adi Shankaracharya as an ‘Avatar’ of Lord Shiva. Sri Bhagavatpada Shankaracharya, was not only a great thinker and the noblest of Advaitic philosophers but he was essentially an inspired champion of Hinduism and one of the most rigorous missionary leaders in our country. No matter what superlative we wish to apply to Adi Shankara’s genius, words would scarce suffice to describe even an iota of the mystic we know as Shankara!

Pressing need for Sri Shankara Bhagavatpada Acharya’s avatar

When the Vaidic mode of communion with the ultimate was in jeopardy, with the rejuvenation and reassertion of its wisdom being a pressing need, Adi Shankara strode like a majestic lion across the country taking all other lions in his stride and converted even die hards making them opt for the path illumined by Upanishads, such a powerful leader was needed at that time when Hinduism had been almost smothered within an enticing entanglements of atheistic views and consequently the Hindu Society came to be disunited and broken up into numberless sects and denominations each championing a different new point and engaged in mutual quarrels and endless argumentations.
It was into such a chaotic intellectual atmosphere that Sri Shankara brought his life giving philosophy of non-dual Brahaman of the Upanishads. It can very well be understood what a colossal work it must have been for any one man to undertake in those days, when modern conveniences of mechanical transport and instruments of propaganda were unknown.

A peerless mystic

Also as a peerless mystic, Adi Shankara could well have united his ambit to only the fortunate ones. He could as well have been totally reclusive and stayed away from it all. Yet, he chose to illumine the path of divine in an exemplary manner propounding his wisdom among even the uninitiated common, ordinary people, in a manner suited to the listener’s capacity. He was fully awakened and totally aware of the intricacies of the unknown, yet he was humble and wise, as only the truly great ones can be.
In His missionary work of propagating the great philosophical truths of the Upanishads and rediscovering through them the true cultural basis of our nation, Acharya Shankara had a variety of efficient weapons in his resourceful armory. An exquisite thinker, a brilliant intellect, a personality scintillating super think tank with the vision of Truth, a heart throbbing with industrious faith and ardent desire to serve the nation, sweetly emotional and relentlessly logical, Adi Shankara was the fittest Spiritual General to champion the cause of Upanishads. It was indeed a vast program that Shankara accomplished within the short span of 20 effective years for at the age of 32 he had finished his work and had folded up his manifestation.
From masculine prose to feminine soft songs, from marching militant verses to dancing songful words, be in the halls of Upanishadic commentaries or in the temple of Brahmasutra expositions, in the theatre of his Bhagavad Gita discourses or in the open flowery fields of his devotional songs, His was a pen that danced to the rhythm of His heart and to the swing of His thoughts. But pen alone would not have won the war of culture for our country. He showed himself to be a great organizer, a far sighted diplomat courageous hero and a tireless servant of the country.
Before the advent of Sri Shankara numerous ritualistic cults engendered unclear practices which cried for reform. Sri Shankara completed this task. He gave them a new, purer and purposeful outlook. Working through its own tradition, each system or cult was helped to discipline mind conduct and practices, to be able to progress with the higher forum of truth. The evils were cleansed in the practice of rituals and a place was assigned to each cult in what may be described as a `federation of faiths’ with the prospect of leading its rotary to the understanding of Upanishadic ideal. Refinement of religious beliefs and practices leads to refinement of character and social respectability.

His message in a nutshell

The message that is contained in elaborate discussions in the Bhashyas of Sri Shankara is often succinctly expressed in a century of verses, in ten verses, in one verse or even half a verse. He has reconciled the seemingly contradictory conclusions of the Upanishads and in the integrated view that He has presented the eternal, impersonal, consciousness Absolute isthe Brahman, the one without a second. By His power which is inscrutable ( अनिर्वचनीया ) and called maya, or mitya, He appears as the universe, conditions by space, Time, etc., that are ever changing. The jiva is not different from the absolute Brahman, but due to Upadhis appears to be different and subject to limitations. The Upadhis limit comprehensions and are unreal like limitless space appearing like room space, pot space, etc…
Once the conditioning factors vanish, jiva is seen as one with Brahman as taught in the Mahavakya of the Upanishads. The Knowledge of this oneness is liberation or moksha. Karma and Bhakti help from a distance in the attainment of Jnana by bestowing the needed mental purity when done in a spirit of dedication to Iswara.
In His Bhashya on the topic of meditation, Sri Shankara clearly differentiates the qualification between “seeking to scale yoga’s peak ” and “having scaled the same”. He maintains that one who has ascended the yoga has to simply maintain this equipoise, i.e. till chitta shuddhi is ripe enough to maintain the meditational equipoise, karma has to be done by all in nishkama spirit as a dedication to God.
He has also declared in many places that even the obligatory works done in Nishkama spirit have punya as the fruit. He said that any karma done, having been dedicated to God may not bear fruit is improper, indeed such dedication should make work non-fruitful besides bestowing the required mental purity. He Uses the word “फलसंकल्पस्य चित्तविक्षेपहेतुत्वात्”,- in this Geeta Bhashya i.e. mental clinging to the fruits of actions distracts. Therefore any doer of actions who has given up mental clinging to the fruits is a yogin, his mind concentrated, not being distracted. Hence Karma Must not be neglected.
Though Brahman alone is Absolute Truth (Paramarthika), the knowledge of the objective universe - erroneous form the highest stand point - can still be considered as a relative kind of truth for worldly transactions e.g., a mud pot, though a mud, can still be retained for keeping the water in it.
Every one of the several schools which developed in the past Shankara age, bears the influence of Sri Shankara’s teachings in one form or other. His message boils down to the formula - natural growth, assimilating what is compatible and `co-existence’ with what is incompatible.

Few instances of Acharya’s boundless mercy

Though gifted with miraculous yogic powers, the Acharyas of old, never found leisure in their life time to write their autobiography. Self effacement was the very spirit that governed their life and activities. And yet Sri Adi Shankara was not averse to using his yogic powers for temporal uplift of the unfortunate, as for instance, in his permanently enriching a poor woman by instant composition of the Kanakadhara Stotram, a hymn in praise of Goddess Mahalakshmi, which made Goddess shower her bounty in the form of golden amalakas into the house. Such instances of Shankara’s innate, boundless mercy abound in his short but effective life spans. The mysterious phenomenon of lotuses blossoming forth underneath Sri Sanandana’s feet, as he strode across the swollen Ganga on hearing his Master’s call out, even on others in the group scrambled towards the boatman, is well known. The leadership here, really would be demonstrative, yet remarkably silent and effective use of his yogic powers to emphasize the qualities of Sri Sanandana, who certainly deserved his Guru’s grace.

Futuristic plans ofSri Shankara Bhagavatpada Acharya’s avatar

Yet another significant aspect of brilliant leadership is vision and versatility which Acharya Sri Shankara personified in no mean measure, well versed in all shastras, endowed with razor sharp intellect and being dedicated to spreading his message to all, Sri Shankara’s futuristic vision is apparent in the methods employed for propogating the splendor of truth. Direct contact with people, through interunity travel, culminating in the establishment of the four vibrant centres of spiritual learning to cover the entire country.
Establishing 4 maths in the four quadrants of our country, opening temples, organizing halls of education, this mighty master left nothing undone in maintaining what he achieved. Among the four Maths two of them in the East and West were set up on the sea shore, while the Maths in the North and South were set up in the mountain regions. Sri Sureshwaracharya, who hailed from the north was placed in charge of the Math in the South, while Totaka from the South was sent to Badri in the North. He made it mandatory that the Nampootiris from Kerla should perform Pooja at Badri, while the Brahmins from Karnataka were assigned for Nepal. Likewise He ordained Maharashtra Brahmins to do Pujas at Rameshwaram. This shows what a broadmind He had when it came to leadership in matters of national interest.
Men of realization are of two classes. Some continue in their state of self absolution. They are charged with spirituality to their finger tips and they silently radiate spirituality to others.
Others choose to live in the world, but are not of the world; they love men and objects of the world, not in deed for themselves, but for the infinite in them. By living in their proximity, by speaking with them, one can understand more than what texts could provide.
Could any more effective resourceful and illuminating medium be visualized for achieving the goals envisaged by Sri Shankara?

The Amnaya Peethams

Of the large number of disciples who had the rare and inestimable privilege of serving the great Acharya Sri Shankara Bhagavatpada, four stand out prominent. Each one of them was unrivalled in his own way: Padmapada for intense devotion, Totaka for exemplary service, Hastamalaka for supreme self-realisation and Sureshwara for deep learning
It is well-known that Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya established four Maths in the four corners of India for the sustinence and propogation of Sanathana Dharma in the country. Each of these Amnaya Peethams had their divinities, tirthas, sampradaya, so on all of the details of which are given below.
The four disciples of Sri Adi Shankaracharya were later on installed as Acharyas of the four Maths by Sri Adi Shankaracharya himself as follows.
The fact that all these Maths function to this day shows the vigour of the movement started by Shankara for the propagation of Advaita Vedanta and Sanatana Dharma as a whole.

Temples

The following is an Excerpt from the English translation of Jagadguru Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji’s Anugrahabhashanam expounding the importance of temples.
God is everywhere. He is omnipresent, there is no place where He does not exist. This is the established conclusion of our Sanatana Vaidika Dharma.Thus when God is everywhere.

Is it proper to think that God only exists in a temple ? Is it proper to install God, who is omnipresent, inside a temple ?

This doubt arises in some people. God is omnipresent - this is the Truth. God is everywhere, God exists in every particle - this is the Truth.
It is only to reveal this truth that God emerged out of a pillar as Lord Narasimha. In the Bhagavatam, when the Lord’s incarnation as Narasimha is narrated. This same subject (omnipresence of God) is mentioned. Hiranyakashipu asks Prahlada, “You tell me that God is everywhere, is He there in this pillar?”. In reply to that Prahlada said, “Yes, God does exist in this pillar as well”. That enraged Hiranyakashipu even further. If He is there, let Him come out - saying thus he struck the pillar with his mace. At that time, Lord Narasimha emerged.
The reason for this is mentioned in the Bhagvatham. The Lord, in order to make the words of His devotee, Prahalada true, and to reveal to the world that He is omipresent, emerged from that pillar. The words of His devotee, Prahlada should not go in vain. His words must come true, at the same time the world should know that He (God) is omnipresent. Hence the Lord emerged from the pillar. Hence it is true that God is omnipresent - there is no doubt in that.

Why build a temple? Why must we consecrate the form of God here?

The answer to this question is that not all humans are alike, that is, the spiritual maturity (samskaara) of humans will not be alike. Hence we have in the Shastras  Mandaadhikaari (least qualified), Madhyamaadhikaari (moderately qualified), Uttamaadhikaari (highly qualified). It is said in the Shastras that there is a gradation in qualification. That is, in the case of an Uttamaadhikaari, he will have the Lord’s vision everywhere, he knows very well that God is everywhere, he experiences it. An example of that kind is Prahlada. Prahlada tells his father in reply to his father’s question …

Where is God?

Prahlada Says, “How can I tell you of a place where God is not present? I see only God in all places, I do not know of any place where God is not present.”
A person with this kind of spiritual maturity is called a Uttamaadhikaari. Such a Uttamaadhikaari need not go to a temple - the place where he is, is itself a temple. Since he is having the vision of God in the very place where he is, that place itself is a temple, he need not go to another temple.
However, how many people exist whose spirtual maturity is on par with that of Prahlada’s ?
That is the issue. We do not know if even one person in 1 crore or 10 crore people, will have such a spiritual maturity. For the rest of the people, if we ask whether they have the vision of God everywhere - they cannot say that it happens, they won’t say it (either). What is this? People will say that this article is a chain made out of iron. No one will say that this is God. Because according to his Samskaara (spiritual maturity), his intellect tells him that it is only a chain. Because he is a Mandaadhikaari. For such Mandaadhikaaris, if we fix a place, consecreate an idol there, according to injunctions of the Shastras, and tell him that God exists here; perform your worship here - then he will worship there. We are all Mandaadhikaaris, we don’t have the highest level of spiritual maturity.
In order that we Mandaadhikaaris also obtain the grace of God, our ancients established the medium of temples. A structure must be built and an idol of God must be consecrated according to the injunctions of the Shastras.
If a sculptor sculpts an idol, we cannot say immediately that the idol is God. According to Shastric injunctions, the necessary procedures must be performed on the idol. Only then will the Divine Presence of the Lord be established there. This is a matter of faith. We need not say anything to non-believers, neither will they listen to what we have to say. Hence we cannot consider non-believers. Astika - the person who has faith in the Shastras. We can only teach this to the one who has faith in Dharma-Adharma; Virtue-Sin; Higher Worlds; Re-birth; Heaven-Hell. The Shastras tell us that the Lord’s Divine Presence is established there by consecrating (the idol) according to the injunctions mentioned in the Shastras - we must have faith in this.
The Lord says in the Bhagavad Gita - Look! Faith is very essential for you, Whatever actions you do without faith, will not bear fruit. Whatever work you do, do it with faith.Shraddha (Faith) means belief.
शास्त्रस्य गुरुवाक्यस्य सत्यबुद्ध्यावधारणा ।
सा श्रद्धा कथिता सद्भिः यया वास्तूपलभ्यते ॥
thus said Sri Bhagavatpada. The teachings of the Shastras are true. The teachings of the Guru are true. This firm belief is called Shraddha (faith). Hence, we need faith. Without faith, our actions will not bear fruit.
Many people have a big doubt, we performed everything according to the instructions of the priest, yet our actions have not been successful. Then, is not all of this in vain? Many people have this doubt. Well, all of this is not in vain. Rather, its because we do not have proper faith.
As Lord Krishna says in the Gita -
अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत् ।
असदित्युच्यते पार्थ न च तत्प्रेत्य नो इह ॥
Whatever you do without faith - be it homa, tapas, charity, or anything else - that will not bear fruit for you. Then, just because we did not get the fruits of our actions because of our lack of faith, criticising the Shastras or critising the great people who wrote the Shastras, is not in the least bit right. Hence faith is very necessary for us, belief is very necessary.
Hence, if we consecrate (the idol) according to Shastric injunctions, the Divine Presence will prevail there. We must have complete belief in this teaching of the Shastras. We should perform that task with this belief. Further, if one asks why we build a temple , why we consecrate (an idol of) God inside…it is for common man who is a Mandaadhikaari, who does not have the spiritual maturity to see God everywhere. This is one way to secure for him, the grace of God.
In our lives, sorrow and happiness are come one after the other. During happiness, we do not even know the days are passing, But when difficulties arise, we will be suffering not knowing what to do. At that time, to whom can we go? Whom shall we tell our sufferings to? Who will dispel our sufferings?

The only answer to these questions is - a temple

Coming to the temple, we can pour out our sufferings in the presence of the Lord, if we sit in the Lord’s presence for some time and meditate, we will get a solution for our difficulties; we have direct experience of this and there is no need for any other validation. Only God helps man during difficult times - no one else. If we worship God with utmost devotion and faith and surrender, we can definitely attain the grace of God - there is no doubt in that. If we do not have that faith, the difficulty is only for us, not for God. Hence, with utmost faith and devotion, for the very reason that we would need to get all that what we desire/wish , we worship and depend on God, by consecrating Him in the temple according to Shastric injunctions.

Festivals

Following are the important annual festivals that are being celebrated at Sringeri Sharada Peetham
  • Ardrotsava
  • Makara Sankaranthi
  • Sri Lalitha Panchami
  • Ratha Sapthami
  • Rathotsava of various deities of different shrines
  • Maha Shivaratri
  • Chandramana Ugadi
  • Sri Rama Navami
  • Sri Shankara Jayanti
  • Sri Girija Kalyanam
  • Sri Nrisimha Jayanti
  • Abhishekha to Goddess Sri Sharadamba
  • Vyasa Pooja
  • Sharavana Somavara Pooja
  • Sri Varamahalakshmi Vrata
  • Sri Krishna Janmashtami
  • Swarna Gowri Vrata
  • Sri Vinayaka Vrata
  • Sri Maha Ganapati Vakyartha Sabha
  • Sri Kedereshwara Vrata
  • Sri Vamana Jayanti
  • Sri Ananthapadmanabha Vrata
  • Sri Umamaheshwara Vrata
  • Navaratri
  • Bali Padya
  • Kartika Somavara Pooja
  • Ksheerabdhi Dwadashi
  • Laksha Deepotsava
  • Kartika Somavara Pooja
  • Maha Pradosha
  • Sri Subramanya Shashti
  • Andhakasura Vadha
  • Jayanti and Aradhana of Jagadgurus
  • Vardanthi of Jagadguru
  • Pattabhishekha day of Jagadguru
  • Sanyasa Sweekara day of Jagadguru Sri Bharathi Theertha Mahaswamiji
  • Sri Kalabhairava Ashtami

Sevas

Sevas are conducted at different shrines inside the temple complex.  Devotees who wants to perform Seva are requested to approach the Seva counter at Sri Sharadamba Temple or get the assistance from the Administration Office located inside the temple complex.

Seva request by post

Devotees who could not visit personally to Sringeri can also perform Seva for the deities at Sringeri. Such devotees are requested to download and fill up the SEVA FORMAT and send it alongwith the Seva Kannikkai to  the following address –
The Administrator
Sri Sharada Peetham
Sringeri - 577 139
Dist. Chikmagalore
Karnataka
The Kannikkai alongwith Seva Format can be paid by way of Cheque or DD in favour of Sri Sharada Peetham and payable at Sringeri.  Following is a comprehensive list of sevas and pujas that can be performed at various Shrines at the Sringeri Math in Sringeri.   Sending Seva Prasadam through post will incur an additional cost.
Devotees can get their Queries  (related to Seva) clarified from the Peshkar Office over phone No. 08265 250123/250192
Kindly note that this list pertains only to Shrines at Sringeri and not at Branch Maths or Affiliate institutions. Devotees are directed to the branch maths’ respective pages for information regarding sevas and pujas at the Branch Maths.

Activities

Twelve centuries ago, Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya travelled throughout India and firmly established the correct import of Vedanta as Advaita. Sri Shankaracharya, with remarkable foresight, established the four Amnaya Peethams at Sringeri, Dwaraka, Badarinath and Puri to uphold the hoary tradition of Sanatana Dharma that He had revived and to deliver the teachings across generations to come.
In the early centuries after the time of Sri Adi Shankaracharya, the Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham at Sringeri functioned primarily as a localized centre of excellence in the study of the Shastras and Vedic observances, with the Peethadhipatis serving principally as guides to spiritual seekers approaching them.
By the 14th century, the Peetham became a Mahasamsthanam due to the impact of the philosophical genius and statesmanship of Jagadguru Sri Vidyaranya, one of the most prolific writers in Advaita Vedanta after Sri Adi Shankaracharya.
From these times, the Jagadgurus started taking active steps towards the propagation of Sanatana Dharma, primarily by undertaking Vijaya Yatras and benefitting a greater section of the society.
Over the last couple of centuries, the activities of the Peetham towards the sustenance and propagation of Sanatana Dharma have intensified. The Jagadgurus of the Peetham began touring extensively establishing branches of Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri in holy towns and important locations, and setting up traditional learning schools or Pathashalas.
In the present-day, in an increasingly adhesive society where barriers of distances and boundaries are being broken and the world is evolving into a global village, the Peetham has widened its areas of contribution to involve education, healthcare, and many social and charitable activities.
The activities of the Peetham take place through the leadership of an Administrator & CEO under the direction and inspiring guidance of the Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji.
This section of the website describes the Peetham’s activities that have evolved over the centuries, while remaining under the scope set by its great founder, Sri Adi Shankaracharya - the sustenance and propagation of Sanatana Dharma and its philosophical essence, Advaita Vedanta.

Branches

Sri Jagadguru Sankaracharya Mahasamsthanam Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetam, Sringeri has been bestowed lands, buildings and institutions from time to time in order to propagate the eternal values as profounded by Sri Adi Shankara and for pursuit of vedic studies and other activities of the institution for the benefit of people in their locations.  Presently the institution maintains more than 120 branches situated at the length and breadth of  India.
In these  branches  discussion,  Seminars,  social,  cultural, dharmic, spiritual activities  are conducted.  Further Temples, Veda patashala,  educational,  medical, libraries, Guest houses, Functional halls, temporary transit  and  other  facilities are also provided to serve the society.
These activities are managed by the Math’s representative referred as  Dharmadhikari, Mudradhikari, Manager etc. at respective branches.  These can be viewed from the Branch list menu which is organized and presented in very user friendly manner.

Pilgrim Info

Sringeri, a holy, scenic, hilly place in Karnataka is where peace is palpable, tangible.  Enchanted by the sacred spot, of matchless serenity, Sri Adi Shankaracharya founded here the first and foremost of his mathas, the Sringeri Math, also known as the Sringeri Sharada Peetham. Sringeri is where time has stood still; the Sringery of legend, the Sringery of mythology, the Sringeri of history, ancient and modern, the Sringeri where the successive Shankaracharyas have performed penance and attained samadhi, the Sringeri where there has always been a living Acharya,  in the authentic tradition of Adi Shankara to bless and guide mankind.
Nestled in a picturesque spot in the plateau of the Western Ghats, surrounded by charming hills rising on all sides like galleries of a huge amphitheatre, and reflected in the crystal water of Tunga river washing its steps, is the Math of Sringeri associated with the great Saankaracharya.  The surrounding mountain ranges are known as the Rishyasringa Parvata.  The appellation is derived from the celebrated saint mentioned in the Ramayana.  A more charming spot can hardly be found in the whole of Mysore Plateau which abounds with natural scenes.
Nature is bounteous in Sringeri.  Its river Tunga is sacred and perennial.  The air is rich with the aroma of medicinal herbs.  The  climate is salubrious even in the peak  of  summer.  This is much for physical vigour. The stream Tunga issuing from a hill, winds her tortuous course somewhat north-east and speeds to meet her sister, Bhadra, coming from a different direction.  The two streams join about 16 kms. of Bhadravati and form the sacred river Tunga Bhadra.

Picturesque view of Sringeri by the holy Tunga river at dusk
In Sringeri the sacred vibrations of the place will awaken your  dormant spiritual nature. The highpeaks of the Western Ghats silhouetting against the sky, the dense forest full of tropical vegetation, the warbling birds and the solitudes of sun-rise and sun-set conjure up an irrestible vision of a hermitage of ancient rishis.

Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Avadhoota Datta Peetham














Ashrama

Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Avadhoota Datta Peetham is a remarkable place in the quiet city of Mysore. Upon arrival you are led into a serene and pure atmosphere, pervaded with Vedic chantings, the resonance of which speaks to your heart. This atmosphere makes all the difference, your heart sinks deeper into peaceful states, you feel relaxed. Above all, a spiritual calm and, the bottom line, a peaceful mind for a few important moments enters your life. Come and join in for a guided tour through the ashram!

Daily Worship

If you are prompted to take part in the daily worship, there are religious activities to sponsor each morning as a part of seeking Blessings, such as Sri Chakra PujaHoma, orTailabhishekam.. Traditional Theertha (holy water) is offered after Shree Chakra Puja. At the close of the day you may join the bhajan session (devotional singing). Morning Sri Chakra Puja is performed by either Sri Swamiji or Sri Bala Swamiji when they are in town. The Puja starts at 8 AM. Sri Swamiji gives Darshana to devotees on Sunday morning after Puja.

Festivals

Maha Shivaratri, Sri Swamiji's Birthday, Navaratri, and Datta Jayanti are the most auspicious events that take place at the Ashram. Each occurs once a year at a preditermined date according to the Hindu astrological calendar. These festivals are unique in their character and cannot be found performed in a similar way anywhere in India or throughout the world. At these festivals you will experience a unique combination of vedic rituals, classical music, classical dance and traditional drama. Conducted simultaneously this creates an atmosphere of a pure and complete act of worship. Here the myriad arts of India return to their source in true vedic culture and worship.
NAVARATRI - (September / October) The nine day festival to observe the prayer to Mother Goddess. Sri Swamiji worships Mother Goddess Raja Rajeshwari through the traditional and sacred Nava Avarana Puja. The day starts around 8 AMwith procession from Datta Temple to Nada Mantapa. Sri Swamiji and Sri Bala Swamiji come along the procession carrying the procession idol of Mother Goddess Raja Rajeswari. Drummers, Mantra ChantingUpon arrival in Nada Mantapa, Sri Swamiji performs Kumari Puja (worshipping children from age 1 thru 16). Sri Swamiji then performs Sri Chakra Puja, Nava Avarana Puja, Annarchana (heap of rice), Devi Homa. Music concerts by reknowned musicians are held while Pujas take place. In the later part of the afternoon, Sri Swamiji or Bala Swamiji perform Abhishekam, Alamkara, Maha Mangalarati and Avadhana Sevas. Sacred chants from the four Vedas are sung. After giving away Prasadam to Puja participants, Sri Swamiji sings Devi Bhajans. Programs conclude around 8 PM.
DATTATREYA JAYANTI - The three day Datta Jayanti festival takes place in December every year. The festival marks the incarnation day of Adi Guru Dattatreya. This is a major festival of Datta Peetham. Daily programs include programs of Abhisheka to Dattatreya idol in the Universal Prayer Hall, Memorial service, Bhajans, Shastra Sadas for scholars, .

Social Projects 

"At the end of life we shall not be asked 
how much pleasure we had in it, but how much service we gave to it;
not how full it was of success, but how full it was of sacrifice;
not how happy we were, but how helpful we were;
not how much ambition was gratified, but how Love was served"


In this light, Sri Swamiji makes it a part of the mission of the Datta Peetham to provide service to the poor and the needy. Sri Swamiji has emphazised many times that spiritual life is not only meditation, it also includes service to those in need. This frame of mind, to work without personal gain and to surrender the fruits of one's actions to God, is called Karma Yoga. It is through the practice of Karma Yoga that the sense of "I" i.e. "I am the doer, "I am the enjoyer", "I am the sufferer"etc. is removed and is replaced by the realization that all creation, including one's self, is the manifestation of the one Supreme "I". Through the social services of the Peetham, Sri Swamiji has provided not only physical help to those in need, but also spiritual upliftment.
Datta Peetham and it's many branches have supported under Sri Swamiji's guidance numerous social projects since it was founded. These include: food, education, shelter, job training and free medical help to the poor. Currently the most notable on going project at the Mysore headquarters of the Peetham is the schooling of over 1800 pre-school and high school students.

In order to improve the general standard of education and to set an example of a model school, Datta Peetham took over the management of two dilapidated schools with 1800 children.
After the Peetham took over these schools in 1989 a vigorous program was launched to build a new school building. Administrative and financial support is also provided for. Today one large new building stands next to the old school where approximately 1200 students are taught. The remaining children get their teaching somewhere else in the neighbourhood. The Peetham provides all necessary financial assistance for both schools. It shoulders the cost of all supplies and building maintenance to ensure that the children will receive a proper education and a good chance to succeed in modern India.

The Peetham also provides for medical need of both local people and remote villagers. There is a hospital at the Peetham, where patients are looked after. In addition there is also a mobile hospital, which visits regularly villages where no medical facility of any kind is available. Medical help includes: Ayurvedic treatments (ancient Indian system of medicine), Dentistry, Cataract operation programs, free dispensary, Diabetes detection programs and monthly health checkup camps.

There is also an Ayurvedic Medicine Manufacturing Unit which is engaged in preparing medicines in a traditional way. These medicines prepared here are put to use in the Ashram dispensary.
Datta Peetham has taken the service motto in the following areas
  • Ambulances to small towns for emergency medical assistance
  • Construction of toilet facilities in schools in impoverished areas
  • Assist scholars to publish their works
  • Conduct mass marriage of poor in backward and poor areas
  • Conduct Kriya Yoga camps in prisons to improve their quality of thought
  • Grant scholarships to students and scholars
  • Assist reconstruction of dilapidated temples
  • Donate furniture to schools
  • Free medical services (free advice and medicines where available) are being given in all branches of Ashrama.
  • Ammavodi, a home for destitute aged women is a shelter to aged women who have no one to care.
  • Gift equipment to physically handicapped like calipers, wheel chair,
  • Gift tools for self-employment of women. Sewing machines etc.,
  • Assist other organizations with financial help and skill set help

Organisations under Datta Peetham

VEDA PATHASHALA  – A traditional school to teach Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, Sanskrit studies and priest training
More than 150 students study in the learning of the ancient knowledge listed above. The school is run in the Mysore Ashrama premises. The school is run under Guru Kula system.
Annual camps are held for women to learn the basic Puja system. Yajur Veda school is also run in Peethapuram town in Andhra Pradesh state.


VAGDEVI SCHOOL FOR COMMUNICATION HANDICAPPED
Datta Peetham is running a school for communication impaired in Bangalore. Run with professional staff, the school attends to the special learning needs of a communication impaired child.

 His Holiness Sri Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamij

 "People ask - who are you?

Think and you will experience Swamiji for yourself. Some people say yogi, man of miracles, healer, doctor, yoga man, magician; other say he follows the vedic way; some say confusion man - all are correct. Each person has his own way of looking at me but I say I am not a spiritual business man."


  His Holiness Sri Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamiji of Mysore, one of the greatest spiritual leaders of the present day is an asset to India and the world at large. He is an incarnation of the Great Cosmic Power. Revival of culture, reformation of society and establishing peace and happiness among mankind and transforming into godly men is his mission. His methods include: establishing Dharma.* and Bhakti.* by singing devotional hymns, by reciting the names of the Lord Almighty and inculcating the masses by instilling into them love of God through chorus singing of Bhajans and listening to his meditation-music.

  Sri Swamiji is traveling the world to help seekers discover that everything is God. In Him devotees find compassion, love and divine wisdom as He guides them on the path of Yoga sadhana - to discover and realize their true Self. Sri Swamiji conveys an important part of His message through His music, being noted for His namasankirtan. Sri Swamiji's music is devotional and used for spiritual energy transmission. This great master sings self-composed bhajans in Sanskrit, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and English and plays ayurvedic healing ragas on an electronic synthesizer, accompanied by musicians on classical Indian instruments. Devotees around the world claim to have received immense benefit through his concerts, everything from physical healing to spiritual guidance, and great outpourings of divine love.

  It is easier to describe what He does than to say who He is. To begin to know who he is one must experience him, one must adopt the attitude of a seeker of God. Sri Swamiji speakssimply and to the heart in fact He is a silent teacher who teaches through your own love and devotion . To experience Him is to begin to know one's own true self. 



WHAT IS NADA CHIKITSA?
(CURING AILMENTS THROUGH MUSIC)

Music is a force that unites Humanity the world over. Music has for centuries been known to have a pleasing appeal to both humans and animals. Music is a harmonizing factor in today's world which is full of conflicts and tensions. Transgressing man-made frontiers, Music sends the message of harmony, peace and brotherhood. Musical Ragas (Tunes) are said to help treatment of patients with afflictions of physical and mental nature, in certain conditions.

Parama Poojya Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji of Mysore, India, Himself a great Musician and a composer, has been conducting Spiritual Music Concerts for meditation and Healing (Nada Chikitsa) in India and many other countries in Europe, America and Caribbean Islands. Listening to His Healing and Meditation music in person, or to his many recordings, is the melodical medicine prescribed by Sri Swamiji for all ailments and conditions ranging from Coma to Cancer and migraine to mental depression.

MUSIC THERAPY

"The music therapy is combined with Ayurveda, Psychology, Gemenotherapy and Astrology" says Sri Swamiji. He further adds " I only effect a rapport between man and God, the supreme reality, with help coming from man himself in good measure. I attune man to God through belief and music. Once that results, body-consciousness vanishes gradually, and with that, affliction ceases to be experienced and ceases to exist. That is healing through Music and Meditation.

"There is no complication about it, once you are in tune with the 'modus operandi'. "Listen with your heart and not with your intellect" He insists, not without reason, for He is no purist composer or musician. Sri Swamiji's therapy lays stress on Ekagratha or concentration on the part of the Healer-Musician and listener. "Listening, " He says "is a special technique requiring Indriya nigraha or sense control." Cerebral sounds are aroused and long concentration on a Raga (tune) creates a healing effect on the listener. He Himself plays an synthesizer which produces the sounds of many instruments. He has opted for the synthesizer to reduce the number of accompanists in His concert troupe. The resounding synthesizer sets pace and the other instruments keep company, a melodious fusion sends the air.


Lord Dattatreya
  
The path of Dattatreya embraces all spiritual paths and is the source of all other traditions. He who treads the path of Truth, regardless of what religion he belongs to, is treading the path of Dattatreya. As an incarnation of God, Datta came down to spread the universality of true religion. Anyone can be his follower, regardless of cast, creed, status, be they student, householder, recluse or renunciate. No matter what sect or religion the true seeker follows, eventually he comes under the guidance of Lord Dattatreya, the Eternal Spiritual Guide of all mankind.

  Datta's presence is not limited to any one country or sphere, as He is the Guru of all Gurus, the all-seeing, all-powerful, ever-present link between God and Man. However, special places of worship (Datta Peethas) have grown up around sacred areas, where His presence is most strongly felt by the sincere seeker of Datta. These places include Suchindram, Senthamangalam, Mount Girnar, Nagalapuram in Andhra, Prayag, Datta Guha in the Himalayas, Gulbarga -Ganagapura, Narasimhavadi in Maharastra, Quthambara near Poona, Avadumbara, Somapuram, Chandradronagiri and Datta Peetha at Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Ashrama, Mysore.

  One notable aspect of these Datta Peethas is their indefinable but inseparable relationship with worship of God as Mother, the Supreme Energy -Shakti. (Hence, Sri Swamiji's fierce aspect as Mother Chamunda.) Parasurama (eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu), approached Lord Dattatreya and was initiated into the intricacies of how to worship the Mother (Shreevidya Upaasana), before undertaking intense penance to obtain the grace of the Divine Mother.

  The Saandilya Upanishad declares very clearly that Lord Dattatreya is the Supreme Reality and is the cause of everything that is created. It states, "The Supreme Brahman performed penance which was of the nature of knowledge (jnyana), and desiring to become many, assumed the form of Dattatreya. From that form came out the three letters A, U, M; the three mystical names Bhuh, Bhuvah and Svah; the three-lined Gayatri; the three Vedas Rig, Yajur and Sama; the three Gods Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara; the three castes Brahmana, Kshatriya and Vysya; and the three fires Gaarhapatya, Ashavaneeya and Dakshina."

"The lord is endowed with all wealth. He is all pervading and resides in the hearts of all beings. He is the great Maayavi, sporting with His own Maaya. He is Brahma. His Vishnu, He is Rudra. He is Indra and He is also all the gods of heaven and all other beings. He is East, He is West, He is North, He is South, He is below and He is above. He is everything. This is the glory of the form of Dattatreya."

  Lord Dattatreya came as the Supreme Philosopher (Avadhoota) so that the true meaning and purpose of Sacrifice (Tyaaga) may be revealed to mankind. Atri, His father, symbolizes penance (tapas) as described in the scriptures, and Anasooya represents freedom from jealousy. When penance and non-jealous nature unite in a single person, the highest truth emerges as Lord Dattatreya. As ultimate self-sacrifice, the Supreme God gave Himself as Datta to Atri and Anasooya. Hence, "Datta" means not only "that which is given", but also as the ideal of "giving" without desire for reward, i.e. selfless giving. The whole life of Dattatreya shows us that this "giving" selflessly is the true renunciation/sacrifice. The significance of this sacrifice is stated in the Dattatreya Upanishad where the Lord says, "Not by action, not by progeny, nor even by self, but by renunciation (tyaaga) alone is immortality attained. "Real renunciation is the giving up of "I" and mine, not the mere abandoning of duties. Living a selfless life require giving up one's ego. That is what Lord Dattatreya describes as true sacrifice.

  As a Yoga-Avatar, Lord Dattatreya teaches us to perform all our duties skillfully and diligently. Yoga does not require outside aids, nor does it demand great physical effort. All we have to do is change our outlook and transform our attitude to life. This "change" consist of giving up the idea or feeling of "doership", "enjoyership" and the resultant anxiety (and attachment ) for the fruits of our actions. By performing all our duties with this changed outlook, our mind will be freed from agitation and attain the restful state called "equanimity", or the state where there is no "mind". This is the state of Bliss that every soul ultimately aspires to. This is the state of Datta - the ultimate Gift of God. 


ASHRAMA’S CHARMING GARDEN
Sri Swamiji’s love for greenery and ecology is legendary. If Ashrama wears a green look, it is because of the enduring and affectionate attention Sri Swamiji and the trained dedicated volunteer garden staff put in since 30 years.
The Gardens in the Ashrama have developed over the past three decades. When the Ashrama began in 1966, one of the first horticultural activities was the planting of hundreds of non-hybridized coconut trees on its western boundary. These trees are still yielding coconuts today that are used for Puja and cooking. This was followed by the cultivation of roses, jasmine and other varieties of seasonal flowers for Puja use. Herbal plants were also started in different areas as time went on. In the early 80’s, the beautiful, tall and robust palm trees which now line the Ashrama’s main entrance road were planted.
In 1986, Sri Swamiji commenced the development of what is the present Herbal garden. Slowly, within this plot, the following various mini gardens dedicated to specific aspects of creation manifested: Rashi Vana (plants connected with signs in the zodiac system), Nakshatra Vana (plants connected with the 27 stars of Indian astrology), Raga Vana (plants connected with the sounds of Indian music scale), Saptarishi Vana (seven plants connected with the seven great Indian sages) and Panchayatana Vana (five gardens of plants connected with the worship of Mother Goddess). Existing in the midst of these gardens is the Akala Moksha Stupa.  It is a gigantic terra cotta shrine dedicated to the performance of Pujas honoring those who have met with unnatural deaths, such accidents, suicides, etc.
Also in 1986, a deer park was created. For close to a decade, deer lived within that enclosure as the original deer venue was full of newly planted trees. It was the intention that the trees would grow and reach a suitable level of maturity to survive the herbaceous diet of the deer. That deer park has now become the new KISHKINDHA MULIKA BONSAI GARDEN.
It is very difficult to adequately explain the Ashrama’s unique gardens with words. The diverse gardens now encompass over 4 acres! Come and have fun exploring the pleasing arrangements of plants and trees.

Message to Ashrama and Sri Swamiji

Avadhoota Datta Peetham 
Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Ashrama

North America: 

Datta Yoga Center USA: 
  

Europe: 

Datta Yoga Center Germany: 
mail@dycgermany.de 

Datta Yoga Center Switzerland: 

mail@dyc.ch


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Manager
Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Ashrama
Datta Nagar
Mysore 570025
INDIA.

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