Historic Kumbhabishekam of Chathurmurthi Vidyeshwara Swami at Sringeri

Historic Kumbhabishekam of Chathurmurthi Vidyeshwara Swami at Sringeri today – performed by Sri Sri Mahasannidhanam (28.04.2022) – Part 1 & 2

(Benedictory Address by Sri Sri Sannidhanam on this scared occasion)

Highlighting the following:

1. Kumbhabishekam to a unique Moorthi in this Prapancham.

2. The glory and Tapas of the 10th Acharyal (Jagadguru Srimad Vidyatirtha Mahaswamigal) 11th Acharyal (Jagadguru Srimad Bharati Krishna Tirtha Mahaswamigal) and 12th Acharyal (Jagadguru Srimad Vidyaranya Mahaswamigal) 

3. The significance of imparting the Shloka 'GururBrahma GururVishnu GururDevo Maheshwaraha Guru Saakshaat ParaBrahma Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha' from childhood 

4. The 3 most significant contributions by Vidyaranya Maharaj to Hindu/Sanatana Dharma

5. Time immemorial and everlasting testimony of the Sringeri Mutt – Vidyashankarar Temple 

The 10th Acharyal of the Sringeri Saradhapeetam Mahatapasvi Jagadguru Srimad Vidyatirtha Mahaswamigal chose the sacred spot (the present Vidyashankarar temple) and decided to go into Lambika Yoga for 12 years and instructed the Sishyas that the ground should be sealed and not to be opened up before the said time. Before getting into this Yogic state the 10th Acharyal got the present Moorthi for which Kumbhabishekam was performed today sculpted for it to be consecrated. All of us know that in spite of the divine directions not to open someone still opened it before the said timeline when Acharyal was transforming himself as the sculpted deity. Divine will, the Moorthi stayed back in its original place and the present Vidyashankarar temple emerged thereafter. Sri Sri Sannidhanam during the address said, "This Divine Moorthi is anterior in time to Vidyashankarar temple." 

What is so unique about this Moorthi? The explanation by Sri Sri Sannidhanam was like spoon-feeding to a child. Acharyal brought out in brief how human mind, which is so limited, requires Roopam (form) and Guna (Qualities) for it to perceive and pursue the path of Moksha, and how the formless, Brahman out of compassion takes numerous forms for Dharmaparipalana and how the Divine advent of Gurus form part of the same pantheon. 

Its because of this we teach our children the Stotra 'GururBrahma GururVishnu GururDevo Maheshwaraha Guru Saakshaat ParaBrahma Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha'

Sri Sri Sannidhanam proceeded to relate this Stotra to this rare Moorthi stating the fact that it has four sides comprising of Guru Vidyathirthar, 10th Acharyal sitting in Tapas and the 11th and 12th Acharyal (Jagadguru Srimad Bharati Krishna Tirtha Mahaswamigal and Jagadguru Srimad Vidyaranya Mahaswamigal) standing on two sides worshipping their Gurus, and Bhagavans Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva being sculpted on the other three sides and related again to the Stotra signifying that there is no distinction between Guru, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva as Guru is verily Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. 

On the top of this Divine Moorthi is seated a Shivalingam. Acharyal explained that the first part of the Stotra signifies the prayer that Guru is Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and any Upasanai of these divine forms is only a prayer to one's Guru. 

The Shivalingam seated on the top brings out the Tattva as to how the sincere worship of Guru as everything can lead one to the final namely Guru Saakshaat ParaBrahma Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha, and the Shivalingam on the top signifies this Divine State. 

"This Moorthi is both rare and unique, blessed and given to us by the 10th Acharyal of the Peetam and there is no parallel Moorthy anywhere in the Prapancham adding further significance to it." 

Part 2 

Divine significance of Jagadguru Srimad Vidyaranya Mahaswamigal – the 12th Acharyal of Sringeri Saradha Peetam 

Sri Sri Sannidhanam brought out the three Divine contributions of Vidyaranya Maharaj. 

- Establishing the Hindu Samrajyam through the Vijayanagar empire, 

- After Adi Shankara it was Vidyaranya Mahaswamigal who had written commentaries on all the essential subjects of Hindu Dharma.

- After Adi Shankara who had established the 4 Amnaya Maths it was Saint Vidyaranya who established the various branch Maths across South India which practice was inherited and followed also by subsequent Acharyals of Sringeri Sarada Peetam

Like Adi Shankara who by chanting and invoking the Kanakadhara Stotram brought showers of gold, Vidyaranya Maharaj through his intense Tapas on Matha Bhuvaneshwari allowed Her grace to dissent as showers of gold which were handed over to kings Harihar and Bukha, to establish the Vijayanagar empire and propitiate the Hindu Dharma. 

When both the 11th Acharyal Jagadguru Srimad Bharati Krishna Tirtha Mahaswamigal and the 12th Acharyal Jagadguru Srimad Vidyaranya Mahaswamigal decided to consecrate the Vidyashankarar temple, as per the ordained command of their Guru the 10th Jagadguru Srimad Vidyatirtha Mahaswamigal, Harihara and Bukha, and various others volunteered to make munificent offerings at the Lotus Feet of Acharyal and this grand impressive temple which is more than 800 years old was consecrated. 

King Harihara and Bukha felt greatly indebted to Vidyaranya Mahaswamigal who had showered his Tapas Sakthi on them in reviving the Samrajyam of Sanatana Dharma. 

After Adi Shankara who had authored the most number of works on Sanatana Dharma, it is the 12th Acharyal of Sringeri Saradapeetam, Saint Vidyaranya who had again authored commentaries on almost all subjects. 

Sanatana Dharma owes a lot to Vidyaranya Maharaj as it was Acharyal who wrote the Bashyams or commentaries on all the four Vedas besides bringing Granthas and commentaries on Vedanta, Mimamsa, Sahithya, Jyothisham and Dharmashastras. 

Sringeri as a Divine Abode owes it to Sri Rishyasringa and has existed then on. In Divine remembrance of the 12th Acharyal for his invaluable and unparallel contributions to Sanatana Dharma, an entire village was named as Vidhyaranyapura in which the rare deity sculpted on the Divine directions of the 10th Acharyal is seated, for which Kumbhabishekam was performed today by Sri Sri Mahasannidhanam.  

The third major contribution by Vidyaranya Maharaj was also very akin to what was done by Adi Shankara. It was Shankara Bhagavadpadhal who established the 4 Amnaya Maths in the 4 directions. After that it was Vidyaranya Maharaj who had established branch Maths in various parts of South India and Sri Sri Sannidhanam cited a few examples from the state of Karanataka namely, the Avani, Hebbur, Kudili, Shivaganga and Hariharapura and several other Maths. The subsequent Acharyals also followed this practice of establishing branch Maths. the significant reason for doing this 8 centuries ago and thereafter was to enable the localites to be guided by the branch Math headed by Gurus since it was impossible for everyone to reach Sringeri, the Dakshinamnaaya Sarada Peetam. 

Acharyal did not stop with this. The Devathas in each of those places were identified and revived the worship by establishing Sanyasis in these branch Maths, initiating in Manthra Japas and Upasanas.

Sri Sri Sannidhanam also stated that, even today various branch Maths approach the Acharyals of Sringeri for nominating successors and take guidance and Sri Sri Mahasannidhanam had rendered this divine guidance to all those branch Maths who had come forwards to seek such guidance. 

Sri Sri Sannidhanam concluded His Bhashyam by stating, "This Divine Moorthi for which Sri Sri Mahasannidhanam had just now performed Kumbhabishekam, Srimad Vidyaranya Mahaswamigal and everything associated with this Acharyal gains importance both in terms of Itihasa and history."

Offering At The Lotus Feet of Acharyals