Jagadguru arrives at Kalady
The Jagadguru Shankaracharya, Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji arrived at Kalady today at around 6:00 P.M. for the Shankara Jayanti and the Centenary Celebrations. As the State Guest of Honour, the Jagadguru was received by Jose Thettayil, the state transport minister, Ramachandran Kadannappilly, the state Devoswom Minister among others, and Maharaja of the erstwhile state of Travancore, Utthradom Thirunal Sriman Marthanda Varma and was accorded State Honours. The Maharaja performed the Dhuli Padapuja of the Jagadguru.
In a grand procession which lasted for about 30 minutes, from the Kalady junction to the Sringeri Shankara Math, the Jagadguru was welcomed by the denizens of Kalady who flocked to have darshan of the Jagadguru in thousands, so much so the streets were filled with devout people pouring in from all corners of the small hamlet. The procession was led by three elephants embellished in traditional Kerala decoration, along with seven horses mounted with NCC Cadets, Panchavadyam – the traditional Kerala ‘band’ music and Veda Ghosham by the Vidyarthis of the Pathashala at Kalady.
Upon setting foot on holy Kalady, the Jagadguru inaugurated the eastern entrance to the temple complex of Sri Adi Shankaracharya and Sri Shardamba, which was recently re-built in traditional Kerala style. Following this, Jagadguru had darshan of Sri Adi Shankaracharya and Sri Sharadamba at the temple and delivered a profound benedictory discourse highlighting the importance of Kalady as a Tirtha Kshetra and it’s relation to Sringeri and the Jagadgurus. The Jagadguru said that Sringeri and Kalady were like two eyes to the Acharyas of the Sharada Peetham at Sringeri. Continuing, His Holiness said that until a hundred and twenty years back, no one knew about the location of Kalady or the Janma Bhoomi Kshetram of Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya, and it was because of the Divine guidance and efforts of the Thirty Third Acharya of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham, Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Nrisimha Bharati Mahaswamiji, that Kalady was ‘Re-Discovered’. The Jagadguru also stressed the importance of Kalady as a pilgrimage centre, saying that much like like Kasi, Rameswaram, Ayodhya or Mathura and it is the duty of every Astika to visit Kalady atleast once in his life time, else his life is not complete.
The Jagadguru will reside at Kalady to grace the Centenary Celebrations of the ‘Re-Discovery’ of Kalady and also observe the Shankara Jayanti this year from the 13th to the 18th of May 2010.
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Listen to the benedictory discourse online.
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