Jagadguru begins Vijaya Yatra – A report
Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji started on a Dakshina Bharata Vijaya Yatra on 26th February 2012.
In accordance to the tradition before the start of a Vijaya Yatra, the Jagadguru had Darshan at Rishyashringa Swamy temple at Kigga on 24th February. The Jagadguru also dedicated a silver door to the Garbha Griha at the Kigga temple. Enroute to Kigga, the Jagadguru also had Darshan of three of the guardian deities of Sringeri – Kalabhairavaswamy in the east, Kalikamba in the north, Anjaneya in the west. From Kigga, the Jagadguru proceeded to the temple of Vanadurga, the guardian deity of Sringeri in the south where Poornahuti of a Chandi Yaga was conducted in the Jagadguru’s presence. The Jagadguru also offered a special Puja to Goddess Vanadurga on the occasion.
On 25th February, the day preceding to the start of the Vijaya Yatra, the Jagadguru had Darshan at all the temples at Sringeri. The Sevakas of the Peetham had assembled in Pravachana Mandiram to hear the Anugraha Bhashanam of the Jagadguru. The Jagadguru conveyed that He was undertaking the Yatra with a sense of duty and and blessed them all individually.
On the day of the start of the Vijaya Yatra (26th February), as the Jagadguru came out of Sri Sacchidananda Vilas at around 7:30 AM, devotees and disciples led by the scholars and students of Sri Sadvidya Sanjeevini Samskrita Mahapathashala offered their prostrations to the Jagadguru. Accompanied by the sonorous chanting of the Upanishads and Mantras from the Yajur Veda, the Jagadguru visited the Adhishthanams (Samadhi shrines) of the previous Acharyas of Sringeri. The Jagadguru first offered a beautiful garland made of fresh flowers at the Adhishthanam of His Guru Jagadguru Srimad Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji.
The Jagadguru had Darshan of Goddess Sharadamba and was closeted in the Garbha Griha for a few minutes. The Jagadguru then had Darshan at the shrines of Sri Adi Shankaracharya and Sri Torana Ganapati. While the Vijaya Yatra is to serve as a joy and boon for devotees and disciples all across South India, the instant of the start of the Yatra was a heart-wrenching as the citizens of Sringeri offered their Pranams knowing well that the Jagadguru will be away from Sringeri for a year or longer. The act moved even the Jagadguru who blessed the gathering copiously. The Jagadguru then began the Vijaya Yatra with the first stop at Belur. An entourage comprising of about 60 persons accompanies the Jagadguru during the Yatra.