Mahaganapati Vakyartha Vidwat Sabha (2016)
Scholars with Sri Mahasannidhanam and Sri Sannidhanam at the Sadas
The annual Mahaganapati Vakyartha Vidwat Sabha for the ensuing Durmukha Samvatsara commenced at 4:30 PM on September 5, 2016 (Vinayaka Chaturthi day) in the divine presence of the Jagadgurus and under the august presidentship of Sri Mahasannidhanam.
It was a great sight to behold Sri Mahasannidhanam and Sri Sannidhanam grace the Sabha and commence the Sabha proceedings with a Vakyartha in Nyaya Shastra. As part of the Vakyartha, Sri Mahasannidhanam and Sri Sannidhanam explained different aspects in a topic based on the Shatakoti text in Nyaya Shastra. Sri Mahasannidhanam mentioned at the beginning of the Vakyartha that 40 years back, He and His Guru (Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji) had engaged in such a Vakyartha, and now at the request of His Shishya, Sri Sannidhanam, such a Vakyartha with both Sri Mahasannidhanam and Sri Sannidhanam was being engaged in. The devotees assembled felt it a great blessing to witness the Jagadgurus engage in this Vakyartha.
The Sabha that began on such an auspicious note, took place for 13 days at the main hall of Sacchidananda Vilas in Narasimha Vanam and ended on September 17, 2016. Eminent scholars from all over the country deliberated on various topics in Vedanta, Mimamsa, Nyaya and Vyakarana. The Sabha took place every evening from about 4:00 PM to about 8:30 PM, sometimes extending even up to 9:00 PM. On each day, the Sabha ended with Mahamangalarati to Lord Sabha Ganapati, Ashtaavadhaana Seva followed by the chanting of Ganesha Pancharatnam composed by Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya and Ganadhipa Pancharatnam composed by Jagadguru Sri Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Nrisimha Bharati Mahaswamiji.
On the Ekadashi day, Sri Sannidhanam blessed the audience with a Vedantic exposition, deliberating on the Bhoomadhikaranam of the Brahmasutras.
The Sabha concluded on September 17, 2016 with a Valedictory function. Administrator & CEO, Dr. V R Gowrishankar welcomed the scholars and offered thanks on behalf of all devotees for their participation. Sri Gowrishankar in his address called for scholars to come forward and actively participate in creating avenues to spread the knowledge to all interested amidst the masses. He also thanked Sankara TV for telecasting the event.
Release of book Bhagavatpadeeya Prayoga Vaishishtyam
Sri Mahasannidhanam then released a book titled “Bhagavatpadeeya Prayoga Vaishishtyam” A text explaining, in accordance to Vyakarana Shastra, special usages of words in the Brahmasutra Bhashyam of Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya. The second book released on the occasion was “Vaiyakarana Siddhanta Kaumudi and Kashika Vritti” in Vyakaranam edited by young scholars of the Sadvidya Sanjeevini Samskrita Mahapathashala, Vidwan BL Ganapati Bhat and Vidwan B Krishnaraja Bhat. These books have been brought out as 16th and 17th publications in the Sri Bharati Tirtha Veda Shastra Granthamala series of the Sri Shankara Advaita Research Centre of the Peetham.
The third book “Vidwat Pratibha 2015” released by Sri Mahasannidhanam contains summaries of topics discussed in the Vidwat Sabha last year .
In His Sanskrit Anugraha Bhashanam, Sri Mahasannidhanam expressed happiness at the successful conduct of this year’s Sabha which witnessed enthusiastic participation from all scholars.
Sri Mahasannidhanam then spoke about the publications of the Research Centre. In reference to the book, “Bhagavatpadeeya Prayoga Vaishishtyam”, Sri Mahasannidhanam said that the author, Asthana Vidwan Mahabaleshwara Bhat, a renowned scholar in Vyakarana has nurtured great interest in the Vedanta Shastra, and has great faith and devotion in Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada. It is his practice to perform Parayanam of the Bhashyas of Bhagavatpada daily. Having noticed the special usages of words in the Brahmasutra Bhashya, he submitted a text explaining how such special words are formed etymologically in accordance to the Vyakarana Shastra. Sri Mahasannidhanam expressed joy that such a work that has never been attempted before, had been published and copiously blessed the Vidwan Mahabaleshwara Bhat.
Release of book Siddhanta Kaumudi and Kaashika
Sri Mahasannidhanam also commended the young scholars of the Sringeri Pathashala, Vidwan BL Ganapati Bhat and Vidwan B Krishnaraja Bhat for having taken efforts to bring out the book, “Vaiyakarana Siddhanta Kaumudi and Kashika Vritti”.
Sri Mahasannidhanam also mentioned that the “Vidwat Pratibha” book containing the previous year’s proceedings of the Sabha, and being printed annually, would be a great guide to scholars and students of Shastras and expressed joy at the exquisite printing of the book.
Sri Mahasannidhanam underlined the importance of scholars passing on their knowledge to the successive generations and quoted a verse that states the Supreme Knowledge by which a person transcends duality must be passed on to disciples.
Sri Mahasannidhanam also said that the tradition of the Sringeri Jagadguru Himself presiding over the Sabha had been started by the founder of the Sabha, His Parameshthi Guru, Jagadguru Sri Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Narasimha Bharati Mahaswamiji. Sri Mahasannidhanam said that He was only following in the footsteps of His Parameshthi Guru, Paramaguru and Guru in conducting the Sabha in such fashion. Sri Mahasannidhanam also joyously noted that His disciple, Sri Sannidhanam, who had mastered the Nyaya Shastra under His tutorship and is undergoing the study of Vedanta Shastra, would conduct the Sabha in similar fashion.
Sri Mahasannidhanam also commended and blessed Sri Gowrishankar for having instituted the “Vidya Nidhi” awards in remembrance of his father, Vidya-nidhi VS Ramachandra Shastri.
Expressing satisfaction and joy at the participation of the scholars and blessing them all, Sri Mahasannidhanam ended His Anugraha Bhashanam.
Mahamangalarati to Sabha Ganapati then took place. Astaavadhaana Seva was held. Ganesha Pancharatnam and Ganadhipa Pancharatnam were sung by all.
Sri Mahasannidhanam then announced the “Vidya Nidhi” awards for Vidwan Ganesha Ishwara Bhat of Sringeri in Vedanta, Vidwan Sripada Subrahmanya Shastri of Hyderabad in Nyaya, Vidwan G Mahabaleshwara Bhat of Sringeri in Vyakarana and Hitlalli Suryanarayana Bhat of Bengaluru in Mimamsa. The awards for young scholars went to Vidwan B Krishnaraja Bhat of Sringeri and Vidwan BL Ganapati Bhat of Sringeri in Vyakarana, and Vidwan Vachaspati Shastri of Dharwad and Vidwan Raghavendra Bhat of Chennai in Nyaya. All the Vidwans received the “Vidya Nidhi” awards from the CEO of the Peetham, Sri V R Gowrishankar.
Scholars awarded with Gold Rings during Sadas
Gold rings were awarded to Vidwan Chirraavuri Krishnaananta Padmanabha Sharma of Sringeri and Vidwan Narendra Bhat of Kalady in Vyakarana, and to Vidwan Yajneshwara Shastri Joshi of Satara in Nyaya. Dr. Harish of the Gudemarnahalli Ganapati Chayamma Trust felicitated the scholars.