Sri Shankaracharya Ashtottara Shatanaama Paarayana Yajna
Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya
With the blessings of Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahasannidhanam, and Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati Sannidhanam, Sri Adi Shankaracharya Ashtottara Shatanama Parayana Yajna commenced in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
As part of the Yajna, tens of thousands of devotees have been chanting the Ashtottara Shatanama of Sri Adi Shankaracharya in groups spread across hundreds of centres in the various districts of the states.
As part of the Vijaya Yatra in the first half of 2017, Sri Mahasannidhanam and Sri Sannidhanam stayed at Kalady. During the stay at Kalady, Sri Sannidhanam in His Anugraha Bhashanam recommended that everyone involved in the Ashottara Parayana Yajna chant the following Eka-Shloki Shankara Digvijaya on the life of Sri Adi Shankaracharya every day –
आर्याम्बाजठरे जनिः द्विजसतीदारिद्र्यनिर्मूलनं
संन्यासाश्रयणं गुरूपसदनं श्रीमण्डनादेर्जयः ।
शिष्यौघग्रहणं सुभाष्यरचनं सर्वज्ञपीठाश्रयः
पीठानां रचनेति सङ्ग्रहमयी सैषा कथा शाङ्करी ॥
Sri Mahasannidhanam in His Anugraha Bhashanam has said that it is our foremost duty to remember and revere Sri Adi Shankaracharya, the incarnation of Lord Parameshwara, for reviving Sanatana Dharma and for showing the path of welfare to all. Remembrance of Sri Adi Shankaracharya and His virtues can be done by all by chanting His Ashtottara Shatanama. If we understand the pregnant meanings behind each name in the Ashtottara, and chant the names, it will be as if Sri Adi Shankaracharya Himself stands before us giving us His Darshan. Sri Mahasannidhanam blessed that every follower of Sanatana Dharma participate in this Japa Yajna, the greatness of which is vouched for by Bhagavan Himself in the Gita, where He states – “यज्ञानां जपयज्ञोऽस्मि” – Of all Yajnas, I am the Japa-Yajna. Sri Mahasannidhanam also said that the the Parayana of the Ashtottara of Sri Adi Shankaracharya must become part of our daily prayers.