ஸ்ரீசங்கர விஜயம் — 9

ஸ்ரீசங்கர விஜயம் மண்டனமிச்ர விஜயம் பேராசிரியர் ஆர்.விச்வனாதய்யர், எம்.ஏ., எல்.டி., (ஸ்ரீசங்கர ஜயந்தி வெளியீடு)

திக்விஜயம் செய்த தீரர் சங்கரர்
திகழுயர் சீடர் சிலபே ருடனே
கர்மமார்க் கத்தைக் கனதீ விரமாய்க் கையாண்டு வந்த மண்டன மிச்ரர்
மிளிர்ந்த பட்டணம் மாகிஷ் மதிக்கு
வந்தே அவரை வாதுக் கழைத்தார்;
சாக்ஷாத் சரஸ்வதி தேவியே யங்கு
ஸரஸ வாணியெனும் பெயர்ப்பெண் மணியாய்
மண்டன மிச்ரரின் மனைவியாய் விளங்கினாள்
ஈண்டிவர் வாதத்தைக் கண்டு களிக்கவே
வேண்டினர் அவளை நியாயம் வழங்கி
வெற்றி தோல்வி விளித்துக் கூற ;
தன்நிலை யறிந்த தேவி யவளும்
உன்னிப் பார்த்தோர் உபாயம் செய்தாள்;
மங்கை யிரண்டு மாலைகள் கொணர்ந்து
அங்கவ ரிடமே அளித்துச் சொன்னாள்;
மலர்மாலை தனையே மார்பி லணிந்து
புலவர் நீவீர் தொடங்குவீர் வாதம் ;
தோற்றவர் மாலை துவண்டு வதங்கும்,
ஏற்போம் அதனை நாம் இறுதிமுடி வாக
மதிவாண ரிருவரும் மனமுவந் தங்கே
விதிப்படி வெகுநாள் வாதம் நடத்தினர்;
மண்டன மிச்ரரின் மாலை வாடவே
கண்டனள் சரஸ வாணியு மதனை ;
“என்றன் கணவருக்கு யானோர் அடிமை,
என்னையும் ஜயிப்பது உமக்கே கடமை;
அதில்நீர் தவறினால் அவரை வென்றது
மதிக்கத்தகா” தெனமாதவள் உரைத்தாள், (9/20)

Shri Sureshvaracharya – Part 3 (Contd.)

(Special Series of Articles commemorating the Maha Kumbhabhishekam of Shri Sureshvaracharya Adhishtanam Shrine at Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham Shrimatham, Kanchipuram on 03.5.2024)

Shri Jnananandendra Sarasvati wrote a commentary named Chandrika on Shri Sureshvaracharya’s Naishkarmya siddhi. We conclude with his tribute to Shri Sureshvaracharya as “The sagara which gave Naishkarmyasiddhi which is like amrta to the learned, I worship that ocean of immortal jnana Sureshvara”

नैष्कर्म्यसिद्ध्यभिधया सुधया सुधियां ददौ। योऽमृतत्वं नमामस्तं सुरेश्वरसुधानिधिम्॥

The concluding section of Naishkarmya Siddhi Sudha Vyakhya published in 1891 Bombay Central Govt Book Depot further establishes that the name of the Guru of Shri Jnanottama is Shri Satyabodha. The verse says that the arguments of Purvamimamsa, Baudshas, Prabhakaras and Naiyayikas and Vaisheshikas was defeated by Padakashata, of Satyabodhacharya the abode of yama and niyama. The next verse also refers to the author as सर्वज्ञाश्रमचन्द्रमास्त्रिजगतीसर्वज्ञचूडामणिः

The moon in “Sarvajnashrama” and the crest jewel among Sarvajnas in the three worlds that removed the darkness and gave rise to the serenity of inner contemplation. May the sudhadhaaraa of the Jagadgurus of Moolamnaya Sarvajna Shri Kanchi Kamakoti from remove our and give rise to that experience of internal शान्तिः and unflinching shraddha to the Guruparampara

Shri Sureshvaracharya – Part 3

(Special Series of Articles commemorating the Maha Kumbhabhishekam of Shri Sureshvaracharya Adhishtanam Shrine at Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham Shrimatham, Kanchipuram on 03.5.2024.(Part-3)

Other references to Shri Sureshvaracharya in the Guruparampara of Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam

The Gururatnamala of Shri Sadashiva Brahmendra Saraswati , disciple of the 57th Acharya of Moolamnaya Sarvajna Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, was one of the earliest works of Shri Sadashiva Brahmendra that was published (1895) several decades before the Vani Vilas publications of Shri Sadashivendra Saraswati appeared.

परम् अन्तिकसत्-सुरेश्वराद्यैः

परमाद्वैत-मतं स्फुटं प्रवेद्य।

परिकाञ्चिपुरं परे विलीनः

परमायास्तु शिवाय सद्गुरुर्नः॥

गुरुरत्नमाला – ३३.

The Gururatnamala says, “Expounding on the supreme advaitasiddhanta clearly accompanied by shishyas such as Shri Sureshvaracharya who were by His side, (Shri Shankaracharya) became one with Paradevata. May that Sadguru bless us with auspiciousness.”

Shri Sureshvaracharya and Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Pitham Guru Parampara

As stated previously, Shri Sureshvaracharya served as the guardian and mentor of the young Shri Sarvajnatmendra Saraswati Shankaracharya Swamigal, the third Acharya of Shri Kamakoti Peetam. This is owing to the latter’s young age at the time of taking sannyasa. Shri Sarvajnatmendra Saraswati Shankaracharya Swamigal’s Sankshepa Shareerakam pays tribute to his vidyaguru Shri Sureshvaracharya saying that, “May the dust of the feet of Sureshvaracharya be victorious – We are grateful by gaining whose proximity, for their unlimited fame of uplifting innumerable disciples”

यदीयसम्पर्कमवाप्य केवलं वयं कृतार्था निरवद्यकीर्तयः। जगत्सु ते तारितशिष्यपङ्क्तयः जयन्ति देवेश्वरपादरेणवः॥

Acharya Shri Madhusudana Saraswati comments on this verse saying, “इदानीं स्वगुरुं वार्तिककारं पूजयति। He then glosses देवेश्वरस्य as “सुरेश्वरस्य”establishing the identity of the guru of Shri Sarvajnatmendra Saraswati.

Another commentary, the Anvayarthaprakashika on Sankshepashareerakam also confirms this identity, reinforcing this understanding within the tradition.

Many scholars have hypothesized on the concluding work of Sankshepa Sharirakam, references to the king named there and many of the conclusions are are inconclusive. Leaving these surmises and to historians, we focus on revelling in the greatness and glory of Shankara Sampradaya.

Shri Sarvajnatma refers to the Bhagavan at Anantashayanam or Tiruvananthapuram (अविरलपदपङ्क्तिः पद्मनाभस्य पुण्या॥). As per the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam Guru Parampara, Shri Sarvjnatmendra Saraswati belonged to Brahmadesham which is geographically proximal to Tiruvanantapuram.

The fourth Acharya Jagadguru Shri Satyabodhendra Saraswati Swamigal has composed a work named Padakashatam. This is referred to in the texts of Punyashloka Manjari (this was one of the early grantha publications that was printed in Kumbhakonam in the late 1800s)

The 65th Acharya of Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Moolamnaya Sarvajna Peetam Shri Sudarshana Mahadevendra Saraswati Shankaracharya Swamigal pays tribute to the fifth Acharya in his Jagadguru Parampara Stava saying

“The noble Jnanananda muni also known as Jnanottama, who was immersed in the worship of Chandrachuda. He was the author of Chandrika. I seek refuge in Him”

ज्ञानानन्द-मुनीन्द्रार्यं ज्ञानोत्तम-पराभिधम् । चन्द्रचूड-पदासक्तं चन्द्रिका-कृतम् आश्रये ॥ १३ ॥

From this, we understand that the fifth Acharya, Shri Jnananandendra Sarasvati, was also known as Shri Jnanaghana (or Bodhaghana). The Punyashloka manjari pays tribute to him as “ज्ञानोत्तम इति अवाप्त बिरुदः” and refers to him as being born in “Chola desha in the village named Mangala”.

* The Chola desha from times immemorial has been one of the mainstays of Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam

Shri Sureshvaracharya – Part 2 (Contd.)

Special article commemorating the Maha Kumbhabhishekam of Shri Sureshvaracharya Adhishtanam Shrine at Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham Shrimatham, Kanchipuram on 03.5.2024.

Part-2 (contd.)

Sureshvaracharya Adhishtanam inside Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham Shri Matham

The Sureshvaracharya Adhishtanam or Samadhi is located within the premises of Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham. Historical records indicate that this has been in worship for a long time.

Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam was shifted to Kumbhakonam and remained there for a brief period due to political unrest and religious persecution caused by invaders. Further, it is well-known that the repair and re-consecration of the Tatankas of Akhilandeshvari at Tiruvanaikkaval has been traditionally carried on by the Jagadgurus of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam.

During the time of the 64th Acharya of Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, Jagadguru Shri Chandrashekharendra Sarasvati Shankaracharya Swamigal, a case was filed by the representative of the Tunga matha in 1844. This case was duly dismissed with costs and the traditional rights of Shri Kamakoti Peetam was confirmed by the Principal Sadar Ameen Court, Tiruchirapalli. The two appeals filed by the Tunga side were also rejected by the Appellate Courts.

What is notable here is that the response by Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham was presented with evidence that “The plaintiff’s argument claiming there is no matham in Kanchipuram serves no purpose whatsoever. Inside the matham lies the adhishthanam of Shri Sureshvaracharya, also known as Mandanamishra, along with an agraharam in his name, and several other adhishthanams and Brindavanams in the area.”

Proof was also presented of arrangements of poojas and maintenance by the Karyasthas of Shrimatham that continued in these adhishtanams even during the very difficult period of the shifting, conflict and while the Acharyas, Chandramaulishvara and Bangaru Kamakshi were all on the move!

It is extremely important to note that the Tunga matha’s side in that court case did not challenge this statement regarding the existence of Sureshvaracharya Samadhi inside Shri Kamakoti Peetham Shrimatham in Kanchipuram. Nor was any contradictory evidence provided.

Shri Sureshvaracharya – Part 2

Special article commemorating the Maha Kumbhabhishekam of Shri Sureshvaracharya Adhishtanam Shrine at Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham Shrimatham, Kanchipuram on 03.5.2024.

Part-2

Shri Sureshvaracharya and the Indra Sampradaya:

By the word “follower of Indra Sampradaya”, we understand that Shri Sureshvaracharya alone was considered the first acharya who bore the Indrasarasvati title. It cannot be argued that the word “sampradaya” used here in this text refers to a generic reference of Shri Sureshvaracharya’s association with the incident of Indra appearing and granting his shakti to Shri Sureshvaracharya alone.

This is because the earlier chapter – the 62nd Prakaranam of Anandagiriya Shankara Vijayam clearly talks about the establishment of the “Bharati Sampradaya” and the Bhogalinga at the sangama of the rivers Tunga and Bhadra. So sampradaya according to this text refers to the sannyasa nama.

Pandit Tarkaratna Panchanana the great Samskrta scholar (1866-1940) who interacted with Jagadguru Shri Chandrashekharendra Sarasvati Shankaracharya Swamigal during his Gangadi Vijaya Yatra corroborates this.

On 13th July 1935 Jagadguru Chandrashekharendra Sarasvati Swamigal reached Kolkata and observed Chaturmasya there. On behalf of the Bangiya Brahmana Sabha, Pandit Tarkaratna Panchanana read out an abhinandana patram for the Jagadguru. He pointed out the significance of the yogapatta “Indrasaraswati” that belonged to the Acharyas of Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. In that address, he specifically alludes to Shri Sureshvaracharya being the first bearer of the Indrasarasvati nama,

सुरेश्वराचार्यगुरुक्रमादिदं सरस्वतीनाम तदर्थवाचिना ।
सहेन्द्रशब्देन पुरः प्रवृत्तीना प्रगृह्यते तन्मठपीठगोप्तृभिः ॥

Shri Sureshvaracharya And Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam (Part 1- contd.)

(Special article commemorating the Maha Kumbhabhishekam of Shri Sureshvaracharya Adhishtanam Shrine at Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham Shrimatham, Kanchipuram on 03-5-2024.)

The Markandeya Samhita manuscripts of which, are found in the Oriental Library Mysore and Adyar Library also corroborates this evidence. The 72nd Kanda, 7th Parispanda of this work says that in the beautiful city of Kanchipuram, in Kamakoti, Shri Shankaracharya installed the exalted yoga lingam. He appointed Shri Sureshvaracharya to worship it and made him the Peetadhipathi.

काञ्च्यां श्रीकामकोटौ तु योगलिङ्ङ्गमनुत्तमम् । प्रतिष्ठाप्य सुरेशायं पूजार्थं युयुजे गुरुः ॥ ७/१५ ॥सुरेश्वराचार्यवरं स्वशिष्यं काञ्चीपुरसुन्दरकामकोटौ।श्रीचन्द्रमौलीश्वरपूजनार्थं नियोज्य चक्रेऽस्य धराधिपत्यम् ॥८/२॥(Mysore ORI & Adyar Library – मार्कण्डेयसंहिता ७२ काण्डे ७ परिस्पन्दे ११)

Shri Sureshvaracharya during Shri Shankaracharya’s Siddhi

At the time of Shri Shankaracharya’s siddhi in Kanchipuram, He sends his sishyas Paramatakalanala and others for the establishment of Shanmatas. Anandagiriyam here again mentions Shri Sureshvaracharya with the adjective “follower of Indra Sampradaya”.

Jagadguru Shri Shankaracharya, after sending His sannyasi sishyas Paramatakalaanala and others for various tasks (such as Shanmatha sthapanam), called Shri Sureshvara, follower of the Indrasampradaya, saying, “Oh Shishya, send this Mokshalinga, to Chidambaram.” Then desiring to go to his own loka, He remained in the Mokshapuri of Kanchi and absorbed His gross body into the subtle, the subtle into the causal and attained the unlimited bliss.

ततः परं सर्वलोकगुरुः आचार्यः स्वशिष्यान् परमतकालानलादियतीन् तदन्यांश्च तत्र तत्र विषयेषु प्रेषयित्वा तदनन्तरं समीपस्थ इन्द्रसंप्रदायानुवर्तिनं सुरेश्वराचार्यमाहूम “भो शिष्य । इदं मोक्षलिङ्गं चिदम्बरस्थ (ले) [लं प्रति] प्रेषय इत्युक्त्वा…

Image: Shri Sureshvaracharya Adhishtanam, Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham Jagadguru Shrimatham, Kanchipuram.

Shri Sureshvaracharya And Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam (Part 1)

(Special article commemorating the Maha Kumbhabhishekam of Shri Sureshvaracharya Adhishtanam Shrine at Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham Shrimatham, Kanchipuram on 03-5-2024.)

Shri Shankaracharya visited Mahishmati as part of His digvijayam. There, He defeated Mandana mishra. According to the Punyashlokamanjari, Mandanamishra was a Gauda brahmana, born in Kashmira and a disciple of Shri Kumarila Bhatta. After his defeat, he accepts Sannyasa from Shankaracharya and becomes Shri Sureshvaracharya. Shri Sureshvaracharya wrote the varttika on the Taittiriya Upanishad bhashya and Brhadaranyaka Upanishad bhashya of Shri Shankara Bhagavatpada. He also has written texts such as Naishkarmya siddhi with an admixture of prose and verse with many examples that are modelled on Shri Bhagavatpada’s Updadeshasahasri. In addition, there are a few other works such as Manasollasa commentary to the Dakshinamurti Stotra. Shri Sureshvaracharya’s impact can also be felt in many other writers such as Vachaspati Mishra.

Shri Sureshvaracharya and Kanchipuram

According to the 65th Prakarana of Anandagiriya Shankara Vijayam, titled Shrichakra Pratishta and Yogalingasthapanam, Shri Shankaracharya comes to Kanchipuram and first. consecrates a Shrichakra there. He establishes a matha fit for his own residence there and then asks Shri Sureshvaracharya to worship the Yogalingam and asks him to stay on in Kamakoti Pitham.

तत्रैव निजवासयोग्यं मठमपि परिकल्प्य तत्र निजसिद्धान्तपद्धतिम् अद्वैतं प्रकाशयितुम् अन्तेवासिनं सुरेश्वरमाहूय योगनामकं लिङ्गं पूजयेति तस्मै दत्वा त्वमत्र कामकोटिपीठमवधिवस इति व्यवस्थाप्य शिष्यजनैः परिपूज्यमानः श्रीपरमगुरुः सुखमास। (आनन्दगिरीये श्रीचक्रप्रतिष्ठा योगलिङ्ङ्गस्थापनं नाम पञ्चषष्टिकं प्रकरणम्)

ஸ்ரீசங்கர விஜயம் – 8

பத்மபாதர் சீடரானமை பேராசிரியர் ஆர்.விச்வனாதய்யர், எம்.ஏ., எல்.டி.,
(ஸ்ரீசங்கர ஜயந்தி வெளியீடு)

ஆதி சங்கரரிடம் அதிபக்தி கொண்டவர்
வேதியர் ஸநந்தனர் எனுமொரு சிரேஷ்டர்
அவர்தம் மகிமையை அயலார் அறிய
நிகழ்ந்ததோர் சம்பவம் நிகழ்த்துவன் கேளீர்!
நீர்ப்பிர வாகம் நிறைந்த கங்கையின்
அக்கரை நின்ற அந்தணர் ஸநந்தரை அழைத்தார் சங்கரர் தம்மிடம் வரவே ;
தயக்கம் கொள்ளா ஸநந்தன ராற்றில்
இறங்கி நடந்தார்; இறைவன் அருளால்,
தாமரை யொன்றொன் றவர்பதந் தாங்கித்
தாண்டிவரச் செய்தது தவச்சி ரேஷ்டரை ;
அவர்குரு பக்தியை அகமகிழ்ந்து போற்றிப்
பத்மபா தர்எனப் பட்டம் சூட்டி
உத்தமச் சீடனாய் ஏற்றார் சங்கரர். (8/20)

ஸ்ரீசங்கர விஜயம் – 7

மநீஷா பஞ்சகம் இயற்றியது பேராசிரியர் ஆர்.விச்வனாதய்யர், எம்.ஏ., எல்.டி., (ஸ்ரீசங்கர ஜயந்தி வெளியீடு)

கங்கா நதியின் கரைபுரள் நீரில்

சங்கரப் பெரியோன் சதுர்பெற ஆடித்

தனிப்பெரு வீதியில் தாம்வரும் போது

நனிப்பெரு நாய்கள் நான்கி னுடனே

சண்டாள னொருவன் வழியில் நின்றான்;

கண்டா ரவனை ; கனவழி நீங்க

விண்டார் விமலர் சங்கர பாதர்;

வெருண்ட வவனும் வெகுண்டு நோக்கி,

“தெருண்ட நும்முப தேசம் நன்றுநன்று!

எல்லாம் இறைவ னென்றே அறைவீர்!

சொல்லா மதுவு மென்பா லன்றோ!

நானு மிறைவனே போவதேன் தூரம்!

ஏனு மெனக் கென்ன வுரைப்பீர்!” என்றே வினவ,

இறைவர் ஆய்ந்து, ஐந்து சுலோக மழகுட னமைத்து

மைந்தர் வாழ மநீஷா பஞ்சகம்

என்றப் பெருநூ லவனுக் கருளி,

”ஆன்ம ஞானி யெவனுமென் னாசான் ;

யான்வ ணங்கு மடிகளு மவனே” என்று கூற, ஏதிலன் மறைந்தான் ;

நன்றே காசி நாதன் தோன்றினன்.(7/20)

ஸ்ரீசங்கர விஜயம் – 6

ஸ்ரீசங்கர விஜயம் பாஷ்யம் இயற்றியது பேராசிரியர் ஆர்.விச்வனாதய்யர், எம்.ஏ., எல்.டி., (ஸ்ரீசங்கர ஜயந்தி வெளியீடு)

காசியம் பதியில் கருதுறும் அத்வைதம்
மாசற விளக்கி மாண்புற நிறுவிப்
பிரம்ம சூத்திரப் பெருமறை தனக்குப்
பரும வுரையாம் பாஷிய மியற்ற
அன்புடன் பணித்தா ரருமைக் குருபரர்;
அம்மொழிப் படியே தாமங் கியற்றிச்
சங்கர பரம பகவத் பாதர் மங்கலம் விளங்கும் மாண்புடைக் காசியில்
தங்கி யிருந்த தகைமிகு நாளில், (6/20)