Month: October 2024

The 1993 Meeting of Shankaracharyas

Published on by Shankarasampradayakosh

In June 1993, the Shankaracharyas of the four Peetams Kanchi, Tunga Sringeri, Puri and Dwaraka met at Tunga Sringeri, Karnataka, to discuss measures to strengthen national integrity and unity among people and to foster peace in society on the basis of teachings of Shri Shankaracharya.

At the end of the two day meeting the Acharyas of the four Peetams made a joint declaration which appeared in the Hindu as follows:

“We declare :

(a) that all Shankaracharyas will work in unison for the maintenance of peace in the country and for welfare of all its citizens.

(b) That we will take up for implementation projects for sustenance and propagation of Sanatana Dharma and the rich values of our age old traditions in its true spirit.

(c) That all political parties and bodies should not meddle with religion and should not interfere and keep away from any religious issue.

(d) That all political parties and bodies agree that the construction, upkeep etc. of the Temple at Ayodhya be left to a suitable body.

(e) That the body should be constituted of a political, religious leaders whose eminence and independence are transparent and that the Central Government handover the acquired body for Temple construction to this body.

All Shankaracharyas make known the decision that they intend exchanging views frequently from now on to continue efforts for finding solution on issues that are to be faced from time to time.

(Source: The Hindu, June 23 & 28, 1993)

Names of Ancient Places

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Q: How do the names of ancient places help historians establish the authentic history of the great Acharyas who flourished there?

A: Ancient place names often reflect the great figures associated with them. For instance, Shankaracharyapuram and Mandana Mishra Agraharam in Kanchipuram where Shankara Bhagavatpadacharya and His disciple Mandana Mishra (Sureshvaracharya) attained Siddhi. Vidyanagara was named in memory of Vidyatirtha, the 51st Acharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetha who was the Guru of Shankarananda, Bharatikrishna tirtha and Vidyaranya. Vidyaranyapura on the bank of Tunga commemorates Vidyaranya, who established a math.

Note: A 16th-century inscription in Kanchi Varadaraja Swami Temple in respect of a grant offered to a Vaishnava Jeeyar, mentions a village called Shankaracharyapuram, evidencing the Great Acharya’s connection to Kanchipuram. None of the other kshetras linked to his digvijaya, as recorded in the Shankaravijaya literature, bear His divine name except Kanchi, the only Mokshapuri in Southern India.

New light on the visit of Tunga Sringeri Acharya to Kanchi in 1871 : (Part-II)

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In 1871, the Tunga Sringeri Acharyas visited Kanchipuram to have darshan of Shri Kamakshi Ambal and Shri Shankara Bhagavatpadacharya.

Following the divine orders of Shri Ilayathangudi Perivaa, the 65th Acharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetha, who was also the Adheena Paramparai Dharmakarta of Sri Kamakshi Ambal Devasthanam, the visiting Swamis were warmly received by the officials.

Shri Narasimha Bharathi Swami and Shri Shivabhinava Narasimha Bharathi Swami, first worshipped Shri Adi Shankaracharya (Guru Swamigal ) and offered Swarna Rudraksha mala, Silk Shawl, Kashaya vastra and a danda. The Devasthanam officials also made necessary arrangements for their darshan of Shri Kamakshi Ambal and Shri Adi Shankaracharya (Guru Swamigal) on two days.

This incident highlights the mutual respect and cordial relationship even amidst the legal disputes initiated by the Tunga Sringeri matha and the Kanchi matha’s consistent victories in all cases filed against them since 1835 C.E. (2/2)

New light on the visit of Tunga Sringeri Acharya to Kanchi in 1871 : (Part-I)

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Shankarite Institutions across the country were established at various times. Each had its jurisdiction, its disciples and its sampradaya and being Parivrajakacharyas travel was common.

However a vyavastha or maryada was maintained by Institutions on travel routes, shishyarjanam, Agra Sambhavana, pada puja etc. Institutions abided by these rules and records of Kings orders respecting these vyavasthas and cordial relationship was maintained.

From early 19th century, numerous court cases and proceedings arose against the Kanchi Kamakoti matha with the Tunga Sringeri matha as the plaintiff.

In 1870, during the reign of Shri Sudarshana Mahadevendra Saraswati Swami ( Shri Ilayathangudi Perivaa), the 65th Acharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetha, attempts were made to collect Agra Sambhavana and intervene in Achara vyavahara matters by the Tunga Matha in the North Arcot and Chithur region.

To address concerns arising from these unprecedented actions against the Kanchi matha, Shri Krishnaswamy Ayya, the Sabhanayaka of Channapatnam (Madras) wrote to the Tunga Sringeri Swami, requesting his Srimukham to adhere to the nibandhanas or traditional restrictions that had been in place in favor of Kanchi matha and maintain harmony in the region.

Shri Narasimha Bharathi Swami, the Tunga Sringeri Acharya also issued his Srimukham, clarifying that there was no intention to incite hostility against the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetha. (1/2)

Vidyaranya and Kailasanatha Temple

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Q: Why do the preceptors of the Advaita mathas established by Shri Vidyaranya Swami in Karnataka also regard Shri Kailasanatha Swamy Temple, situated near Mandana Mishra Agraharam in Kanchipuram as important?

A: The Acharyas of some of the mathas established by Shri Vidyaranya Swami also regard this temple in Kanchipuram very important, as their original Guruparampara texts evidence that the founder of these mathas, Shri Vidyaranya Swami, finally attained Samadhi here.