Srichakra at Chidambaram Sri Sivakami Amman Temple (Article By Dr.A.Subbian, Prof.& Head, Department of History, Annamalai University –
XV National IASLIC Conference Souvenir, Published By Annamalai University Library, Chidambaram, 1992.)
One of the acharyas of the Dwaraka Peetha removed himself to Malabhagalu situated to the North of the present Kolar. During the time of Sivappa and Bhimappa Naik of Bidanur, the then Acharya of Dwaraka (Mulabhagalu) Matha was invited to the Durvasapura. He accordingly visited the place and had a Matha constructed there. The principal deity worshipped in the temple is Sri Gopalakrishna. There are also murtis of Sri Chandramaulisvara Swamy and Sri Gayatri Devi.
(Original Article: Written by Sri Anantanandendra Swami of Upanishad Brahmendra Matha – Published by Prof.S.Soundararajan,Bangalore)
Dr. Hultzch in his Report on the Search for Sanskrit Manuscripts in Southern India, Part II printed by the Government Press, Madras, 1905, refers to a Guruparampara of the Bharati line of Sanyasins and gives the Guru Parampara Vide No. 21461.
This manuscript was also found in the collection of the manuscripts made by a Pandit of the Tanjore Palace. This list gives the names of 30 Acharyas.
According to this Guruparampara Stotra, Sri Sankaracharya established a matha at the Tungabhadra (Kudali) sangama kshetra and anointed Sri Prithvidhara Bharati as its first Acharya. Later, Sri Sankaracharya visited Kanchi where He consecrated Sri Kamakshi Devi and attained the final Bliss.
Sri Sacchidananda Saraswati of Hole Narasipur in his Sri Sankara Bhagavatpada Vrithantha Sarvaswa raised a doubt about the 5th & 6th verses and that their reliability would be clear if it was known who the author of this Guruparampara stotra was.
It is surprising, an erudite scholar like Sri Sactchidananda Saraswati didn’t know the fact that even before Dr.Hultzh, this Guruparampara list was noticed by K.B.Pathak of Belgaum in 1882. According to him Atmananda was the author of this Guruparampara list.
Here’s an Excerpt from K.B. Pathak’s article published in the Indian Antiquary journal:
“I have lately come across a manuscript which gives the date of Samkaracharya. The manuscript belongs to Mr. Govinda Bhata Yerlekara of Belgaum. It is a small one, consisting of three leaves only, written in Balbodh characters.
It begins thus :
श्री त्र्यंबकेश्वरायनमः
नमामि शंकराचार्यगुरुपादसरोरुहं ।
यस्य प्रसादान्मूढोपि सर्वज्ञोऽहं सदास्म्यलं॥
श्रीशंकराचार्यनवावतारं वेदान्तशारीरकभाष्यकारं।
चकोरचाकोरकचंद्रिकाणां श्रीशंकराचार्यगुरुं नमामि॥
आदौ शिवस्ततो विष्णुस्ततो ब्रह्मा ततः परं।
वसिष्ठाख्यस्तथा शक्तिस्तत: पाराशरः स्मृतः॥
ततो व्यासः शुकः पश्चाद् गौडपादाभिधस्तथा।
गोविंदार्यगुरुस्तस्मात् शंकराचार्यसंज्ञकः॥
The manuscript next says that Samkara established his matha on the banks of the Tumgabhadra, appointed Prithvidhara to be the head of it, conferred upon him the title of Bharati, and,
आगत्य स्वेच्छया कांचीं पर्यटन्पृथिवीतले ।
तत्र संस्थाप्य कामाक्षीं जगाम परमं पदं ॥
Then follow the names of his successors. We next come to a minute description of the mathas established in various parts of India. Then follows the guru parampara or the succession of teachers…”
– K.B.Pathak, B.A. Belgaum High School (June,1882)
In the historical epistles dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries, we find accounts of the Travancore kings presenting elephants named “Padmanabha” as offerings to the revered Jagadguru Shankaracharyas of Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham.
Additionally, in the records of the Mysore State Government for the year 1941-42, there are detailed entries of the government offering two elephant calves to Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham Jagadguru Shri Shankaracharya Swamigal Srimatham Samsthanam and Jagadguru Shri Sringeri (Tungabhadra-Kudali) Shankaracharya Swamigalavaru Srimatham Samsthanam as a humble contribution.
In the Bhumika of the book Sareeraka Meemamsa Bhashyam printed and published by Venkateswara Steam Press, Bombay, written by Mahavidvan Kashi Sesha Venkatachala Shastri, son of Pandita Dharmadhikari Shri Venkatasubramania Shastri and grand son of Pandita Dharmadhikari Kashi Sesha Nageshwara Shastri of Mysore, the following observation was made in Sanskrit about the Tungabhadra Sringeri (Kudali) matha established by Jagadguru Shri Shankara Bhagavatpadacharya.
” अन्यस्मै पुस्तकसन्न्यासाश्रमं ददुः, ततः केषुचिद्दिवसेषु व्यतीतेषूक्तः स्वामी ( = यात्रां गतः स्वामी देशयात्रातः प्रतिनिवृत्य) कूडलीमागत्यैनं वृत्तान्तं ( = महाजनैः शृङ्गेरीमठीय पीठाधिपत्ये स्थापितस्यान्यस्य सन्यासिनो वृत्तान्तं श्रुत्वा राज्यस्थाने (हुजूरास) लेखनस्य निवेदनात्पक्षद्वयमपि तेषामाह्वापनद्वारा विचारितम् । तेन चास्माभिस्तत्रत्यैर्महाजनैर्हठेन दत्तः पुस्तकसंन्यासः सत्यः इत्यवगतम् । तथाप्युपदेशसन्न्यासादिकमनेन देयं, पुस्तकसन्न्यासिभिस्तु ग्रामे (शृङ्गेरीग्रामे) एव स्थित्वा श्रीशारदामातृपूजां कुर्वद्भिर्मठे नियमनिष्ठ्या स्थातव्यं शङ्कराचार्यपरम्परागतैः स्वामिभिः देशसंचारादिकं कुर्वद्भिः कूडल्यां (लग्यां) स्थातव्यम्” इति । इदं (प्राचीन लेख – पुस्तक – राजशासन – पत्रिकालेखाद्यनुरोधेन शशिशेखर दामोदरसङ्केश्वरीय विद्याशालाया अध्यापकेन लिखिते ) “श्रीसंस्थानसङ्केश्वर मठ करवीर व सङ्केश्वरचा इतिहास इति नाम्ना प्रसिद्ध मुद्रितपुस्तके स्पष्टम् |”
Note: That this (Tungabhadra Sringeri) Matha was an independent Matha and that it was entitled to use Addapallaki and other paraphernelia was held in Appeal No.22 of 1847 on the file of the court of Huzur Adalat, Mysore. This order was confirmed by the Commissioner of Mysore, by his order dated 1st June, 1849. In the judgment it has also been quoted that “the Parwana of the Phalguna Bahula, 6 of the year Krodhana is to the effect that the (Tungabhadra Sringeri) Kūḍali Swami should always be on tour and that the (Tunga) Sringeri Swami should ever remain at Sringeri worshipping the deity.”- ‘Extract from the Judgement in Appeal No.22 of 1847 in the Court of the Huzur Adalat, Mysore’.- Sri Sankaracharya And Sankarite institutions by Sri Anantanandendra Saraswati of Upanishad Brahmendra Matha.
Q: Why is the Jagadguru Acharya of Tungabhadra Sringeri Matha revered with the special title “Tunga Bhadra Teeravasi”?
A:According to Mahavidvan Kasi Sesha Venkatachala Sastri of Mysore, the Birudu ” Tungabhadra Teeravasi” is associated with the Matha founded on Pitha in the confluence of Tunga-Bhadra rivers.
“तुङ्गभद्रातीरवासी”
“शृङ्गेर्याः बहुक्रोशदूरवर्तिनि तुङ्गानद्या भद्रानद्याश्च सङ्गमे (कर्नाटकभाषया कूडल्याख्ये) स्थाने मठं निर्माप्य तत्र विद्याधर्मपीठं च संस्थाप्य तत्पीठाधिकारो येन लब्धस्तेन तुङ्गभद्रातीरवासीति सम्पादितं विरुदम् ।”
He founded a Matha and Vidya-dharma Pitha at the confluence of the Tunga and Bhadra rivers (known as Kudali in Kannada), situated many krosas away from (Tunga) Śṛṅgeri. As a result, the Acharyas came to be known by the title “Tungabhadra – Teeravasi.”
(Bhumika- Sareeraka Meemamsa Bhashyam by Kasi Sesha Venkatachala Sastri, Dharmadhikari & Hereditary Court Pandit of Mysore State, Printed By Venkateswara Steam Press, Bombay, 1913)
दसो दिशाओं के संरक्षक उपर्युक्त दशनामी संन्यासियों की संगठन शक्ति अक्षुण्ण बनी रहे और कालान्तर में उनके संगठन में किसी पृथकतावादी तत्त्व का समावेश न होने पाये, इसके लिये उन्होंने दशनाम संन्यासियों को निम्न रुप से एक ही शरीर के विभिन्न अंगों के रूप में प्रतिपादित किया-
” ब्रह्मरन्ध्रे पुरी चैव ललाटे चैव भारती जिह्वाग्रे सरस्वती चैव बाहौ च गिरिपर्वतौ।
कुक्षौ तु सागरश्चैव वनारण्यौ च जंघयोःपादोः तीर्थश्रमौ चैव दशनाम प्रकीर्तिताः।”
Sareeraka Meemamsa Bhashya (Brahmasutra Bhashya) of Shri Shankaracarya, printed at Venkatesvara (Steam) Press, Bombay, was published in 1913.
Mahavidvan Kasi Sesha Venkatachala Sastri (Dharmadhikari and Hereditary Court Pandit of the Maharajas of Mysore) who has edited the work, has written a lengthy Bhumika, (preface) to the Bhashya, in Sanskrit, which contains much of information about Shri Sankara Bhagavatpada’s date, His life, Shankarite Institutions etc.
He has concluded his discussion on ‘Shri Shankaracharya’s time (vide page 59 of Bhumika (preface) to Sareeraka mimamsa Bhashya), with the following observation:
‘’ तथा गच्छत्वमितो बलवर्माण ततो जयसिंह ततः कृष्णगुप्तमिति इति (ब्रह्मसूत्र भाष्ये ४ / ३ / ५) श्रीमच्छङ्कर भगवतत्पादैरुक्तस्तात्कालिक बलवर्म- जयसिंहः कृष्णगुप्तसामयिक एव पूर्णवर्मापि ग्राह्यः स च कलेः २००० वर्षानन्तर एव, नत्वंगलशकस्य सप्तमशतकादिः, स एव समयो भाष्यकृच्छङ्कर-भगवत्पादानां समय इति शिष्टं परिशिष्टे स्पष्टंप्रतिपादयिष्यते । “
The above passage in Sanskrit states that on the basis of Shri Shankaracharya’s observations in the Sutrabhashya (4-3-5 ) it is clear that the period of Shri Shankaracharya must be only after the elapse of 2000 years of the Kaliyuga.
– A.K.A
English Translation of Samskrtam Article by Panditaraja Pattabhirama Shastri, Vidyavachaspati, Varanasi, Part-3
This place is known as Kamakoti Pitha due to its being the place where Jagadamba in the form of Shakti reigns here. Kamakshi who is ruling this world with her divine eyes, created crores of Manmathas and fulfilled the wishes of Kama, the husband of Rati. That is described in the Amba Stava as,
दग्धं यदा मदनमेकमनेकधा ते मुग्धे कटाक्षविधिरङ्कुरयाञ्चकार ।
धत्ते तदा प्रभृति देवि ललाटनेत्रं नित्यं ह्रियैव मुकुलीकृतमिन्दुमौलिः॥
Shiva who was won by Kama says,
‘एषा भूमिब्रह्मपुत्री गोरूपेणाखिलं जगत् ।
धृत्वा वसति चाद्यापि तस्या भूमेः सुरोत्तमाः ॥
वक्त्रं तु गोमुखक्षेत्रं श्रीपुरं शीर्षतां गतम् ।
हिमालयः कण्ठदेशः केदारं कुक्षिदेशगम् ॥
वाराणसीपृष्ठदेशो मूलं तत्कमलालयम् ।
काञ्चीदेशः पुरी काञ्ची तन्मध्यं कामकोष्टकम् ॥
तस्यमध्यमिदं द्वारं बिलमेतत्सुरोत्तमाः ॥ इति ।
Thus the sangama of various Mahakshetrams named Kamakoshta, the pitha of Jagadamba Kamakshi, this Pitha named Kamakoshta shines in knowledge as well. Even today the sangama of Sarvatirtha is counted among the Sarvatirtha of Bhageerathi. Thus, Kanchipuram is counted as among the divyakshetram, divyatirtham, and divyapitham.
The Goddess of auspicious sacred form, Rajarajeshvari, known as Kamakshi, displaying her many lilas, reigns in this Pitha.This pitha is most ancient.
Bhagavatpada Shri Jagadguru Shankaracharya, when travelling in this region, understanding the greatness of Kanchi, just as he installed shrichakra in various places, installed a Shrichakra here as well. Worshipping the supreme goddess who reigns in the Shri Chakra – Shri Mahatripurasundari and obtained the grace of that lotus-eyed goddess, Acharyapada ascended the Sarvajna Peetha in Kanchipuram and conquering all the avaidika matas, establishing his matha here, bestowed the sannyasa diksha and sannyaasaabhisheka duly as per procedural injunctions, to Sarvajna(tma), gave him the yogalingam that was worshipped by Himself, among the five lingas that He brought back from Kailasa, and assigned Sureshvaracharya to protect the young shishya, with the understanding that the work He came for – dharmarakshana and weeding of durmatas, attained oneness with Paramba Kamakshi.
For this, there are innumerable pramanika granthas such as Shivarahasya, Markandeya Samhita, Anandagiri ShankaraVijaya, BrhacchankaraVijaya, Vyasachaliya. I argue that citing them will be like grinding ground batter. From Acharya ShriSarvajnacharana, worshipping the yogalinga and Shri Mahatripurasundari as per procedure, sanctifying this nation through dharmopadesha, and establishing the adhyatmashakti in the world, the Acharyas of Kamakoti Pitha duly have been carrying forward what was obtained from Bhagavatpada,
There in the avicchinna parampara, the very form of compassion, one who is like a jivanmukta, always meditating upon the self, Shri Chandrashekharendra Saraswati Shricharana the 68th Acharya shines as if the very form of Kamakshi. Fortunate indeed is the compassionate Acharya! The reason for that is:
व्योमेति बिन्दुरिति नाद इतीन्दुलेखा रूपेतिवाग्भवतनूरिति मातृकेति।
निष्यन्दमानसुखबोधनिजस्वरूपो विद्योतसे मनसि भाग्यवतां जनानाम् ॥
He is currently performing penance for the welfare of the world iin that Kamakoshtha, like another incarnation of Bhagavatpada in Kalavai near Kanchipuram in His guru’s adhishtana after duly bestowing the sannyasadiksha to the qualified Shri Jayendra Saraswati Pada as the 69th Acharya according to procedure from childhood, and having taught all shastras to him, and to take responsibility of all the Matham and Pitham related work, and to carry on the activities of puja, dharmopadesha and dharmaprachara.
It is our fortune that Jagadguru Jayendra Saraswati Shripada worshipped kshetras and tirthas from Kanyakumari to Himalayas and with extraordinary dedication performing puja reigns as the Kamakoti Pitha.
Both the Acharyas to uphold the dignity of Bharata seeing that it has experienced some decay, work continuously to restore it to its past dignity by supporting and sustaining the Vedas, the fundamental life breadth of Bharata and the shastras rooted in them, agama and shilpa and also teach the means for doing this!
Thus in this world, we are indeed fortunate that they will spread the greatness of Kamakoti Pitha,from Rameshvaram to Himalayas. It is not just people from India but people from other countries too consider themselves grateful by darshana of the Shricharana and His shishya Shricharana and by seeing their puja and hearing their upadesha and spread the greatness of Kanchi Kshetra, Kamakoti Pitha and Bhagavati Kanakshi thus rendering the people of those countries fortunate, saying thus it establishes the tenet of Manu, स्वं स्वं चरित्रं शिक्षेरन् पृथिव्यां सर्वमानवा:।
Victory to Kamakoti Pitham! Victory to Kamakoti Pitham! Victory to Kamakoti Pitham! (3/3)
Source: Translation of the original Skt. Article published- Kumbabhishekham of Shri Kanchi Kamakshi Temple in 1976,
English Translation of Samskrta article of Panditaraja Pattabhirama Shastri, Vidyavachaspati Varanasi – Part-2
In the tenth adhyaya of Kamakshi Vilasa the location of Kanchipuram in the earth is described. “पुरा यत्र स्रोतःपुलिनमधुना” as Bhavabhuti said how many ever changes can be shown, those are merely to be taken as incidental.
In the works of poets such as kavyas and natakas that are born from the inspired poetry of poets, even though they are based on Puranas there is some alteration. Poets for the pleasure of connoisseur write poetry, but Maharshis do not expound the puranas in that manner. Neither did they use the faculties of imagination nor hyperbole, they had the minds to engrave things as they were. The Maharshis were endowed with divine vision to see scenes that are not of this world. Their efforts and writing the puranas were not to please others minds, seek fame, or to seek enormous wealth but being endowed with a mind focussed on examining the tattvas espoused in the Veda, they operated according to the injunction “The meanings of the Veda has to be seen along with the statements in itihaasa and purana.
Bhattapada when describing the nature of pramanya of the entirety of Samskrta literature, in the Smrtyadhikarana says,
“Thus the instructions are also from the words in the itihasa and purana. The stories however are to be taken as arthavaada (ie words of praise with the intent to make someone undertake an act). Even foretelling the future is also based on the Veda on account of the extraordinary knowledge of the dharma and adharma anushthanas owing to the changes of yugas and the nature of yugas since time memorial.” (Shabara Bhashyam Page. 166 Pune edition), saying thus he explains the knowledge of the Maharshis, the writers of the Puranas.
In this manner, when looking at the Kamakshi Vilasa in the Markandeya Purana, Kanchipuram, the descriptions of all the temples there that precede it, it is understood that this place Kamakoshta is the abode of Paramba Kamakshi. The word koshtha means antargrha or innermost sanctum. It also is understood that this is a place that fulfils all desires. Thus the end of desire, the highest refuge. The place where the desires of all beings are attained. Hence this Kamakoti Pitham is sacred.
Kama is the third purushartha; the fourth purushartha is moksha; That is expressed by the word koti. The word Kamakoshtha/ Kamakoti indicates that for the people of this world who have ordinary worldly aspirations, and for the Maharshis who seek this extraordinary thing, moksha, are obtained in this place of penance. Alternately it was because Jagadamba who revived Kama who was burnt by the eye of Rudra and gave him life in crores. This is the place where the krcchra penance obtained fruition. Due to the depth of the navel, this Kamakoshtakam is also in the form of bilam. This Kamakoshta is the essence of all great kshetras. (2/3)
