Shri Narendra Modi with Sringeri Acharya!

One of the handful of Finest leaders our World has ever known, Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, having Darshan of Sringeri Shankaracharya HH Bharati Theertha Swamigal.

Parjanya Yagam for Rains conducted by Sringeri Sharada Peetham!

A Parjanya sukta japam, seeking rains, was performed at the Cauvery at Trichy in Tamil Nadu  on Tuesday November 8th, 2016, under the auspices of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham.

Vedic pundits performed the japam for over three and a half hours standing in the river.

Sixteen such japams were organised, as per the direction of Sankaracharya Sri Bharati Tirtha Maha Swamigal of Sharada Peetham, Sringeri, between Mettur and Poompuhar and the one held in the city on Tuesday was the concluding one.

A Parjanya yagam would be performed tomorrow in Srirangam, according to the organisers belonging to the Sringeri Sankara Mutt in Srirangam.

Source: The Hindu

Parjanya, according to Vedic mythology a deity of rain, is the one who fertilizes the earth. Here is a sample 36 seconds Parjanya japam video done at Talacauvery in Kodagu district in Karnataka.

Koti Deepotsavam Anugraha Bhashanam by Kanchi Periyavas!

Jyothi Prajwalana by HH Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal Pudhu Periyava on 3rd Day Koti Deepotsavam Celebrations at NTR Stadium in Hyderabad on November 7th, 2016. Please click the below 6 minute video to listen to His Anugraha Bhashanam in Telugu.

HH Vijayendra Saraswathi Swamigal Bala Periyava's Divine Address on 3rd Day of Koti Deepotsavam Celebrations in Hyderabad. Please click the below 19 minute video to listen to Bala Periyava's Anugraha Bhashanam in Telugu.

Source of the above videos: Bhakthi TV.

Tula Snanam of Pudhu Periyava!

Tula Snanam of Kanchi Pudhu Periyava on November 7th, 2016 in Holy Cauvery river at Thiruvanaika in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu.

Please click the 4 minute video link below:

https://www.facebook.com/shares/view?id=1201400699921579

Thanks to Shri Vasant Raj for this divine video.

Misty morning at Sringeri!

I visited this place during Diwali vacation late last week with my family. 

Shringeri is the first Maṭham (Sringeri Sharada Peeta) established by Adi Shankaracharya.

It is a "must visit" place for those who are the followers of the dharma since Shankaracharya of Sharada Peetham lives here. For others it is a welcome change from the regular hustle bustle of city life. 

The place is thronged by hundreds of pilgrims every day and the place is well equipped to accomodate most of them. The parking lot is spacious enough so that literally hundreds of vehicles can be parked at ease. There are different types of guest houses managed by the devasthanam for the pilgrims and they cost just peanuts. The rooms range from Rs. 50/- to Rs. 300/- for 24 hours. The Guest houses are allotted to the pilgrims/devotees on first come-first serve basis and advance booking for the same is not entertained. The rooms are okay since one cannot expect much. No TV and AC facility etc and just one power plug is provided in the rooms. 

No food and snacks are served in the rooms, but small and big eateries are just a few meters away from the guest houses. One gets authentic south Indian food though with limited variety. But one is always assured that the spices are fresh. The street vendors are busy offering Chai and Kaapi (coffee) from almost 3 in the morning. 

The temple complex is spacious and houses an ancient and some recently built/ renovated temples; Sharadamba Temple, Vidyashankara Temple etc. Cross the bridge on the Tunga river and you enter the calm area wherein the holy Shankaracharya resides and meets people in the mornings and evenings. Various functions take place in the Darshan hall there. 

The place can be covered in just a few hours or one can spend at least two days here. You will, ultimately, remember it for the cleanliness on the temple premises and local cuisine.

******Narrated by Shri Adwait of Pune. This beautiful photo of the Bridge across the Tunga river in Sringeri Mutt is courtesy of TripAdvisor.

Mahaperiyava appears in Chandi Homam!

Following is a short video clip of 2 minutes and 34 seconds of Maha Chandi Homam performed on our back deck on April 29, 2016. Read the below prior to watching video, which is best seen in full screen mode.

Following is a short video clip of Maha Chandi Homam performed on our back deck on April 29, 2016. Read the below prior to watching video, which is best seen in full screen mode.

Prior to starting the Maha Chandi Homam, a sincere prayer was offered to Sri Kanchi Mahaperiyava to please come and bless at the Homam. Note that the walls of the Homa Kundam started out all silvery, having a fresh layer of heavy Reynolds aluminum wrap, to protect the underlying copper -- no markings, no pictures, nothing.

The Homam is performed facing east. North is therefore to the left of the Yajamana (performer). The picture quality taken from a mobile phone is not the best; but if you focus on the inside north wall towards the Yajamana, you will definitely see a serene picture of Sri Kanchi Mahaperiyava – only His Face covering the entire wall!

His Face is circled in the above picture.

He is present throughout the clip, with a calm posture, enjoying the offerings and the mantras. The short clip presented is from the Rahasyam part of Durga Saptashati that is being chanted. Sri Mahaperiyava WAS there that day; He blesses ALL beings everywhere; He certainly satisfied this humble soul’s humble request and prayer! If this is not a miracle, then what else is?

Om Sri Kanchi Mahaperiyava Namo Namaha!

*****

Narrated by Shri CT Raghavan!

Shankara.

Secunderabad Acharya Camp Deepavali Pictures!

Acharyas with Smt Kavitha MP, daughter of Telengana Chief Minister Shri K Chandrashekar Rao.

Thanks a ton to Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam for most of the lovely pictures and Shri Vanjari Sankar for the first picture!