[Advaita-l] Kalady’s Rediscoverer & Rediscovery - 3

[S Jayanarayanan]

(Continued from previous post)
 
 https://www.sringeri.net/2010/06/25/articles/kaladys-rediscoverer-rediscovery-part-2.htm
 
Kalady’s Rediscoverer & Rediscovery – Part 2
Friday, June 25th, 2010
 
While the Vedantic commentaries of Sri Adi Shankaracharya and some of His other works were well-known, there had been
no comprehensive list of the complete works of the great philosopher. The Mahaswamiji also got published for the
first time ever, the Complete Works of Adi Shankaracharya, titled the Shaankara Granthavali.
 
In spite of these achievements, the greatest gift of the Mahaswamiji to the world of Astikas is the rediscovery of
the exact birthplace of Sri Adi Shankaracharya.
 
The Rediscovery of Kalady
 
The Mahaswamiji’s reverence to Sri Adi Shankaracharya
 
Jagadguru Sri Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Narasimha Bharati Mahaswamiji was intensely devoted to Sri Adi Shankaracharya
and had unparalleled reverence towards Him.
 
This became manifest in His early twenties. He started personally performing special Puja to Sri Adi Shankaracharya’s idol,
which was originally only one among a group of idols worshipped at Sringeri. In the 1880’s, the Mahaswamiji placed
Adi Shankaracharya’s idol at Sringeri in a separate shrine1 with arrangements for daily worship.
 
The Mahaswamiji instituted the annual festival of Sri Shankara Jayanti in memory of Sri Adi Shankaracharya commemorating
His birth. The Celebrations were directed to be commenced on the first day of the bright fortnight of the Vaishakha month
(Vaishakha Shukla Pratipat) and concluded on the fifth day, the anniversary of the Master’s birth (Vaishakha Shukla
Panchami). During these five days, Mahanyasa Poorvaka Rudra Abhisheka followed by Archana to the image of the Master,
along with the Parayanam of His great Bhashyas, were organized in the mornings. The Mahaswamiji Himself gave lectures
in the evenings in simple, easy style on the teachings of the master. That the Celebrations of Shankara Jayanti
take place today throughout India, and even abroad, is to be credited to the Mahaswamiji’s vision[2].
 
To be continued …