SRI SHANKARA BHAGAVATPADA

Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita had declared

"Whenever Dharma is on the decline and Adharma is at the peak I incarnate to destroy evil and to establish Dharma once more".

His parents were Sivaguru and Aryamba.The Madhaviya Shankara Vijayam says,"Sambhor Murthicharathi Bhuvane Shankaracharya Roopa" which means "Dakshinamurthy, one of Parameswara's forms incarnated as Adi Shankara".

Shankara in His boyhood had mastered the four Vedas and the Sastras.With the blessings of His mother, He left home and after a long journey, reached the ashram of the great Govinda Bhagavatpada on the banks of the Narmada. Sri Shankara became his disciple and received Sanyasa Diksha at Govinda Bhagavatpada's hands.

Later, He went to Kasi and had Darshan of Lord Visweswara. He then came to Badri, where he wrote incisive commentaries on the Brahma Sutras, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita etc. During this time Veda Vyasa gave darshan to Adi Shankara and told Sri Shankara, that he(Veda Vyasa) was in total agreement with what Sri Shankara had written. He then blessed Sri Shankara.

Sri Adi Shankara, during the course of his "Dasadig Vijaya" desired to have a debate with Kumarila Bhattar. But due to various reasons, Kumarila Bhattar could not engage in philosophical debate with Sri Adi Shankara. Kumarila Bhatter then asked Sri Adi Shankara to proceed to Mahismathi and engage in debate with Mandana Mishra Viswaroopa. Sri Adi Shankara reached Mahismathi, engaged in Philosophical debate and finally prevailed over Mandana mishra. Mandana mishra accepted the Advaita philosophy of Sri Adi Shankara and became Sri Shankara's disciple. He became a Sanyasi and Sri Adi Shankara gave Him the name Sri Sureswaracharya and Sureswaracharya became Sri Adi Shankara's foremost disciple. Later two more disciples Hastamalaka and Totaka became Adi Shankara's disciples.In Varanasi, Adi Shankara accepted Chandana as His disciple. Chandana became well known as Padmapada later on.

Sri Adi Shankara streamlined the worship of Vishnu,Surya,Siva,Devi,Ganapati and Subramanya and became known as "Shanmata Stapakacharya".He was instrumental in bringing to this world, two great books Viveka Choodamani and Soundarya Lahiri, in addition to various other works.

Adi Shankara along with his disciples went on a padayatra throughout the length and breadth of the country. During these travels he met many scholars, engaged in philosophical debate, won and established Advaita.

Sri Adi Shankara anointed Sureswaracharya as the head of the Sringeri Mutt, Padmapada as the Peetadhipathi of the Dwaraka Mutt, Totakacharya as the head of the Jyothir Mutt and Hasthakamalacharya as the Peetadhipathi of Govardhan Mutt at Puri.

Sringeri is in Chickmagalur district of Karnataka State and is situated on the banks of the Tunga. In the past, with the advent of Rama, Vibandaka Rishi and his son Rishya Shringa did intense tapas here. It was only due to Rishya Shringa's blessings that Dasaratha became the father of Rama, Lakshmana, Bharatha and Shatrughuna.

When Sri Adi Shankara and his disciples were coming towards this holy place, Sri Adi Shankara saw a pregnant frog suffering from the extreme heat. It was wilting from it and slowly dying. Suddenly a cobra came out to the spot, spread its hood over the frog and provided shade to the frog. Sri Adi Shankara saw this and was amazed at the sight of two sworn enemies helping each other. He then and there decided that this place where enemies became friends, was the perfect spot to establish a peetam for the south. This was also another reason for Sri Adi Shankara choosing Sringeri as his Southern Peetham.

The Sri Chakra, the very embodiment of all mantras, was consecrated on a hill and Goddess Sharadambal was installed there, Goddess Sharada is the embodiment of all the Vidyas of all Mantras. Sri Adi Shankara also did poojas to Chandramouliswara, a spatika linga and a Ganapati idol with a manikkam stone embedded in the centre and which was named Ratnagarbha Ganapati. These idols are still being worshipped by the Jagadgurus of Sringeri Mutt, over the last 1200 years.

Sri Adi Shankara consecrated four deities in the four directions of the Sringeri Mutt. They are Kala Bhairava on the Chinnamalai Hillock(East), Durga(South), Hanuman(West) and Kali(North). These four remain the Guardian deities of Sringeri.

After living in Sringeri for 12 long years, Sri Adi Shankara decided that the reason for His staying at Sringeri had come to an end and appointed Sri Sureswaracharya, as the head of the Sringeri Mutt and started on a padayatra once again.

"Paramahamsa Parivrajaka Chariar" which means "The Guru who spreads knowledge by constant padayatra", Adi Shankara true to this aphorism went on a padayatra to Kashmir and prevailed over the pandits of various disciplines thus establishing the Supremacy of Advaita. He ascended the Sarvagnya Peetham because of this victory.

Later He went to Nepal and had darshan of Lord Dattatreya. After this He went straight to Kedarnath and there, in his 32nd year, he became one with God.

Sri Adi Shankara's greatest effort was to spread national integration. This was quite an achievement, especially in those days when the whole country was divided into small independent states. Here are some examples.

In the present age of complacence of Vedic culture, there still exists a good home of fame for Vedas and Sanskrit knowledge. This is because of the present Acharya H.H. Sri Bharathi Tirtha. His methodology of spreading the Vedas, inspiring the people to learn the Sanskrit language has been accepted by one and all. Even
now the Sringeri Mutt stands first and foremost among the four Mutts in Vedic preaching and the credit goes to the present Acharya, H.H. Sri Sri Bharathi Tirtha, the 36th Jagadguru in the resplendent unbroken Guru parampara of Sri Sharada Peetham. He is very scholarly with extraordinary knowledge and proficiency
in Vedanta (Upanishads), Shastras and Sanskrit literature. He knows several Indian languages and English. He is a persuasive orator and a powerful conversationist. He is a sannyasin of the highest Paramahamsa order.

He was born in Narsaraopet in Guntur District in Andhra Pradesh on April 11, 1951. His name in his poorvashrama was Sitarama Anjaneyulu. His father's name was Venkateswara Avadhani and mother's name Smt. Ananthalakshmamma. The pious couple desired very much to have a son after begetting four daughters. Avadhani used to wake up early in the morning, bathe in the river and worship Lord Bhavani Shankara, the local deity, with Rudrabhishekha. This he did for a year. He also used to perform Sri Rama Navaratrotsava. He took a vow to name his child after Sita and Rama if his wish was fulfilled. The Lords Shankara and Rama were kind to him. He was blessed with a son. The child was name Sitarama Anjaneyulu. Sitarama Anjaneyulu was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. Worship of Lord Chandramouliswara has been His keen desire. Even during His boyhood days, He used to forget Himself worshipping the Lord.

After school hours, He always devoted His time for Sanskrit studies. He won a number of prizes and was invited by All India Radio, Vijayawada to participate in Sanskrit programmes. He learnt the Vedas from His father. He studied Samhita, Brahmana and Aranyaka so well that He could take part in the Guntur District Vedapraverdhaka Vidwat Pariksha. He passed the examination with honours.

He came to Sri Abhinava Vidya Tirtha as a brahmachari at the age of 15 seeking His blessings and instruction in the Shastras. The Acharya was then observing Chaturmasya at Ujjain. Sitarama Anjaneyulu had come with great vairagya growing in Him. As Sri Abhinava Vidya Tirtha was returning after His bath in the river Kshipra, Sitarama Anajneyulu prostrated before Him and sought His refuge, which was granted. The very next day, the Acharya started teaching Him. He soon became a gem of a scholar and a devout disciple.

Sitarama Anjaneyulu did not leave the lotus feet of His Guru. He accompanied His Guru during all His tours. Sitarama Anjaneyulu was seen more often talking in Sanskrit than in Telugu, his mother tongue. Quite early in life, He completed His study of grammar, literature, logic and philosophy. With an inborn love for Sanskrit, He composed poetry at a very early age. Even at games, He would talk in verse. Rules of prosody were never violated. Rhyme, rhythm, suggestion and poetic beauty came naturally to Him. Even ordinary things of life found expression in His poetry.

The mastery of His Holiness over Indian languages is well known to devotees. The Sringeri Mutt has a tradition of close connection with Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. People of these areas visit Him to pay their obeisance and are naturally drawn by His amazing versatility in the languages together with a command over the local idiom.

Sri Abhinava Vidya Thirtha granted Sanyasaashram to the young brahmachari Sitarama Anjaenyulu on November 11, 1974. Sri Bharathi Tirtha was the sanctified name given to the Sannyasin. His Guru declared that Sri Bharathi Tirtha would be His successor. He had unswerving devotion to His Guru. He accompanied his Guru in all His tours.

At Sringeri, H.H.Sri Sri Bharathi Tirtha, not only supervises the schools, but also teaches the senior students. He would personally conduct tests, encourage deserving students to help the slow learners and encourage even the teachers through some programmes. The Mutt has undergone many changes due to His initiative. Now, one can write official letters in any of the Indian Languages, or in English.

After His Guru attained Mahasamadhi, on October 19, 1989, H.H. Sri Sri Bharathi Tirtha formally took over as the 36th Jagadguru of Sringeri Mutt. In many parts of the country He established branches. In many places, He consecrated the idols of Sri Sharada and Sri Adi Shankara. Recently while celebrating the 25th year of Sanyasa of H.H. Sri Sri Bharathi Tirtha, a Golden Chariot was built, with excellent workmanship and sculptural beauty. The Goddess Sri Sharada is taken in procession in this Golden Chariot. He also constructed a huge Bhojana Sala in Sringeri called `Bharati Tirtha Prasad', in which about 3500-4000 pilgrims can be fed at a time.

His daily prayers are always for the welfare of the entire humanity and for a peaceful world.