HIS HOLINESS JAGADGURU

SRI JAYENDRA SARASWATHI

Sri Sankaracharya Swamigal of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam


His Holiness Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal is the presiding Peetathipathi of Kamakoti Peetam, one of the foremost Hindu institutions in the world. This ancient religious centre, just south of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, was founded by Sri Adi Shankara. It has been adorned by a successive unbroken line of illustrious Acharyas.

The 68th Acharya was none other than His Holiness Sri Chandrasekarendhara Saraswathi Swamigal (left) who lived a glorious hundred years and was universally accepted as the "Sage of Kanchi" and the "living God". Gurudev adorned the peetam for more than 87 years (1908 A.D. to 1994 A.D.) and during these years he travelled the country by feet spreading the preachings of Sri Adi Shankara. The great Acharya's birth centenary was celebrated in May 1993 with splendour and religious fervour. A Kanakabishegam ( shower of gold coins) was performed by his illustrious cuccessor, His Holiness Shri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal, the 69th Peetathipathi (Pontiff) and his successor designate, His Holiness Sri Shankara Vijayendra Saraswathi Swamigal in the presence of a multitude of devotees. Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Viswa Maha Vidyalaya, a Sanskrit Deemed University and an International Library were dedicated to him, in a rural centre, Ennathur about 4 kms. from Kancheepuram.

His Holiness Shri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal became the head of Kamakoti Peetam in 1954 A.D. He is the moving spirit behind the Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam's progressive projects. He has travelled widely all over the country to spread the message of 'Advaita'. He has established a Science and Arts College in the name of Sri Adi Shankara at Ennathur in the year 1991.

Several Hindu Mission Schools in South India blessed by him bear witness to his fervent desire to educate the poor and needy. The 160 feet high Kirthistambam at Kaladi, with the life story of Sri Adi Shankara fully depicted therein is a superb memorial dedicated to the first Acharya, by His Holiness Shri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal. This year, a mammoth icon of Sri Adi Shankara 60 feet high, 200 tonnes in weight carved out of a single monolythic granite stone has been blessed and installed by the Shankaracharyas, Shri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal and Shri Vijayendra Saraswathi Swamigal. This holy statue was unveiled at a grand public function by the President of India, His Excellency Shri Shankar Dayal Sharma on 20th September 1996 in the presence of Sri R.Venkataraman, former President of India and other distinguished gathering. Devotees thronged to catch a glimpse of it. It is perhaps the only one of its kind in India with Sri Adi Shankara in a standing posture and stands testimony to the respectful homage paid to the founder of the Advaita Philosophy by the Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam and its peetathipathis, with their devotees.

His Holiness Shri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal (above) and his successor designate Sri Vijayendra Sarawathi Swamigal (below) who was inducted to Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam in the year 1983 when he was only 14 years of age) have, over a period of time patronised and blessed several educational, cultural and social activities.

The foremost among them is the establisment of Veda Pada Salas (Schools for the training-of young boys in Rig, Yajur and Sama Vedas). They have also funded the building of several hospitals for the care of the poor and the downtrodden, such as the Sankara Medical Centres, leprosy cure and eye care centres in different parts of the country. The Eye Hospital in Gauhati, Assam, North East of India would probably be another milestone in the untiring efforts of the Kamakoti Peetathipathis to establish medical facilities to suffering humanity. From time to tiome Vedic Scholars are honored by the Acharyas, financial support is given for the sustenance of deserving scholars from the trusts set up for the purpose. The centenarian Sri Sankaracharyas's message have been translated from Tamil into English, Indonesian, German, Russian, Japanese and Chinese and also many other Indian languages. This is just the beginning of the never-ending line of activities of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. to make this world a better place to live in, demostrating thereby that Hindu Dharma is indeed a dynamic way of life.


SRI KANCHI KAMAKOTI PEETAM

It was about 2500 years ago, around 509 B.C. that a village by name Kalady neighboring the holy city of Trichur in Kerala State, in India, was chosen for a divine happening. To the blessed couple, Sivaguru- a scholarly vaidik Brahmin and Aryamba was born the godly child Shankara. later to be known as Sri Adi Shankara Bagawath Pada all over the world. Sri Adi Shankara was the first Shankaracharya of the Kamakoti Peetam at Kancheepuram in Tamil Nadu.

Although Sri Adi Shankara's earthly sojourn was very short- barely 32 years he traveled the length and breadth of the subcontinent of India, hallowing it by his sacred footsteps, as he preached his philosophy of 'Advaita'. Many eminent scholars from all corners of the country became his disciples.

He restructured the 72 forms of desultory Hindu religious practices into acceptable norms categorizing them into the six ways of worship, based on Vedas - namely Ganapathyam (The worship of Ganapathy), 'Kaumaram' (worship of Kumaran or Murugan), 'Sauram' (worship of Surya or Sun), ' Saivam' (worship of Siva) 'Vaishnavam' (worship of Vishnu) and Shaktham (worship of Shakthi). He was hence hailed as the 'Shanmatha Sthapanacharya'. During his journeys across the country, he held discussions with m any scholars and produced several immortal philosophical treatises. Chief among them is the concept of 'advaita', besides commentaries on the Brahma Sutras, Srimad Bhagawad Gita, and the ten principal Upanishads. Other poetical works such as the Soundarya Lahari, and the Sivananda Lahari are a paean of praise to various deities of the Hindu pantheon.

During his sojourn at Kedarnath in the Himalayas Sri Adi Shankara visited the sacred mountains Kailash, and it is believed that he secured from Lord Shiva Crystal Lingams, and installed in Kanchipuram the Yoga Lingam which he kept for His worship. He ascended the Sarvagnapeetam, after winning over scholars from various parts of the country. He also consecrated the Shrichakra in the Temple Sanctum of Devi Kamakshi - the presiding deity of Kancheepuram. He founded the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam as the first Acharya, and there he spent the last few years of his divine earthly career until he attained Siddhi in the year 477 B.C. The name Kamakoti means the end of all earthly desires - Kama ( Desires) + Koti (End).

NAGARESHU KANCHI - The Significance of Kanchi

One of the prime reasons for India's important position among nations has been its ancient culture which has retained its pristine glory through the ages. Among the various centres associated with this ancient culture, the city of Kanchi (present Kancheepuram, Tamilnadu State) is the most renowned. "Pushpeshu Jaathi", "Puruksheshu Vishnu", "Nagareshu Kanchi"- so goes a popular verse which connotatively interpreted means : Like the Jasmine among flowers for its color, fragrance and lightness, like Vishnu among men for his glory, looks and valor. So is Kanchi amongst places for its collective culture, peace and prosperity".

Seven sacred cities are celebrated as Mokshapuris in India, wherein to live or to die is gain deliverance or liberation. (Moksha), for the soul of man from the vicious cycle of birth and death. The seven sacred cities are Ayodhya, Mathura, Maya (Haridwar) Kasi (Varanasi), Kanchi, Avanthika (Ujjaini) and Dwaraka, Kanchi, geographically is believe to be the centre of the Eastern Hemisphere. Amongst the 51 Shakthi Peetams in India, Kancheepuram is considered as the Nabisthanam or the Navel of Shakthi. Kanchi also means the 'oddiyanam' - (the bejewelled girdle worn by Indian women. Since time immemorial, the city has flourished as a centre for literary eminence with its "Ghatikas' or education centres offering instruction in Vedas, Sastras, Arts and Music.


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