[Advaita-l] Teachings on the Vijaya Yatra - Guru alone removes Avidya

[S Jayanarayanan]

 Murali k methusala8 at gmail.com wrote:
 
> Namaste,
> 
> Maha Sannidhanam is quoted as saying that ' one should perform Noble deeds
> as enjoined in the shasthras'.
> 
 
To be precise, it is the Sannidhanam (successor-designate to the Mahasannidhanam) who says so.
 
> Can anyone here point out any books in English which contain these shastras
> for daily conduct for a follower of Sanatana Dharma?
> 
 
I was going to post this only next month, but since you asked, the following link contains
a few examples of "Noble deeds" of Dharma:
 
http://vijayayatra.sringeri.net/vijayayatra/mandya-march-10-2017/
 
Here are a couple of books that may be of interest:
 
https://www.sringeri.net/2014/12/17/publication/book/sanatana-dharma-vol1.htm
Sanatana Dharma – Vol.1
Benedictory Courses by : Jagadguru Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji
Year of Publication: 2014
Pages: 252 pp + xiv
 
https://www.sringeri.net/2014/08/27/publication/book/spotlight-on-dharma.htm
Spotlight on Dharma
Year of Publication: 1998
Reprint : 2014
Pages: 60 pp+vi
 
> Thanks,
> Murali
> 
> PS: Thanks for posting these nuggets.
> 
> 
> On Thu 11 Jul, 2019, 9:32 AM S Jayanarayanan via Advaita-l, <
> advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
> 
> > (Around the beginning of the month, a nugget of Wisdom from the Jagadguru
> > may be posted
> > on the Chaturamnaya list :
> > http://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/cgi-bin/listinfo/chaturamnaya )
> >
> > http://vijayayatra.sringeri.net/vijayayatra/hassan-march-9-2017/
> >
> > HASSAN: MARCH 9, 2017
> > Jagadgurus At Hassan
> >
> > The Jagadgurus travelled to Hassan and arrived at the Sringeri Shankara
> > Math to a devout welcome
> > by the assembled devotees. Their Holinesses had Darshan at the shrines of
> > Goddess Sharadamba,
> > Sri Balamuri-Ganapati, Sri Chandramoulishwara and Sri Adi Shankaracharya
> > in the Math.
> >
> > Sri Mahasannidhanam and Sri Sannidhanam inaugurated “Paramahamsaangana” –
> > a hall to conduct
> > Dharmic functions – and a Goshala.
> >
> > Thereafter, a public function organised to welcome the Jagadgurus began
> > with Veda Ghosha and a
> > prayer song “Sri Sharadamam Bhaje” (composed by Sri Mahasannidhanam). In
> > his address, Sri Srikantaiah,
> > the Dharmadhikari of the Math welcomed the Jagadgurus.
> >
> > Members of the Nagara Sabha of Hassan then read out separate citations in
> > honour of Sri Mahasannidhanam
> > and Sri Sannidhanam, and submitted them.
> >
> > SUMMARY OF ANUGRAHA BHASHANAMS
> >
> > In His Anugraha Bhashanam, Sri Mahasannidhanam remembered the services of
> > Guru-Bhakta-Tilaka Rao
> > Bahadur Nanjundaiah who was instrumental in the setting up of the branch
> > Math at Hassan.
> > Sri Mahasannidhanam stated that it is the Anugraha of His Guru, Jagadguru
> > Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji
> > (who had in 1962 inaugurated the Math) that the Math had seen such
> > development. Devotees experience
> > the Grace of Goddess Sharadamba, Lord Mahaganapati and Adi Shankaracharya,
> > and turn up in large numbers
> > and participate in the many activities of the Math. Sri Mahasannidhanam
> > specially blessed the members
> > of the Nagara Sabha.
> >
> > Orient Your Intellect Towards Performing Noble Deeds
> >
> > Sri Sannidhanam in His Anugraha Bhashanam said that man’s superiority
> > amidst all species is due to his
> > faculty of reasoning and power of intellect. It is this ability that helps
> > man to overpower or tame all
> > other species including those that may be more physically powerful or
> > gifted in other ways (such as being
> > able to fly). However, this intellectual faculty of man has to be
> > essentially used for securing one’s
> > welfare and must be channeled along the path of welfare. We must use it to
> > orient ourselves towards the
> > performance of noble deeds. These noble deeds are enjoined in our
> > Shastras. Hence we must know what the
> > Shastras recommend. We must have knowledge of Dharma and deeds that bring
> > about our good, as well as of
> > Adharma and deeds that bring about suffering. Being able to distinguish
> > between the two is to have
> > “Viveka” that will help us strive along the path of Dharma and abstain
> > from the path of Adharma.
> >
> > Sri Sannidhanam then quoted a verse from Kalidasa’s Raghuvamsha. Maharaja
> > Raghu (who had just then
> > succeeded his father, Maharaja Dileepa) was informed of all aspects of
> > kingly wisdom, both good and bad
> > by those well versed in Neeti Shastra. Maharaja Raghu’s nature was to
> > always stick to whatever was good
> > and beneficial, and never resort to wrong or undesirable characteristics –
> >
> > नयविद्भिर्नवे राज्ञि सदसच्चोपदर्शितम् ।
> > पूर्व एवाभवत्पक्षस्तस्मिन्नाभवदुत्तरः ॥
> >
> > Sri Sannidhanam pointed out that even in worldly affairs, rules exist only
> > for man. No animal will be
> > taken to task for violating a traffic rule. Likewise, the spiritual
> > ordainments too are only for man.
> > Just as laws laid down by a just king when followed by his citizens ensure
> > their well-being, we will
> > do well to follow the laws laid down by God, the Supreme Ruler and be
> > benefitted.
> >
> > Sri Adi Shankara & Importance of a Guru
> >
> > Speaking about the advent of Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada 1200 years ago,
> > Sri Sannidhanam said that
> > when there was a complete negligence of Dharma, and people had become
> > deluded by non-Vedic schools
> > of thought, Lord Parameshwara incarnated as Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada
> > and showed the path of welfare.
> >
> > It is the Guru who can remove our misapprehensions and point us to the
> > truth. Even in ordinary life,
> > when a person walking along a path sees a rope and mistakes it for a
> > snake, he would stand paralysed.
> > He would however be immediately relieved of his fear if another person who
> > knows the fact conveys
> > to him that what is seen is merely a rope. Likewise, the Guru’s Upadesha
> > is potent enough to relieve
> > us of misapprehensions, such as identifying the Self with the body. A
> > person may claim to know who
> > he is – that he knows his name, age, height, weight, etc. However all
> > these are attributes of the
> > physical body and not of one’s true identity. The cause of this wrong
> > identification of the non-Self
> > such as the body with the Self is termed Avidya (nescience). This results
> > in bondage. The removal of
> > Avidya is Moksha or liberation –
> >
> > अनात्मन्यात्मदेहादावात्मबुद्धिश्च देहिनाम् ।
> > साऽविद्या तत्कृतो बन्धः तन्नाशः मोक्ष उच्यते ॥
> >
> > Sri Sannidhanam clarified that Moksha itself is not to be attained, for
> > the Self is in truth Svayam-Prakasha –
> > self-luminous. This Avidya that is the impediment to Self-knowledge can be
> > removed only by surrender to a Guru
> > and being instructed by the Guru.
> >
> > Ekashloki Explained
> >
> > Sri Sannidhanam stressed that it is important to try and understand this
> > fact about one’s own Self.
> > However, since not all are at the same level of spiritual eligibility, Sri
> > Adi Shankaracharya,
> > besides penning the Prasthana Traya Bhashyas, also wrote a number of
> > Prakarana Granthas (short treatises
> > carrying a Vedantic theme), and Stotras (hymns). In the smallest Prakarana
> > Grantha, Ekashloki,
> > Sri Bhagavatpada explains by simple logic how the Self is the light that
> > illumines everything –
> >
> > किं ज्योतिस्तव भानुमानहनि मे रात्रौ प्रदीपादिकं
> > स्यादेवं रविदीपदर्शनविधौ किं ज्योतिराख्याहि मे ।
> > चक्षुस्तस्य निमीलनादिसमये किं धीर्धियो दर्शने
> > किं तत्राहमतो भवान्परमकं ज्योतिस्तदस्मि प्रभो ।।
> >
> > Sri Sannidhanam then explained the Ekashloki as the conversation between
> > the Guru and his disciple –
> >
> > Guru – किं ज्योतिः तव (What is the source of light by which you see?)
> > Disciple – भानुमान् अहनि मे, रात्रौ प्रदीपादिकं (It is the Sun by day, and
> > lamp etc. by night.)
> > Guru – स्याद् एवं रविदीपदर्शनविधौ किं ज्योतिः (इति) आख्याहि मे (If this is
> > so, tell me by which light do you see the sun, lamp etc.?)
> > Disciple – चक्षुः (The eye.)
> > Guru – तस्य निमीलनादिसमये किं (What is the light when the eyes are closed?)
> > Disciple – धीः (Intellect.)
> > Guru – धियो दर्शने किं (What is the light through which the intellect is
> > perceived?)
> > Disciple – तत्राहम् (In this case, “I” am the light.)
> > Guru – अतो भवान् परमकं ज्योतिः (Hence, you are the Supreme Light)
> > Disciple – तदस्मि प्रभो (O Master! I indeed am!)
> >
> > Sri Sannidhanam stated that such is Bhagavatpada’s greatness that He has
> > given us the Supreme Tattva
> > in such a simple shloka. We must all revere Him and be indebted to Him.
> >
> > Sri Sannidhanam then said that it was the second time He was coming to
> > Hassan with His Guru
> > (the first being in 2015) and ended His Anugraha Bhashanam blessing the
> > devotees.
> >
> > After Sri Sannidhanam ended His Anugraha Bhashanam, devotees and
> > communities offered Phala Samarpanam.
> >
> > Later in the evening, Sri Mahasannidhanam performed the Sharada
> > Chandramoulishwara Pooja.
> >
> > The following day morning, Sri Mahasannidhanam gave Darshan at around 8:15
> > am to devotees and proceeded
> > towards Mandya. Sri Sannidhanam graced the devotees with Darshan from 9am
> > onwards and blessed the devotees
> > with Aashir Mantrakshatas. At around 10 am, Sri Sannidhanam started from
> > Hassan towards Mandya.
> >