[Chaturamnaya] Life and Teachings of His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyateertha Mahaswamigal - 12

[S Jayanarayanan]

 (Continued from previous post)

http://svbf.org/journal/vol4no2/teachings.pdf

Guru's Jala Samadhi

In 1954, the Paramacharya began to give hints that he no longer wished to retain his body since he
felt that his work had been completed.
 
However, the indications were rather subtle and not taken seriously. On September 26th, in the
early hours of the morning, he entered the water of the Tunga and voluntarily cast off his body.

The Acharya who was in the Northern bank of the river for the forthcoming Navaratri celebrations
rushed to the other side. On seeing the Paramacharya's motionless frame he was shocked and rushing
to the body rubbed it with great affection. It was clear that the sage had given up his body
voluntarily.

In spite of being a Yogi, the Acharya was unable to contain his emotions paced up and down.
With a heart-rendering cry "Amba (Mother)" he sank down to his knees and remained so.
But immediately he collected himself and set about to execute the final rites, according to
the Mutt traditions.

The events of September 26 are best described in the words of the Acharya. His voice, choked with
emotion, though nearly 25 years had elapsed, he said, "Paramacharya had been occasionally saying
that he had accomplished what he had set out to do and that he did not wish to hold his body much
longer. However, none of us thought that he had decided to cast off his mortal coil. On the
Mahalaya Amavasya day he went to the river for a bath. He had decided to shed his body and so
proceeded to perform Pranayama in the Padmasana posture and allowed his body to be carried
downstream."

"How I wished my Guru was physically present to guide us continually. That was not to be, and the
great Jivanmukta had shed his mortal form. How can I ever describe the grace and affection he had
showered on me? He had brought me up as his own child. The sadness was intense but that did not
mean that I would sit down for days on end, lost in grief. That was not what he would have wanted
me to do. I resolved that the structure to be built there should be identical to the one he had
erected for his Guru. Everyday I worshipped at his samadhi and also attended to my duties.
I knew that his grace would always be on me."

Acharya's Coronation

The Acharya's formal coronation as the 35th Jagadguru Sankaracharya of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham
took place on October 16, 1954. A large and distinguished gathering witnessed the installation
ceremony and invoked the blessings of the new Jagadguru.

After his coronation, which was formally completed on October17, the Acharya rendered a brief speech.
He said that he was in need of the Paramacharya's grace to carry out his duties as a pontiff.
He then said that he would pray for such blessings from his Guru.

As regards the pomp with which he had to be associated on account of the peetham, the Acharya held
firmly that all pomp related to the Mutt and not to him as a person.

As part of his duties, the Acharya would attend to a huge pile of letters from his devotees both
from India and abroad. It was a treat to watch him. He could read one letter, write something and
dictate a reply to a second letter read out to him earlier and also nod permission for some person
to sit - at the same time! The Acharya also had the knack of grasping the essence of a letter even
when a portion of it was read out to him. Small wonder that the crown of Jagadguru sat easily
on him.

(To be continued)
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