[Chaturamnaya] Teachings on the Vijaya Yatra - MahaShivaratri Date and Remembrance of the Lord

[S Jayanarayanan]

http://vijayayatra.sringeri.net/vijayayatra/palani-april-22-23-2017/
 
PALANI: APRIL 22-23, 2017
 
Puja at Dandayudhapani Swamy Temple
 
Arriving at the renowned Subrahmanya Swamy Kshetram of Palani in the evening of April 22, 2017, Sri Mahasannidhanam and Sri Sannidhanam were accorded a reverential welcome.
Dhuli Pada Pooja was performed by the family of Sri Hariharamuthu. This was followed by Veda Ghosha. Swagata Patrikas extolling the greatness of the Sringeri Jagadgurus
and the association between Sringeri and Palani were then read out in Sanskrit and Tamil, and offered to the Jagadgurus. 
 
 
ANUGRAHA BHASHANAMS
 
Sri Sannidhanam in His Anugraha Bhashanam detailed on the greatness of Lord Subrahmanya mentioning His vanquishing of evil forces such as Tarakasura. Sri Sannidhanam also
elaborated on the Avatara of Lord Subrahmanya as Kumarila Bhatta. Sri Kumarila Bhatta coming just before Bhagavatpada’s advent, was a great Mimamsaka who strove to reinstate
faith in the Vedic tradition and drive home the importance of the Karma Kanda.
 
Sri Mahasannidhanam in His Anugraha Bhashanam said it is essential for man to direct his faculties towards God. Bhagavatpada Shankaracharya has said,
 
  सा रसना ते नयने तावेव करौ स एव कृतकृत्यः ।
या ये यौ यो भर्गं वदतीक्षेते सदार्चतः स्मरति ॥
 
“Only that which sings the Lord’s glories can be called a tongue, only those that relish on the Lord’s form can be called eyes, only those that worship the Lord are hands,
and only he who always remembers Him can be said to have fulfillment in life.”
 
Sri Mahasannidhanam said that the essence of all Itihasas and Puranas is to engage in Bhagavad Seva and Paropakara. 
 
Clarifying the doubt regarding the date of Mahashivaratri in the Hemalamba Samvatsara that the local pandits placed at His Lotus Feet, Sri Mahasannidhanam stated that in
accordance to the Dharma Shastras, Mahashivaratri in the Hemalamba Samvatsara is to be observed on Tuesday on the first day of the Tamil month of Maasi (February 13, 2018). 
 
Sri Mahasannidhanam ended His Anugraha Bhashanam stating that worshipping the Lord Dandayudhapani with prayers for the welfare of all is a source of great joy, and blessed
the assembled devotees.  
 
Sri Sannidhanam performed the Sharada Chandramoulishwara Pooja at night.
 
 
PUJA AT SRI DANDAYUDHAPANI TEMPLE
 
At around 8:15 am on April 23 morning, Sri Mahasannidhanam and Sri Sannidhanam arrived at the temple complex of Sri Dandayudhapani Swamy temple. The Jagadgurus were received
with traditional Poornakumbha Swagata by the Joint Commissioner of the temple and the Sthanika Archakas led by Sri Shiva Shanmukha Gurukkal and Sri Selva Subrahmanya Gurukkal.
The Jagadgurus had Darshan of Sri Ananda Vinayakar and offered a Vastram. Soon afterwards, the Jagadguru entered the main temple complex via the southern Rajagopuram.
At around 8:45 am, the Jagadgurus entered the Garbha Grin of Sri Dandayudhapani Swamy at first performed Pooja to Sharadamba Chandramoulishwara Shiva Linga. The Jagadgurus
then performed the Kala Sandhi Pooja to Lord Dandayudhapani Swamy. As part of the Kala Sandhi Pooja, the Jagadgurus did Abhisheka first to the Utsava Moorti and then to the
main deity (Moolavar) of Sri Dandayudhapani Swamy with thailam, panchamrita, milk, vibhuti and theertham. The Archakas then decorated the deity with the Vastrams offered by
the Sringeri Math to the Lord. Sri Mahasannidhanam and Sri Sannidhanam then performed Archana to Sri Dandayudhapani Swamy. The Jagadguru then offered Dhoopa, Deepa,
Neivedya and Mahamangalarati to Sri Dandayudhapani Swamy. After the Pooja, the Thakkaar of the temple and the Archakas offered the Prasadams to the Jagadgurus. The Jagadgurus
descended from the Palani hill after blessing the officials of the temple headed by the Joint Commissioner.
 
 
OTHER VISITS
 
Sri Sannidhanam then graced the Archaka Sthanika Sangam at Palani. Welcoming the Jagadguru, Sri Selva Subrahmanya Gurukkal expressed great joy on the occasion saying that it
was a great blessing to receive Sri Sannidhanam who is accompanying His Guru, Sri Mahasannidhanam as part of the Vijaya Yatra and bestowing His Grace on all with
His Dharma Upanyasas. Sri Sannidhanam in His Anugraha Bhashanam blessed the all the Archakas pointing out that they are all blessed to have done enough Punya in the past to
be able to offer Pooja to the Lord every day. He also reminded that it is the duty of everyone who has such a blessing in this human birth, to sincerely perform one’s own
Anushthanam and engage in serving the Lord with all sincerity. 
 
Sri Sannidhanam then graced the premises of the Shankaralaya Trust. Poornahuti of the Rudra Homa performed on the occasion took place in the divine presence of
Sri Sannidhanam. Sri Sannidhanam also blessed the assembled devotees with an Anugraha Bhashanam. 
 
 
KALAYAMPUTTUR VISIT
 
Sri Mahasannidhanam and Sri Sannidhanam then granted Darshan to devotees. Starting towards Udumalaipettai in the afternoon, the Ubhaya Jagadgurus graced Kalayamputtur
en route. Sri Sannidhanam first had Darshan at the Kalyani Amman Sameta Kailsanatha Swamy temple. Sri Mahasannidhanam blessed the assembled devotees with an Anugraha Bhashanam.
Sri Mahasannidhanam commended the residents of the town for devotedly conducting the Shankara Jayanti Celebrations every year.