Sri Sankara Mattham Adi Sankara Bhagavadpadal Shanmatha Temple Ashtabandhana Jeernodharana Mahakumbabhishekam
Sri Sankara Mattham celebrated its 5th Mahakumbabhishekam on 6th Apr 2026, under the auspices of Sri Sankara Vijayendra Sarasvati Mahaswamigal.
Well begun is half done. The 4 day preparatory rituals started on the morning of 2nd April with Maha Ganapathi homam, invoking Sri Ganapati to ward off potential obstacles. It was followed by Brahmanaspati homam.
While doing sankalpa for a puja, we chant “tadeva lagnam sudinam tadeva tārā-balam candra-balam tadeva; vidyā-balam daiva-balam tadeva lakṣmīpate te anghriyugaṁ smarāmi”- If we think of God the time becomes auspicious; so do the position of the stars & the moon, & we get the strength of knowledge & are empowered with the blessings of God. Being a big event, special pujas namely Navagraha homam and Nakshatra homam were performed invoking Navgraha and Nakshatra devatas.
The spirit of everyone at Sankara Mattham rose to new heights as Swamigal arrived at the venue, welcomed with purna kumbam.
In the evening, Dakshina Deva puja and Vastu shanti were performed. Purification ritual, Punyahavacanam was done and showing of a burning dry coconut branch in each homa kundam in the yagashala was also done. Of course, the place had already been purified by the presence of the Sage of Kanchi welcoming every visitor with a smile and warm enquiries.
On the 3rd April morning following the Ganapati puja, yajamana sankalpam was done by the committee members of the Mattham in the presence of Swamigal. Naandi, seeking the blessings of generations to whom we owe our existence was completed. ‘Mruthsangrahanam’ collecting clay and ‘Ankurarpanam/ Palikai thelithal’, rituals in which 9 different grains are sprinkled in mud containers to grow symbolized the inclusion of five nature’s elements and prayer for progress of the institution, Sankara mutt. The growth of an institution encompasses the progress of its participants as well.
Yagashalai pravesham with prayers to dik devatas (of all directions) was followed by Rakshabandhanam, tying of wrist band taking a vow to devote unwavering attention to the events until its careful completion. Then, the mandapa vedika kalasa stapanam and Varuna puja were done where each deity in the temple is invoked in a pot of water sanctified by the continuing sessions of yagashala pujas. Mandapa vedika puja preparing the altars which are temporary houses of the devatas was done. Kalakarshanam is an interesting ritual of connecting a darbha rope to draw the power of the gopurams and the devatas to the kalasa in yagashala by making multiple trips chanting mandated mantras. It is further continued to the homa kundams. So, the power of the mantras chanted, and the oblations offered in the yagashala are collected in the kalash water which upon abhishekam is transferred to the deities.
The first kala puja began and ended with purnahuti including chaturveda parayana samarpanam. Similarly, pujas were held at the yaga shala on 4th and 5th April including Vedika puja sahasrarchana, Kala homam, Ashtamurti homam, Veda Sukta homams, Japa homam, Tattva homam and visesha homams and Mula mantra japams.
While the Yagashala events were happening, Vakyartha sadas was conducted at the Sankara mutt on 4th and 5th April where eminent speakers from the Sanskrit fraternity wonderfully articulated on topics including Bhamati, some select portions of Brahma sutram and Nyaya sastram.
The eagerly awaited day arrived at the dawn of 6th April when the 6th kala puja was completed and the powers were restored in the gopuram and vigrahams (idols) by Pratishtanga homam sparshahuti and Nabhi santana prana prathishta. After yatra danam, the procession of pundits carried the kalash on their heads to the Raja gopuram, garbhagraha gopuram and to the mandirs of the deities.
At the ordained time of 9 am, Swamigal climbed up the Gopurams and performed the Mahakumbabhishekam. Mahabhishekam of the mantra putodakam (water sanctified by the rituals performed in the yagashala) in the kumbhs installed in the Raja Gopuram, Gopuram above the Garbhagraham, then the Shanmatha devatas, the Shivalinga and Sri Adi Sankaracharya’s vigrahams (edifice) were performed at the divine hands of Swamigal. Swamigal did the alankara (do up) and deeparadhana (mangal aarti) for each of these personally. Many dignitaries and devotees attended the event and received bountiful blessings.
Swamigal delivered an inspiring Anugraha bhashanam in his Mahath Ashirwadam message to the devotees, soon after the Mahakumbabhishekam. He started by chanting a couple of slokas repeated by the audience on the greatness of Sri Adi Sankara Bhagavadpadal, then chanted the slokas enlisting the Shanmatha devatas, Guru parampara and sishya parampara. He recalled the guidance of His gurus Sri Mahaperiva and Sri Jayendra Sarasvati Mahaswamigal since the inception of the Mattham. He highlighted how bhusparsham has been established (garbha griham touching the ground). He also briefly narrated the grandeur of the Kumbabhishakam including performance of Gomatru puja and Gaja puja (worship of the cow and elephant). He appreciated Sri Sankara Mattham as a divine, dharmic place and its vital role in the spiritual progress of Mumbaikars, and the Veda pathashalas run at Pandharpur, facility at Nashik, contributions to Sangeetham (Gandharva Vedas), Annadanam etc. He said that diversities should never lead to enmity but on the contrary it should promote unity. He blessed the Sankara mattham and all present there.
In the evening, Chitrapatam of Sri Sankaracharya was taken in procession around the Sri Sankara mattham roads and the event concluded with the deeparadhana. The Kumbabhishekam was also attended by Swamigal of Edneer mattham. Notably, Dr V Shankar Patron, Sri K T Krishnan Vice-President and Sri Sivasubramanian Secretary have attended all the five kumbabhishekams of Sankara Mattham.
Managing Committee, Sankara Mattham, Matunga, Mumbai
