O Honoured Swamiji! O Shrimad (Shankara) Vijayendra Saraswathipada , Shankaracharyapada, Ananthakoti vibhushita, visible to our eyes as a result of merit accumulated over our many past births, verily Sadashiva incarnate, Kanchi Kamakoti Peethadhishwara!
Among the Shankaracharya padas traditionally decorating the distinguished Peetham established by Adi Shankaracharyapada in Kanchipuram, Shri Chandrashekharendra Saraswathipada has been remarkably famous, most compassionate, master of all Shastras and known as Paramacharya. In his time itself, you were well known as Bala Swami. You have been the supreme disciple of Shri Jayendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya, who decorated the Peetham after Paramacharya. Now you are decorating the Peetham as Shri Shankaracharya and the knowledge of Vedas, Vedangas, all Shrutis, Smritis, Darshanas and the entire Samskrit literature acquired by you in childhood itself is very effulgent.
Mahodaya! Our place of birth, known as Utkala in earlier times in view of its being the land of lofty arts (Utkrushta Kalah), and n ow called Odisha, is celebrated throughout the world as extremely righteous by the grace of Shri Jagannatha, accompanied by Shri Balabhadra, Subhadra and Sudarshana in the sacred temple in Puri. Shri Govardhana Peetham set up by Adi Shankaracharya is also shedding lustre there. The bond between this Odisha area of Shri Jagannathadeva and the royal lineage of Kanchi has been very close. For a long time Bhagavan Shri Ganesha who came from Kanchi is being worshipped in the western part of the temple in Puri.
It was Shrimad Adi Shankaracharya, who authored the famous Shri Jagannathashtakam, sung with devotion by thousands of people every day, which starts with “Some time, the symphony of music in the forest on the banks of Kalindi river” and ends with the refrain in every verse “May Jagannatha Swami cross the path of my eyesight”. When this Ashtakam is sung with the lines “Travelling on the chariot” during the celebrated Ratha Yatra of Shri Jagannatha, Adi Shankaracharyapada is also adored indeed.
In Kashi in the acclaimed Assi Ghat on the western banks of Bhagirathi, Shri Jagannathadeva together with Balabhadra and Subhadra is worshipped every day in a large elegant temple. Not only that, every year, as in Puri, here too, special bath for Bhagavan Shri Jagannatha on the day of Devasnana Purnima, absence of public Darshan for the next fifteen days owing to fever suffered by the Lord, and ‘Rathayatra’ here too as in Puri for three days from Ashadha Shukla Dvitiya along popular road with easy Darshan for the public in this Kshetra of Vishwanatha – this wonderful sport of Jagannatha has been followed every year for many years.
We, the Utkaliyas, who have come here from the Odisha area of Shri Jagannatha for pursuit of professions like study, teaching and other occupations, live in Kashi on the banks of Shri Bhagirathi, whose waters are purified by Shri Vishwanatha. It is only due to the merit of many of the people here that we have got the opportunity through our good fortune of having your Darshan during your sojourn here during the present Chaturmasya and receiving your direct blessings.
- For attaining that Dharma of Shri Shankaracharya, which is celebrated in the sacred land of Bharat as generating lofty auspiciousness, founded on the banner of Dharma of the entire world of moving and non-moving beings, we prostrate always to that pure dharma
- Considering the process of raising the lineage of Manu of the lofty caliber, the sage Adi Shankaracharya came and lived long in In course of time the great Chandrashekhara of profound intellect appeared here, followed by his disciple Jayendrapada, who was effulgent.
- His disciple, the great (Shankara) Vijayendra, bent upon raising that banner of Dharma, shines here, bestowing what is good for the world with comfort and He, whose intellect is subsumed in Atma, always inspires us towards Adhyatma, spiritual experience, based on equanimity, away from the mundane agitations residing in the body resulting from the mind driven towards many pleasures.
- May Shri Shankara, the head of Kanchi Peetham, who is verily Shankara, be victorious in ever demonstrating the non- difference between Brahman and knower of Brahman, propagating Vedas and Vedangas together with Upanishads and Shastras, and establishing in all respects the mode of living of the nation based on Dharma.
- We, born in Utkala, prostrate to the great Acharya, (Shankara) Vijayendra, pure, ocean of compassion established in ways of goodness and Dharma, the great Light exuding Jnana, destroying the darkness of Ajnana and delusion, the very ocean of Jnana, and the divine form of Shankara.
Looking forward to the auspicious blessings of the supreme worshipful Acharya, we the Utkaliyas (Odisha), resident in Kashi
Varanasi
Purushottami Shravani Ekadashi,
12 August 2023
Translated: P R Kannan