Author: Rajiv Malik
Publication:
Date: May 3, 2006
"The biggest problem our country faces
today is that our rulers have become directionless. The role of Shankaracharyas
and saints is to provide direction to the rulers. In fact, the Shankaracharya
tradition and the maths were created for this very purpose.
It is unfortunate that those forces who are
pampering the minorities and playing vote bank politics are at the helm of
affairs and others like us who want to have the Sanatan Dharma to be established
are feeling left out, ignored and helpless." These views were expressed
by the Shankaracharya of Govardhan Peetham, Puri, Srimad Jagadguru Shankaracharya
Anantshree Nischalananda Saraswati Ji Maharaj, while speaking at a function
organized at Shri Kailashvidyateerth-Adi Shankaracharya Memorial to celebrate
the Adi Shankaracharya Jayanthi. The event also commemorated the tenth anniversary
of the establishment of Adi Shankaracharya's Memorial at 6, Bhai Veer Singh
Marg, located in the heart of New Delhi on Tuesday, May 2, 2006.
Addressing a large number of saints and hundreds
of devotees who had gathered to pay their tributes to Adi Shankaracharya braving
the extremely hot weather of New Delhi, the Puri Shankaracharya said, "The
ten names given to the sannyasis [dasnami sannyas tradition] by the Adi Shankaracharya
not only has spiritual significance but is important at a philosophical and
physical level as well. For instance, the sannyasis given the titles of Van
and Aranya were supposed to ensure that Sanatana Dharma was established in
the far flung forest areas. Those sannyasis given the titles of Saraswati,
Bharati and Puri were supposed to work in the field of education and propogate
and promote Sanatana Dharma through educational institutions.
Sannyasins given the titles of Ashram and
Teerth were expected to strengthen Sanatana Dharma in the various ashrams,
holy places and pilgrimage centers of Hindus. Finally the those with the titles
of Giri, Parvat and Sagar were directed to strengthen the Sanatana Dharma
in the mountainous areas and also areas near the sea shores."
The Puri Shankaracharya also called upon all
the Hindu saints to come together at one platform and work for the strengthening
of Sanatan Dharma. He said that the time had come that we stopped speaking
in different voices from many different platforms. Finally he warned that
history will not forgive thousands and thousands of Hindu saints if they did
not utilize their maths and mandirs for educating and serving the people and
through this promoting the great traditions of Sanatana Dharma and the path
shown by the Adi Shankaracharya.
In his speech, Shri Kailash Peethadheeshwar
Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Ananta Shri Swami Vidyananda Giri Ji Maharaj, who
heads the Kailash Ashram, Rishikesh and its various branches all over India,
said that Kailash Ashram was doing an excellent work in the field of publishing
the literature of revered Adi Shankara and making it available to the people
all over the world. Swami Vidyananda Giri Ji, who speaks only in Sanskrit
language till 2 pm everyday, delivered his entire speech in chaste Sanskrit
and emphasized that it was wrong to say that Sanskrit was a difficult language.
He said, "Many a times I speak to people in Sanskrit and even small children
understand it and answer my Sanskrit questions in a very satisfactory manner.
This proves that if we make a little effort all of us can understand and speak
the Sanskrit language.
The highlight of the function was the Shankaracharya's
release of a CD on Shankara Bhashaya produced by a dedicated Delhi IIT computer
science Lecturer Dr. Rajesh Bhatt, a devotee of Kailash Ashram. Bhatt told
HPI that the CD was a part of a six CD project through which he was covering
Brahadaaranayk Upanishad the longest of all Upanishads. He said that he had
undertaken this CD project as a part of his seva to the Sanatana Dharma.
The event which started at 6.30 am with the
recitation of Shankara Bhashya, puja, aarti and Shiva Mahima Path. It ended
around 2 pm with a community meal in which prasadam was served to a large
number of saints and hundreds of devotees who participated in the program.
