Date : 09 May 2019

For all followers of Adwaita Vedanta, Adi Shankaracharya’s Jayanti is a special occasion, a day to celebrate and to revel in the work of the great Master. On this day, 9th May 2019, his birthday was made more memorable by the presence of Pujya Guruji, Swami Tejomayananda in our midst.

Members of the Delhi Mission expressed their delight and even on a working day, turned up in large numbers to make the most of this rare opportunity that had come their way! The programme began with a short expression of devotion to Adi Shankara. In the presence of Pujya Guruji, Swami Prakarshananda offered flowers, as Brni.Vrinda chanted the 108 names of Bhagavan Shankaracharya. Pujya Guruji concluded this poignant puja with an aarti.

Taking the mike, Pujya Guruji then proceeded to share with us some insights on the greatest Master of all time, who in his short life time, reestablished the Hindu dharma and by his prolific writings on the Scriptures earned the name of Bhashyakara. During his short life, he uncompromisingly established the authority of the Vedas as the only valid means of knowledge (pramana), to know that, which cannot be comprehended by either the mind or the intellect – Dharma and Brahman.

Adi Shankara wrote commentaries on the Upanishads, Brahma Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita. Together known as Prasthana Treyei– the Upanishads, are the original source of knowledge (pramana); the Brahma Sutras are an analysis of the Upanishads; the Bhagawad Gita is a practical guide on how to realize this Truth. Guruji said that even now, the world over, students of spiritual knowledge, focus only on Adwaita Vedanta – the non-dual Truth. This is the corner stone of their introspection, as this alone can bring about inner and outer integration. The moment ideas of separation, differences, likes and dislikes arise, it leads to division. Shankaracharayaji knew that only the vision of oneness has the strength to unite. His endeavour in life was to simplify this Knowledge through his writings and so spread it far and wide. Delving further Guruji, drew parallels between the lives of the Bhashyakara and Pujya Gurudev. While as the former wrote commentaries, the latter unveiled the knowledge of the Vedas to the world in English, a language that was in his times widely spoken and understood. He said, it was no coincidence, that the home where Shankaracharyaji was born – Adishankara Nilayam – is now with the Chinmaya Mission, the home of Chinmaya International Foundantion (CIF). Toward the end of the programme, a painting was brought on stage. It was a joy to behold the form of Lord Krishna –a blend of brilliance, lovingly brushed into form, in vivid and bright colours by Pujya Swami Swaroopananda. In a spiritually elevating and poetic introduction to the painting Pujya Guruji said, “Love burns and destroys if it is carnal. Love shines and divinizes if it is immortal for the eternal. This indeed is love ablaze. This is supreme Krishna bhakti, the source of all ananda and shanti. This is Shri Krishna bhakti!” Pujya Guruji, a prolific writer and poet par excellence, sang for us, his own composition in praise of Bhagawan Adi Shankara. He left the audience in a state of awe, when he concluded by saying that the Lord has given to every country something unique – to some oil, to some wild animals. When it came to India, he gave Himself! We are indeed blessed to be born in this land of Rishis, protected by their blessings; privileged to be under the umbrella of a mahatma, of the stature of Pujya Gurudev! Our prostrations to the Guru Parampara. The morning spent with Pujya Guruji was indeed a great and significant blessing!