श्रीशङ्कराचार्यप्रतिष्ठित काञ्चीकामकोटि पीठाधिपानां श्रीश्रीश्री शङ्करविजयेन्द्रसरस्वतीस्वामिपादानां कृते स्वागतपत्रिका
Welcome Address to Pujyashri Jagadguru Shri Shankara Vijayendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya Swamiji of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham
Pujyashri Jagadguru Sri Shankara Vijayendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya Swamigal
This poetic welcome address (पद्यमालिका – Garland of Verses) was composed and offered in reverence by eminent Vedic scholars led by Sri Ra. Sundararama Vajapeyayaji. The verses eulogize the Acharya’s monumental Yatras: the Varanasi Chaturmasya, performing the 16 Nyasa Pujas and sending the Golden Raksha Yantra for Sri Ram Lalla in Ayodhya, Srisailam Kumbhabhishekam, Ganga-Abhisheka at Rameswaram, and the divine Sri Chakra Taatanka Pratishtha for Devi Akhilandeshwari at Tiruvanaikoil.
प्रणम्यादौ गिरा मूर्ध्ना काञ्चीपीठपसद्गुरून् ।
आरभे स्वागतां वाणीं हृद्यां गूढार्थदीपिकाम् ॥
Worshipping with bowed head and reverent words the Sadguru protecting the holy Kanchi Peetham, I begin this pleasing Welcome speech, illumined with hidden spiritual meanings (गूढार्थदीपिकाम्).
श्रीरामसेतौ वररामनाथं श्रीचन्दनाद्यैरभिषिच्य कृच्छ्रात् ।
वाराणसीं मोक्षपुरीं जगाम विश्वेशमभ्यर्च्य मुदा च तत्र ॥
After performing Abhisheka of the celebrated Shri Ramanathaswamy at holy Sri Rama Sethu (Rameswaram) with fragrant sandal-water and sacred offerings with great austerity, the Sadguru arrived at Varanasi, the Mokshapuri (the eternal City of Liberation), and joyfully worshipped Lord Shri Vishweshwara.
यः सप्ततितमं पीठमध्यास्ते मस्करिर्महान् ।
शङ्करो विजयेन्द्राख्य सरस्वती सुदेशिकः ॥
The noble Sadguru known by the venerable appellation of Shri Shankara Vijayendra Saraswathi, the supreme ascetic and Yati, presiding as the seventieth Peethadhipati of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Moolamnaya Sarvajna Peetham.
वाराणसीमधिष्ठाय चातुर्मास्यव्रतं मुनिः ।
स्वीचकार यतो विप्राः आनीताः सुमहत्तराः ॥
सेवितुञ्च गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मं गङ्गाञ्च गाहितुम् ।
दर्शनीयतमां काशीं विश्वेशमभिवन्दितुम् ॥
The Muni undertook the sacred Chaturmasya vrata while residing in Varanasi. Most celebrated and exalted Vedic scholars were gathered there from all quarters, in order to serve at the holy lotus feet of the Guru, bathe in the purifying waters of the sacred Ganga, behold the enchanting splendor of Kashi, and offer obeisance to Lord Vishweshwara.
आहिताग्निगणाः सर्वे मीमांसातर्कमेदुराः ।
कार्तान्तिकाश्च विद्वांसः पदशास्त्रविचक्षणाः ॥
नानादिग्भ्यः समानीताः गुरुसेवापरायणाः ।
लौकिका वैदिकाः सर्वे यतिभिक्षां सुदित्सवः ॥
All of them were Aahitagnis (perpetual maintainers of the sacred Vedic fires), profound masters in the Shastras of Mimamsa (philosophical enquiry) and Tarka (logic), erudite astrologers (Kartantikas), and authorities in Vyakarana (grammar and semantics). Brought together from diverse directions, wholly dedicated to the service of the Sadguru, both Vaidikas and Loukikas (scholars and householders) were eagerly enthusiastic to offer Bhiksha to the Yati.
कर्मणैतेन योगीन्द्रः लेभे च महतीं मुदम् ।
मकरे मास्ययोध्याञ्च गत्वा रामस्य विग्रहम् ॥
By these noble dharmic actions, the King of Yogis attained supreme delight. In the month of Makara (January), the Sadguru journeyed to holy Ayodhya to grace the divine Vigraha of Bhagavan Sri Ramachandra.
न्यासैः षोडशभिः पूर्णां आधाय सकलाः कलाः ।
कुम्भाभिषात्प्रागेव विरच्य मनुना मुदा ॥
The Sadguru invoked all divine energies (Kalas) upon the Vigraha of Sri Rama through the sixteen sacred Nyasas, and performed Puja blissfully with appropriate Vedic mantras prior to the grand Kumbhabhishekam (Prana-pratishtha).
कृत्वा स्वर्णमयं यन्त्रं काञ्चीमागम्य सद्गुरुः ।
प्राहिणोच्च स्वयं हस्तात् जनरक्षणसाधनम् ॥
Returning to holy Kanchipuram, the Sadguru prepared with His own venerable hands a sacred Golden Yantra (स्वर्णमयं यन्त्रं), an instrument for the universal protection and welfare of humanity (जनरक्षणसाधनम्), and sent it with divine blessings to Ayodhya.
कुम्भसेकमुमाजानेः श्रीशैलेऽपि शिवस्य हि ।
चकार विधिवत् सर्वं लोकाश्चर्यतमं महत् ॥
The Sadguru performed the Kumbhabhishekam of Lord Shiva (Sri Mallikarjunaswamy, the consort of Uma) at the sacred Kshetra of Srisailam strictly in accordance with scriptural ordinances; it was a wondrous and monumental spectacle for all people of the world.
पुनश्च सेतुं सगणो हि गत्वा गाङ्गैश्च तोयैः स्वशयेन सिक्त्वा ।
अमन्दमानन्दमवाप यो हि श्री शङ्कराद्यो विजयेन्द्रनामा ॥
Journeying again to Sri Rama Sethu (Rameswaram) accompanied by His entourage, Pujyashri Shankara Vijayendra Saraswathi Swamiji performed with His own holy hands the sacred Abhishekam of Lord Sri Ramanathaswamy using holy Ganga waters brought from Kashi, and experienced immeasurable, boundless spiritual ecstasy.
श्रीज्ञानभूमौ ह्यखिलाण्डदेव्याः प्रासादमध्यं सुघटेन गत्वा ।
करारविन्देन पवित्रितेन श्रीचक्रताटङ्कवरप्रतिष्ठाम् ॥
The Sadguru then proceeded to the sacred temple of Goddess Sri Akhilandeshwari in the abode of supreme wisdom (श्रीज्ञानभूमि – Tiruvanaikoil near Tiruchirappalli) and, with His sanctified lotus hands, auspiciously performed the historic Taatanka Pratishtha – the re-consecration of the divine Sri Chakra ear-ornaments for the Mother of the Universe.
रसार्क बाणे च कलौ प्रशस्ते माघे च मासे वृषभे च लग्ने ।
श्रीक्रोधिवर्षे तपनर्क्षवारे मीने च शुक्रे दशमे च सूर्ये ॥
शनौ वृषे देवगुरौ च शुभ्रे चन्द्रे त्रिकोणे सुमुहूर्तकाले ।
पीठाधिपो वेदविदा सहैव कृत्वा च वेदध्वनिवाद्यघोषैः ॥
In the celebrated 5126th year of the Kali era, in the year Krodhi, in the auspicious month of Magha, during Vrishabha lagna, on the day and asterism presided over by Surya (Sunday and Hasta Nakshatra), with Shukra exalted in Meena, Surya and Shani in Makara (10th house), Brihaspati (Devaguru) in Vrishabha, and radiant Chandra in Trikona: in this exceedingly auspicious Muhurta, the Peethadhipati performed the Pratishtha surrounded by knowers of the Vedas amidst thunderous chanting of Vedic hymns and divine music of traditional temple instruments.
सुपूरिते मध्यगते च भानौ ह्यवाप सिद्धिं शुभसूचनां च ।
जगदेकवन्द्यो जगतीगुरुर्नः सुकोमळैर्वै चरणाब्जकोशैः ॥
त्र्युषर्बुधैर्धेनुभिरेधमानं गृहं पवित्रं कुरुतेऽद्य पूर्णम् ।
सुस्वागतां वाच मुदीरयाणः वादांश्च धन्यान्वितरामि तेषाम् ॥
When Surya reached the meridian at noon, our Jagadguru – adored uniquely by all the world – attained complete accomplishment while auspicious omens manifested. With the gentle paces of His lotus feet, the Guru has sanctified this home today, already rendered auspicious by the presence of three young calves. Uttering these words of joyous welcome, I offer my profound prostrations and eternal gratefulness unto Him.
काञ्चीपीठपशिष्येण सुन्दरेण हि यज्वना ।
इष्टाप्तवाजपेयेन शुल्बज्ञेन विपश्चिता ॥
कृता त्रैविद्यवृद्धेन रामेण घनपाठिना ।
ग्रथिता च गुरोः कण्ठे स्वर्पिता पद्यमालिका ॥
This garland of verses (पद्यमालिका) offered in adoration around the neck of the Sadguru has been composed and strung together by Sri Sundararama Vajapayee – a devout disciple of the Kanchi Peetham, performer of sacred Yagas, celebrant of the Vajapeya sacrifice, learned expert in the Shulba Sutras, venerable master of the three Vedas, and celebrated Ghanapathi.
वदतु वदतु काञ्चीपीठपानां सुकीर्तिं पठतु पठतु वाणीं दैवतैर्भाष्यमाणाम् ॥
भजतु भजतु देवं शङ्करं शूलपाणिं नमतु नमतु भिक्षून् मोक्षविद्योपदेष्ट्रून् ॥
May everyone proclaim again and again the celebrated divine glory of the Kanchi Peethadhipati! May everyone chant repeatedly the sacred Sanskrit language spoken by the Devatas! Worship again and again Lord Shankara, the bearer of the Trishula, and bow in constant reverence to the holy ascetics who impart the supreme knowledge of Liberation (मोक्षविद्या).
॥ सादरम् समर्प्यते ॥
- रा – सुन्दरराम वाजपेययाजी
- सु – नारायण वाजपेययाजी
- ना – सुन्दरकृष्णवाजपेयी
- श्रीदीक्षिता
- श्रीनिधिः
Devoutly Submitted by:
- Sri Ra. Sundararama Vajapeyayaji
- Sri Su. Narayana Vajapeyayaji
- Sri Na. Sundarakrishna Vajapayee
- Sridikshita
- Srinidhi