Sri Sankara Jayanti Mahotsava commenced
at Sri Gnanananda Niketan on the sacred day of Akshaya Tritiya on Monday, the 9th May 2016. It
was celebrated with annadana.
About 250 people from the neighboring two villages participated in the Annadana.
Sri Sankara Jayanti was
celebrated on Wednesday, the 11th May 2016. The poojas were
performed at Satsang
Mandap. On the day of Sri
Sankara Jayanti an elaborate pooja was performed to Adi Sankara.
Ashtottarasata Namavali Archanas
offered to Sri Dakshinamurty, Sri Adi Sankara Bhagavatpadacharya and Sri
Gnanananda Swaminah.
Before
the Aarti, Swami
Nityananda Giri read a few sentences from Sri Sankara Bhashya on Bhagavad Gita and also Chapter
VI of Chandogya Upanishad.
He also explained their meaning in detail. The passage on Gita Bhashya was from the
introduction where Sri Sankara points out that the Gita presents the essence of
the teachings of the Vedas and also Yoga
Sastra. He specially draws our attention to an important aspect that our
religion, Sanatana Dharma, comprises
of Pravritti Marga (engagement
in activities relating to Karma
Yoga and Bhakti Yoga)
and Nivritti Marga (withdrawal
from religious activities to totally devote oneself to the study of Bhagavad
Gita, Upanishads, Brahma Sutra – Gnana
Yoga).
Sankara Jayanthi Celebrations at Ananda Kutir:
Annadana on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya:
Moola Parayana of Krishna Yajur Veda was performed by four qualified Vedic pundits. It commenced on 12th May morning and concluded by mid-day on Sunday, the 15th May 2016.
Short
note on Krsna Yajurveda Samhita:
It is a
collection of yajus, the mantras in prose which are especially useful to the
adhvaryu-priest in the performance of sacrifices.
Though the
Krsna Yajurveda Samhita is reputed to have had 85 sakhas or recensions, only
four are available a.Taittiriya; b. Maitrayaniya; c. Katha; d. Kapisthala.
The
Taittiriya Samhita which is widely prevalent in south India, has 7 khandas or books, 44 prapathakas or
chapters, and 651 anuvakas or mantras. It deals mainly with the detailed
descriptions of sacrifices like Paurodasa, Yajamana, Vajapeya, Rajasuya,
Darsa-purnamasa and Somayagas.
The other
three sakhas are not so well-known through they too deal with similar
sacrifices. The last of these, the Kapisthala, as available now, seems to be
incomplete.
Associated
with the Taittiriya Samhita are the Taittiriya Brahmana, Taittiriya Aranyaka
and the Taittiriya Upanisad. The well-known Kathopanisad also belongs to Krsna
Yajurveda, but to the Katha recension.
-
A Concise Encyclopaedia of Hinduism
by Swami Harshananda, Volume III
Page.532
