K.A.Viswanathan

 

Mumbai, May 1.

 

The Sankara Jayanthi Mahotsavam to celebrate the birthday of  Sri Adi Shankaracharya has begun at the Sri Sankara Mattham Matunga today. Sri Adi Sankara is considered an incarnation of Lord Shiva and the world's greatest Guru (Jagathguru). He is believed to have born about 2500 years ago. His birthday  is celebrated all over the country where Sankara Mattams are established.

 

Adi Sankara was a Hindu philosopher, from Kaladi in present day Ernakulam district in Kerala, who consolidated the doctrine of advaita vedānta. His works elaborate on ideas found in the Upanishads. 

 

The celebration at  Matunga began with  Gau pooja (Cow worship) and Vedic recitation in the morning followed by Rudra japams.

 

The Akshaya thrithiya day on May 2 will be celebrated as Prathishta day with Moola mantra japam , special homams and abhishekams  to all deities. Adi Sankara’s birthday on May 4 will be celebrated as the Sankara Jayanthi day.

 

There will be daily Suryanamaskarams ,Avahanthi homam, Mahanyasa Rudrea Japa homam . Besides this there will be also daily Navavarana puja and Pada pujas and will be  followed by Chaturveda parayanam  and evening Discourses on “Sankara Vijayam” by Sengalipuram Sri Sundararama Dikshidar till May 5. There will be special discourses on selected works on “Adi Sankara” from May 6 to 11 by eminent  scholars from Mumbai.

 

The devotees can also participate in all the functions by giving their name and the birth stars.