Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Sringeri Shri Shri Bharati Teerth Mahaswami Visits Shri Kshetra Ganagapur - An Article Extracted from www.sringeri.net

The Jagadguru arrived at Ganagapura of Gulbarga District and was taken in  a procession after a traditional welcome to the temple where Sri Adi Shankara, Sri Sharadamba and Sri Narasimha Saraswati Murtis are installed. On the way the Jagadguru had Darshan of the Paduka at the holy shrine of Sri Datta Nirguna matha. The Jagadguru gave Ashirvachanam in the temple premises, had Darshan of the deities and performed Sri Chandramoulishwara Puja there. In the Ashirvachanam the Jagadguru Said Ganagapura is a famous Datta Kshetram and is renowned as the Tapobhoomi of Sri Narasimha Saraswati, an avatara of Lord Dattatreya. The Jagadguru expressed joy at being in Ganagapura for the fourth time.

The Jagadguru said that just as Lord Dattatreya, Sripaada Srivallabha and Sri Narasimha Saraswati are revered in the Datta Sampradaya, so too is Sri Adi Shankaracharya revered. As Sri Narasimha Saraswati himself revered Sri Adi Shankaracharya, And hence all followers in the Datta Sampradaya have adored Sri Adi Shankaracharya. The Prathishta of the Murtis of Sri Adi Shankaracharya, Goddess Sharada and Sri Narasimha Saraswati at the Ganagapura Datta Kshetram is testimony to this fact.

The Jagadguru said that it was due to the Sankalpa of God and the earnest desire of the Archakas at Ganagapura that he had come to Ganagapura. The Archakas having utmost Shraddha and Bhakti felt that the Sringeri Jagadguru must visit Ganagapura once again to offer Puja to the Nirguna Padukas. The following day, early in the morning, the Jagadguru offered Puja to the Nirguna Padukas of Sri Narasimha Saraswati. Devotees from various parts of the country who had flocked to Ganagapura for the occasion witnessed this divine sight, and returned home after having the Jagadguru’s Darshan and the Datta Paduka Darshan.

The next day (19 March 2014), early in morning, the Jagadguru performed an elaborate Puja at Sri Dattatreya Devasthana/Nirgun Math. The Jagadguru then visited the Sri Kalleshwara swami temple and Sri Narasimha Saraswati swami temple on the banks of  Bhima & Amara Sangama. Then the Jagadguru gave Darshan, Phala Mantrakshata and Tirtha Prasada to the devotees and departed from Ganagapura in the evening.

The Jagadguru after having Darshanam of Nirguna Padukas of Lord Datta at Nirgun Math

Special puja in Ganagapura

On the Morning of 19th Mar 2014, the Jagadguru Mahaswamiji arrived at the holy Nirgun Math by 7′o clock and performed elaborate Pooja to the Nirguna Padukas of Sri Narasimha Saraswati swami who is considered as second avatar of Lord Dattatreya. Then the Archakas of that temple performed Padapuja and conducted Guruvandanam programme. As part of the program, the Jagadguru instructed the Pandits of the Math to chant the Gurupaduka stotram, written by the 33rd Jagadguru, Sri Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Nrisimha Bharati Mahaswamiji.