The importance of Kanchi

How the Mutt began

More than 2500 years ago, an avalanche of heretic and non-Vedic sects, with horrible religious practices threatened to wipe away the ancient Veda-Dharma. In the Bhagavad Geeta, Lord Krishna has told Arjuna that, whenever there arises danger to Dharma, He (Krishna) will incarnate in this world to eradicate adharma and re-establish Dharma. In consonance with his words, the Lord has made partial incarnations during the course of the present Kali Age.

And such an incarnation is the partial incarnation of Siva as Sankara Bhagavatpada, which happened some twenty-five centuries ago, on the prayer of celestials to Lord Siva to redeem Bharata-desa from the clutches of non-Vedic heretic sects. Several sources of authentic information lead to the conclusion that Sri Adi Sankara was born at Kaladi on the fifth day of the bright fortnight of the Vaisaka month of the cyclic year Nandana in cyclic year Nandana - Kali 2593 corresponding to 509 B.C.

Sri Sankara Bhagavadpadacharya was one of the greatest philosophers and spiritualists of the world. He was a discerning dialectician, a consummate commentator and celebrated poet.

His miraculous achievements, within a short span of life of thirty-two years, speak of his super-human aspect. Sages and scholars, who have shone through the centuries after his time, have regarded Him as an incarnation of the Divine.

Many a thinker and many a scholar of different climes and times has been attracted by the philosophic discipline of Advaita (Monism) effectively propagated by Sankara. Even modern thinkers and scholars have paid eulogistic tributes to Sankara's genius.

From available biographical information, it is learnt that Sankaracharya placed one of the five sphatika lingas got at Kailas and kept the Yoga Linga for his own personal worship and that of his successors at Kanchi.

Bhagavatpada Sankara got Kanchi city remodeled and also caused the reconstruction of the three principal temples of Kanchi, viz., the temples of Sri Ekamranatha, Devi Kamakshi and Sri Varadaraja with the assistance of Rajasena, ruler of Kanchi. Sankara consecrated the Srichakra before Devi Kamakshi and thereby secured Her bounteous grace for devotees having Her darshan.

A significant event in the history of Sankaracharya is his occupying the Sarvajnapeetha - the Throne of Omniscience at Kanchi. Sankara Bhagavapadacharya repaired to Kanchi, the Southern Mokshapuri, towards the end of his earthly career and shook off his mortal coils in that sacred city. A number of works state these facts.

Markandeya Samhita, an ancient puranic treatise, consists of 100 khandas, each having sub-sections called parispandas, Sub-section 7 and 8 of the 72nd khanda of this work narrate briefly the history of Sankara. "Sankaracaritam". A verse, in the seventh parispanda of the 72nd khanda of this work, relates that the Mahatma Sankara, attained the cit-svarupa, i.e. attained eternal bliss at Kanchi, after having consecrated Kamakshi.

Anantanandagiri's biography of Sankara (12th century A.D.) - all versions printed and manuscripts, including the Madras University edition - says "The World Preceptor (Sankara) desiring to leave for his own abode, sitting once in the Moskhapuri of Kanchi, absorbed his gross body into the subtle one and getting reduced into the size of a thumb, attained eternal bliss and remains as the all-pervading "Cit" to this day".

Coming to modern times, there is quite a large number of works, in different languages, written by erudite scholars mentioning Kanchi as the last resort of Sankara.

It may be noted that the name of Sri Sankaracharya is found only in the official seal of Kanchi Kamakoti Matha. The word "Kanci-divya kshetre and the phrase "Srimacchankara-Bhagavatpadacaryanam adhisthane" in the birudavali indicate Sankara's siddhi at Kanchi.

From Anantanandagiri (1119 - 1199 A.D.) whose work is the earliest biography of Sankara, down to Mahamahopadhyaya Lakshmana Suri (Author of "Bhagavatpadabhyudayam" - 1917) of the last century, a number of reputed historians, distinguished scholars and researchers have candidly stated, in their works, that the Great Sankara established monastic institutions (mathas) at many an important and sacred places that he visited, during his digvijaya tours.

It may be interesting to read about a Sankara Math at the sacred city of Kasi. This is known as Sumeru Math and as Paduka Math. It is presided over by an Advaita Dandi Sanyasi. In some authentic works, only one monastic institution is spoken of. In the Sankaracharya Charita by Govindanatha, and the Sankarabhydaya of Rajachudamani Deekshita, there is no mention about any Matha or Peetha except the Sarvagna Peetha at Kanchi.

Sri Sankara Bhagavatpada settled down at Kancheepuram (Kanchi) at the end of his peregrinations and spent the evening years of his life in the Math at Kanchi, established on Vaisakha Sukla Purnima of the year Sidharthi - Kali 2620 (482 B.C.) He initiated a very young boy into the ascetic order, nominated him as his successor in his Kanchi Matha, and placed him under the care of Sri Suresvara, the most aged and the most erudite of His disciples. Sri Sankara Bhagavatpada attained Videha mukti in his 32nd year - Cyclic year Raktakshi, Adhika Rishabha Maasa, Sukla Ekadasi - Kali 2625 (477 B.C.)

After the Great Acharya, Sri Adi Sankara, a long line of successor Acharyas distinguished for their learning, discipline and penance has adorned the Acharya Peetham at Kanchi Sankara Math. Presently,Sri Jayendra Sarasvati Swami who was initiated and nominated successor in 1954. In 1983, this 69th Preceptor gave sanyasa-deeksha to a boy in his early teens, gave him the name Sankara Vijayendra Sarasvati and nominated him as successor Acharya. The 69th Acharya and his Disciple Acharya are adorning the Kanchi Sankara Matha at present.

Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham has the distinction of an unbroken line of 70 Acharyas till now. The Acharyas have taken measures for the protection of Veda Dharma, for propagating the Advaita discipline, and alleviating the sufferings of the people.

A Keerti Sthamba (Pillar of Fame) has been erected in the year 1978 at Kaladi, the birth place of Sri Adi Sankara on Sankara Jayanthi day (May).

During the time of the 68th Acharya and later, suitable memorials have been erected in commemoration of the Bhagavatpad's visit to important places of Bharat such as Allahabad, Tiruvidaimarudur, Rameswaram, Puri-Jagannatha, Srisailam, Tryambaka, etc.

Renovation of ancient temples which are in need of repairs is one of the important activities of the Math. During His life time, Sri Chandrasekharendra Sarasvati Swamigal (68TH Acharya) on the occasion of Bhoomi Pooja in 1981, blessed the leading citizens of Sattara for construction of a new temple on the model of the famous Sri Nataraja temple at Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu. The kumbabhishekam of this temple known as Uttara Chidambaram was performed in the immediate presence of His Holiness Sri Jayendra Sarasvati Swamigal in 1984.

New temples have been erected for Kamakshi and Subramanya at Delhi, Kamakshi temples at Coimbatore and Salem, Subramanya temple at Secunderabad.

The famous temple car of Sri Varadaraja Perumal at Kanchi was completely redone at considerable cost and was inaugurated in May 2000. Rajagopurams at the northern and southern side of Sri Ramanathaswamy temple at Rameswaram are being constructed with the blessings of the Acharyas.