Sri Kanchi Kamakoti math established temples and Guru Paduka Mandapams throughout India for Adhisankara either on the basis of events happened in the life of Guru or events connected with the Kamakoti Peetam at Kancheepuram as a mark of respect. Some of the creations of this Order are narrated below.
1) Kalady, Kerala:
HH Sri Chandrasekara Saraswathy Swamigal, the 68th preceptor of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam desired to build a huge and a fitting Memorial for Guru at Kalady, Who born at this holy place as per the records during 509 B.C. This Himalayan task was entrusted by the Acharya to His prathama sishya HH Jayendra Saraswathy Swamigal.
Sri Swamigal fulfilled the desire of His Guru by installing a mammoth Keerthisthambam with six-tier structure depicting Shanmatham (six paths of worship in Hinduism) defined by Adhisankara. The Keerthisthambam costing several lakhs of rupees was consecrated on the 12th May 1978, on the last the day of Sankara Jayanthi Celebrations at Kalady in Kerala. The Keerthi Sthambam was declared open by the then President of India, Shri Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy. That day also marked the Kumbabishekam of the Siva temple built in the complex of the Keerthisthambam.
108 Thandi Sanyasis from Varanasi (Kasi) participated in the inaugural function of the Keerthisthambam. A long procession started from Angamali, along with well decorated 32 Elephants, each carrying the pictures of different postures of Adissankara reached the place of Keerthisthambam. The procession was well attended by 108 Thandi Sanyasis from Varanasi, Devotees and Vedic Pundits from all over India. It was a divine sight to see the Acharyas walking the entire stretch of the procession from start to end. This was indeed a greatest event performed in memory of Adhisankara.
2) Kancheepuram, Tamilnadu:
Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam has not only taken the credit of establishing a ‘Keerthi Sthambam’ at Kalady, Kerala, the birth place of Adhisankara, but also taken the credit to establish another big Memorial at Kanchipuram, the mukthi place of Adhisankara. HH Sri Jayendra Saraswathy Swamigal has installed a very tall statue of Adhisankara at Enathur near Kancheepuram. The statue is 60 ft. tall, weighing 200 tons and is carved out of a single stone by Sri Muthiah Stapathy.
The Peetam (base) of the structure alone stands as 30 ft. high.
The function was well attended by a number of Peetathipathis of Advaitha order. 108 Thandi Sanyasis from Benaras, thousands of Kamakoti Devotees from all over India were in attendance in the holy presence of HH Pujyasri Jayendra Saraswathy Swamigal and HH Pujyasri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswathy Swamigal.
While the Keerthisthambam at Kalady was inaugurated by the former President of India, the AdhiSankara Statue at Enathur, Kancheepuram was inaugurated by the then President of India Shri Shankar Dayal Sharma.
3) Bukkai, Andhra Pradesh:
The Kanchi math has built a temple for Adhisankara at Bukkai 3 kms. from Nagari in Andhra Pradesh in 1932.
4) Rameswaram, Tamilnadu:
The Sankara Math, Kancheepuram has built Sri Sankara Guru Paduka Mandapam at Rameswaram. Sri Sankara’s statue along with four of His disciples in marble stones have been installed at the above Mandapam. Kumbabishekam was performed to this temple on the 28th April 1963 in the Holy presence of Mahaswamigal of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam.
5) Thiruvidaimarudhur, Thanjavur Dist.:
Thiruvidaimarudhur, a small village near Kumbakonam in Thanjavur Dist. is another place in the South connected with Guru Adhi Sankarar. A puranic story says that when Adhi Sankarar visited Sri Mahalingeswarar temple in this place he heard the Lord’s voice “Sathyam Advaitham”, and at the same time an Abayahastam appeared on the Sivalingam.
HH Sri Mahaswamigal desired that this puranic incident should be popularized among the public. Hence the Sankara Math at Thiruvidaimarudhur was renovated as “Sankara Paduka Mandapam” and Kumbabishekam performed to this Paduka Mandapam on the 5th December 1963.
6) Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh:
The Kanchi Math has built temples for AdhiSankara in almost all Dwadasalinga Shethras(The places where the 12 spatica lingams were installed by Sri Adhisankarar). The temple for Adhisankarar at Srisailam has been built near the east entrance of the Siva temple at Srisailam. In this temple Sri Adhisankara’s statue along with four of His disciples sitting before Him in marble stones have been installed and Kumbabishekam of this temple was performed by Mahaswamigal of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam.
7) Rishikesh, Uttar Pradesh:
“Sri Adhisankarar Vimanam” has been built near Lakshman Jula, Hanging Bridge, at the famous Hindu religious place, “Rishikesh” in Uttar Pradesh. The foundation stone was laid by the Governor of Uttar Pradesh at that time, Shri Gopal Reddy and the function was presided over by the Lt. Governor of New Delhi at that time, Shri Adhityanath Shah.
8) Mount Kailash in Himalayas:
The visit to Kailash by HH Sri Jayendra Saraswathy Swamigal during 1998 can said to be the highlight of all the events of Adhisankara memorials established by the Kanchi Sankara Math. HH Sri Jayendra Saraswathy Swamigal started His yathra towards North during March 1998. After visiting many holy places, He reached ‘Katmandu’ in Nepal.
On the 9th July 1998, He started from Katmandu and crossed Nepal border at ‘Surgith’. From there, He reached China border ’Share’ where the Swamigal was received with great honor by the Govt. of China. From there, He reached the place ‘Thaklakot’ and then reached the famous lake Manasaroever.
As that day happened to be Gurupoornima day, Swamigal performed ‘Chathurmasa Pooja’ at the specially erected Shamiana. From that place, one will be able to see ‘Mount Kailash’ directly. Hence at the end of Pooja, Swamigal showed ‘Deeparathana’ to ‘Mount Kailash’.
The place was at a height of more than 16000 ft. from the sea level. This place has a perennial lake that never dries even during summer. From there, Swamiji climbed down to ‘Tharbushe’.
The history tells us that Sri Adhisankarar alone had visited Mount Kailash during his Padayathra throughout India. After 2500 years, HH Sri Jayendra Saraswathy Swamigal, the 69th Peetathipathy of Kanchi Math re-enacted the visit to ‘Mount Kailash’ and also had installed a Vigraha of “Sri Adhisankarar” at Mount Kailash.
In the days to come, a devotee who visits ‘Mount Kailash’ will have holy dharshan of not only Kailash but also will be able to perform Pooja to Sri Adhisankara Vigraham installed there.
Kanchi Sankara ! Kailasa Sankara!!
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Narrated beautifully by Shri D. Sivasubramanian.
The picture of Adi Shankara and His disciples is a lovely painting by the famous Ravi Verma!
