Date 15-Nov-2020 Tunga Pushkara

The wholesome well-being of humanity can be secured by following the Dharmic practices that are ordained by the Vedas. In the Puranas, Bhagavan Veda Vyasa has instructed various ways of following such Dharmic practices. Amongst them, bathing in sacred rivers, mantra-japa, darshan of holy places & engaging in charitable activities in such places are foremost.

While even a dip in a sacred river on any day is considered meritorious, the benefits obtained are manifold when a ritualistic bath in the sacred river is undertaken during auspicious occasions such as Mahashivaratri, Ratha Saptami, Sankramana, Grahana, holy months like Kartika, Magha, etc.

Presently, the Tunga Bhadra Pushkara festival is about to commence when the Brihaspati Graha transits into the Makara Rashi. Undertaking the ritualistic bath in the sacred river during the first twelve days of this auspicious Pushkara vouchsafes great well-being.

Greatness of Tunga Bhadra

In the Krita Yuga, Lord Vishnu, the Protector of the worlds, undertook the Varaha Avatara in order to to annihilate the evil Hiranyaksha. After putting an end to him, the Lord in His divine form as the Varaha (boar) rested in the Sahyadri mountains (Western ghats). It was then that the Tungabhadra river originated from the Lord’s tusk. Just as the river Ganga that originates from the holy Feet of Lord Vishnu is very sacred, the Tungabhadra river that originated from the Lord’s tusk is also greatly revered.

Because of its origination from Lord Yajna Varaha, the scriptures state that the Tunga river is ever sanctified by the divine presence of Lord Vishnu. Lord Shiva is present in the form of stones in the bed of this sacred river. The sands on the banks of this sacred river has the divine presence of Lord Suryanarayana. Saints and Rishis of great accomplishments are engaged in deep penance here taking the form of the vegetation seen on either side of the river.

Hence the Puranas declare that the mere Darshan of this sacred river eradicates all kinds of sins and afflictions & bestows all auspiciousness.

Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpadacharya, the incarnation of Lord Shiva, established the southern sacred seat of spiritual learning - the Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham on the banks of this sacred river. In His Mathamnaya stotram, the work describing the four Peethams, the Jagadguru states that the southern Peetham at Sringeri has Sri Varaha for its Devata, Goddess Sharada as its Shakti, and the river Tungabhadra as its Tirtha. He spent many years at Sringeri on the banks of this river teaching Vedanta to his numerous disciples. It was on the banks of the river that the devout disciple Giri got endowed with knowledge and came to be known as Totakacharya.

The Jagadgurus of this Sringeri Sharada Peetham’s unbroken Guruparampara commencing from Sri Sureshwaracharya have all been Paramahamsa Sannyasis, erudite scholars, and have engaged in Tapas on the banks of this Tunga river, making its very ambience spiritually radiant.

Today, Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahasannidhanam and Jagadguru Sri Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati Sannidhanam, residing in Narasimha Vanam on the southern banks of the Tunga river at Sringeri and have been guiding the lives of innumerable devotees along the path of Sanatana Dharma. The Jagadgurus offer worship to the Tunga river during special occasions every year.

This Tunga river of such greatness, originating from Lord Varaha in a place called Tungamula near the Sringeri Kshetram merges into the Krishna river at Sangameshwara near the Jyotirlinga Kshetram of Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh.

In accordance to the directive and with the blessings of the Ubhaya Jagadgurus, the Tunga Pushkara Celebrations will be held at Sringeri during this Shaarvari year from Kartika Shukla Shashti (Friday, 20-11-2020) to Kartika Krishna Pratipat (Tuesday, 1-12-2020).

During this auspicious occasion, many Dharmic programmes such as daily Kalpokta Puja, Tunga Arati & Teppotsava (in the evenings), Laksharchana in the temple located on the river banks and Maharudra Yaga will be conducted for the welfare of the humanity.

Dharmic Activities scheduled during Tunga Pushkara Celebrations

Everyday 8 AM onwards: 

Kalpokta puga to the river Tunga. Abhisheka to Goddess Sri Sharadamba, Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpadacharya and Sri Vidya Shankara from the holy water collected from the river. 

7 PM Onwards : Tunga Arati Teppotsava

Special Events:

19-11-20 (Thurs) Panchami onwards  Maharudra Purashcharana 25-11-20 (Wed) Ekadashi Laksharchana to Sri Janardana Swami 29-11-20 (Sun) Chaturdashi Laksharchana to Sri Sharadamba

30-11-20 (Mon) Purnima, Monday From 7 AM:  Shatarudra Abhisheka to Sri Malahanikareshwara  11 AM  Poornahuti of Rudra Homa

5 PM:    Laksha Bilvarchana to Sri Malahanikareshwara  8 PM: Jwala Torana and Laksha Deepotsava

Teppotsava of various deities in the evenings during Tunga Pushkara 20-11-20 (Fri) Shashti  Sri Subrahmanya Swami 21-11-20 (Sat) Saptami Sri Kodanda Rama Swami 22-11-20 (Sun) Ashtami Sri Chandika Parameshwari 23-11-20 (Mon) Navami Sri Vidya Shankara Swami 24-11-20 (Tue) Dashami  Sri Umamaheshwara Swami 25-11-20 (Wed) Ekadashi Sri Janardana Swami 26-11-20 (Thu) Dvadashi Sri Gopalakrishna Swami 27-11-20 (Fri) Dvadashi Sri Shakti Ganapati Swami 28-11-20 (Sat) Trayodashi Sri Anjaneya Swami

29-11-20 (Sun) Chaturdashi Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpadacharya

30-11-20 (Mon) Poornima Krittikotsava - Sri Malahanikareshwara Swami, Sri  Sharadamba, Sri Vidya Shankara Swami and  Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpadacharya

1-12-20 (Tue) Pratipat Sri Sharadamba Devotees are most welcome to participate in the following Sevas on the sacred occasion of Tunga Pushkarm at a suggested Seva Kanike of Rs.2000.00/-. The following Sevas will be done in the Seva Karta’s name:

1. Sankalpam during Kalpoktha Puja on a day of their choice. 2. Annadanam to 10 people 3. Seva for Maharudram and Laksharchana 4. Lighting 25 Deepas on Pournima Deepotsava

Laksharchana Kumkuma prasadam, Bhasma/ Raksha prasadam of Maharudra Yaga and sacred Theertha of Tunga river will be sent to all the donors after the event.

Devotees can book the Seva Online through this Link - https://paytm.me/L-GzjOg Or, Devotees can also make a contribution to the Pushkara Seva Kanike by transferring Rs.2000 directly to the following Bank Account. Details may be communicated at  https://www.sringeri.net/forms/seva.

I request all followers of Sanatana Dharma to participate in this Tunga Pushkaram and be the recipient of the benign Blessings of Their Holinesses.

Account Name Sri Sharada Peetham ,Sringeri

Account Number 7082500100878701

IFSC Code KARB0000708

Name of the Bank Karnataka Bank Ltd., Sringeri Branch

Type of Account Savings Bank Account