[Advaita-l] Kalady’s Rediscoverer & Rediscovery - 5

[S Jayanarayanan]

(Continued from previous post)
 
 https://www.sringeri.net/2010/06/26/articles/kaladys-rediscoverer-rediscovery-part-3.htm
 
Kalady’s Rediscoverer & Rediscovery – Part 3
Saturday, June 26th, 2010
 
During His Vijaya Yatras, the Mahaswamiji had observed with frustration the conspicuous absence of reverence and
dedication towards Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya. After His return to Sringeri, the Mahaswamiji was thinking of what
should be done to check the drifting away of the people of the land from their old moorings. More than a millennium ago,
Sri Adi Shankaracharya had found the country in utter chaos due to conflicting creeds, diabolic superstitions and
abominable practices in the name of religion; and with His indefatigable vigour, intelligence and charisma had brought
about a renaissance of Sanatana Dharma. The Mahaswamiji now sought the great master’s support and guidance to repeat the
same.
 
While these thoughts were revolving in His mind, the then Diwan of Mysore, Sri K. Seshadri Iyer, a very close disciple
of Mahaswamiji came on a visit to Sringeri to pay his respects. The Guru then broached the subject to him.
 
Kalady traced
 
Conferring with the sacred intention of the Guru and without wasting any time, Seshadri Iyer proceeded to the Malabar
region. The Madhaviya Shankara Digvijaya – the traditional account of the great saint philosopher clearly pointed about
His birthplace as Kalady. Sri Iyer made inquiries regarding Kalady and came to know that there were three places with the
name Kalady in the region. However references to the Poorna river and the Vrishachaleshwara temple (in Thrissur near Kalady)
in the Madhaviya Shankara Digvijaya helped resolve the issue.
 
Sri Iyer traced the Kalady in question to correspond with one near Ernakulam in the Princely State of Travancore.
When he proceeded to that particular spot now known as Kalady, with the help of state officials, he not only found every
description mentioned in the Shankara DigVijaya applicable to the place but found that its intrinsic beauty was such as
to make it worthy of being the birth place of Adi Shankaracharya. The river Poorna was flowing deep through this land and
nature had lavished there all the wealth of charm and serenity. Sri Iyer then returned to Sringeri and made the Mahaswamiji
fully acquainted with the facts.
 
Overjoyed, the Mahaswamiji determined to clear the spot all around and build a shrine there; but knew that this would take
a long time and involve great cost and labour. Meanwhile a small patch of land, where according to local tradition,
stood the village where Adi Shankaracharya was born, was cleared. The Mahaswamiji entrusted Pandit Nadukkaveri Srinivasa
Shastri, a great scholar with the job of conducting the five day Shankara Jayanti Celebrations at Kalady.
Sri Srinivasa Shastri carried out the responsibility with diligence. This continued for some years. People from the
adjacent parts of the country came in large numbers to this place, on such occasions and enthusiastically participated
in the celebrations. Gradually a longing was created in the minds of the people to build a shrine there for the
great master; but it was not easy to get possession of the land.
 
To be continued …