(My acquittal is) Victory of Dharma ! – Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati
Paush Krushnapaksha 11, Kaliyug Varsha 5115
On 11th November 2004, in the midnight, 69th Pithadheeshwar of Shri. Kanchi Kamkoti Peetha, Srimat Jagatguru Shankaracharya Swami Jayendra Saraswati and his successor Vijayendra Saraswati were arrested under charges of murder. Later, on 10th January 2005 and 10th February 2005, Shankaracharya and Vijayendra Saraswati were released respectively on bail. On 27th November 2013, 21 persons, along with these two, were acquitted by Sessions Court, Pudduchery. During this period of 9 years, an average person would have been totally shattered. It was a conspiracy to malign the name of Shankaracharya and his Mutt’s reputation. It can be observed from a certain group of media which has been involved in such defamation time and again. People must be wondering that how a sage-like person in the tradition of Adi Shankaracharya must have faced these accusations and investigations. Shankaracharya Swami Jayendra Saraswati himself has answered this question in an interview given to ‘Hindu’, daily newspaper. We are publishing the whole interview in the form of questions and answers about his and his disciples’ life so also Kanchi Kamkoti Peetha during last 9 years.
1. My Guru prepared me to face any situation,
therefore, there was no question of the situation being difficult !
Q : What do you think about this decision ?
Shankaracharya (S) : It was the victory of Dharma; victory of truth and the truth was brought forth.
Q : What did the past 9 years mean to you ?
S : Officers of Mutt had to give additional time for the case; barring this, 9 years were more or less same.
Q : Was that period difficult ?
S : My Guru has prepared me to face any situation; therefore, there is no question of any difficult situation. The period was, however, challenging as we were facing new situations every day.
Q : Were there no problems for you two ?
S : Our activities and routine was disturbed. Initially, there were many restrictions on us; but after some time, we realized how to continue our activities despite being separated.
2. Police keeping watch after release on bail !
Q : If we see outwardly, many devotees stopped coming for ‘darshan’; also number of people coming for important programs held in the Mutt, went down.
S : Was that not expected ? If all influential factions in society hatch such conspiracy, what can an ordinary person do ? Many people reduced their frequent visits to ashram to be on safer side. Do you know that after our release on bail, we were constantly under watch and every devotee coming to us was also checked? There were police everywhere in plain clothes. Initially, I used to tell my devotees to take such things in their stride; now devotees have started visiting as earlier. In fact, the number of devotees coming here has increased a lot in recent times.
3. In past 9 years, activities were continued on large scale !
Q : Has the situation in Mutt come to normalcy?
S : Daily ‘puja’ of Chandramauleshwar was carried on as usual. Every religious festival was celebrated as it should be. There is no break. All routine in Mutt was going on as usual.
Q : How did you keep yourself busy ?
S : By prayers, reading, meditation etc. I used to be busy with visiting devotees at various places, traveling, attending important programs etc. In past 9 years, many activities have been undertaken.
Q : For example ?
S : I can give you many examples. I will give you just one example now. The year 2007 was the centenary year of our ‘Mahaswami’ taking up the post of ‘Pithadheeshwar’. His discourses in Tamil language are considered to be essays in Hindu Dharma (about 10,000 pages). Those were translated in English and many Indian languages. Many books were published based on our senior Sages which helped to spread our activities throughout India. I continued to travel to different parts in India. During this time, Shri. Balaswami continued the regular daily rituals throughout the year by staying at Kanchipuram; besides meeting thousands of devotees and give blessings to them.
Q : During this period, you had to give up your most dear project of hospital; don’t you feel regret ?
S : First thing, there is nothing like a dear project; secondly, I never give up anything related to serving needy and right kind of people. If that project was not implemented, some other project will be taken up. If you want to do something important, you have to remove all obstacles in the way. We will be carrying on our right kind of work as decided.
4. I want to obey my Guru and fulfill his wishes !
Q : How is your health now ?
S : Now, I am ok. I am alright as any 79 year old person would be. I am carrying out my sevas as earlier.
Q : Are you going to file case against all those who did character assassination of you two and published very sensitive articles during the initial period ?
S : I have already lost valuable 9 years of my life and there are still so many things to do. Now, in the remaining period, I want to obey my Guru and fulfill his wishes.
Q : What are your future plans ?
S : We will emphasize on only 4 things and they are 1. Give assurance for extending support to fulfilling my Guru’s wishes, propagation of study of ‘Vedas’ and those principles. 2. To carry on teachings of Adya Shankaracharya. 3. Renovation and repairs of temples 4. Provide facilities to the poor and needy related to education, health and work 5. Abiding by Dharma and its propagation is our duty.
Q : Will the Mutt regain its past glory ?
S : Spiritual and social activities undertaken by Mutt have already added to its glory. My Guru and I have reached all parts of this country; have been to smallest village and performed ‘puja’ there. We are trying to revive hundreds of schools and health centres. Abiding by Dharma and its propagation is our duty. We have been helping and continue to help people to lead their life fruitfully and peacefully. Glory may come and go; but service that we are rendering to people should be continued. As far as devotees are concerned, once they develop faith and dedication, they will get associated with Mutt on permanent basis. Adya Shankaracharya and our Guru have told about many paths that would help in spiritual progress.
6. The invaders will be remembered through history of attack on Mutt !
Q : This incident is a permanent blot on ashram; isn’t it ?
S : Many invaders have denigrated our temples. Today, whenever you see dilapidated temples, you remember those invaders and their acts of destruction of temples; similarly, in case of Mutt, the wrong acts committed in respect of Mutt, will be known as denigration of Mutt by many people.
Q : When you travel to other places, Shri. Balaswami remains at ashram in Kanchi; why is it so?
S : Initially, we went together at Kalavayyi and then to Tirupati. When we reached Tirupati, it was the period of ‘Chaturmaas’ and he had to perform ‘puja’ thrice a day. It was not easy to perform such ‘puja’ while travelling; therefore, he stayed back to meet devotees visiting Kanchi Mutt.
7. We did not suffer financially although our accounts were frozen !
Q : It is said that the financial position of Mutt has suffered.
S : It’s not so. Our devotees see to it that funds required for our day to day needs are available. When our accounts were frozen; even then we did not suffer. It is the intense devotion of our people. One thing you should remember is that there are many families who are devotees of this Mutt for many generations. Their relation with and faith in Mutt is unwavering. But yes ! We will have to generate new funds for implementing new projects.
Q : If you have to describe all this experience in one word, how will you do it ?
S : Test of time for the truth.
8. Shankaracharya feels sorry for not being able to help distressed and not for injustice done to him !
Q : During the past 9 years, did you ever feel that such incident should not have occurred ?
S : Yes, only once; that too when Andhra Pradesh and even other States were hit with tsunami resulting in immeasurable loss. Whether it was Latur or Bhuj, my devotees and I had gone to help; this time, my devotees helped; but I could not be present there in person; my mind, thoughts were, however, with the distressed.
Abide by Dharma ! – message of Shankaracharya
Q : What will be your message for your devotees and others ?
S : I have a very simple message for devotees. Re-start your work with all energy; fulfill wishes of Mahaswami; we don’t want to make any new plans; but strive to do righteous things; abide by Dharma and don’t worry about anything.
Kanchi Peetha is intact due to truth and devotees’ dedication towards Dharma !
Kanchi Kamkoti Peetha was established by Adya Shankaracharya himself about 2500 years ago. There have been calamities even before; it was affected due to war and capriciousness. It is, however, intact even after so many years only due to those Acharyas who followed Adya Shankaracharya and their devotees with dedication towards truth and Dharma; Bhagavan Chandramauleshwar and the famous tradition of Gurus associated with Kanchi Kamkoti Peetha. Their blessings will always be with us.
One cannot change past ! Do not be in past that will be wastage of time. You cannot change whatever has happened. Do not worry about what is in store for you in future; as that is in the hands of Jaganmata Kamakshi. Everything will be alright. Leave everything to Chandramauleshwar along with Tripursundari and do your duty of protection of Dharma. God will take care of its outcome. Have the sense of accepting God’s wish and fortitude. This is the message even for others.
In your hustle bustle of achieving what you want, keep a moment for thinking and pondering over ‘Satya (Truth)’ and Dharma. Let everyone be aware of his own capabilities is my blessing.
Jai Jai Shankar Har Har Shankar !
Source: Dainik Sanatan Prabhat
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