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Kesavananda Bharati Swamiji of Edneer Mutt passed away at 80.

About Keshavananda Bharati:

• The seer, known as Srimad Jagadguru Sri Sri Sankaracharya Thotakacharya Kesavananda Bharati Sripadaganlavaru, headed the Edneer Mutt since 1961.
• A proponent of the Advaita philosophy, the seer belonged to the lineage of Thotakacharya, one of the first four disciples of reformer Adi Sankaracharya.
• He promoted a ‘Yakshagana Mela’ (troupe) for nearly 15 years and this Mela performed programmes in Karnataka and Kerala.

Additional Details

Advaita Philosophy

• It is a school of Hindu philosophy, and is a classic system of spiritual realization in Indian tradition.
• Propounded by Shankaracharya (Adi Shankara) ( Born in Kaladi, Kerala in 788 CE.)
• He established four Math (Monastery) at Shingeri, Puri, Dwaraka and Badrinath– for propagation of Sanathana Dharma.
  • Sri Hastamalakacharya as the Acharya of the Govardhana Math in the East.
  • Sri Sureshwaracharya as the Acharya of Sringeri Sharada Peetham in the South.
  • Sri Padmapadacharya as the Acharya of the Dwaraka Math in the West.
  • Sri Totakacharya as the Acharya of Jyotir Math in the North.

• His major work is Brahmasutrabhasya (Bhashya or commentary on the Brahma Sutra).
• His most famous stotra is Bhajagovinda Stotra. He also composed the Nirvana Shatakam.

• The basic theme of Advaita is that the one unchanging entity (Brahman) alone is real, while changing entities do not have absolute existence. The world is Maya or illusion and only the Self is real. A person who realises this attains moksha (liberation of the soul).
• The doctrine says that there is no difference between the Atman and the Brahman. The individual soul is not different from Brahman. Hence, its name Advaita meaning non-duality.

Yakshagana

• Yakshagana is a traditional theatre form of Karnataka. It is a temple art form that depicts mythological stories and Puranas.
• It is performed with massive headgears, elaborate facial make-up and vibrant costumes and ornaments. Usually recited in Kannada, it is also performed in Malayalam as well as Tulu
• It is performed with percussion instruments like chenda, maddalam, jagatta or chengila (cymbals) and chakratala or elathalam (small cymbals). Yakshagana is traditionally presented from dusk
• It is believed to have evolved from pre-classical music and theatre during the period of the Bhakti movement

Reference:

1. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/kesavananda-bharati-swamiji-of-edneer-mutt-passes-away-at-80/article32534308.ece