Sankara Jayanti Celebrations
Sadguru Gnanananda gave lot of significance in celebrating Sankara Jayanti. Therefore, this tradition in being continued in Niketan. Sri Sankara Jayantimahotsava commences with annnadanam on Akshaya Tritiya day. Elaborate pooja on Sankara Jayanti is followed by Krishnayajur vedaparayana for four days. An elaborate pooja is performed to Sri Adi Sankaracharya. Ashtottorosata Namaval Archanas are offered to Sri Dokshinamurty, Sri Adi Sankara Bhagavatpadacharya and Sri Gnanananda Swaminah.
Before the Aarti, a few sentences from important Upanishads and Srimad Bhagavad Gita or Brahmasutra are read and their meaning is explained in detail.
Prayers are offered during the Mahotsava to Acharya Sankara that all the devotees may be blessed with His Grace so that they may develop unflinching devotion to God and Guru leading to growth of Viveka (spiritual discrimination between the Real and non-Real), Vairagya (detachment from the non-Real) and desire for Moksha (liberation from primordial ignorance).
The mahatsavam concludes on the Aradhana day of Paramapujya Swami Vidyananda Giri.