The 61st Vardhanti Mahotsavam of Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji took off today, the fourth of April 2011, with the Laksha-Modaka Mahaganapati homam at a specially built Yagashala in Narasimhavanam to propitiate Lord Sri Mahaganapati.

The Jagadguru graced the commencing ceremony of the massive Yaga in which over one hundred ritwijas from all over the country participated. This grand yaga, hardly performed elsewhere comprises of a lakh (1,00,000) oblations of modakas into the sacrificial fire which was kindled from “Aranis” through the “Agni-Manthana” or fire-kindling-ceremony as prescribed in the Vedic texts.

The Jagadguru graced the Yagashala for the purnahuti ceremony after performing Mandalabhishekam to Sri Adi Shankaracharya murti at the newly consecrated temple in the afternoon.

Thereafter, Tirtha and Modaka prasadam was distributed by the authorities to all devotees who had gathered to witness the auspicious event.

The Jagadguru will grace the Sankalpa ceremony of the Atirudra Maha Yaga at 8:00 AM which will commence on the 5th of April 2011.