Anugraha Bhashnam at Namakkal: March 10, 2012

On the evening of 10th March, Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji arrived at Namakkal as part of the 2012 Vijaya Yatra and had Darshan of Kannika Parameshwari temple. In His Anugraha Bhashanam, the Jagadguru said that we regard people related to us or our friends as those who will help us in times of difficulty. But the Shastras opine that a person's true friend is none but himself -- "आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुः". The Shastras say that it is only one's own Dharma that brings about some transformation in the situation. And the fruits of one's own actions are beneficial only if the actions are Dharmic. Thus Dharma and Adharma are indeed man's real friend and foe. And since both Dharma and Adharma are put forth into action by man, man is his own friend or foe. Hence one must never attribute one's own joy or suffering to be the result of others but to one own's actions.