Adi Shankaracharya jayanti festival begins in Omkareshwar

Indore: Chief minister Mohan Yadav on Friday inaugurated five-day Prakatotsav of Adi Shankaracharya Jayanti at Ekatma Dham in Omkareshwar, describing the sacred site as the "centre of sunrise of Advaita knowledge" and affirming that its spiritual energy continues to resonate across the world.Addressing the inaugural session, Yadav traced Madhya Pradesh's deep spiritual legacy, recalling Lord Ram's exile at Chitrakoot on the banks of the Mandakini river, and Lord Krishna's education at Sandipani Ashram in Ujjain — both of which, he said, gave timeless values to humanity.He highlighted how an eight-year-old Shankar from Kerala's Kaladi arrived at Omkareshwar, received the blessings of Guru Govindapadacharya, and went on to become Adi Shankaracharya — the philosopher who laid the foundation of India's spiritual and cultural unity.Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Sadanand Saraswati of Dwaraka Sharada Peeth, in his address, emphasised self-realisation as the true path to oneness, noting that while people seek to understand the world, they often neglect understanding the self.The event, organised by department of culture and the Acharya Shankar cultural unity trust, will run till April 21. Padmashri Nivedita Bhide and several senior saints were also present.