This year’s Annual Number of KALYAN Magazine (Hindi) published by Gita Press, Gorakhpur (January 2026) celebrates its centenary of public service in the cause of Sanatana Dharma. As its editor points out, the main thrust of KALYAN is spiritualism. The celebrated monthly magazine, founded by Shri Jayadayal Goenka and nurtured by Shri Hanuman Prasad Poddar and Swami Ramsukhdas, all selfless, passionate personalities, has been covering various aspects of our knowledge heritage and culture including bhakti, Jnana, dispassion, Karmayoga with dedication of the action and the fruit to Iswara, dharmas relating to Varnas, Ashramas and women, virtuous conduct etc. An interesting, regular and striking feature of the magazine has been the narration of real-life experiences by common men and women of Bhagavan’s extreme compassion in times of distress.
There have been a total of 99 special Annual numbers in this hundred-year journey and the indicative list of subjects they have dealt with is overwhelming – Gita principles, Upanishads, Ramacharita Manas, Vedanta, Yoga, Spiritual practice, Tirthas, Culture, practice of bhakti, children’s dharma, women’s dharma, Cow in our tradition, stories of bhaktas, Ganga, Vratas, Health and Ayurveda, Astrology, Moral Stories, Stories of Jnana, Experience of Bhagavan’s Grace, Puranas including Bhagavatam, Devi Bhagavatam, Shiva Purana, Skanda Purana, Padma Purana, Brahmavaivarta Purana, Garuda Purana, Narada Purana, Agni Purana, Kurma Purana, Narasimha Purana, other literature including Mahabharata, Yoga Vasishtha etc., and special issues on deities including Ganesha, Vishnu, Shiva, Surya, Shakti, Rama, Krishna and Hanuman.
The present Annual number encompasses a vast scope and is a veritable index of the contents of all the previous Numbers. There are as many as 354 articles in 660 pages covering subjects grouped thus – Auspicious Citations (from Upanishads, Bharata Savitri etc.); Devatas (Panchadevas – Ganesha, Vishnu, Shiva, Shakti, Surya – their theme, Pujas etc.); Guide on Upasana (Deities – Mantras, rituals, Danam, etc.); Spiritual Practice (Jnana, control of mind a n d s e n s e o r g a n s , Yo g a , B h a k ti , Namasankirtanam, Vratas, Conquering Maya etc.); Path of Jnana (Para and Apara Vidya, Dispassion, Tenth man, Advaita, Prarabdha, Atma Sakshatkara); Iswara’s Pledge (Gita, Iswara’s love and compassion, some examples); Golden Heritage (64 arts, ancient education, vimanas and ships, astronomy, music and instruments, mother’s glory); Voices of Inspiration (many aspects of life, mental strength, good habits, control of speech, essence of Gita); Maintenance of Health (Ayurvedic practices in daily life and medicines, Panchagavya, Surya’s rays); Acharyas who have guided (Adi Shankara to Tirumular, Abhinava Gupta, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Shankara Dev, Jnaneshwar, Ramadas et al); Appendix (Story of Kalyan and some earlier writings).
There are some rare expositions – Shiva-Vishnu identity referring to Vishnu’s dream; Radha and Krishna; Shrinath; Saraswata mantra called Chintamani; Chaakshushi Vidya; Jiva’s pledge of bhakti while in mother’s womb; Maharshi Chaakrayana’s eleven vratas; rare Stotras and Subhashitas – Shatarudriya Stotra, Twelve names of Hanuman, Shukracharya’s Ashtamurti Stava, Kartikeya Stotra, Soubhagya Ashtottarashatanama Stotra, Twelve flowers of dedication of mind; and many more. Many colourful pictures of deities and institutions adorn the issue.
The book is a rare treasure, a collector’s item, a reference manual.
Obituary
Shashti Janakiraman
Shri K.S.Janakiraman (Shashti), the Founder Trustee and Patron of Sri Sri Maha Periyava Anusha Pooja Samiti, Velachery attained sadgati on 30th January 2026.
Shri Janakiraman, aged 75, was a native of Krishnarayapuram, He was a retired employee of IIT Madras. His devotion to the Kanchi Matham had been so intense that he named his house as “Sri Mahaperiyava Illam” and made it available to the Samiti, where all their poojas and religious programmes are being conducted.
Shri Janakiraman, affectionately called Shashti Janakiraman had been offering prayers, doing Archana, at Sri Karunambika Sametha Sri Dhandeeswara Swamy Temple Velachery, for the glory of the Kanchi Acharyas and taking prasadams to the Acharyas every Shashti Tithi. The most interesting point was that he had been unfailingly doing this humble service on every Shashti tithi, wherever the Kanchi Acharyas were camping, over the last 45 years. His association with the Kanchi Mutt was from the period of Sri Mahaperiyava to the present Acharyas. Another noteworthy feature of his extraordinary devotion was that he had been having Darshan of the Acharyas every year during the chathurmasya period of two months every day without fail. He was honoured by the Acharyas of the Kanchi Mutt in this regard.
Shri Janakiraman had made his dedicated Bakthi towards Kanchi Acharyas infectious with the Velachery Satsang devotees of Sri Mahaperiyava, during his life time. His bond with Kanchi Mutt had been so close that he was instrumental in obtaining the Anugraham of the Acharyas for the welfare of the devotees of the Velachery Satsang on all occasions. He could perform direct Pada Pooja to Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal who was much impressed by his regular Shashti offerings. The present Mathadhipati Sri Shankara Vijayendra Saraswathi Swamigal has a special affection for Sri Shashti Janakiraman and the Sath Sangam of Sri Mahperiyava Anusha Pooja Samiti, operating from No.1,4th Main Road, Dhandeeswaram Velachery Chennai 600042.