Saiva Siddanta Classes
A ONE-YEAR diploma course in Saiva Siddhanta to be conducted by Sankara Arts & Science College, Kanchipuram was inaugurated on 4 July 2021 with Anugraha Bhashanam by Pujyashri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswathi Swamiji, Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham.
Sankara Rural Medical Centre at Thandalam
With blessings of Pujyashri Shankaracharya Swamiji, Sankara Rural Medical Centre at Thandalam, Tamil Nadu was inaugurated on11 July 2021. Governor of Tamil Nadu, Shri Banwarilal Purohit graced by personally visiting and inaugurating the hospital. Pujyashri Acharay Swamiji gave Anugraha bhashanam and stressed the need for service to mankind, specially to the poor and the needy.
Daily discourse series in Tamil on spirituality, culture , literature, environment, traditional arts was inaugurated on 12 July 2021 with blessings of Pujyashri Shankaracharya Swamiji by Hindu Samaya Mandram and ‘Sruthi’ Community Radio Centre of Shri Sankara College, Kanchipuram.
Kumbhabhishekam
Pujyashri Shankaracharya Swamiji performed t he Jeernodharana Kumbabhishekam of Shri Panchamukha Anjaneyaswamy temple at Chetpettu village, Tiruvannamalai district on 16 Jul 2021. The previous Kumbabhishekam of the temple had been performed by Shankaracharya Swamiji in the early 90s.
Shankara Stotra Makaranda
The online Lecture classes of Adi Shankara’s Stotras, inaugurated by Pujyashri Acharya Swamiji on 29 January 2021 and conducted by Shri P.R.Kannan, were completed on 11 July 2021. The valedictory function was held online on 17 July, in which Shri Kannan mentioned that in all, 26 Stotras of Adi Shankara were covered in the six month long course conducted over weekends on Saturdays and Sundays; stress was laid, as instructed by Shri Acharya Swamiji, on pronunciation, word split (padaccheda), word meaning and overall meaning with relevant references to Puranas etc. Some participants chanted some select Stotras on the occasion. Over 200 participants from across the world took active part in the course over zoom and another 200 over YouTube. KKSF provided valuable support and, with the help of volunteers, the text of the Stotras, the audio records of the Stotras and written records of Lecture Notes were prepared and uploaded on KKSF website. The Lecture Notes were compiled by volunteers and edited by Shri Kannan and are published by Giri Trading. Volume 1 of the Lecture Notes was released by Pujyashri Acharya Swamiji on the occasion. Acharya’s Anugraha Bhashanam is carried elsewhere in this issue. Certificates were issued to participants.
Yantra Puja
With the blessings & instruction of Pujyashri Shankaracharya Swamiji, Soundarya Lahari YANTRA Pooja was performed along with Abhishekam to Shri Lalitha Parameswari & Meru followed by Kumkumarchana on 18 July 2021 at Clemons, NC USA. The programme was concluded with a r endition of Shivanandalahari on the occasion of Shri Vaarahi Navaratri & Aashada Anuradha. This kind of Anushthanam was performed in a detailed manner at Vitthal Rukmani Mandir, Govindapuram in presence of Acharay Swamiji earlier.
Pujyashri Shankara Vijayendra Saraswati Shankaracharya Swamiji arrived on 22 July 2021at Orikkai Pujyashri MahaSwamiji Manimandapam. Pujyashri Acharyal performed Vyasa puja on 24 July and observed Chaturmasya Vratam here upto 20 Sep. 2021.
Chathurmasyam Gurupriya Sangeetha Upasana
At the Srimatham camp at Orikkai, Chathurmasyam Gurupriya Sangeetha Upasana was held from 24 July to 20 September 2021 every day in the evening and in the Brindavanam in Shri Shankara Matham, Kanchipuram every day in the morning. Reputed musicians did Nada Samarpanam.
Kamakoti TV
With blessings of Pujyashri Shankaracharya Swamiji, the web tv Kamakoti TV was launched on 24 July 2021on the auspicious Guru Poornima – Vyasa Puja day. www.kamakoti.tv
Digital input tools – digital mode lecture in Tamil was also held on 24 July by Shri Dilip, Govt school teacher, Satyamangalam, Villipuram district.
For benefit of devotees visiting Acharya Swamiji’s c amp a t O rikkai and Shrimatham, free van service was offered by Pammal Sankara Organization.
Vyasa Puja in Kamakshi Temple
On the sacred occasion of Guru Purnima, while Shri Achaya Swamiji is observing the Vyasa Puja at Orikkai, a centuries old unique tradition was performed in Kamakshi Temple at Kanchipuram.
On this occasion of Guru Purnima, the Utsava Murthi of Jagadguru Shankarabhagavatpada is taken to Pancha Ganga temple tank where certain rituals are performed. Then Vyasa Puja is held in the Mandapam near Acharya’s Samadhi shrine in front of Bhagavatpada’s Utsava Vigraha – as done by Acharya himself.
Jagadguru Shankarabhagavatpadas’ connection with Mokshapuri Kanchi is very unique. Kamakshi Temple which is the Central Jewel
of this holy city is where Acharya consecrated Shrichakram. There are several such practices in the temple related to Shankarabhagavatpada being followed since centuries till date.
Vyasa Puja at Orikkai
Pujyashri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya Swamiji performed Vyasa Puja at Mahaswami Shatabdi Manimandapam, Orikkai near Kanchipuram on 24 July 2021. The Pujas commenced at 11:45 AM and concluded at 4:15 PM.
Acharya Swamiji has earlier observed Chaturmasyam at Orikkai in the year 1988 along with Kanchi Mahaswami and Shri Jayendra Saraswati Shankaracharya Swamiji.
Shri Swamiji also took Sankalpam on the occasion to observe Chaturmasya at Orikkai till September 20th. Shri Swamiji stayed in Kanchi Mahaswami Shatabdi Manimandapam and observed all rituals pertaining to Chaturmasya Vrata here.
Prasadams from Bangaru Kamakshi Temple, Thanjavur, Kamakshi Temple, Ekamranatha Temple, Varadaraja Swamy Temple, Avudayar temple, Tiruvanaikaval Akhilandeswari Temple, Rameswaram Ramanathaswamy Temple, Chidambaram Nataraja Temple, Venkateshwara Swamy Temple, Tirupati and other temples were given to Shri Swamiji on completion of Puja.
In the evening Dr. L Subramaniam presented Nada Samarpanam in the presence of Shri Swamiji. Vyasa Puja – Punah puja was performed by Pujyashri Shankara Vijayendra Saraswati Swamiji on 25 July at Orikkai after trikala Chandramouleeshwara Swami puja at the Mahaswami Manimandapam. Shri Acharyal distributed Vyasaakshata to devotees after the puja.
87th Jayanti Celebrations of Pujyashri Jayendra Saraswati Shankaracharya Swamiji
Jayanti Mahotsavam of Pujyashri Jayendra Saraswati Shankaracharya Swamiji at Orikkai- Sankalpam performed followed by Veda parayanam and homam on 26 July 2021. Special pujas and Alankaram were performed at the Brindavanam of Shri Jayendra Saraswati Shankaracharya Swamiji at the Sankara Mutt in Kanchipuram.
Hon’ble Vice President of India Shri Venkiah Naidu (Video Conference) & Hon’ble Governor of Tamilnadu Shri Banwarilal Purohit presided over the Jayanti celebrations function in the evening in the presence of Pujyashri Acharya Swamiji.
Two books authored by Shri NP Venkateswara Choudary who has served as an MLA from Chittoor constituency – 1) Cambodia – The Land of Hindu Temples and 2) Neti Vietnam, Nati Hindu Samskruti were released on the occasion. The first book on temples of Cambodia in English had been released by Pujya Shri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamiji in 2009 at Tirupati.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Shankara V ijayendra S araswati Shankaracharya Swamiji mentioned the need to protect and practice culture & traditions of our ancient land for betterment of society. His Holiness stressed the need for Desha Bhakti, Daiva Bhakti & Guru Bhakti. Shri Swamiji recalled the great service, blessings for country & society and the many tours across the country of Pujya Shri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamiji.
During his address, the Honourable Governor of Tamil Nadu recollected his long association with the Kanchi Mutt and commended the yeoman service being rendered by Shrimatham to serve the society at large and to protect and preserve our culture and heritage. He also announced a grant of Rs. 1 crore from the Governor’s discretionary fund for setting up a Cath lab for Sankara Multi Speciality Hospital in Kanchipuram for serving the needy in and around rural areas of Kanchipuram.
Addressing the gathering virtually, the Honourable Vice President of India recalled the extraordinary contribution of Shri Jayendra Saraswati Shankaracharya Swamiji in reaching out to the marginalized sections of society. He also mentioned his multiple pada- yatras traversing the length and breadth of the country as well as neighbouring countries like Bangladesh and remarked that exemplified the age old saying ‘manava seva, madhava seva’. Speaking about the book on Temples of Cambodia and Vietnam Hon’ble Vice President spoke about need for Dharma and following culture as a way of life. Hon’ble Vice President shared his experience of visiting the South Asia Countries and exhorted youth to visit these countries and widen their cultural exposure.
The event also saw the distribution of various items such as sewing machines, cooking utensils and so on among the needy from different sections of society. The G overnor first visited S hri Mahaswamiji’s and Shri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamiji’s Brindavanam in Kanchi Math before coming to Orikkai.
87th Jayanti Mahotsavam of Pujyashri Jayendra Saraswati Shankaracharya Swamiji was celebrated at Irulneeki on 25 & 26 July 2021 with Visesha Homama, Pujas including Go Puja etc.
The Jayanthi was also celebrated with great devotion at many centres in India and abroad.
Aadi Perukku
Aadi Perukku was celebrated on 3 Aug 2021 with the blessings of Pujyashri Shankaracharya Swamiji under the auspices of thanjavurparampara.com on the banks of River Kaveri right from the origin at Thala Kaveri to different places including Allur near Tiruchy and Govindapuram.
Veda parayanam and pujas were performed to the Punya Nadhi Kaveri. Bhajans including odam- a specific form of boat song, and the traditional dance of Tamilnadu – Gummi attam were performed by youngsters in celebration as an offering of prayer to the holy river.
Pujyashri Shankaracharya Swamiji blessed the programme with Anugraha Bhashanam over video conference.
Shrimad Ramayana Navaham
Shrimad Ramayana Navaham was rendered by Shri Krishna Premi Anna and Shri Ranganji from 6 Aug. to 14 Aug. 2021 at Shrimatam camp, Orikkai. Srimad Valmiki Ramayana Paryanam in the morning and Pravachan in the evening were performed.
Chaturmasya Gurupriya Sangeeta upasana – a musical offering of Deekshitar Kritis was rendered by Shri Neyveli Santhanagopalan & disciples on 7 Aug. at Shrimatam camp, Orikkai. Sangeeta Upasana programmes were held every day during Chaturmasyam period at the Adhishthanams of the 68th and 69th Acharyas a t Shrimatham in the morning and at the Chaturmasyam camp at Orikkai in the evening.
Many cultural, devotional, literary and religious programmes were held at the Chaturmasyam camp at Orikkai during the Chaturmasyam period. These included group Bhikshavandanams, book releases etc.
Lecture Series on Cultural Heritage of Kashmir
There has been a close historical connect between Shri Kanchi Matham and Kashmir over the centuries. Adi Shankaracharya had visited Kashmir and ascended Sarvagna Peetham there before finally coming to Kanchipuram and ascending Sarvagna Peetham here and shedding his mortal coils. Some kings of Kashmir had been disciples of the Kanchi Shankaracharyas and had come to Kanchipuram and prayed for guidance. Some of our Acharyas had attained Siddhi in Kashmir.
Our Shankaracharya Swamijis started to conduct from the year 2011 onwards Vishwa Shanti Maha Yagnas in Kashmir every year during the time of Shankara Jayanthi in April/ May. The programme lasts ten days and includes many homams, Veda Parayanam, Pujas, Parayanam of Ramayanam, Bhagavatham, Devi Bhagavatham etc., discourses, cultural events etc. Vaidikas and experts are taken from the South to Kashmir for this purpose.
For the purpose of promoting the awareness of the great religious and cultural history of Kashmir among the general public, a Lecture series on Cultural Heritage of Kashmir has been initiated by Pujyashri Acharya Swamiji. The series, organised by Srimatham in association with Maadyama Dharma Samajam and KKSF, was inaugurated with Pujyashri Acharya Swamiji’s Anugraha Bhashanam on 15 August 2021. Acharya Swamiji stressed on the great and sacred history of Kashmir and called for development of t h e v a r i o u s kshetras and Tirthas mentioned in the Puranas and pilgrimage arrangements to be made to all such sacred places. Swamiji made special reference t o Rajatarangini, the chronicle of the kings of Kashmir by the celebrated Kashmiri poet Kalhana of 13th century, Nilamata Puranam, Kashmir Saivism and the great philosopher Abhinava Gupta. Dr.R.Nagaswamy, renowned archaeologist delivered the inaugural lecture and drew attention to the many temples which lie in ruins. This was followed by a series of lectures: by Shri P.R.Kannan on Amaranatha Mahatmyam on 21 August; by Dr.C.K.Gariyali, IAS (retd.) on introduction to Kashmir on 28 August; by Shri P.R.Kannan on 4 and 11 September on Rajatarnagini, on 18 September on Bhringisa Samhita and on 25 September on Nilamata Puranam. The lecture series is ongoing and is proposed to be continued with more speakers and is available on YouTube.
Mukapanchashathi Parayanam
Mukapanchashathi Parayanam was held on 22 and 23 August 2021 in commemoration of Aradhana of Shri Muka Sankarendra Saraswati Swamiji, the 20th Jagadguru of Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham and in celebration of the divine month of Aadi. Pujyashri Acharya Swamiji blessed the effort.
Chandi Havan was performed at Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam Cultural Centre at RK Puram, New Delhi on Pournami – 22 Aug.
Divine art exhibition was inaugurated with blessings of Pujyashri Acharyal at Orikkai, Kanchipuram on 26 Aug. featuring the paintings on deities of various temples in Tamilnadu by senior artist Sri Manivelu of Sikkal. The exhibition was open for the period of Chaturmasya upto 20 Sep.
Krishna Janmashtami was celebrated with enthusiasm by Veda Pathasala children at Orikkai.
Veda Rakshana Nidhi Trust- Pariksha poorthi Certificates were distributed by Pujyasri Acharya Swamigal at a function held at Shrimatham Camp, Orikkai on 2 Sep.
Advaita Sabha- 159th Vidvat Sadas was held from 4 Sep to 7 Sep 2021 at Shrimatham Camp, Orikkai and was blessed by Pujyashri Acharya Swamigal. Many scholars participated in the Sadas.
Sahasradala Padmam Aradhanam 2 (SDPA2) was held at the Camp at Orikkai on 5 Sep. Many children participated online in the function, presided over by Pujyashri Acharya Swamigal.
Sampoorna parayanam of Purva Mimamsa bhashya was performed at Shrimatham camp, Orikkai from 12 to 18 September 2021 with blessings of Pujyashri Shankaracharya Swamigal.
Vinayaka Chaturthi Puja – Ekavimshati Patra Puja As part of the Vinayaka Chaturthi Puja, Ekavimshati Patra Puja (Archana with 21 types of leaves) is performed to Vinayaka at Shrimatham. Photographs of the leaves along with captions in Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu and English are displayed in the Shrimatham website www.kamakoti.org.
Brahmana Sabha Pancha Dravida has been holding Webinar series of lectures on sacred kshetras, separately for Yuvas and Yuvatis.
