Veda Parayanam and Honoring of Vedic Scholars

“Maharanyam Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji Kainkarya Sabha” organized a grand celebration of Sri Swamiji’s Jayanti at Krishnaswamy Kalyana Mandapam in Chennai on Nov 1, 2024.

In the divine presence of Sri Swamiji, the event began traditionally with a Veda-swasti (auspicious chanting) by Vedic pandits. Brahmasri G. Karthikeya Sharma delivered the swagata bhashyam (welcome address) in Samskritam and Tamil. He also spoke about the various Veda patashalas run by the Trust, inspired and guided by Sri Swamiji. We have seven patashalas covering Rig, Yajur, Sama, Vaishnava Agama. Dravida Veda, and Itihasas and Puranas. Innumerable students study in these patashalas, and more than 100 scholars have graduated from these seven patashalas.

This was followed by the felicitation ceremony of U Ve. Dr. Prasanna Dikshitar. Sri Swamiji felicitated U Ve. Dr. Prasanna Dikshitar, a senior adhyapak (teacher) at Smt. Jayanti Janakiraman Ninaivu Dravida Veda Agama Patashala, on his successful completion of Doctorate in “Utsavam based on Pancharatra Agama” and his contribution to nurture Vaishnava Pancharatra Agama Shastram. This was followed by a book release function. The Trust has published three books relating to Advanced Vedic Studies that have been authored by Brahmasri Sethurama Ganapadigal (Adhyapak in our Sri Sandeepanin Gurukulam at Madhurapuri Ashram). These books, which have been printed both in Devanagiri lipi (script) and also in the Ancient Grantha lipi, are 1. Lakshana Kosha, 2. Salakshana Ghana Sandhi, 3. Varnakrama Sopanam. These three books are invaluable for nurturing of Vedas because they delineate the foundational principles which can completely dispel any doubts regarding the pronunciation and the accuracy of Vedic mantras.

Sri Swamiji released the first copies of these books to Brahmasri Dr. Mani Dravid Sastrigal, Brahmasri Jambunatha Ganapadigal, Brahmasri Vayalur Ramakrishna Ganapadigal, Brahmasri V.G.S. Guru Ganapadigal and Brahmasri Krishna Ganapadigal. Brahmasri Vayalur Ramakrishna Ganapadigal honored the author of these books, Brahmasri Sethurama Ganapadigal with sambhavana on behalf of the Trust. An old, out-of-print book on Sri Tyagaraja kritis was also reprinted by the Trust and released by Sri Swamiji, based on the request of a devotee.

Sri Swamiji honored all the Vedic scholars present on the stage. This was followed by a divine group chanting of Ekadasa Sri Rudram by 500 Vedic scholars. This entails the chanting of the divine hymn ‘Sri Rudram’, 11 times by all the 500 Vedic scholars. The whole place reverberated divinely with this harmonious chanting of the Vedic scholars. Many in the audience could feel the divine vibe and remarked that this was a very memorable event in their life. This program concluded with the swasti (auspicious chanting) by Vedic pandits. All the Vedic scholars were honored by the trustees of Maharanyam Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji Kainkarya Sabha. Thus concluded this unique and memorable event celebrating our Sri Swamiji’s Jayanti.