"We must never, ever disobey His teachings!" --- Yogi Ramsuratkumar on Kanchi Mahaswamigal!

We must go out of our way to preserve the Vedas. Our Paramacharya is doing everything He can to sustain Vedas, those who learn the Vedas and those who teach them. His principles and opinions are replete with wisdom and always noble.

Sri Paramacharya desires nothing but the welfare for humanity. And He cares so much about the future generation's well being. We must never, ever disobey His teachings!

Spirtitual beacons like Sri Paramacharya show Light to our society. But this Beggar (refers to himself) is not like that! He (Yogiar) is like a pig whose only purpose in this world to clean the dirt in our society!

வேதங்களை எப்பாடு பட்டேனும் நாம் காக்க வேண்டும். நம் ஸ்ரீ பரமாச்சாரியார் அவர்கள் தன்னால் முடிந்த அனைத்தையும் செய்து வேதங்களையும் வேத விற்பன்னர்களையும் போற்றி பாதுகாத்து வருகிறார்கள். அவர்கள் அவ்வளவு செய்கிறார்கள் வேதங்களுக்கு. அவர் கொள்கைகளும் கருத்துகளும் மிக சீரியவை, நேரானவை. அவை என்றும் மிக மிக சிறந்தவை. 

ஸ்ரீ பரமாச்சார்யர் அவர்கள் இந்த மனித இனம் முழுவதற்கும் நலம் விரும்புபவர்கள். வருங்கால சந்ததியர் நல்வாழ்க்கையில் மிக்க அக்கறை கொண்டவர்கள். அவர்கள் சொல்வதை நாம் எக்காரணம் கொண்டும் கவனியாமல் இருக்க கூடாது. 

ஸ்ரீ பரமாச்சார்யர் போன்ற தவ ஸ்ரேஷ்டர்கள் தான் இந்த சமூகத்தின் முன்மாதிரி. ஆனால், இந்த பிச்சைக்காரன் அப்படி அல்ல. இவன் ஒரு வராகம் போல(பன்றி). நாங்கள் இந்த சமூகத்தில் உள்ள அழுக்குகளை சுத்தம் செய்யவே வந்துள்ளோம். 

*****

Words of HH Yogi Ramsuratkumar of Thiruvannamalai.

Shankara.

Durga Temple ‘annexes’ satram of Sringeri Peetham, sparks row!

HH Bharati Tirtha Swami of Sringeri Sharada Peetham may lead a protest against the Endowments Department for allowing Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam to take over the maintenance of Sringeri Peetham’s  Vadlamannativari Satram Choultry, sources close to New Indian Express revealed.

Arjun Street in Vijayawada, where the Satram stands, remained tense on Tuesday with members of the Sringeri Peetham agitating over its “annexation”.

Members of Sringeri Peetham flayed the temple officials’ decision and claimed it was taken without consulting them. They said that the temple which was supposed to pay a rent of Rs 12,000 per day for using the satram for Annadanam had in fact decided to take it over when the satram custodian was in Sringeri on November 19.

The temple officials, however, said the Vadlamannativari Satram was being used for commercial purposes which was in conflict with the desire of the donor who handed over the satram to Sringeri Peetham five decades ago. According to Vadlamannativari Satram custodian Nimmagadda Subramanyam, the Devasthanam had requested the members of Sringeri Peetham to allocate the satram for Annadanam six months ago. At that time, it agreed to pay Rs 12,000 per day towards rent to the satram. The devasthanam paid a rent of Rs 21.6 lakh until October 15 and then stopped.

“When we asked for the payment for the unpaid period, the temple officials remained silent and suddenly the endowments department has given Durga Temple permission to take over the satram maintenance,”, Shri Subramanyam said.

Defending the move to lease the satram for commercial purposes like weddings and other functions, the custodian maintained that he had the original documents which mention that the satram should be operated through the amount collected from travellers and weddings.

*****

Source: The New Indian Express

The address of the Satram: 10-2-70, Arjun Street, Arjun Street, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh 520001. Phone: 866 242 3396

Source of picture: Sringeri.net

Chant 'Kolaru Pathigam' to ward off the unfavourable effect of the Planets!

Sankaran Koil temple in Tirunelveli

Nellaippar-Kanthimathi temple in Tirunelveli

Chariot festival in Nelllaippar temple.

Saiva poet/Saint of Tamil Nadu, Thirugnana Sambandhar was a child prodigy who was the recipient of "Gnanapal" (divine milk) from Mother Parvathi herself. He became a child Saint and was completely devoted to Lord Neelakanta Siva. Sambandhar met Appar (Thirunavukkuarasar) in a place called Vedaranyam. The Queen of the Pandiya country Mangaiyarkkarasi, sent an emissary to them saying that the King had become a Jain under the influence of Jain monks Samanam Jainism. She requested Sambandhar to visit Madurai and rid the country of Jains. But Appar was skeptical about this as he believed that the Jains could cause them harm and also the planetary positions were not conducive. But Sambandhar smiled and sang the Kolaru Pathigam to ward off the evil influence of the planets.

Kanchi Mahaperiyava once exhorted all to chant this pathigam when the 7 planets were aligned in a straight line during the sixties. It was that time when India and China were at war. Kolaru pathigam will remove all graha dosham if you chant it daily. Not only that, Gnanasambandar says that those who recite the Pathigam will rule the heavens and that is his decree. A very rare statement from a Saint who in all his pathigams has never revealed his birth secret. He is verily the incarnation of Murugan, the Son of Shakti, who is fit to order the cosmos to dance to his tunes.
             
In Tamil, KOL means planets as well as evil. ARU in Tamil means that which cuts, shreds, blows into smithereens. The meaning of the word requires careful interpretation. What it actually means is that destruction of the evil effects of planets. For a devotee of Lord Neelakanta Siva who has Parvathi as his other half, chanting or listening to the hymn will convert all the evil into good. The last line of every verse contains this pledge and assurance. Each verse describes Lord Neelakanta Siva along with Goddess Uma Maheshwari. Interestingly, the hymn has references to Ravana. The hymn also says that Vishnu and Brahma would help the devotees of Siva. 

The unique feature of Kolaru Pathigam is that it addresses all the planets and pleads with Lord Neelakanta  Shiva to reduce / erase the ill effects of planets.

Readers are requested to listen to the Kolaru Pathigam sung by Seerkazhi Govindarajan. Please play the below youtube link:

It is mesmerizing and this is often played in the temples of  Sankaran Koil and Nellaiappar-Kanthimathi amman shrine in Tirunelveli.

வேயுறு தோளி பங்கன் விடமுண்ட கண்டன்
மிகநல்ல வீணை தடவி
மாசறு திங்கள் கங்கை முடிமேல் அணிந்து என்
உளமே புகுந்த அதனால்
ஞாயிறு திங்கள் செவ்வாய் புதன் வியாழன் வெள்ளி
சனிபாம் பிரண்டும் உடனே
ஆசறு நல்ல நல்ல அவைநல்ல நல்ல
அடியாரவர்க்கு மிகவே

என்பொடு கொம்பொடாமை இவை மார்பிலங்க
எருதேறி யேழை யுடனே
பொன்பொதி மத்தமாலை புனல்சூடி வந்தென்
உளமே புகுந்த அதனால்
ஒன்பதொ டொன்றொடேழு ப‌தினெட்டொ டாறும்
உடனாய நாள்க ள‌வைதாம்
அன்பொடு நல்லநல்ல அவைநல்ல நல்ல
அடியார‌வர்க்கு மிகவே.

உருவளர் பவளமேனி ஒளிநீ ற‌ணிந்து
உமையோடும் வெள்ளை விடைமேல்
முருக‌லர் கொன்றைதிங்கள் முடிமேல‌ணிந்தென்
உளமே புகுந்த அதனால்
திருமகள் கலைய‌தூர்தி செயமாது பூமி
திசை தெய்வமான பலவும்
அருநெதி நல்லநல்ல அவை நல்லநல்ல
அடியார‌வர்க்கு மிகவே.

மதிநுதன் மங்கையோடு வடவா லிருந்து
மறையோது மெங்கள் பரமன்
நதியொடு கொன்றைமாலை முடிமேல் அணிந்தென்
உளமே புகுந்த அதனால்
கொதியுறு காலன் அங்கி நமனோடு தூதர்
கொடுநோய்களான பலவும்
அதிகுணம் நல்லநல்ல அவை நல்லநல்ல
அடியார‌வர்க்கு மிகவே.

நஞ்ச‌ணி கண்டனெந்தை மடவாள் தனோடும்
விடையேறு நங்கள் பரமன்
துஞ்சிருள் வன்னி கொன்றை முடிமேல் அணிந்தென்
உளமே புகுந்த அதனால்
வெஞ்சின அவுணரோடும் உருமிடியும் மின்னும்
மிகையான பூதம‌வையும்
அஞ்சிடும் நல்லநல்ல அவை நல்லநல்ல
அடியார‌வர்க்கு மிகவே.

வாள்வரி அதளதாடை வரி கோவணத்தர்
மடவாள் தனோடும் உடனாய்
நாள்மலர் வன்னி கொன்றை நதிசூடி வந்தென்
உளமே புகுந்த அதனால்
கோள‌ரி உழுவையோடு கொலையானை கேழல்
கொடு நாகமோடு கரடி
ஆள‌ரி நல்லநல்ல அவை நல்லநல்ல
அடியார‌வர்க்கு மிகவே. 

செப்பிள முலைநன்மங்கை ஒருபாகமாக
விடையேறு செல்வ னடைவார்
ஒப்பிள மதியும் அப்பும் முடிமேல் அணிந்தென்
உளமே புகுந்த அதனால்
வெப்பொடு குளிரும் வாத மிகையான‌ பித்தும்
வினையான வந்து நலியா
அப்படி நல்லநல்ல அவை நல்லநல்ல
அடியார‌வர்க்கு மிகவே.

வேள்பட விழிசெய்தென்று விடைமேலிருந்து
மடவாள் தனோடும் உடனாய்
வாள்மதி வன்னி கொன்றை மலர்சூடி வந்தென்
உளமே புகுந்த வத‌னால்
ஏழ்கடல் சூழிலங்கை அரையன் ற‌னோடும்
இடரான வந்து நலியா
ஆழ்கடல் நல்லநல்ல அவை நல்லநல்ல
அடியார‌வர்க்கு மிகவே.

பலபல வேடமாகும் பரனாரி பாகன்
பசுவேறும் எங்கள் பரமன்
சலமக ளோடெருக்கு முடிமேல் அணிந்தென்
உளமே புகுந்த அதனால்
மலர்மிசை யோனுமாலும் மறையோடு தேவர்
வருகால மான பலவும்
அலைகடல் மேருநல்ல அவை நல்லநல்ல
அடியார‌வர்க்கு மிகவே.

கொத்தல‌ர் குழலியோடு விசையற்கு நல்கு
குணமாய வேட விகிர்தன்
மத்தமும் மதியும்நாக முடிமேல் அணிந்தென்
உளமே புகுந்த அதனால்
புத்தரொ ட‌மணைவாதில் அழிவிக்கும் அண்ணல்
திருநீறு செம்மை திடமே
அத்தகு நல்லநல்ல அவை நல்லநல்ல
அடியார‌வர்க்கு மிகவே.

தேனமர் பொழில்கொள் ஆலை விளைசெந்நெல் துன்னி
வளர் செம்பொன் எங்கும் திகழ
நான்முகன் ஆதியாய பிரமா புரத்து
மறைஞான ஞான முனிவன்
தானுறு கோளும் நாளும் அடியாரை வந்து
நலியாத வண்ணம் உரைசெய்
ஆன சொல்மாலை யோதும் அடியார்கள் வானில்
அரசாள்வர் ஆணை நமதே.

vEyuRu thOLi pangan vitamuNta kaNtan
mikanalla veeNai thatavi
maasaRu thingaL kangai mutimEl aNindhu en
uLamE pukundha adhanaal
gnaayiRu thingaL sevvaai pudhan viyaazhan veLLi
sanipaam piraNtum utanE
aasaRu nalla nalla avainalla nalla
atiyaaravarkku mikavE

enpotu kompotaamai ivai maarpilanga
erudhERi yEzhai yutanE
ponpodhi maththamaalai punalsooti vandhen
uLamE pukundha adhanaal
onpadho tondrotEzhu papadhinetto taaRum
utanaaya naaLka LaLavaidhaam
anpotu nallanalla avainalla nalla
atiyaararavarkku mikavE.

uruvaLar pavaLamEni oLinee RaRaNindhu
umaiyOtum veLLai vitaimEl
murukakalar kondraidhingaL mutimElalaNindhen
uLamE pukundha adhanaal
thirumakaL kalaiyayadhoordhi seyamaadhu poomi
thisai theyvamaana palavum
arunedhi nallanalla avai nallanalla
atiyaararavarkku mikavE.

madhinudhan mangaiyOtu vatavaa lirundhu
maRaiyOdhu mengaL paraman
nadhiyotu kondraimaalai mutimEl aNindhen
uLamE pukundha adhanaal
kodhiyuRu kaalan angi namanOtu thoodhar
kotunOikaLaana palavum
adhikuNam nallanalla avai nallanalla
atiyaararavarkku mikavE.

nanjasaNi kaNtanendhai matavaaL thanOtum
vitaiyERu nangaL paraman
thunjiruL vanni kondrai mutimEl aNindhen
uLamE pukundha adhanaal
venjina avuNarOtum urumitiyum minnum
mikaiyaana poodhamamavaiyum
anjitum nallanalla avai nallanalla
atiyaararavarkku mikavE.

vaaLvari adhaLadhaatai vari kOvaNaththar
matavaaL thanOtum utanaai
naaLmalar vanni kondrai nadhisooti vandhen
uLamE pukundha adhanaal
kOLaLari uzhuvaiyOtu kolaiyaanai kEzhal
kotu naakamOtu karati
aaLaLari nallanalla avai nallanalla
atiyaararavarkku mikavE.

seppiLa mulainanmangai orupaakamaaka
vitaiyERu selva nataivaar
oppiLa madhiyum appum mutimEl aNindhen
uLamE pukundha adhanaal
veppotu kuLirum vaadha mikaiyaanana piththum
vinaiyaana vandhu naliyaa
appati nallanalla avai nallanalla
atiyaararavarkku mikavE.

vELpata vizhiseydhendru vitaimElirundhu
matavaaL thanOtum utanaai
vaaLmadhi vanni kondrai malarsooti vandhen
uLamE pukundha vadhadhanaal
Ezhkatal soozhilangai araiyan RaRanOtum
itaraana vandhu naliyaa
aazhkatal nallanalla avai nallanalla
atiyaararavarkku mikavE.

palapala vEtamaakum paranaari paakan
pasuvERum engaL paraman
salamaka LOterukku mutimEl aNindhen
uLamE pukundha adhanaal
malarmisai yOnumaalum maRaiyOtu thEvar
varukaala maana palavum
alaikatal mErunalla avai nallanalla
atiyaararavarkku mikavE.

koththalalar kuzhaliyOtu visaiyaRku nalku
kuNamaaya vEta vikirdhan
maththamum madhiyumnaaka mutimEl aNindhen
uLamE pukundha adhanaal
puththaro tatamaNaivaadhil azhivikkum aNNal
thiruneeRu semmai thitamE
aththaku nallanalla avai nallanalla
atiyaararavarkku mikavE.

thEnamar pozhilkoL aalai viLaisennel thunni
vaLar sempon engum thikazha
naanmukan aadhiyaaya piramaa puraththu
maRaignaana gnaana munivan
thaanuRu kOLum naaLum atiyaarai vandhu
naliyaadha vaNNam uraisey
aana solmaalai yOdhum atiyaarkaL vaanil
arasaaLvar aaNai namadhE.


Source of prayer: Thamizhisai.com


In the beautiful drawing from Shaivam.org are King Nindraseer Nedumaran, Queen Mangayarkarasiyar and Chief Minister, Kulachirayar seen receiving the Saivite Guru, Sambandha Murthy.

Bhagavad Gita Parayanam on Dwadasi ---- Bala Periyava!

Readers may remember that HH Bala Periyava blessed our last Anusham uthsavam by particiapating in Paramacharya Ratha yatra and gave His anugraha bhashanam in Hyderabad.

Later when we meet Him, HH ordained us to do Bhagavad Gita Parayanam on every Krishna Paksha Dwadasi. This being thidhi date on which Kanchi Paramacharya left His mortal body.

We are celebrating our first utsavam at Sri Sekhar Eevani Residence, in Hyderabad, on November 26th. Please see the attached picture for more details.

Please do attend and be blessed.

*****

Shared by Shri Parimi Venkata Atreyadu.

Kanchi Seers at Sharadha Peetham, Pendurthi!

Shankaracharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamy along with Sri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswati Swamy on Tuesday November 22, 2016 visited Sri Sharada Peetham in Pendurthi. They were received by head of Sarada Peetham Sri Swaroopanandendra Saraswati. The Kanchi seer gave a discourse to the devotees.

He appreciated the activities of Sri Sarada Peetham and wanted people and spiritual bodies to work for world peace.

The Sarada Peetham head and Kanchi Seers held discussions on demolition of temples, long lease given to endowments lands and fall in the temple system, etc. Sri Swaroopanandendra Saraswati said he discussed with the Kanchi Seer about a campaign he is planning to launch in April or May against the activities going on against the Hindus and said the Kanchi seer has agreed to extend His support and would stay here for three days and participate in the campaign.

Sri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswati visited the Sri Kanakamahalakshmi temple and performed puja to the goddess.

The Kanchi Seers handed over artificial limbs and walking sticks to the differently abled at a programme organised by the Sri Gurudeva Charitable Trust. Senior IAS officer L.V. Subrahmanyam and others were present.

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Source: The Hindu

Music Director for 'Adi Shankaracharya' movie!

Famous Carnatic Musician Shri Balamuralikrishna scored the Music for the first Sanskrit film 'Adi Shankaracharya'. This film was directed by Shri GV Iyer in the year 1983. ***** Source: The Hindu

BMK, the Maestro, left the Building on November 22nd, 2016.

Shivalayam visit in Kantepudi, and more beautiful pictures!

As a finale to the Brahmotsavam at Kantepudi, His Holiness visited the Shivalayam located on a small hillock surrounded by a beautiful pond on November 17th, 2016. His Holiness was received by the temple committee and devotees. Special harathi was performed at the shrine.

In the last picture the Kanchi Acharyas are with HH Vishakha sharada Peetam  Sri Swarupananda Saraswathi Swamiji.

*****

Source: Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham and Vanjari Shankar.

"Young Boy Ravi Shankar has a Mission in the cause of our Dharma!" --- Kanchi Mahaperiyava!

In times of terror, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is an icon of world peace. The spiritual leader speaks to S Gurumurthy about his mediation in Colombia to bring the armed rebels to the negotiation table and how he applied the Gandhian principle of non-violence, and ancient Indian values of yoga and meditation to rid the world of violence and mould it into One Family.

"Do not get him married. Let him be a Brahmachari for life. He has a mission in the cause of our dharma.” This was how the Kanchi Mahaswami, the Sankaracharya of Kanchi, regarded by many as divine incarnation, blessed the young boy Ravi Shankar. This was when the young Ravi Shankar’s parents, Visalakshi and Venkat Ratnam, the devout Brahmin couple from a small town, Papanasam, in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu when they took  him, their only child, to have darshan of the Mahaswami.

Visalakshi was distraught. But Ratnam, well versed with Upanishads, astrology and Ayurveda, understood that his child was destined for something big and high. A few years later, the Sage also told the young Ravi Shankar, to be a Sanyasi but not wear saffron dress. Thus began young Ravi Shankar’s spiritual quest. I personally saw him first when he was an extremely attractive young brahmachari, with sharp features and piercing eyes, just out of his teens.

*****

Narrated by famous journalist Shri S Gurumurthy in The New Indian Express.

In the above picture, Religious leaders gathered for a meeting at Sringeri Shankar Math in Bangalore. Seen are (from left) Vishvesha Tirtha Swamiji of Pejawar Math; Sri Ravi Shankar of Art of Living; Shivarathrishwara Deshikendra Swamiji of Suttur Math; Balagangadharanatha Swamiji of Adichunchanagiri Math; Valukeshwara Bharathi Swamiji of Sringeri Shankara Math; and Shivamurthy Shivacharya Swamiji of Taralabalu Math.

Rare, Private, Precious pictures of Pudhu Periyava!

Some rare, private pictures of Kanchi Pudhu Periyava performing Harathi on Brindavana Dwadasi yesterday November 17th, 2016 in Andhra.

Thanks a ton to Shri Vasant Raj for these pictures!
Shankara.

Tulabharam, Golden Crown, Golden Padukas!

Tulabharam, Swarnapada Puja, Keerita & Paduka Samarpanam were held in Kantepudi branch of Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam on November 13th, 2016 as part of the ongoing Brahmotsavam festival of His Holiness Pujya Shri Jayendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya Swamigal. Following shastric dictums in treatise of Shiva Rahasya the Tulabharam was held with performance of various Pujas by Agnihotri Vedic Vidwan Shri Dhulipala Ramakrishna Shastri. Various items included Rice, Dal, Fruits, Honey, Sandalwood, Ghee, Coconuts, Kumkuma, Sugar, Turmeric powder, Vegetables, Jaggery.

His Holiness Shri Bala Periyava then performed Swarna Pada Puja with chanting of Ashtottaram Namavali of Shri Periyava. His Holiness then placed the Golden crown. His Holiness then submitted the Swarna Paduka to Shri Periyava. Deeparadhana was performed. Vedic Mantras, Guru Ashtakam, Totakashtakam etc were chanted on the occasion.

It was a delight and a rare opportunity to the local community which had gathered in large numbers to witness the divine celebrations.

Source: Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham.

91 year old 'Veda Ratna'!

Renowned Veda scholar Narayanamangalath Agnisarman Namboodiri has been awarded with the prestigious title of Veda Ratna by the Kanchi University (Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Viswa Mahavidyalaya), Tamil Nadu in recognition of his contribution to the propagation and practice of the Vedas.

Agnisarman Namboodiri (91 years old) belongs to the traditional school of Veda scholars, who can recollect and recite about 20,000 shlokas, mantras and riks, both in ascending and descending order, along with the corresponding Mudras or hand gestures for each of them, said a press release from the University.

Wow.

Trained in the traditional Gurukula system, Agnisarman Namboodiri is also an expert in Kavya and Tarka Sastra in Sanskrit.

Agnisarman Namboodiri is recipient of several awards which include Gangeya Puraskaram by the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mumbai and Acharya Ratna Puraskaramby Brahmaswam Madhom, Thrissur.

Source: Times of India

Shankara. What a Person!

The below was written by Shri AJ Philip, three years back in www.heraldofindia.com.

The single-storied modern house, set in the middle of a large, lush-green compound was swarming with people, all relatives of Agnisarman Namboodiri. Attired in their best, they all seemed to be in a celebratory mood. I did not have to look for the paterfamilias, whose 88th birthday had brought all of us together. 

Bare-chested with sacred ash smeared on his forehead, the dhoti-clad, short-statured Namboodiri stood apart in the crowd as an epitome of dignity, nobility and solemnity. I learnt how considerate and caring he was when he asked his only grandson Yedu Krishnan to show us the bath room so that we could freshen up. 

In the meantime, he enlightened me about the sacred thread that he wore. It was made of three threads and the knots were in accordance with some specifications. "For a modern person, this thread may not have any significance but for a tradition-bound person like me, it is a symbol of our very existence", said Namboodiri. "Even our women wear the thread". But then, is wearing tight-fitting jeans in Kerala's humid weather a sign of modernity?

If that was the yardstick, Namboodiri was a living relic of the past. But when he tells you that the essence of Christianity does not lie in the spires that pierce the sky but in the belief that there is only one God who created the Universe and who favours being good, and helps himself and humans act morally and survive, since everyone makes mistakes, you appreciate the catholicity of his views.

We were ushered into a small room, close to the kitchen, where we were served simple but delicious vegetarian food on banana leaves. I watched Namboodiri eat as I myself partook of the feast. Not many people know when to eat pappad, when to taste the tamarind chutney and when to have the small banana. There is as much science to eating as there is to cooking. Incidentally, a good eater like Namboodiri won't waste even a morsel of food.

I saw many rounding off the sadhya with betel nut and pan leaves kept in a brass plate. Tobacco in any form was not served with paan. Before I go further, I must tell my readers what compelled me to travel all the way from Kayamkulam to Wadakkanchery to meet Agnisarman Namboodiri. I have great respect for people who can memorise.

As a Sunday School student, I took up the challenge of learning by heart Psalm 119, which would have fetched me a special prize. All I could do was learn Psalm 117, which is the shortest. I remember one of my classmates winning the coveted prize. 

This experience was at the back of my mind when a few years ago, while speaking at a church in Kerala, I offered to pay Rs 10,000 to the first Sunday School student who could learn Psalm 119 by heart within a month. Nobody came forward to claim the prize. 

Thus when Vijayan told me that his father could recite all the 10,472 riks of the Rigveda, the world's oldest religious text composed between 1700 and 1100 BC, in both ascending and descending order, I literally stood up in wonderment. One reason why I always respected my friend and classmate Parameswaran Unni, an expert in Islamic banking, whose services Kerala Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty had requisitioned to set up an Islamic bank in Kerala, was his ability to recite Sanskrit shlokas.

If Vrindavan is the place where Lord Krishna was born, Vrindavanam is not the place where Namboodiri was born. "I was born at Edappal, near Ponnani in Malappuram district. Our mana was close to the residence of A.V. Kuttimalu Amma, one of the tallest Congress leaders during the freedom struggle".

When I asked him whether he was related to the late leader, Namboodiri chuckled and said, "There was no relationship. Don't we all claim association with the rich and the famous?" His sense of humour and his ability to laugh at himself were secrets of his health.

Born in a conservative family, Namboodiri was not sent to school for fear that he would lose his caste purity. Instead, he was taught at home. He began learning Sanskrit and the Vedas at the feet of his guru Narayanan Namboodiri. When he said, "I learnt by listening, not reading", I remembered the story about how Krishna and his elder brother Balarama used to learn by just looking at the letters and markers that their teacher would write for their benefit.

"I learnt at my Guru's feet 15,000 shlokas. He never took any fees from us." When it was time for Gurudakshina, he was satisfied with Rs 5 and four dhotis that we gave, unlike Krishna's guru who insisted on delivering alive all his five children, who had died young. The first thing that he does in the morning after ablutions is to chant the shlokas section-wise so that they remain as fresh in his mind as ever.

That is exactly what one of my friends, whose melodious chanting I have heard to my heart's delight, does every morning. It was another teacher, Manthetta Narayanan Namboodiri, who knew that reciting Sanskrit verses alone would not fetch kanji and payar (rice and lentils), if not bread and butter, and, therefore, initiated him into learning Hindi. When the time came to marry, he took as his bride Radha Thampuratty from an aristocratic Kshatriya family of Thrisoor called Punnathur. Today her Tharavadu (ancestral home), known as Punnathur Kotta, is more famous as Anathavalam, the single largest place for captive elephants in the world, attached to the Guruvayooor temple.

Namboodiri took learning of Hindi so seriously that he acquired postgraduate-level qualifications in the language. For his first job as teacher of Hindi that fetched him a salary of Rs 25, he paid a "bribe" of Rs 500. When he left the job, sooner than later, he was promised that the money would be refunded. Fifty-six years later, he still waits for that Rs 500!

Incidentally, the first time he entered the portals of a school was to teach. The job gave him experience that enabled him to get a full-time job with Malabar District Board, which had 28 schools under it. He served in several schools before retiring from the Government Girls Higher Secondary School at Wadakkanchery. Since his retirement, he has been with Guruvayoor Devaswom as a Vedic teacher.

Guntur Kamakshi Mandir Foundation Stone laid!

Kanchi Seers HH Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal and HH Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal laid a foundation stone for Sri Kamakshi prarthana Mandir and Sri Matham buildings at Kolanukonda village in Guntur district on Sunday November 13th, 2016.

The new building is being constructed as part of Amaravati branch of the Kanchi Matam.

Please click on the above 1 minute video and enjoy the visuals, which include Bala Periyava's words too.

Lambika Yoga Samadhi, Vidyashankara Temple in Sringeri!

A beautiful Painting. Vidyashankara temple is seen in the background. Tunga river is flowing in the foreground.

Idol of Sri Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji at Simhagiri in Sringeri. Also seen flanking Him
are His two foremost disciples – Sri Bharati Tirtha and Sri Vidyaranya Mahaswamigal. Picture courtesy Sringeri.net

The Majestic Vidyashankara temple.

The Vidyashankara temple in Sringeri Mutt has a dome resting on twelve pillars in a circular form; huge monoliths carrying large figures and carrying heavy projecting corbels on top. These twelve pillars are marked by the twelve signs of the zodiac in their regular order, and arranged in such a manner that the rays of the sun fall on each of them in the order of the twelve solar months — and ONLY on that Rasi pillar. 

On the floor is a large circle, marked with converging lines to indicate the direction of the shadows. Windows and doors along the temple walls are arranged such that equinoxes sunrise views reach the deity. The northern and southern gates enable the sunrise view from the hall during solstices. 

The sanctum sanctorum of Vidyashankara temple houses the black Shiva Lingam. The other deities in the temple are Lord Ganesha and Goddess Durga. The Vidya Shankara temple is located on top of an underground cave in which Sri Vidya Tirtha Mahaswamigal (the 10th Pontiff 1229 -1333) remains eternally immersed in Lambika Yoga Samadhi.

A bridge across the Tunga river leads to Narasimhavan, the abode of the Jagadguru and the burial shrines of the previous Pontiffs.

*****

Narrated beautifully by Shri R. Satish in TripAdvisor.

What is a Lambika Yoga Samadhi?
Practice of Khechari Mudra is Lambika Yoga. The technique of the Mudra is explained below. He who practises this Mudra will have neither hunger nor thirst. He can walk in the sky. This Yoga is beset with difficulties. This is a very difficult Yoga. It has to be learnt under a developed Yogi Guru who has practised this Yoga for a long time and attained full success.

It is kept secret by Yogis. It confers great Siddhis or powers. It is a great help to control the mind. 
He who has attained success in this Mudra, will have neither hunger nor thirst. He can control his Prana quite easily.

Khechari Mudra, Yoni Mudra or Shanmukhi Mudra, Sambhavi Mudra, Asvini Mudra, Maha Mudra and Yoga Mudra are the important Mudras. Among these Mudras, Khechari Mudra is the foremost. It is the king of the Mudras. Mudra means a seal. It puts a seal to the mind and Prana. Mind and Prana come under the control of a Yogi.

Khechari Mudra consists of two important Kriyas viz., Chhedan and Dohan.

The lower part of the front portion of the tongue, the frenum lingua, is cut to the extent of a hair’s breadth with a sharp knife once in a week. Afterwards powder of turmeric is dusted over it. This is continued for some months. This is Chhedan.

Afterwards the Yogic student applies butter to the tongue and lengthens it daily. He draws the tongue in such a way that it is similar to the process of milking the udder of a cow. This is Dohan.

When the tongue is sufficiently long (it should touch the tip of the nose) the student folds it, takes it back and closes the posterior portion of the nostrils. Now he sits and meditates. The breath stops completely. For some the cutting and the lengthening of the tongue is not necessary. They are born with a long tongue.

He who has attained perfection in this Mudra becomes a walker in the sky. Queen Chudala had this Siddhi or power. He who has purity and other divine virtues, who is free from desire, greed and lust, who is endowed with dispassion, discrimination and strong aspiration or longing for liberation will be benefited by the practice of this Mudra.

The Mudra helps the Yogi to get himself buried underneath the ground.

Source of the above: yoga-age.com

Wow.

Shankara.