A BEFITTING MEMORIAL        Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

Dear fellow devotee,

 

            Let us open up this appeal with our reverential Pranams to the Lotus Feet of Sri Sri Sri Kanchi Maha Swami invoking his benign blessings on you.

 

            The venerable sage of Kanchi, Sri Sri Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal – “ Maha Periyaval” to millions of His devotees took to Sanyas at the tender age of 13, way back in 1907, and adorned the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam (established and presided over first by Sri Adi Sankara Bhagavat Pada Himself about twenty five centuries ago ) as its sixty-eighth Peetaadhipati for eighty-seven long and eventful years.

 

Though His Holiness attained Siddhi on January 8, 1994, He continues to remain the sole sentinel for Sanatana Dharma, being the very embodiment of all that is sacred in our scriptures and a spiritual leader of universal appeal transcending the barriers of caste, creed and community, and embracing the humanity as a whole. A life of unparalleled sacrifice and Spartan austerity, Maha Periyava continues to be the fountainhead of solace and fulfillment for spiritual aspirants the world over.

 

The Divine in its infinite mercy manifests itself now and then in a form that is easily accessible to all, with a message for the whole mankind. Our Maha Periyava represents without doubt such a phenomenon not only in our own times but also for all time to come. Blessed, indeed, are those who have had His darshan and who are privileged to be associated with His noble thoughts and deeds.

 

The contribution of His Holiness to religious harmony of our great country is immense and everlasting. People of different faiths have seen in Him their own Ishta Devatas like Christ, Buddha and Balaji. As it was very rightly pointed out by a pious Christian-friend who was a steadfast admirer of Maha Periyava, the greatness of Maha Periyava lies not just in His having been the Acharya of the adorable Peetam established by the Great Adi Sankaracharya Himself but in His having found time amidst His multifarious responsibilities as the Head of an establishment such as the Kanchi Sankara Math , to listen to the out-pourings and agonies of even the humblest of His devotees and in having given them solace.

 

OUR DUTY

 

            Is it not the turn of us His devotees now to pay our reverential obeisance to this Mentor of no match, the Legend of Humanity, by doing which will perpetuate His Mission and inspire the present and future generations?

 

THE TRUST AND ITS OBJECTIVES

 

 

            Sri Sri Sri Mahalakshmi Mathrubutherwarar Trust (Regt.) functioning from ‘ Sivam – Subham ‘ Old No.11, New No.12, First Main Road, Kotturpuram, Chennai – 600 085 (Ph: 4474113, 4474114) is making this appeal to all those who cherish Indian Culture, tradition and civilization, both at home and abroad, to join us in our humble endeavour to pay the debt of gratitude we owe to Kanchi Maha Periyava.

 

The Trust has for its immediate goal the construction of a Mani Mantapam in Orirukkai Village near Kancheepuram on the northern bank of the River Palar. It will be an all-granite marvel in sculpture , providing a visual running commentary on the times and achievements of our venerable Maha Periyava. Many important events in the long life of the Sage of Kanchi to be thus depicted in this Mani Mantapam will naturally be a lively presentation of the multifaceted personality of His Holiness and also a chronicle of His manifold activities and achievements almost non-stop , for 87 years in the cause of Sanatana Dharma and world peace.

 

The Mani Mantapam will also depict the images and names of all the Acharyas of the Kanchi Kamakoti peetam with the respective period of every Acharya inscribed there under, right from the first and most revered pontiff of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam viz., Sri Adi Sankaracharya Himself – it will therefore speak of the glory of the history, culture and philosophy of our great country during the last 2500 years. As you may be aware, the Kanchi Sankara Math has the unique privilege of the unbroken lineage of Sri Acharya parampara.

 

There will also be periodical meets of researchers and scholars on the Vedantic culture at this Mani Mantapam when once it is completed. It will thus be a temple of learning and universal understanding as well besides being an important Centre of our ancient culture and heritage.

 

As everyone knows, the Sage of Kanchi endeared Himself to a number of scholars of various faiths not only from our own country but also from other countries. People from all walks of life, rich and poor alsike, have sought His advice and guidance for shaping up their personal lives.

 

            The Satabdhi Mani Mantapam is a very humble offering of devotees for the magnificent service of the Great Guru – just an offering at the great Master’s Lotus feet. It will simultaneously be an abode, a retreat and a refuge for all the seekers.

 

PERENNIAL INSPIRATION

 

            The sacred Padukas of Sri Sri Sri Maha Periyava that will be enshrined in the Mani Mantapam will rekindle in all of us the towering image of the great Sage who has no known parallel or equal and will be timeless in its power to evoke inspiration for elevating ourselves to much higher planes.

 

            The Trust is doubly blessed to have received the ‘Srumukham’ (The go-ahead-blessing message, from the venerable Acharyas of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam for this project from their Udhampur camp in the North.)