Our Punya Bhoomi, Bharatha Varsha, has
been known for having given birth to scores of saints over centuries, who, by
their penance, erudition, eloquence and unfathomable wisdom, have carved and
shaped the destiny of India decades after decades. To all these great men, I
stand and salute in reverence.
Seldom has the nation, nay the world,
witnessed a saint of the order of Pujyasri Jagadguru Sankaracharya, Sri
Chandrasekharendra Sarasvathi Mahaswami, reverentially referred to as "the
Paramacharya" of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, the 68th Pontiff reigning
with luster and glory. Seldom has there been a Sankaracharya in our recent
memory who had ruled a spiritual ministry continuously for 87 years as the
Paramacharya had done and seldom, in our memory, a Sankaracharya ascended to
the Peetham at the tender age of 13, completed 87 years of Chaturmasya Vratha
and entered the 100th year, the Centenary year.
History tells us that Lord Parameswara
reincarnated Himself as Bhagwan Sri Adi Sankara nearly 25 centuries ago in the
sacred place called Kaladi in the State of Kerala to quell the warring
religious groups, to unite them under the doctrine of Advaitic philosophy and
to put Hinduism back once again on its pedestal. Over centuries, vital values,
both theological and mundane, have declined to such pathetic depths that Sri
Adi Sankara decided to reincarnate Himself once again to restore the balance of
order. the life and teachings of our Paramacharya are equal in many respects to
that of Bhagawan Sri Adi Sankara Himself. We were privileged to live in an era
called "Sri Chandrasekharendra Sarasvathi Mahaswami Sripada Era".
The Paramacharya was living God on
earth, a jeevan-Muktha, a saint who saw the future with His divine eyes, a
saint who attracted devotees not only from India but the World over, a saint
who has been acclaimed as an unparalleled Avathara in this 20th century, an
Avathara who came to emancipate mankind from its throes and thraldom.
Scores of volumes have been written on
the Paramacharya. They will every remain incomplete because this great saint's
works and deeds can never be contained by the mere writing. The 6 volumes thus
far published carrying in their pages the preaching of the Paramacharya titled
"Deivathin Kural" (Voice of Divinity) in Tamil is an encyclopaedia
for mankind for one, finds answers to all that one may call for in these
volumes. If we can assimilate a portion of these volumes in our day to day
life, that would be the greatest homage we can offer to the Paramacharya. And
that exactly is what He wanted from us.
The year 1993-94, being observed as
Centenary Year of the Paramacharya, is studded with golden events:
Kanakabhishkam, Swarnabhishekam and Swarna Pada Puja to the Mahaswami that were
performed on the 27th May and 4th June, 1993 respectively. Throughout the
country several project have been initiated to mark the Centenary year-projects
to propagate the teachings of the Mahaswami, institutions to house Veda
Patasalas, colleges, hospitals, housing scheme for Vedic scholars, organising rituals
etc. all adding glory and glamour to the Centenary Year. In the pages of this
Souvenir volume there are impressive articles from eminent men recounting their
personal experiences with the Paramacharya - all tuned to show that we lived
before a Divinity in human form, in flesh and blood.
It is my forefather's great blessings to me.
My first
contact with the Paramacharya was in the 1954 at a place called Kalavai, close
to Kanchipuram. The 40 years since then have been times of education,
experience and devotion for me. I have had scores of darshans in these 4
decades and every darshan was an experience by itself. I can recall scores of
breathtaking experiences that will prove that this great saint was a saint
amongst saints, God on earth and divinity that had descended to bless us the
mortals.
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