Institutions under Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam
Oct 27, 2015 13:44:13 GMT 5.5
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ORGANISATIONS, SCHEMES AND TRUSTS UNDER KANCHI KAMAKOTI PEETAM
1. THE ADVAITHA SABHA: Founded in 1894 by the then Acharya of the Peetam. Objective is the propagation of the Advaitha philosophy by arranging lectures by scholars, organising Sadas, publishing unpublished Advaitha Granthas etc. Maha Swamigal attached great importance to the activities of the Sabha. He arranged for the celebration of the diamond jubilee of the Sabha in 1956 on a grand scale.
2. THE BHAGAVATPADA VIDYARTHI NIKSHEPA TRUST: Trust registered in Mumbai in 1979 enabling the establishment of Veda Patasalas in Hubli, Kavalake, Kekkar, Dharwad, Gokarnam and other places. The Advaitha Sabha conducts examinations spread over 5 years. Candidates are given stipend. Those completing the study of Advaitha Sastra get a lump sum grant of about Rs.20,000/-.
3. THE KALAVAI BRINDAVAN PARAMA GURU TRUST: Instituted in 1945 to give financial assistance to those taking up the study of Prayogam both in Shroutha, or Smartha and in Dharma Sastras. Examinations are held, various titles awarded and sambhavana given.
4. THE SASHTIABDAPOORTHI TRUST: Established in 1954, it conducts Veda Bhashya examinations to enable Vedic scholars to have full knowledge of the meaning and purport of Veda mantras. Candidates are given sambhavana of Rs.1000/- per year. On passing the examination, sambhavana are given up to Rs.7000/- and various titles awarded. Such candidates can also appear for the examination conducted by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam and become entitled to a life time grant of Rs.750/- per year.
5. PRAYOGA SCHEME (KARMA KANDAM): Training of young vidyarthis in Prayogam is the objective of this Trust. With the number of Purohits qualified to officiate at religious ceremonies constantly declining is giving rise to need to train up other people in Prayogam. Students of the 5th standard are enrolled and given training outside the school hours. At the end of 6 years they become full-fledged Purohits.
6. THE VEDA DHARMA SASTRA PARIPALANA SABHA: Objective of the Sabha is to educate people on the purpose and meaning of the various Samskaras. 400 Veda Sammelans have been held in various parts throughout the country for the purpose.
7. ALL INDIA VEDIC CONVENTION: Maha Swamigal sponsored the convention in 1962. It was held in New Delhi. In subsequent years several such conventions were held at different places like Chennai, Tirupati and Vijayawada. These conventions brought out the fact that out of the original 1131 Veda Sakas, barely 10 are available and in the whole of Bharat there are only 1750 vedic pundits of whom many were over 50 years of age, highlighting the need to preserve the available Sakas and bring up a new generation of Pundits trained in the Sakas. Measures like opening special Patasalas were taken to teach the rare Sakas like Maitrayaniya Saka (Krishna Yajur), Jaiminiya Saka (Sama Veda), Ranayaniya Saka (Sama Veda), Sownaka Saka (Atharva Veda), Kowthuma Sama (Bengal).
8. THE VEDA RAKSHANA NIDHI TRUST: Maha Swamigal’s greatest concern was the steep decline in Vedic studies. With Brahmins migrating to urban areas, taking to western education and secular jobs, families which were traditionally engaged in Veda Adhyayanam in villages became rare. Maha Swamigal strongly believed that Vedas should somehow be preserved and propagated not only for the sake of community or even the society but for the welfare of the world. It can be said that the Veda Rakshana Nidhi Trust was central to Maha Swamigal’s scheme of things. This Trust undertakes a variety of activities to train people in Veda Adhyayana by opening Patasalas and honouring Vedic Pundits from all Sakas.
9. VEDA PATA NIDHI TRUST (REGD): The Trust was formed in 1983 at the conclusion of the Platinum Jubilee of Maha Swamigal’s ascension to the Peetam to provide substantial financial assistance to existing Vedic Pundits, most of who are at the wrong side of their life.
10. VEDA SASTRA AGAMA VIDWAT SADAS COMMITTEE EXAMINATION (TTD): At the instance of the Maha Swamigal, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam established the Sri Venkateswara Veda Sastra Agama Vidya Kendra for imparting training and conducting examinations in Vedas, Sastras and Agamas in accordance with the syllabus framed by the Maha Swamigal. The scheme of Veda Parayanamdar was put through by which Parayanam of 7 Sakas of the Vedas are made before the Lord daily. The Government of Andhra Pradesh provides a monthly sambhavana to all Vedic Pundits in Andhra Pradesh. The “Sastra Veda Rakshana Scheme” was introduced by which a life time monthly grant of Rs.750/- is given to those who complete a course of high level study of Vedas and Sastras. All these steps were taken at the instance of the Maha Swamigal.
11. THE HINDU DHARMA PRATHISTHANAM: During the yatra of Maha Swamigal in Andhra Pradesh from 1967 to 1969, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam organised the following schemes:
(a) The Hindu Dharma Prathisthanam (for propagation of Samanya Dharma);
(b) The TTD Veda Sastra Agama Vidwath Sadas Committee examinations;
(c) The TTD Veda Sastra Agama Vidya Kendra;
(d) The TTD Veda Parayana Scheme;
(e) The Sroutha Smartha Satkarma Anushtana Abhivardhani Scheme; and
(f) The Sastra Veda Rakshana Scheme.
12. THE VIDYARANYA VIDYA PEETA TRUST (REGD) HAMPI: Formed in 1980 at the instance of Maha Swamigal, the objective is to preserve the voluminous religious literature produced by Vidyaranya whose compendiums on all schools of philosophy and theology range from materialism and atheism to the ultimate truth of the Upanishads. The trust is also building a library for preserving the books on subjects covered by the fourteen Vidyasthanas including the work ascribed to Vidyaranya.
13. THE SUDAKSHINA TRUST: Formed in Mumbai at the instance of Maha Swamigal, this Trust, among other activities for the spread of Hindu dharma, brings out a quarterly magazine “Dilip” which is devoted entirely to religion and culture.
14. THE SCHEME OF MUDRADHIKARIS: This scheme was introduced and successfully implemented by the Maha Swamigal over a vast area particularly in the Thanjavur district. It was a great experiment in self-help and voluntary service. A Mudradhikari was appointed for each village who coordinated the activities like digging wells, dredging tanks, cleaning up temple premises, arranging pravachans and puranas on days like Ekadasi etc. The scheme was a roaring success but with political and social changes that swept the rural areas with the advent of independence and the government undertaking various welfare measures, the Mudhradhikari Scheme suffered decline.
15. THE THIRUPPAVAI, THIRUVEMPAVAI, and THIRUMURAI MOVEMENT: Maha Swamigal always emphasised the basic unity between Saivism and Vaishnavism and thus organised the Thiruppavai, Thiruvempavai movement – recitation of these in Siva/Vishnu temples, playing the recorded pasurams over the loudspeakers in local temples, printing and distributing booklets containing these to children are activities of this movement.
16. THE KANCHI KAMAKOTI PEETA VYASA BHARATHA AGAMA SILPA SADAS: Maha Swamigal organised this Sadas regularly which brought together the priests of the temples, experts in Silpa sastra and various art forms. The varieties of art forms of all the states of the country were presented at the sadas. Eminent persons like the Dalai Lama were invited to the Sadas. There were also foreign visitors from places like Thailand who participated in this Sadas.
17. DHARMA PEETHA SAMUDAYA SABHA: Started as an unregistered body in the old composite Madras state in 1950. Since then registered as All India Dharma Peetha Samudaya Sangam with membership open to all religious institutions in the country. Under the aegis of the Sabha, Maha Swamigal played a significant role in ensuring the protection of freedom of religion and religious rights under Article 25 & 26 of the Constitution.
18. JEEVATMA KAINKARYAM: Registered under the name “Jeevatma Kainkarya Committee”, Maha Swamigal attached great importance to the proper disposal of bodies of Hindus who die as destitute. This committee which functions at different places takes care of uncared for bodies of Hindus and ensures that final rites are done according to Hindu Sastras. Maha Swamigal was also keen that members of this committee should visit those who are in their last stages and loudly repeat the Lord’s names so that the person will hear the same in his last moments. Religious lectures are given to inmates of jails, in reformatory schools and prasadam are distributed to the sick people in hospitals.
19. PIDI ARISI SCHEME: Maha Swamigal laid great emphasis on Annadhanam to the poor. For this purpose, He introduced this scheme under which housewives would drop a handful of rice every day in a vessel and also drop a small amount. Volunteers would go round at regular intervals, collect the rice and the money and hand them over to the local temple officials. The rice would be cooked in the temple, offered as Naivedhyam and then distributed free to the poor and at a nominal price for others.
20. THE KANNIKA DHANA TRUST: Maha Swamigal was concerned about girls of poor families remaining unmarried because the parents cannot afford to perform marriage even on a small scale despite their keenness to get the girls married in time. This trust formed in 1958 at the instance of the Maha Swamigal renders financial assistance to deserving poor families to enable them to perform the marriage of girls at the right time.
21. THE KACHCHI MOODUR ARCHAKAS WELFARE TRUST: A charitable organisation called Kachchimudoor Trust was formed with Sri Krishnaswami Reddiar as Chairman and Sri Bhat as Secretary in May 1986. Using this Trust, training is being provided to Sivachariars, Bhattachariars, and Priests in village temples to perform Pujas correctly. Grants are given from this Trust to Priests with low income. Every year, on a given day, the Trust gives remuneration and clothes to the trained Priests.
22. THE NEI (GHEE) DEEPAM TRUST: A Trust called “Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam Neidheepa Kainkarya Trust” was formed with Sri N. Krishnaswami Reddiar as the Managing Trustee and Sri Kuppuswami as the secretary along with six other devotees as trustees in January 1988. The Trust was later registered.
The Trust arranges for lighting of lamps with ghee in temples. The donors to the Trust are being sent Prasad after completion of the Sivarathri Puja every year.
Please support these organisations with physical work and financial support. That is our duty as ordained by MahaPeriyavaa.