Post by radha on Jul 9, 2012 3:48:09 GMT 5.5
OM SRI GURUPYO NAMAHA:,RESPECTFUL PRANAMS TO SRI KANCHI MAHA SWAMIGAL
Source :- The Hindu News Paper,dated 30 th Dec 2003
Sage of Kanchi
MAHASWAMI DARSHAN-50 — A Rare Collection of Mahaswami's Photographs: Pub. by SSSMM Trust, Old No. 11, New No. 12, First Main Road, Kotturpuram, Chennai-600085. Rs. 500.
THIS VOLUME under review contains a rare collection of photographs of the Jagadguru, Sri Chandrasekharendra Sarasvati, the great saint and mystic of the 20th Century, whose very presence compelled admiration, awe, and conviction about the truth of the Upanishads.
Installed at the tender age of 13 as the 68th pontiff in the hallowed line of succession of Adi Sankara in the Kamakoti-Pitha in Kanchi, he exercised an anormous influence on all who came into contact with him, and exemplified in his simple and lofty life the essential worth of the religion of Sanatana Dharma. With amazing power of concentration and application which he acquired by effort and sheer force of will, he acquired mastery over all the scriptural texts in his early childhood.
Fully conscious of his role as a preceptor in the line of Adi Sankara, he was no escapist retiring into a cell seeking his own salvation. Dissociating himself from that which is mundane, material, and transitory, and realising that which is beyond the range of the perceptive and ratiocinative powers, coupled with a life of piety, detachment from material concerns and ecstatic contemplation or spiritual rapture, he, with his purified vision, beheld and understood the sorrows and struggles of his fellow-beings. Children in famine, victims tortured by oppressors, refugees who have been forced to leave their native soil seeking shelter and protection from danger especially from religious persecution, poverty — all these pierced his heart. He had dedicated all the actions of his life to the one end — removal of the sufferings of mankind. This he did out of love, not in the ordinary sense which, like compassion, involves a sense of duality which he had already transcended, but love born out of his discernment of the Self in every being.
His service to others was spontaneous — the natural and necessary expression of the universal love which is the result of complete knowledge he possessed.
His whole life was governed by three noble ideals: he lived truly with reference to himself, righteously with reference to his fellow-beings, and piously with God. Everyone is fortunate in having him as preceptor.
He taught that spiritual enlightenment is the highest goal and that absolute detachment from selfish concerns is a prerequisite to it. He exhorted people to seek the good things of the mind first with an assurance that the rest will either be supplied or their loss will not be felt. He advised all those who came to him to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion.
His life was divine; it was not merely one of extraordinary accomplishment, but of un surpassing fulfilment. He shaped not only the cultural history of South India, but made a tremendous impact on the whole world. Obviously a guest in his frail body, he was experiencing all throughout his life in the imperial throne of his heart the transcendental majesty of the unconditioned splendour — his Self.
He revealed outstanding and transcending intrinsic virtues in order that his fellow-beings may realise them. He was the personification of the Upanishadic truth, the treasure of the Mother Earth, the essence of God's creation, and the life-principle of the Goddess of Learning. He remains here and now in the form of unconditioned consciousness and bliss bestowing grace upon everyone. The personality of the Jagadguru may be summed up in the following words from Tao Te Ching.
"Therefore the Sage relies on
actionless activity,
Carries on wordless teaching,
But the myriad creatures are
worked upon by him: he does
not disown them.
He rears them, but does not lay
claim to them,
Controls them, but does not
leave upon them,
Achieves his aim, but does not
call attention to what he does."
In order that posterity should know the priceless presence of such a benignant sage, adore and follow him, this volume is presented. This volume is a treasure; its possession will be conducive to worldly prosperity and spiritual elevation.
The sponsors of this volume deserve the respectful congratulations and salutations of everyone, as each photograph, endowed with divinity, evokes a deep sense of loving devotion, and brings tears of joy.
It is heartening to note that the sale proceeds of this volume of pictures of the Jagadguru will go to the corpus of the trust which is engaged in the tremendous task of the erection of a Manimandapam at Orirukkai village near Kanchipuram as a humble expression of our deep sense of gratitude towards the Jagadguru — the mirror of grace and majesty divine. A leaflet providing information about the Manimandapam project is enclosed in this volume.
N. VEEZHINATHAN
Sri Kanchi Maha Periva Thiruvadigal Saranam
Source :- The Hindu News Paper,dated 30 th Dec 2003
Sage of Kanchi
MAHASWAMI DARSHAN-50 — A Rare Collection of Mahaswami's Photographs: Pub. by SSSMM Trust, Old No. 11, New No. 12, First Main Road, Kotturpuram, Chennai-600085. Rs. 500.
THIS VOLUME under review contains a rare collection of photographs of the Jagadguru, Sri Chandrasekharendra Sarasvati, the great saint and mystic of the 20th Century, whose very presence compelled admiration, awe, and conviction about the truth of the Upanishads.
Installed at the tender age of 13 as the 68th pontiff in the hallowed line of succession of Adi Sankara in the Kamakoti-Pitha in Kanchi, he exercised an anormous influence on all who came into contact with him, and exemplified in his simple and lofty life the essential worth of the religion of Sanatana Dharma. With amazing power of concentration and application which he acquired by effort and sheer force of will, he acquired mastery over all the scriptural texts in his early childhood.
Fully conscious of his role as a preceptor in the line of Adi Sankara, he was no escapist retiring into a cell seeking his own salvation. Dissociating himself from that which is mundane, material, and transitory, and realising that which is beyond the range of the perceptive and ratiocinative powers, coupled with a life of piety, detachment from material concerns and ecstatic contemplation or spiritual rapture, he, with his purified vision, beheld and understood the sorrows and struggles of his fellow-beings. Children in famine, victims tortured by oppressors, refugees who have been forced to leave their native soil seeking shelter and protection from danger especially from religious persecution, poverty — all these pierced his heart. He had dedicated all the actions of his life to the one end — removal of the sufferings of mankind. This he did out of love, not in the ordinary sense which, like compassion, involves a sense of duality which he had already transcended, but love born out of his discernment of the Self in every being.
His service to others was spontaneous — the natural and necessary expression of the universal love which is the result of complete knowledge he possessed.
His whole life was governed by three noble ideals: he lived truly with reference to himself, righteously with reference to his fellow-beings, and piously with God. Everyone is fortunate in having him as preceptor.
He taught that spiritual enlightenment is the highest goal and that absolute detachment from selfish concerns is a prerequisite to it. He exhorted people to seek the good things of the mind first with an assurance that the rest will either be supplied or their loss will not be felt. He advised all those who came to him to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion.
His life was divine; it was not merely one of extraordinary accomplishment, but of un surpassing fulfilment. He shaped not only the cultural history of South India, but made a tremendous impact on the whole world. Obviously a guest in his frail body, he was experiencing all throughout his life in the imperial throne of his heart the transcendental majesty of the unconditioned splendour — his Self.
He revealed outstanding and transcending intrinsic virtues in order that his fellow-beings may realise them. He was the personification of the Upanishadic truth, the treasure of the Mother Earth, the essence of God's creation, and the life-principle of the Goddess of Learning. He remains here and now in the form of unconditioned consciousness and bliss bestowing grace upon everyone. The personality of the Jagadguru may be summed up in the following words from Tao Te Ching.
"Therefore the Sage relies on
actionless activity,
Carries on wordless teaching,
But the myriad creatures are
worked upon by him: he does
not disown them.
He rears them, but does not lay
claim to them,
Controls them, but does not
leave upon them,
Achieves his aim, but does not
call attention to what he does."
In order that posterity should know the priceless presence of such a benignant sage, adore and follow him, this volume is presented. This volume is a treasure; its possession will be conducive to worldly prosperity and spiritual elevation.
The sponsors of this volume deserve the respectful congratulations and salutations of everyone, as each photograph, endowed with divinity, evokes a deep sense of loving devotion, and brings tears of joy.
It is heartening to note that the sale proceeds of this volume of pictures of the Jagadguru will go to the corpus of the trust which is engaged in the tremendous task of the erection of a Manimandapam at Orirukkai village near Kanchipuram as a humble expression of our deep sense of gratitude towards the Jagadguru — the mirror of grace and majesty divine. A leaflet providing information about the Manimandapam project is enclosed in this volume.
N. VEEZHINATHAN
Sri Kanchi Maha Periva Thiruvadigal Saranam