The Sankara Nethralaya family observed its annual homage and thanksgiving to its patron saint and moving force the ‘Mahaperiyava’ of Kanchi to whose blessings it owes its inception and growth, on January 8th 2013. The Sri VD Swami Auditorium the venue of the 19th Mahaperiyava Aradhana was a picture of joy and piety with members of Sankara Nethralaya and a multitude of the Acharya’s bhakthas assembling enthusiastically making the hall jam packed. Popular singer and small screen personality Shrimathi Revathi Sankaran the compere for the day welcomed the honourable guests and attendees observing that the day was a rare coincidence of the Periyava’s Thithi, birth star and date by the Roman calendar.
The programme started with a captivating rendition of a song capturing the memory of the Sage by the highly talented Trichur brothers, accompanied with rare snippets of his life running on the screen, transferring his bhakthas to a world of ecstasy after which Dr SS.Badrinath, Chairman Emeritus, Sankara Nethralaya extended a warm welcome to all those present. This was followed by Guruvandhanam to the Sage by Dr SS.Badrinath, Chairman Emeritus, Dr Vasanthi Badrinath, Director Clinical Services, and Dr S.Bhaskaran, Chairman, Sankara Nethralaya. Ardent devote of Mahaperiyava and eminent speaker Shri S.Ganesa Sharma took the audience on a fascinating story spanning more than 6 decades, tracing the genesis of Periyava Kural- God’s own voice, a CD compilation of the Sage’s commentaries on a broad spectrum of subjects during his Dig Vijayam to Madras in 1957-59 being released on the auspicious occasion. Shri Sharma gave an absorbing account of how the old spool tape recordings made by Shrimathi MS Amma and Shri Sadhasivam were painstakingly retrieved, filtered and given a new form by a band of dedicated devotees and how the unseen hand of the Paramacharya was evident in the whole exercise, carried out successfully against great odds.
Delivering the keynote address, visiting Professor at the Harvard University, eminent Parliamentarian, President of the Janata party and staunch devotee of Mahaperiyava Shri Subramanian Swamy, gave a most interesting account of his experiences with the God who lived amongst us, how his words governed all his actions and the impact that these actions had on the world, his talk brought out the Mahaperiyava’s involvement in the day to day developments of the world and his concern on the same
The first copies of the divine CDs were released by Sri Ahobila Math 46 Pattam Srimad Azhagiyasingar His Holiness Srivan Satakopa Sri Ranganatha Yatheendra Maha Desigan Swami to eminent personalities and Bhakthas of the Swamigal. The most touching part of the Aradhana was the playing of a few excerpts of the CD for the benefit of the audience, the divine voice filled the room and brought back nostalgic memories to the older members of the audience, many of whom broke down into tears and could be seen offering their pranams from their seats. His Holiness Srivan Satakopa Sri Ranganatha Yatheendra Maha Desigan Swami delivered a most touching Anugrahabhashanam highlighting on how the Mahaperiyava stood as a divine colossus towering above sects and groups and lived a life of simplicity and divinity. The Aradhana ended with Maha Arathi and distribution of prasadam.