The Sri VD Swami Auditorium located at Sankara Nethralaya’s main campus reverberated with Veda Gosham by students of Sankaralayam marking the auspicious occasion of Maha Periyava Jayanthi being celebrated on 16th June 2017, by the Sankara Nethralaya family and devotees of Paramacharya.

Following the mellifluous invocation by Dr. Bharathi Devi, Assistant Professor, RS Mehta Jain Department of Bio Chemistry and Cell Biology, Kamalnayan Bajaj Institute for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Dr Rajesh, Senior Consultant, Sankara Nethralaya welcomed the gathering, adulating Paramacharya as one of the noblest souls of the century, he elaborated the qualities of  the ideal Guru, ingrained in the Shiva incarnate; Sri Periyava, he added was the ideal and classic example of Bliss and Pure Consciousness, as quoted by Adi Sankara in his ‘Nirvana Shataka’

मनोबुद्ध्यहङ्कार चित्तानि नाहं

न च श्रोत्रजिह्वे न च घ्राणनेत्रे ।

न च व्योम भूमिर्न तेजो न वायुः

चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥१॥

Mano-Buddhy-Ahangkaara Cittaani Naaham

Na Ca Shrotra-Jihve Na Ca Ghraanna-Netre |

Na Ca Vyoma Bhuumir-Na Tejo Na Vaayuh

Cid-Aananda-Ruupah Shivo[a-A]ham Shivo[a-A]ham ||1||

Introducing the Chief Guest of the occasion, Dr Nandhini Sankarayananan, Consultant, Sankara Nethralaya remarked that Udayalur Dr Kalyanarama Bhagavathar, was a disciple of Thiruvidaimarudur Venkatarama Bhagavathar and an ardent devotee of Sri Matam, a traditionalist in Sampradaya Bhajanas and Divya Nama Samkeerthanam.

Offering Guru Vandanam in the conventional Divya Nama Samkeerthanam style, Udayalur Sri Kalyanrama Bhagavathar, interspersed Meera Bhajans and Abhangs generously that spoke of the utmost importance of Guru Bhakthi, leading one to Mukthi.

He had a high word of praise for Dr SS Badrinath, Chairman Emeritus, Sankara Nethralaya who was amply blessed to perform surgery for the Paramacharya Himself.

Quoting the fact that Aja Maharaja, the grandfather of Lord Rama, who was afflicted with leprosy, got cured by offering prayers at the Kailasanathar temple at Udayalur, as told by Paramacharya to a devotee who again was blessed and cured, Sri Kalyanarama Bhagavathar impressed upon all, that Guru Kripa would protect us like a shield all the time.

The auspicious occasion concluded with Arathi, floral offerings to Mahaperiyava by audience and members of Sankara Nethralaya family and distribution of Holy Prasadam specially prepared for the occasion by G N Canteen.