Prayers and holy invocation rituals mark the beginning of Sankara Nethralaya’s ambitious initiative

The Sankara Nethralaya family performed the ‘Sudarsana Homam’ the sacred Vedic ritual performed to appease the Gods and invoke their mercy and blessings on the 15th of September 2013 at its main campus, the ritual is performed every year to seek the Almighty’s blessings on the institution and for the all round well being of its employees, their family members and humanity at large. The proceedings started with the chanting of Vedic mantras invoking the Gods and seeking their mercy by Vedic scholars and priests at the specially erected venue at Sankara Nethralaya Main campus. The Sangalpam was received by Shri K.Venugopal, Commercial Controller, Sankara Nethralaya and his wife and the function ended with the distribution of Prasadam to all gathered.

This year’s Sudarsana Homam assumed special significance as it marked the auspicious beginning to an ambitious eye care project to be started just a street away at the old Lady Wellingdon complex. The specially erected Shamiana at the venue reverberated to the chanting of Vedic mantras and the air filled with the aroma of incense and smoke as the Sankara Nethralaya family led by Dr S.S.Badrinath, Chairman Emeritus, Dr. Vasanthi Badrinath, Director, Clinical Services, Dr T.S.Surendran, Vice-Chairman, Sankara Nethralaya, Shri R.Rajagopal, President Vision Research Foundation, respected members of the Medical Research Foundation, friends and supporters assembled for the ‘Bhoomi Puja’ of the  Sri A.Sivasailam Block, named in memory and honour of one of Sankara Nethralaya’s earliest supporters, the illustrious former Chairman of the Amalgamations Group, South India’s leading Industrial House. The guests of Honour and lead donor of the facility Srimathi Mallika Srinivasan, CEO, TAFE, daughter of Shri A.Sivasailam, accompanied by her husband well known Captain of Industry  Shri Venu Srinivasan and family graced the occasion and participated in the proceedings with great zest.  Rendering of religious songs by Shri Sriram Kumar, virtuoso violinist, Srimathi Akila Ganesan, Senior General Manager, Sankara Nethralaya and Dr S.Meenakshi, Senior Consultant and Director Academics to invoke the Almighty’s blessings on the new institution added a touch of melody to the proceedings.

The highlight of the day’s function was the symbolic placing of the foundation bricks followed by sprinkling of holy water and grains by Dr S.S.Badrinath and Dr Vasanthi Badrinath, Dr TS.Surendran, Shri Venu Srinivasan and Srimathi Mallika Srinivasan, Shri R.Ramkumar, Managing Partner of M/S KS. Venkatraman & Co the civil contractors to the project and esteemed board members of the Medical Research Foundation. The continuous circling of a Kite or ‘Garudan’ believed to be an auspicious sign, in the clear blue sky over the venue of the homam right from the beginning of the proceedings, came as a great joy and hope to those in the gathering who believe in good omen.

The momentous function marking yet another milestone in Sankara Nethralaya’s progress, growth and service to humanity culminated with the throwing open of the foundation plaque announcing the name of the block, by  Srimathi Mallika Srinivasan to the thundering applause of the gathering and distribution of prasadam to all assembled.