Blessings to Students

Below is the summary of Swamigal’s lecture on December 18th, 1932 to the students at Hindu Theological High School situated on Thangasalai Road, Chennai:

“This whole world is one big family whose parents are Parvathi and Parameswara. The first verse of Kalidasa’s Raghuvamsam portrays this truth. The teachers and you are living like a small family. As children you have learn as much as possible in your youth. There are two aspects to learning: one is devotion to the guru and the other is morality and personal discipline. Students should avoid getting angry and not criticize anyone or anybody. Just like we maintain a diet while taking medication, while obtaining education, refrain from talking about freedom or disobeying the instructions of elders. Guru Bhakti, moral righteousness, and humility are essential for a student. Children who are humble in their youth will rise high later in their life. Devotion to mother, father and guru (matrubhakthi, pitru bhakthi and guru bhakthi) are all key for you. You should strive to remove the ego that destroys. Avvaiyar has said that mother and father are the primary gods. The Vedas also say the same thing. When you are studying, do not interfere in worldly activities. You might ask, ‘Isn’t it necessary to do service for the well being of the world?’ It is definitely necessary to do service. However, first obtain all the knowledge needed in this world to do the service. You have to think that your studying is your contribution to the world and involve yourself in it completely.”

Swamigal stayed in Chennai for more than four months and went to Mylapore, Mambalam, Guindy, Town, Komaleswarer temple, Kachaleswarar temple, Mallikeswarar temple, Kalahastheeswarar temple, Purasaivakkam, Thiruvallikeni and other places, blessed the devotees and gave sermons. Before leaving Chennai, Swamigal gave a speech which said:

“Speak the truth; follow dharma; consider your mother, father and guru as Gods – these are preached by our Vedas. Sri Adi Sankara appeared amongst us thousands of years ago and established six sects of our religion including Saivam and Vaishnavam. He has explained the meaning of truth and dharma as told in the Vedas in “Prasnotra Ratnamalika” composed by him. Doing good for other living beings is the truth. Practicing the good dharma practiced by ancestors is one’s dharma. We should keep in our thoughts Ambika, Eeswara, and Dakshinamurthy, who are our mother, father and guru, as well as Krishna Bhagawan who gave us the Gita. Follow the rituals as prescribed in the vedic shastras and reduce the expensive habits and clothing. Reduce your expenses and help poor people who don’t have any food by giving them food once or twice a week. Offer porridge or some food to the village gods at least once or twice a week, especially on Fridays and Tuesdays. Harijans should follow the Siva Bhakti of Nandanar, one of the sixty three saivite saints and not go against their communal restrictions. That will give them benefits in life. Women of all communities should maintain and practice their faith similar to the ancient Thilakavathiar and Mangaiarkarasi even if the men folk wander away from their faith, and bring them back into the fold. By following our ancestors’ path, our religion and community will prosper more and more.”

The above is an excerpt from “Pujya Sri Mahaswamy Divya Charitram” by Sri Sambamoorthi Shastrigal, Sri Kuppuswamy Iyer, “Sollin Selvan” P. N. Parasuraman – 1957

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Vijaya Yatra

The peetathipathis of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam had taken upon themselves as part of their pontifical duties, traveling around, giving audience to people, giving them advice and encouraging their spiritual growth.

Our Swamigal also wanted to take on such a journey after becoming the Peetathipathi.

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