Interest in Tamil

Swamigal took interest in research around Tamil Sangam literature, epics, Thevaram, Thirukural, Divya Prabandams of Azhvars, Periya Puranam, Thiruvalyadar Puranam, etc. done by scholars visiting the mutt. The famous tamil scholar, Mahopadhyay Dr. U.V.Swaminatha Iyer used to visit the mutt to have darshan of our Swamigal. Encouraged by Swamigal’s interest in this field, he would spend hours conversing with His Holiness in spite of his advanced age. He was known to speak in fluent and sweet languages that attracted and held spell bound people of all ages. He would take immense pleasure in witnessing daily the Siva puja done by Swamigal and immersing himself in meditation. He was fortunate enough to have witnessed in person, during his eighteenth year, the exceptional Siva puja done by 65th pontiff of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Sri Mahadevendra Saraswathi Swamigal. After that, he was indeed fortunate to visit a similarly exceptional Siva puja done by our Swamigal. He has also mentioned with pride, in his auto-biography, about his lectures on Puranas at the mutt which were received with accolade by asthana vidwans of the mutt. In praise of the exemplary service done by Mahamahopadhyay Swaminatha Iyer for his contribution to Tamil and growth of Tamil, our Swamigal gave him title of ‘Daaksinaathya Kalanidi’ as well as two Kashmiri shawls in the year 1925. The award along with the Srimukham was bestowed to Swaminatha Iyer at a ceremony conducted during the annual meeting of Madurai Tamil Sangam , chaired by Sir.C.P.Ramaswamy Iyer. Swaminatha Iyer said, it was indeed his honor to receive the title and Srimukham and prayed to God that saints like Sri Acharya Swamigal who bestowed the title may live for many more years protecting the people.

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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