The Vedas

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His holiness Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati, Sankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Pitham, was the sixty-eighth in the line of succession of Pithadhipati's from Adi Sankara. He become the math at the age of thirteen in 1907. After the requisite training in seclusion on the banks of the river Kaveri near Kumbhakonam, he went round India from 1919 to 1939.

The conversation I am having now with the Acharya is itself my evening meal for to day

Mahatma Gandhi

When reminded by Rajaji during the Mahatma's conversation with his Holiness in a goshala in Pallaseni village Kerala in 1929 that it was time for his evening meal.

His holiness Shri chandrasekharendra Saraswati the Sankaracharya of Kanchi is the most wonderful man I have seen.

A profoundly learned man he is an ascetic of the highest order living on parched rice walking on foot from village to village for years. Wherever he happens to be he attacts thousand and evokes faith and devotion.

Endowed with the direct simplicity of the god possessed he is an inspiration. He could discuss modern problems with up-todate knowledge.

Kulapati K M Munshi

Thus ended a memorable interview with one who is the embodiment of all that is most noble and sublime in the spiritual culture of India. Enjoying the aroma of the virtues of gentles and courtesy one could see the light of wisdom beaming forth from those enchanting eyes, as one listened to words which were true and at the same time pleasing.

Sir Paul Dukes

The two days we spent in his company will never be forgotten. There was pure spiritual. What strange fate has brought us close to him

Her Majesty Oueen Frederika of Greece

I have often thought of him during the intervening years and there is no doubt in my mind that he is a sanctified being, channel for higher spiritual forces. At the same time he is an upholder of religious values which it would be regrettable for India to lose under the pressure of modern life, with its industrialism of modern life with its industrialism and materialism.

Those scientifically educated young Indians who have no use for their own religion and regard it with disdain should take a lesson from the west which has gone through an equivalent its way.

This is the fourth edition of "The Vedas", being the discourse (rendered) into English from the Tamil) of his Holiness Chandrasekharendra Saraswati the 68th Pontiff of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, well known as the paramacharya or "Periyavaal". We once again look upon this as our humble offering at the lotus feel of his Holiness.

The first edition was published on the Paramacharya's 95th birthday in 1988, and the second edition on the 98th. The third edition came out in 1994, the centenary year.

A Hindi edition is under consideration.

The Vedas from the foundation of our religion. The Paramacharya was keen that this foundation should remain strong forever. In other words, it is our bounden duty to preserve and protect the Vedas by promoting their study.

When in 1986, Shri R.Vs. Raghavan, Executive Trustee of his Sudakshine trust approached the Bhavan with a proposal for a joint publication we had little hesitation in accepting the proposal.

The Paramacharya's thoughts are conveyed to us through his discourses and as we go through the pages we are amazed at the wealth of knowledge that our ancient have bequeathed to mankind. The Paramacharya's knowledge was vast and deep. His 'Upadesa' (teaching) is a product of his anubhava (spiritual experience).

The distinguishing feature of the book is that of the 14 Vidyas the Paramacharya deals more elaborately with the six vedangas. There are the four Upangas than the four Vedas themselves. There are few books which give succinctly and in such depth all about Vedangas -Siksha Vyaakarana Chhandas Niruktam, Jyotisha and Kalpa.

Even those who are allergic to grammar will find something fascinating in the way the Paramacharya deals with

Vyaakarana. Linking the origin of grammar with the Dance of Siva the Paramacharya explains the concepts of Sabda Brahman and Nada Brahaman.

While the Sudakshine Trust came into existence in 1974 at the benign command of the Paramacharya the Bhavan has received in ample measure the Paramacharya's blessings. In his benediction in1962 on the occasion of Bhavans 's Silver Jubilee the Paramacharya said: The Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan has made the intellectuals of Bharata Varsha evince interest in the various aspects of our culture and progress.