Thanks to Sai for posting about this whole initiative few weeks back. Click here to read. Even before Sai posted this, I came to know about this idea from Sri Kumar, Vignesh Studios. While I know that this is a great idea, I wasn’t sure how impactful this would be until I visited India.
Vignesh Studio is on the same street as my parents’ place. So, almost every time, I stepped outside, I make a quick halt at the studio, chat with Kumar about Periyava and go. On the first day, he handed me these notebooks etc. I saw them – it was very nicely planned and printed. I took it home.
While I was visiting his studio at often times, invariably I see someone coming and asking for these notebooks. I was quite surprised and saw one teenage boy asking for this. When Kumar said that he is out of stock, that kid was quite disappointed. It was a very pleasant moment to witness. While other teenagers are busy in finding which girls school bus go where and at what time (pun intended!), this boy is deep in Periyava bakthi. That is when I realized that this book has been making good impact with younger generation also. Kumar has plans and looking for some volunteers to distribute these in Hindu mission schools etc so that we could get the next generation into Periyava bakthi…
I asked Kumar on more details on this initiative and how it was received by devotees. It seems that people are so eager to get these books to write Periyava Nama….Whatever the number of books are printed they all get distributed right away. Lots of school kids are asking for these notebooks. Also thatha and paatis have also started writing these namas….It is becoming a big movement.
There are 4 types of NAMA books available in languages like, English, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi for writing. The NAMAS are:
1. Periyava
2. Periyava Padam Saranam.
3. Periyava Padame Gadhi
4. All the above 3 NAMAs together.
At a high-level when you look at these namas, they may look like normal words. I went home and started writing one of the books. That is when I realized how powerful each Nama is – particularly when you write “Periyava Padame Gadhi” or “Periyava Padam Saranam” – your heart absorbs the real meaning….At least to me, it made a big impact. I was completely absolved in those namas during the whole time I wrote. Quite honestly, I did not realize that it would be that impactful.
Earlier, he had plans to give a silver coin for writing certain books for certain numbers etc. Now to make it easier, it has been decided to give a silver coin for completing any 10 books – doesn’t matter in which combination. These silver coins are kept at the adishtanam and blessed by both Periyavas for distribution.
Orinai mani mandapam trust has been encouraging this effort and exploring the possibilities of having a place to store all these Nama notebooks where one could even do a pradakshinam of them.
I wish there is some way to get more books sent to US so that we could distribute to all devotees. The cost of bringing those books are high….Still, we will explore how we can do that….
Needless to say, this is one of the best ways to be in Periyava smaranai. There are 6-7 places where these notebooks are distributed – given below..I encourage all devotees to join this movement. Recently I saw a video clipping where HH Pudhu Periyava reading the front-page of this notebook…
One big disappointment for me – while busy packing my bags on the day I left, I accidentally left my notebooks at my parents place 🙁 I will explore a way to get few books through someone who come to Chicago…..
Periyava Paadame Gadhi!
Hara Hara Sankara Jaya Jaya Sankara!
Contact Details for Getting Periyava Nama books
Sri Periyava Nama Bank
Vignesh Studio / SPKMCTrust / SKMAMPK Trust
No.9 Duraiswamy Road,
T. Nagar,
Chennai – 600 017,
Tamil Nadu, India.
Mobile: +91 9444325344, 9840199917
Landline: +91 44 24343631
SSSMM TRUST
New no 23, First Street, South Gopalapuram, Chennai-600086. Ph: 044-28112126, Mobile: +919841182126
For Coimbatore Devotees Please Contact
Vedapatti Balu – 98422 77548
From Savithri Photo House, Guru/Krishnan -94422 12348.
Kumar Sri Balaji Flats, Flat- D, No3 Second Main Road,
Nanganallur Chennai-61. Ph: 9884323440
Landmark Med plus Medical Pharmacy
G Murali, S-4, 3rd Floor, Shantiniketan Apartment, 101/4, 11th Cross, Malleswaram.
Next To B Saroja Devi House, 50 Meters From Malleswaram Railway Station,
Bangalore 560003. Ph: +91 96633 23004
