In 2012, I posted this article that came sen Sakthi Vikatan or so (Eachangudi Veda Patashala starts from today). However due to various reasons, it couldn’t run continuously. For a very long time, there were no veda gosham in that house. In early 2017, Sri Ambi and others worked together to organize daily veda parayanam in the evenings. With the success of running it for some time, additional efforts were put in to start a full-fledged veda patasala.

Sri Hari, Bangalore, who has been instrumental in setting up Echangudi patasala is none other Sri Bharat Subramaniam’s uncle. Here is his small interview as well.

This was Periyava’s last wish (for lack of better terms) that we know of. It is all our responsibility to ensure that veda gosham does not stop in Echangudi. Let us do our best to support them.

For folks in India – please send your contributions directly to their trust (details

For those in US – pl refer to https://www.kgpfoundation.org/support.html – remember to mention “Echangudi” in the memo field.

This post will not be complete if I do not mention Sri Ambi and Smt Saraswathi Thyagarajan mami, who have been working tirelessly to run this. Our namaskaram to them for their selfless service and to Sri Hari who has Mahaperiyava’s paripurna kataksham.

One request – It is not enough just to donate – pl go visit this patasala when time permits – meet the vidyarthis, adhyapakar and Sri Ambi. This is in such a beautiful place and must-visit in one’s lifetime.

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Following article courtesy – Smt Saraswathi mami.

Eachangudi is a little-known hamlet in Thanjavur district that rests 6 km away from Thiruvaiyaru on the way to Kumbakonam. Once nurtured by the ever flowing Kaveri, today it is akin to the dried, erstwhile mighty river that fertilized the entire Cauvery delta. Ganapati Agraharam in Eachangudi is like its counterparts across Tamil Nadu – with cracking, old and dilapidated houses that weakly stand witness to their once thriving past. But, one house here is very different.

It is the house where Pujya Shri Thayar Mahalakshmi Ammal, the blessed soul who gave birth to Jagadguru Sri Chandrashekarendra Saraswati Swamigal, the 68th Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam – known widely to the World as Mahaperiyava, was born and also years later, married Shri Shri Subramania Shastrigal. Not to be forgotten, the house was also previously blessed to midwife the birth of Mahaperiyava’s predecessor and cousin, Sri Mahadevendra Saraswati, the 67th Shankaracharya who was born as Lakshmikanthan. As if these glories were not enough, it is in this house, where the tiny little baby- feet of Mahaperiyava’s Poorvashrama younger brother, Pujya Shri Sivan Sar touched this Earth.

Mahaperiyava lived His life for the well-being of the tiniest of beings on Earth. The strongest, richest and the most influential from all walks of lives waited for a glimpse of His Dharshan even as He attended to the problems of the simplest of men who thronged to Him on his Yatra-Vijayams. It took one hundred years for Mahaperiyava to seek one personal help. Perhaps, it was the only time when he sought a personal favor. And that was not with any who was from the corridors of power, influence or money.

It was January 8th, 1994. Mahaperiyava would soon complete one hundred years in His mortality. His health had been a concern for quite some time and His trusted Sippandhikal could not allow Him to strain. From the many that waited patiently for His Dharshan, Mahaperiyava called upon one person, Shri Hari from Bangalore to come forward. He removed his Padhuka, blessed and indicated Shri Hari to move this holy pair of blessed wood on which those lotus feet had rested, to the same house in Eachangudi. On the very same day the Mahaan attained His Sidhdhi, the immortalization.

A year ago, Mahaperiyava upon knowing that Shri Hari had an ancestry from Eachangudi, had asked him this personal favor, something rare of the Mahaan. In His softest of voices,

He said to Shri Hari, “Can you help me? Would you be able to fulfil my request?”

A much disturbed and shaken Hari with his hands folded, answered “Periyava, please command an order, and I shall obey. You must not request a simple soul like me”.

Mahaperiyava said, “Eachangudi is where my mother was born. I would like to see Vedas being chanted there always. Will you make this happen?”

Shri Hari had purchased the house, and now Periyava’s Padhuka witnessed the first batch of Veda Adhyayana students chant and learn. However, those chants would not be heard soon. Mahaperiyava’s wishes would only succeed partially. Due to some reason, the Adhyayana would be stalled.

Even as I wanted to visit Eachangudi for some years, it would fructify only in January 2017. During my stay there for five days, I saw only the wax statue of Mahaperiyava and The Padhuka given to Shri Hari on His Samadhi day as the witnesses to the shrill silence that had crept in. There was no Avahanti Homam or the chants of Vedas. I left Eachangudi not only with a heavy heart, but with moist eyes.

There in Eachangudi, there was a simple soul like me, maybe like my son, who had the same grievance. We spoke about this dismal condition of the legendary house. We wanted to put an end to this gloom. We spoke to people over WhatsApp, Messenger and over the phone to seek their involvements too. With many enthusiasts like us, from February 17, 2017 Veda Parayanam started for an hour daily. Immediately, we received sizeable fund from a concerned sister and it helped in the successful completion of Yajur Veda Jataparayanam in June 2017.

In August 2017, Shri Athirudram Ravi arranged a 10-day Chatur-Veda Parayanam with all his own efforts and resources. Saama veda Parayanam was held during Pujya Shri Sivan Sar Aradhanai. Bhrama Shri Ganesa Sharma honored with Pravachanam on Sivan Sar, the poorvashrama younger brother of Mahaperiyava, himself a Sidha Purusha on this occasion. When every Parayana was held, it was completed with Upanyasam in the evenings.

With Mahaperiyava’s blessings, Annadhanam – serving food for all was also possible in this blessed house. Monthly pooja on Anusha Nakshatra days and grandeur ‘Veedhi-Ula’ with sound and chorale is also being conducted. The renewed Veda Patasalai was started on December 7, 2017 with Shri Chandrasekhara Dravidji from Kashi. Belonging to a lineage of Veda exponents, Shekarji’s father was a Parama Bhaktha of Mahaperiyava who also had a great regard for the former’s scholarliness of Vedas and Sanskrit. Currently 10 vidyarthis are learning under him. The approximate expense is Rs 75,000 per month for the Veda Patasalai.

This was possible only with the help of many. Let us all join our hands together to continue our efforts in fulfilling Mahaperiyava’s wish of a Veda Ghosham always here.

[Donations are exempted from 80(G)
[ Kanchi sri mahaswamigal shatabdi mahalakshmi ammal trust
Indian overseas Bank Ganapathy Agraharam.
account number 126801000000700 / IFSC IOBA0001268

Categories: Devotee Experiences