On 18 April 2014, Jaya Chitra Anusham; in recognition of the Value-education given by Veda Patasalas there was a function to honour students of different patasalas in and around SriRangam. The venue was Swami Desikan Tirumaligai situated at North Utthira Street SriRangam. At about 4.00p.m.children from Trayi Vidhya Patasala, Srimadh Andavan Patasala, Sandhipini Patasala, Sankara Muth Patasala-Tiruvanaikaval, Vedic patasala of Manakkal and Vedic Patasala of Aalur assembled at Swami Desikan Tirumaligai. Ganapadi swami Ubha Ve. Ranganathachariar (Maduranthanthakam) gave Vedic benedictions, gave prizes according to the marks obtained in the examinations at different levels. These examinations were conducted by Kanchi Sankara Matam. Damal (Kooram) Seshadri Swami conducted the function. Each student was called by name, his marks announced and he was given a certificate, a shield and sambhavanai.
Children who scored centum were additionally honoured with a silk shawl. After all the students of one patasala were finished the next school was taken up. There was applause for every prize given and it was thunderous when the prize was big. Finally those students who had completed the full course and attained the title of Ganapadi were given a gold coin weighing 1 gm each. Six students who had undergone 13 years of continuous training and recognised as “Ganapadis” by Sankara Matham qualified for the prize. The children then did pradaksinam of Utthira Veedhis chanting Vedic mantrams. Their first stop was at Kamban Mandapam opposite Thayar Sannidhi. Each school carried a placard with the name of their patasala. The enthusiasm level of the vidhyarthis was high. This kind of recognition is a morale booster and there is much more to be done to encourage these students who undergo a rigorous schedule and are responsible for keeping Vedas alive. There was a time when every agraharam use to resonate to the sounds of Vedic chants. Due recognition should be given to those pursuing Vedic studies and proper respect accorded to them. The Veda Prabhandha Stotra Pata Committee wishes to give these honours on a yearly basis.
Video Taken during Veda recitation and Thiruveedhi Pradakshinam
These are some of the photos taken during the Occasion
Writeup and Photography : Vyjayanthi and Sundararajan
