Sri Sri Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahasamsthanam, Dakshinamanaya Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri



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Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri

Samskritotsava of Vidya Peetham at Sringeri

 

August 21, 2008

On 18th August, the annual Samskritotsava of Rajiv Gandhi Campus of the Kendriya Samskrita Vidya Peetham of Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan at Sringeri was inaugurated in the holy presence of the Jagadguru at Guru Nivas, Narasimha Vanam. The Jagadguru expressed happiness at the conduct of the Utsava and delivered an Anugraha Bhashanam in chaste Sanskrit to the assembled students and faculty of the Vidyapeetham

Sanskrit is unique in that it is possible to convey a very specific and sophisticated meaning by using a single word. For instance, if someone asks a friend “sukham shayanam jaatam va?” – “Have you had a good rest?”, then the asker of the question is termed in Sanskrit as “Saukha-shaayanikaH” (yaH sukha-shayanam pRcChati). Similarly “yaujana-shatikaH” is the one who is reached after travelling 100 Yojanas (an ancient unit of distance).

The Jagadguru citing a few illustrations, talked of the contributions and the vocabulary of four stalwarts of Sanskrit literature of the recent past namely Sri Lakshmana Suri in Tamil Nadu, Sri Ganapati Shastri in Thiruvananthapuram (the editor of the famous Trivandrum Sanskrit Series), Appa Shastri Rashiwadekar in Maharashtra (the editor of a quality-rich magazine called Samskrita Chandrika), Sri Narakantheerava Shastri of Andhra Pradesh (author of a short biography on Sri Shankara Bhagavatpada called Yati saarvabhaumopahaaraH) – all of whom lived a century ago.

The Jagadguru with all these illustrations pointed out that the student of Sanskrit would do well to study the literary works of our ancestors, understand the nuances to appreciate the beauty of Sanskrit and apply them in one’s own usage.

 
  • Just as in this body, the embodied one passes through boyhood, youth, and old age, so does one pass into another body. With reference to this (birth, aging and death), the wise man is not disturbed. Bhagavan Sri Krishna on Significance of God
  • An object continues to be dear as long as one derives pleasure from it and it is detested for the duration that it causes pain. The same object cannot be always liked or disliked. Sometimes, that which is not dear may become dear. Moreover, that which was loveable can turn unpleasant. The Atma, towards which affection never wanes, is always the most beloved. Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada on Shatashloki
  • Blessings are the monopoly of God and we must all pray for his gracious blessings. Jagadguru Sri Chandrashekhara Bharati Mahaswamigal on Significance of God
  • It is pitiful that when many of us are asked, “who are you?”, The first thought that arises is “I am a Keralite”, or “I am a Punjabi”, etc. The thought that should immediately stem is “I am an Indian”. If people first feel that they are Indians and only then think of divisions, the nation will have great prosperity and the divisive forces will not be operative as they are today. Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamigal on Significance of God
  • Instead of using the tongue for speaking futile issues, use it to chant the names of God. God shall then guide you along the right and beneficial path. Jagadguru Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamigal on Significance of God's Names