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GURU SAMARPANAM - Issue # 10

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Dear Readers, I am delighted to present the article Guru Samarpanam [Issue # 10]. The issue contains the excerpts from the biography, teachings and miracles of Pujyashri Sri Sri Chandrasekarendhra Sarasvati Swamigal fondly revered as “Nadamadum Theivam” [Walking God], Mahaperiyaval, Paramacharya etc. In the Biography section we are going to see an incident at Mahendramangalam when Periyava was studying Vedas taught by Painganadu Sri Ganapathi Shastrigal. We can also read an interesting episode as told by Pujyasri Sri Sankara Vijayendra Sarasvati Swamigal (Bala Periyava) which reveal the greatness of Paramacharya in explaining intricate Vedantic philosophy in an easily understanding manner to everyone including the learned pundits. In the section Teachings of Mahaperiyava talks upon “Man and Beast”. Here the Acharya talks about the significance of human birth and how one through knowledge should elevate oneself towards attaining the supreme knowledge which enables a person to attain lib

“Musical Mantra” Of Muthuswami Dikshita

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Dear Readers, I am very glad to present the article “Musical Mantra of Muthuswami Dikshita”, which covers the biography of one of the Carnatic Music Trinity Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar. I first heard the compositions of Muthuswami Dikshitar through the music album titled “Guruguha Vani” sung by Smt. M. S. Subbulakshmi Ammal. Both the compositions and the voice are divine unparallel. Dikshitar’s songs bring in a mood of meditative devotion which transcends words and feelings. Dikshitar Kritis are fraught with details of mantras, tantras, chakras, description of the deities, details of the temple, specialties of the place and the list is huge. Dikshitar in his compositions have kept the Mudra “Guruguha” and also woven the name of the raga ingeniously in his compositions. Dikshitar was a very learned and versatile. He had travelled wide to many temples and composed kritis on the deities. The devotion and bhakti is ever charged in his Kritis. The contribution of Dikshitar to the Carnatic musi