Mysuru:
To commemorate the sacred occasion on which Jagadguru Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati Swamiji of Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetha bestowed the monastic name Sri Vidyananda Swamiji upon Sri Bala Manjunatha Swamiji, the Kannadambe Rakshana Vedike organised a series of social service activities.
On Thursday morning, at a simple programme held in front of the Kannadambe Rakshana Vedike office in Hootagalli, under the leadership of its president B.B. Rajashekhar, notebooks were distributed to more than 500 students from various government schools. In addition, food and grocery kits were distributed to two old-age homes, along with the organisation of free health check-up camps, free eye examination camps, and annasantarpane.
The programme was inaugurated by noted writer Jayappa Honnalli, who said that it was heartening to see such a disciplined and socially committed initiative being organised to mark the auspicious naming ceremony conducted by Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati Swamiji.
He said, “Distributing notebooks to over 500 underprivileged government school children, conducting health and eye check-ups, supplying grocery kits to old-age homes, and arranging a community meal—all in remembrance of this sacred occasion—is truly meaningful. Under the leadership of Kannadambe Rakshana Vedike president B.B. Rajashekhar, this is a socially responsible and collective welfare-oriented initiative. The Vedike has set an example for Kannada organisations.”
He further added that the programme conveyed a strong message to society.
“We live in a time when awareness itself is regarded as the Supreme. Saints are those who consider the entire society as their own and guide people from darkness to light. The Sringeri Sharada Peetha is a 1,200-year-old ancient monastery, one of the four peethas established by Adi Shankaracharya. He resided here for 12 years and propagated Advaita Vedanta. In the backdrop of such a rich spiritual heritage, this social initiative is most welcome,” he said.
Presiding over the programme, social worker Raghuram Vajpayee said that inspired by the Sringeri seers, Bala Manjunatha Swamiji had embraced monastic life and later received the title Sri Vidyananda Swamiji from Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati Swamiji.
“Without any extravagance, without spending money on rituals like homa or havana, distributing notebooks to 500 children is a truly commendable act,” he remarked.
Health check-ups were conducted by Vistara Hospital, while Vasan Eye Care conducted the eye examination camp.
Among those present were S. Ravi (President, Police Society), Hootagalli Chikkanna, Lalitha Nagesh, Ravigowda, Harish Yadav, Karigowda, Women’s Wing President Tara, Sindhuvalli Shivakumar, Kikkeri Kiran, Manju Tejoor, Hunsur Paramesh, Louis, Honnegowda, Rashmi Singh, Saubhagya, Vishnu, Shivalingayya, Puttaswamy, Jayalakshmi, Harish, Vatsala, and headmasters Shivappa, Satish, Madhu, among others.
