Appa - the Vedic activist!
Sree Gurubyo Namaha!
Appa was felicitated today by Dr. Abdul Kalaam on the occasion of the centenary celebrations of Swami Ranganatha Nanda in Trikkur. Chithi, Sundari Chithi, Amma, Krishnan Chitappa, Babulu Athai, Jaya Chithi and Jayaraman were fortunate indeed to attend the occasion. Appa was honoured for his commitment and activities relating to Vedic revival.
Appa started his sojourn into Vedic activities on the instructions of Maha Periyava. Appa has been active with Vedic activities right from when we were in Cement Nagar. It started with building the temples in Cement Nagar & Hagari, the two Chaturmasyams and the conduct of Yagams at Cement Nagar and Hagari, in addition to other devotional activities. Appa participated in yagams whenever he could - all as per the instructions and guidance of Maha Periyava.
After retirement, Periyava told Appa to concentrate on Vedam completely. Appa had two job offers after his retirement, but Periyava's explicit instruction to Appa was to work on the revival of the Vedic tradition in Kerala. At that point in time, Yagam had not been performed in Kerala for many years.
So, when we moved to Trichur in 1988, Appa met Sri Akkitham Namboodiri and they embarked on the project, visiting various Illams. The turning point though came for them when they met Dr. T. I. Radhakrishnan in Punkunnam. Appa & Doctor poured their souls into making Kundoor Athirathram a grand success. About 50 rithviks have undergone training in Vedic tradition for this Yagam. Then came the Apthoryamam in 2004. These are two great ventures indeed. In addition, have been the various sabhas and discussion meetings, which have re-created interest in Vedam and Yagam. Uma, Vijayan, Jayaraman, Kalpana, Vasanthi Manni, Thangam, Venkatesh and I have had the good fortune to participate in the Apthoryamam Yagam in Mulangunathukavu.
Through this epic journey, Appa has had the good fortune to meet many top scholars and experts in the Vedic tradition from many parts of India and to establish cordial relationships with them. Appa has studied and learnt the rituals in detail from them and from various texts. He is indeed an expert today on various Yagna aspects. He has also met international scholars like - Asko Parpola and Frits Stall. Frits Stall is the author of AGNI - Appa is mentioned by name in one of the volumes of this epic book.
This is a cause that does not generate a lot of interest, passion or commitment for the fear of being seen as 'old-fashioned', 'conservative' and 'orthodox'. Yet, Appa has stuck to this Dharmic path and has done his best. Doctor Radhakrishnan has been the hub - who has endeavoured to make many of these amazing rituals & discussions plausible and possible. Krishnan Chitappa has been a constant support to Appa in this great endeavour. And Amma has been the silent shadow, making it all possible.
The discussions continue to this day. And Appa continues to teach Vedam to a few students regularly.
It is indeed a great day for us. What makes this occasion special is that he was honoured by no less than Dr. Kalaam, who is in the same league as Appa. Dr.Kalaam was invited by Swami Ranganathananda to write the forward to his commentary on Viveka Chudaamani.
Appa, you have always been a legend to me. I am just so proud today that the world has decided to recognise you for your activities! And as the son of T.R.Parameshwara Iyer a Sama Veda pundit, you are truly taking the tradition forward. Nothing would have made Thatha more prouder!
Just to give some statistics:
1. Appa has been involved in 13 Yagams to date - 3 in Andhra Pradesh, 2 in Karnataka, 5 in Kerala and 3 in Tamil Nadu.
The types of Yagams Appa has been involved in are:
a. AGNISHTOMAM : in Trivandrum, Palakkad and Sengalipuram
b. ATHYA AGNISHTOMAM : Hagari
c. SHODASI : Cement Nagar
d. VAJAPEYAM: Jijjur
e. ATHIRATHRAM : Kundoor, Koneruraja puram
f. APTHORYAMAM: Molangunathkavu, Bangalore, Koneruraja puram
g. MAHAVRATHAM : Ernakulam
h. PUNDAREEKAM: Jijjur
Of these, 2 yagams were performed by Namboodiris, 4 by Tamil Iyers, 4 by Andhra Brahmins and 3 by pundits from Karnataka & Maharashta,.
2. Appa participated in an official capacity(Rithvik) as a Yagam member in 3 yagams - in two as a SOMAPRAVAKAN and in one as CHAMASA ADHVARYU
3. Complete responsibility for Cement Nagar Yagam
4. General Secretary of the organising committee for Athirathram & Apthoryamam
5. Provided running commentary and briefing the media for the Kundoor, Mulangunathukavu and Ernakulam yagams.
6. General Secretary - All India Vedic Conference 1995 & publication of its souvenir.
7. Actively associated with the construction, consecration and upkeep of 5 temples:
- Rama, Shiva and Ayyappa temples in Cement Nagar
- Shiva temple in Hagari
- Kamakshi temple in Trikkur.
Appa was felicitated today by Dr. Abdul Kalaam on the occasion of the centenary celebrations of Swami Ranganatha Nanda in Trikkur. Chithi, Sundari Chithi, Amma, Krishnan Chitappa, Babulu Athai, Jaya Chithi and Jayaraman were fortunate indeed to attend the occasion. Appa was honoured for his commitment and activities relating to Vedic revival.
Appa started his sojourn into Vedic activities on the instructions of Maha Periyava. Appa has been active with Vedic activities right from when we were in Cement Nagar. It started with building the temples in Cement Nagar & Hagari, the two Chaturmasyams and the conduct of Yagams at Cement Nagar and Hagari, in addition to other devotional activities. Appa participated in yagams whenever he could - all as per the instructions and guidance of Maha Periyava.
After retirement, Periyava told Appa to concentrate on Vedam completely. Appa had two job offers after his retirement, but Periyava's explicit instruction to Appa was to work on the revival of the Vedic tradition in Kerala. At that point in time, Yagam had not been performed in Kerala for many years.
So, when we moved to Trichur in 1988, Appa met Sri Akkitham Namboodiri and they embarked on the project, visiting various Illams. The turning point though came for them when they met Dr. T. I. Radhakrishnan in Punkunnam. Appa & Doctor poured their souls into making Kundoor Athirathram a grand success. About 50 rithviks have undergone training in Vedic tradition for this Yagam. Then came the Apthoryamam in 2004. These are two great ventures indeed. In addition, have been the various sabhas and discussion meetings, which have re-created interest in Vedam and Yagam. Uma, Vijayan, Jayaraman, Kalpana, Vasanthi Manni, Thangam, Venkatesh and I have had the good fortune to participate in the Apthoryamam Yagam in Mulangunathukavu.
Through this epic journey, Appa has had the good fortune to meet many top scholars and experts in the Vedic tradition from many parts of India and to establish cordial relationships with them. Appa has studied and learnt the rituals in detail from them and from various texts. He is indeed an expert today on various Yagna aspects. He has also met international scholars like - Asko Parpola and Frits Stall. Frits Stall is the author of AGNI - Appa is mentioned by name in one of the volumes of this epic book.
This is a cause that does not generate a lot of interest, passion or commitment for the fear of being seen as 'old-fashioned', 'conservative' and 'orthodox'. Yet, Appa has stuck to this Dharmic path and has done his best. Doctor Radhakrishnan has been the hub - who has endeavoured to make many of these amazing rituals & discussions plausible and possible. Krishnan Chitappa has been a constant support to Appa in this great endeavour. And Amma has been the silent shadow, making it all possible.
The discussions continue to this day. And Appa continues to teach Vedam to a few students regularly.
It is indeed a great day for us. What makes this occasion special is that he was honoured by no less than Dr. Kalaam, who is in the same league as Appa. Dr.Kalaam was invited by Swami Ranganathananda to write the forward to his commentary on Viveka Chudaamani.
Appa, you have always been a legend to me. I am just so proud today that the world has decided to recognise you for your activities! And as the son of T.R.Parameshwara Iyer a Sama Veda pundit, you are truly taking the tradition forward. Nothing would have made Thatha more prouder!
Just to give some statistics:
1. Appa has been involved in 13 Yagams to date - 3 in Andhra Pradesh, 2 in Karnataka, 5 in Kerala and 3 in Tamil Nadu.
The types of Yagams Appa has been involved in are:
a. AGNISHTOMAM : in Trivandrum, Palakkad and Sengalipuram
b. ATHYA AGNISHTOMAM : Hagari
c. SHODASI : Cement Nagar
d. VAJAPEYAM: Jijjur
e. ATHIRATHRAM : Kundoor, Koneruraja puram
f. APTHORYAMAM: Molangunathkavu, Bangalore, Koneruraja puram
g. MAHAVRATHAM : Ernakulam
h. PUNDAREEKAM: Jijjur
Of these, 2 yagams were performed by Namboodiris, 4 by Tamil Iyers, 4 by Andhra Brahmins and 3 by pundits from Karnataka & Maharashta,.
2. Appa participated in an official capacity(Rithvik) as a Yagam member in 3 yagams - in two as a SOMAPRAVAKAN and in one as CHAMASA ADHVARYU
3. Complete responsibility for Cement Nagar Yagam
4. General Secretary of the organising committee for Athirathram & Apthoryamam
5. Provided running commentary and briefing the media for the Kundoor, Mulangunathukavu and Ernakulam yagams.
6. General Secretary - All India Vedic Conference 1995 & publication of its souvenir.
7. Actively associated with the construction, consecration and upkeep of 5 temples:
- Rama, Shiva and Ayyappa temples in Cement Nagar
- Shiva temple in Hagari
- Kamakshi temple in Trikkur.