KANCHIPURAM: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat met Kanchi Shankaracharya Jagadguru Sri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswathi Swamigal, who is observing Chaturmasya at Orikkai, as part of the organisation’s centenary programmes.
Bhagwat first had darshan of the Sri Chandramouleeswarar Swamy abhishekam conducted by the Acharya. He later joined Vedic chanting, japa and special prayers performed by Vedic scholars for the welfare of society, the nation and the world.
A special puja with Thodakashtakam recitation was held for Adi Shankaracharya’s divine padukas. The mutt honoured Bhagwat with a traditional turban and presented him with Kamakshi temple prasadam, while senior Vedic scholars led by Mahamahopadhyaya Krishnamurthy Sastri recited Vedic mantras.
In a programme highlighting the importance of family and dharmic values, a traditional couple puja was held in the presence of Sri Vijayendra Saraswathi and Bhagwat. An elderly couple who completed 60 years of married life honoured 60 senior couples during the event.
Bhagwat also witnessed the purnahuti of a Shrauta rite known as Sangrahaniyeshti, with prayers for peace, prosperity and happiness for people worldwide. During the visit, he toured the Kanchi mutt’s initiatives in education, Vedic learning and traditional medicine, including schools, Veda pathashalas, craft and sculpture training centres, and cultural education institutions for girls, and attended a certificate presentation for the first batch of students who completed a temple administration training course.
Later, he visited a century-old village house in Orikkai where, in 1955, Guruji M.S. Golwalkar had met the Kanchi Mahaswami. The family presented Bhagwat a memento to mark the historical association; the report also noted that in 1988 the Kanchi Acharya Triveni had observed Chaturmasya at the same location. The programme concluded with the mutt’s blessings.
