His Excellency Dr.Shanker Dayal Sharma the President of India,

paid a visit to Sri Avadhoota Datta Peetha, Mysore on Friday, the 30th May to participate in the 55th Birthday Celebrations of Parama Poojya Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji and to inaugurate the new block of the Veda Pathashala run by the Peetha. He was accompanied by Madam Excellency Smt. Vimala Sharma and other family members. His Excellency was received at the newly constructed "Shankara Shiva Vaidya Hari Veda Mandiram" by His Holiness Sri Swamiji andSri R.Venkataraman, former president with traditional Peetham honours.

Immediately upon arrival, His Excellency lighted the lamp and worshipped the idol of Goddess Saraswati. Dr.Sharma then inaugurated the new block of the Veda Pathashala in the presence of Sri Swamiji by unveiling the plaque. His Excellency Dr.Sharma, Smt Vimala Sharma, Sri R.Venkataraman and Sri Yarram Naidu (Union Minister for rural development and employment) sat for a wile and listened to the veda mantras chanted by the students of the Veda Patha Shala of Datta Peetham. The Veda and Sanskrit Pundits of Datta Peetha were introduced to the guests. Later, the Veda students offered pranams to His Excellency.

From there, the President and the convoy proceeded to the Universal Prayer hall of Datta Peetham to participate in the function connected with the inauguration of the newly constructed Veda Bhawan. After the darshan of the Dattatreya idol in the temple, His Excellency proceeded to the Homa altar and offered Poornahuti of the Chandi Homam. Sri Swamiji blessed Dr.Sharma and Smt.Vimala Sharma with the special silk clothes as Yajna prasadam and sprinkled the holy water on the couple.

After Poornahuti, the President and other dignitaries proceeded to the dias and the inaugural function commenced. His Excellency Dr.Sharma, Smt Vimala Sharma, Sri R.Venkataraman, Sri Yarram Naidu (Union Minister for Rural Development and Employment), Sri H.C.Mahadevappa (Health Minister, Govt.of Karnataka), Sri Siddharaju, M.P., Sri Alladi Rajkumar, M.P., Smt.Lakshmi Parvati were seated on the dias alongside Sri Swamiji.

On behalf of Datta Peetha, Sri B.Krishna Bhat of Bangalore was conferred the title "GURU SEVA NIRATA" by His Excellency Dr.Sharma.

Dr.Sharma, Smt.Vimala Sharma and Sri R.Venkataraman offered garlands and Peetambaras to His Holiness Sri Swamiji.

Addressing the gathering,

His Excellency Dr.Shankar Dayal Sharma gave an excellent speech, wich you please read here.

After this Sri.R.Venkataraman, the former President of India spoke

In his speech, Sri R.Venkataraman praised Dr.Sanker Dayal Sharma´s depth of the understanding the vedas as well as his scholarship. He said that the vedas were not written by anyone, but were handed down through generations in the Guru Shishya parampara. He said that it was indeed astonishing to note that the veda mantras are being reproduced with the same intonations as they were thousands of years ago. "Dharma protects those who protect it. This is the essence of the Vedas", said Sri Venkataraman. He recalled an incident when the Paramacharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham asked him to translate the word "Dharma" in to English. He said that he could not find the appropriate term in English language. Morality, Charity, Good Conduct, religeousness etc. etc. are some of the English words which are used. No doubt, all these are the different aspects of Dharma. But Dharma conveys a meaning which has even more broad sense. It is because, the Dharma of Bharat was not one man´s creation. It is eternal in nature and has been in existance since time immemorial. To stress this fact, he quoted the verse "Imam vivasvate Yogam" from the Bhagavadgeeta. "One should undertake the study of the Vedas in a traditional manner if one wants to understand the meaning of Dharma" he added. He said that it was indeed befitting that Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji had established an institution dedicated for the study of the Vedas and shastras.

"The Lord has stated in the Bhagavadgeeta that He would incarnate whenever dharma was on the decline. But we should ask ourselves whether it is fair to create a situation which necessiates the Lord to incarnate again and again. Everyone should make it a point to assure one´s self not to indulge in unrighteous acts. Similarly, one should also reflect before going to bed about the righteousness of the actions one performed that day" Sri Venkataraman said.

In His benedictory address,

Poojya Sri Swamiji said that the parents should strive to expose their children to Dharmic way of life.

"They should be told about the importance of Sadguru. Otherwise, they will come out with an education devoid of true love and dharma. The parents will have to repent then", Sri Swamiji cautioned.

Sri Swamiji said that caste was not a restriction for learning. "Everyone can learn depending upon his/her capacity", Sri Swamiji added.

Jai Guru Datta

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