Souvenir 2 - Foreword

anekajanmasamprāptakarmabandhavidāhine .
ātmajñānapradānena tasmai śrīgurave namaḥ  ..

अनेकजन्मसम्प्राप्तकर्मबन्धविदाहिने |
आत्मज्ञानप्रदानेन तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः || 

mannāthaḥ śrījagannāthaḥ madguruḥ śrījagadguruḥ .
madātmā sarvabhūtātmā tasmai śrīgurave namaḥ..

मन्नाथः श्रीजगन्नाथः मद्गुरुः श्रीजगद्गुरुः |
मदात्मा सर्वभूतात्मा तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः || 

 brahmanandaṃ paramasukhadaṃ kevalaṃ jnanamurtiṃ
dvandvatitaṃ gaganasadriishhaṃ tattvamasyadilakshhyam . 
ekaṃ nityaṃ vimalamachhalaṃ sarvadhisakshhibhutaṃ
bhavatitaṃ trigunarahitaṃ sadguruṃ taṃ namami..

 ब्रह्मानन्दं परमसुखदं केवलं ज्ञानमूर्तिं 

द्वन्द्वातीतं गगनसदृशं तत्त्वमस्यादिलक्ष्यम् । 
एकं नित्यं विमलमचलं सर्वधीसाक्षिभूतं 
भावातीतं त्रिगुणरहितं सद्गुरुं तं नमामि ॥
 

H.H. श्री योगेश्वरानान्दा        

 

                                                                                                                       

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RAMAKRISHNA MATH Ramakrishna Math Marg Domalguda Hyderabad - 500029

FOREWORD

Swami Vivekananda, in one of his very inspiring utterances says: "They alone live who live for others, the rest are more dead than alive". There are very few of the above category who dedicated their entire life in the cause of society caring very little for their own self-interest. The great Sanskrit poet Bhartṛhari (भर्तृहरि) classifies them as 'Satpurushah' (सत्पुरुषः), meaning 'noble people'.  The society and humanity at large are sustained only by such people. If the number of such people increases, we can call the society as prosperous.

The late V. Venkatesa Iyer can be called as one such person who devoted his entire life in serving the society in his own humble way. I had the opportunity of meeting him several times during his old age. He believed in a simple life but high philosophy. His association with the Ramakrishna Movement in the twin cities, his contribution in building up a fine centre, and his single-minded devotion to the cause are worth emulating. Any institution can get inspiration and support if more such people are involved in it.

It is befitting that the centenary of this noble soul is being celebrated through a memorial volume as also various service activities through a Trust formed by his sons. Hope the trust will accomplish the cherished desire of the late Venkatesa Iyer.

I convey my best wishes and also greetings to the members of the Trust and pray to Sri Ramakrishna to give them the needed strength and spirit of dedication in carrying on the ideals for which the Trust is founded.

Swami Paramarthanda

President

Ramakrishna Math

Hyderabad

8 September 1998