The Vedas
Vedas are the foundation of Dharma which charters the path for the liberation of the individual soul.
Liberation from what?, from the bondage of the cycle of birth and death which is the result of the incessant activity of the human mind. When the activities of the human mind cease "Yoga" or union with Godhead is attained and liberation (Moksha) is achieved.
In order to aim at and ultimately achieve this liberation, one should strive very hard, beginning with one's day-to-day activities.
Everyday life, when regulated and performed with the constant vision of liberation, cleanses the mind of impurities, ensures the mind's concentration and directs its move towards its own centre, the core of its being and its union with Godhead.
The Smruties
When vedic principles are impressed upon memory they spring forth as clearly stated rules and codified as law books or smruties. These smruties (law books) were compiled by many seers and named after the respective compiler. Manu, Parasara, Yagnavalkya, Angirasa and Apasthamba are some among the eighteen seers credited with compiling these smruties.
The Vision enshrined in the Vedas directing human soul towards its liberation, ensuring welfare of the entire human society should never be allowed to be clouded in any generation. Sri Adi Sankara Bhagavadpada advised therefore in His 'Sopana Panchakam' (Let the Vedas be studied daily and let the rituals ordained therein be performed properly).
The happiness and prosperity of the world at large depends upon Brahmins doing their Nithyakarmas assiduously and performing Vedic rituals as ordained therein. Because, the sustenance from the rituals will induce the heavenly beings to be pleased and grant timely rains, plentiful harvest etc,.
Brahmins should study the Vedas and their subsidiary subjects without attaching any motive.
Our ancestors were firmly of the view that the study of the Vedas was very essential for anyone to follow Dharma and lead a noble and righteous life. They studied Vedas and Sastras in their entirety and imparted that knowledge to others too, who showed keenness. Because of their regulated and disciplined life they were a contented lot and spread this happiness and contentment to others in the society.
Brahmasri Srinivasa Sastrigal
Nadukkaveri Brahmasri Srinivasa Sastrigal was a great Scholar in all the social, Veda and religious activities throughout his life. In these activities he was second to none. He had shown much interest for the improvement of veda and raising religious activities, really speaking he had shown unstinted efforts to do services in all branches of the society.
Also he had challengingly done a great work of yagnams and that too for the peaceful life of the society. He had done translation work from Sanskrit to Tamil of the famous Dharmasasthra Grandha books, Varnashirama Dharmakaandam and Five other Kaandams of the work Smritimuktaphalam of shri Vaidhiyanatha Deekshitar.
It is not easy work to do but he had done the great work very patiently for the benefit of society across the world. During the period of great Sastrigal there was no printing machine and so he had prepared printing letters by his hand and did the printing in his Brahamvidhya press.
There was a remarkable news heard that Sri Adhi sankara of Kaladi appeared in his dream one day and instructed him cordially to construct a madam for his sake at kaladi. The next day based on his dream he went to Pudukkottai Samasthanam and talked to the king about his dream. However, in order to test whether his dream was true or not, the king and Sastrigal went to kaladi on a horse to see the particular place where Sri Adisankaracharya demanded Sastrigal to construct the madam. The king greatly astonished to see the same place what Sastrigal described.
So the king honoured Sastrigal with monetary help to do the construction work of Sri Adi sankaracharya’s madam at kaladi by Sastrigal of nadukkaveri!. It was told that Sri Sastrigal became a samasthana vidwan and king’s guru. Then in order to bring importance to kaladi, the birth place of Sri Adi sankaracharyar, he had brought out some great books in the name of Sankaracharyar, thus Sri Sastrigal became great through this tireless work, another great important news about Sastrigal is that the Panchalokha Statue of Adisankaracharya owned by Sastrigal is at kaladi still being worshipped by people there.
In recognition of His vedic and religious service the emperors like emperor of Mysore honoured him greatly. Sri Sastrigal devotedly attached to the Sringeri and Kanchi Kamakodi Acharyaas held a renowned the post of Aasthana scholar and his name had been elevated to a great height for his work in the growth of religion and culture. Further he held an important position in the renovation work of Adi Sankarar and Aryambal at Kaladi by Sringeri Math.
In recognition of His vedic and religious service the emperors like emperor of Mysore honoured him greatly. Sri Sastrigal devotedly attached to the Sringeri and Kanchi Kamakodi Acharyaas held a renowned the post of Aasthana scholar and his name had been elevated to a great height for his work in the growth of religion and culture. Further he held an important position in the renovation work of Adi Sankarar and Aryambal at Kaladi by Sringeri Math. This news published in the magazine Acharyendra Vaibhavam in the year 1910 by Sringeri Math. From this great works he became well known Scholar throughout the world. Further it is a fact for his great name that he had started a monthly magazine and this had carried the messages of religion, culture and other world news. The name of the magazine was Brahamavidhya.
Further there was remarkable news about Sastrigal is that, it was in the year 1872 the terrible disease plaque attacked Tamilnadu. Then in the Government Hospital Chennai the treatment was given, but it was not given to all castes equally. There was a complaint that a disparity was shown according to castes. On seeing this, Sri Sastrigal wrote an article about the treatment in his famous monthly magazine Brahmavidya inciting awareness in the minds of the people about the unity among the people in the case of the treatment.
This information was published in the Dinamani Tamil paper in October 1992, in remembrance of the Disease. Further the great hero of freedom struggle Sri Balagandhara Tilak once visited to Thiruvaiyaru of Tanjore Dt. During his visit, Sri Sastrigal helped him understand the conversation by translating in Sanskrit to make Sri Tilak understand clearly. There by Sri Tilak appreciated Sastrigal for his efficiency in all the work. Such was his Domineering personality during his life time in Tamilnadu.
Further Sri Sastrigal adopted the Sathiya Shada Soothram. In order to respect the Sastrigal the whole village people also adopted the same soothram. He installed a statue of the Sathiya Shada Maharishi at a Siva temple at the Nadukkaveri Village. This is really a great achievement of the Sastrigal.
The greatness of the residence of Sri Sastrigal
It was in this residence, Sri Sastrigal performed so many yagnas, Homas, Japams, and other functions for the welfare of the society at large. His Highness Maharaj of Mysore honoured Sri Sastrigal for his noble cause. Many great pandits and mahans have repeatedly visited the residence. His Holiness Sankaracharya of Sringeri Sharadha peetam visited the residence and appreciated the services rendered by Sri Sastrigal.
Sastrigal was born and lived at Nadukkaveri Village of Tanjore Dt. in South India during the 19th Century.
To perpetuate the memory of the said noble soul his family members the board of Srinivasa Charities and the people of Nadukkaveri Village, have ventured to establish a Veda Patasala in the ancestral house of Sri Sastrigal.
Vedapatasala
Considering the contributions of Sri Sastrigal to Sastras and Vedas, etc.. His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Mahasannithanam and Sri Sri Sannithanam of Sringeri Sri Saradha Peetam was kind enough to organize a YAJUR Vedapatasala in the village of Nadukkaveri, the birth place of Brahmasri Srinivasa Sastrigal. Accordingly a YAJUR Vedapatasala has started functioning in the Village on and from 14.02.2015.
