THANJAVUR: A pall of gloom descended on Irulneeki village, 15 km from Mannargudi, the birth place of Jayendra Saraswath, Sankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, as the news of his demise spread on Wednesday.
People, who celebrate his birthday every year on his birth star, Avittam in the Tamil month of Aadi and who are proud that he was the son of their soil, left in a bus provided by a devotee to Kanchipuram to witness the final pujas to the saint.
It was not only people of Irulneeki, but nearly 500 families in five panchayats around the village, who are beneficiaries of one activity or the other of the ‘Chandrasekhara Swamigal Rural Development Trust’ created by the mutt.
“A Veda patasala is going on in the house of the swamigal. Six students study Rig Veda. Agni Hothram is done with Narayana Ganapadigal from Kumbakonam.
The trust has constructed an overhead water tank, school and hospital in the village. During birthdays of swamigal, homams will be performed. Benefits will be distributed to people. Patti Mandrams and seminars will be held. Whenever the swamigal visited Thanjavur district, he used to come to the village,” said S.Ramachandran, member of the trust.
“Irulneeki is the village of mother of the Swamigal, His father's village is nearby and it is called Periyakudi. Actually the two places are located on the two banks of Haraischandra Nathi, (river),” said Ramachandran. Prof K. Venkatrajulu, who was associatedwith the trust, recalled the social work done by it in the village and for women empowerment.
