Humbled and Grateful!
In a moving address delivered in chaste Sanskrit, erudite Krishnanand Mankikarmam thanked Pujya Swamiji for the honour bestowed upon him, congratulated Yuvadhara and lauded the applauseworthy strides made by Girvanapratishtha -the Department of Sanskrit Studies, Shri Chitrapur Math (November 2025)
Om Shree Gurubhyo namah! Om Shree Bhavanishankaraaya namah! Om Shree Matre namah!
I am deeply indebted to Girvanapratishtha, which was established and encouraged by our holy Guru, for considering me befitting for this honour, although I have not retired as yet.
This is, undoubtedly, the Grace of the Guru.
In our childhood we were taught -
पापोSहं पापकर्माSहं, पापात्मा पापसंभवः |
त्राहि मां पुण्डरीकाक्ष सर्वपापहरे हरे | इति |
I am sin incarnate, I am the sinner, I am born of sin. O Vishnu the Lotus -eyed one, please save me. You eradicate every sin (in the world).
This has undergone a 180o tranformation and now we are able to say, by the Grace of our Guru
पुण्योSहं पुण्यकर्माSहं, पुण्यश्रवणकीर्तनः |
मया लब्धोSलभ्योSयं जन्म सारस्वतेषु च |
सारस्वतसुजन्माSहं, तत्रापि चित्रापुरस्थिते |
गुरुवर्याणां कृपादृष्ट्या सन्ततमाप्लावितोSस्म्यहम् ||
I am the meritorious one, I do deeds which are full of merit, I listen to the Holy words and my speech too is not unholy.
I have got a good birth, which is not easily attainable, in this Saraswat samaja. Moroever, I am constantly blessed by the unwavering merciful glance Our of Guru in Chitrapur.
Please note, how this activity of Girvanapratishtha has grown over the past twenty-plus years. Those who were educated in English medium, are now not only able to talk in Sanskrit, but they run Sanskrit classes and teach Sanskrit. It is said that by the mere merciful glance of the Guru, a true devotee attains the highest state (कैवल्यपद). Here we are beholding how, in our samaja, there is a constant flow of complete “Chaitanya” (पूर्णचैतन्य)
Talking of Chaitanya, we are reminded of the Keertana by our Dharmapracharaka Chaitanya Gulwady Mam, who, with reference to the Vijayaadashamee Mahotsava, showed us the three forms of Devi Saraswati, in his Keertana, The first one was Aadhidaivika (आधिदैविक) in which Devi Saraswati (for the benefit of the gods) was the annihilator of the demons Chanda and Munda. The next Rupa was Physical (आधिभौतिक) in which the course of the river Saraswati from her origin to the final meeting with the ocean was explained in detail, and then the Adhyatmika (आध्यात्मिक) Rupa in which Devi Saraswati’s blessings enhance our excellence in speech and sharpness of the intellect. The Keertan was interpersed with stories and anecdotes, and, had enjoyable musical interludes. This kind of keertana, I feel, is the blossom of the tree by the name Girvanapratishtha which is growing day by day. This again, is yet another outcome of the Grace of the Guru.
I again state that I am not the one who deserves this honour. The credit lies at the feet of my revered maternal Grandfather Vinayak Chickermane, He inculcated the love for Sanskrit in me at a very young age, while my mother prompted me to study Bhagavadgeeta when I was in Standard five.
Moreover, I am forever indebted to the participants of the Vandana Varga for the love and affection, which is showered on me, by them.
We are really blessed that because of our good deeds we have been endowed with such a Guru who not only takes care of our spiritual progress, but has also placed the upliftment of our samaja above everything. Treating that as His prime duty, he strives day and night for our upliftment. Various activites are being designed for our “Shishu Varga” -the tiny tots, the younger children “Baala Varga”, the youth of our Samaja the Yuva-s, and adults as well. Due to these, the all-round progress of our samaja is being ensured. To such a Guru, no amount of prostration in gratitude is enough.
Last but not the least, I shall not only be failing in my duty, but will appear ungrateful if I stop here without making a mention of the way our Yuva-s organized and conducted this Navaratri Utsava 2025. There was not a single deficiency in the entire organization. There was no undue haste, no confusion, and no tension whatsoever. All events were well-knit together. At the end of each day, our Parama Pujya Swamiji were presented with the next day’s programme in flawless Sanskrit. This should be emulated by all the Sabha-s. The cultural programmes which were presented at 5.00 pm every evening, were most interesting. The other day, the organizers had invited Pratibha Kamat, who is afflicted with autism, for a sitar recital. This, I think, was a very commendable act, and they have thus set a praiseworthy example in front of the other sabha-s. There are more such (praiseworthy) instances but for want of time, I am unable to recount them.
The Sanskrit Games session which was organized a few days ago, was full of entertainment and inspired commendable participation by all present. This showed the success of our Girvanapratishtha and Vaikhari sessions. Truly, the Grace of Guru this was.
Our yuva varga truly deserves your encouragement and approbation. Come, let us all thank them by clapping our hands.
Once again I bow down at the feet of Parama Pujya Swamiji, without whose merciful gaze even whatever little I am able to do, would not have been possible. May I experience that Krupa drushti forever, is my prayer at the Lotus feet of Parama Pujya Swamiji.
UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS!!
Om namah Parvatipataye Hara Hara Mahadeva !
(Free translation from the original speech in Sanskrit by the author)