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 Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi, the 68th in the long lineage of Acharyas of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam is one among the most respected religious heads, the world over. Recollecting his first meeting with His Holiness, more reverently known as Maha
Swamigal now, Dr. Paul Brunton wrote thus:
“His noble face, pictured in grey and brown, takes an honoured place in the long portrait gallery of my memory. That elusive element which the French aptly term
spiritual is present in this face. His expression is modest and mild, the large dark eyes being extraordinarily tranquil and beautiful………Such a face might have belonged to one of the saints who graced the Christian Church during the Middle Ages, except that this one possesses the added quality of intellectuality. I suppose we of the practical West would say that he has the eyes of a dreamer. Somehow, I feel in an inexplicable way that there is something more than mere dreams behind those heavy lids.” (A Search in Secret India)
Sri Maha
Swamigal adorned the headship of Kanchi Math at a tender age of 13. He guided its activities for 87 long years. Sri Mahalakshmi Mathrubutheswarar Trust is now engaged in erecting a Mani Mantapam in reverential memory of the Maha
Swamigal in order that the coming generations know more fully about this religious head who belonged to the world, crossing the barriers of caste, creed and religion.
The Mantapam is getting ready in a sprawling area of 7 acres, in a village called ‘Orikkai’ around 5 kms away from Kancheepuram, in the banks of Palar. The laying of foundation stone and the related ceremony of ‘Sanku sthaabanam’ were done on 9th June 1997 and the work is going on now.
 ‘Though there are several special and distinct features that are to be found in the Mantapam itself, the place chosen for its erection is celebrated and has a speciality of its own,’ said Athmanathan, Member of Sri Mahalakshmi Mathrubutheswarar Trust. He narrated the story associated with Orikkai, the place in which the Mantapam is being constructed.
‘Thiumazhisai Aazhvaar and his follower Kanikannan were rendering their service to the Lord in Kancheepuram. An aged woman, desirous of participating in the noble endeavour, did what little she could, by helping them to keep the place clean. Kanikannan was touched by this service rendered by this infirm woman and lovingly patted her on the back. With His grace, the signs of old age disappeared and the woman became young again.
The king heard of this and came out with a request to make him young again. Kanikannan refused to do so. The king became furious and ordered Kanikannan to leave the place at once. Therefore, Kanikannan immediately went out of the town and Thiumazhisai Aazhvaar, who could not bear this injustice done to his follower, went along with him. They stayed at ‘Orikkai’ over the night. Because they stayed here for a night, it came to be known as ‘Or iravu irukkai’ (place of stay for a night). That name later corrupted to ‘Orikkai,’ said Athmanathan. Apart from this, Sri Maha
Swamigal had also stayed here many a time.
 It was Pradhosham Venkatramaiyer who enthusiastically initiated the work on the construction of the Memorial for Sri Maha
Swamigal. There is an interesting anecdote behind Venkatramaiyer’s title, Pradhosham. Venkatramaiyer used to visit Kanchi Math for a darshan of Maha
Swamigal, on every Pradhosham. Since this became habitual, Sri Maha Swamigal used to anticipate his arrival on that day. If the arrival of Venkatramaiyer was getting delayed for any reason, he would jocularly ask others, ‘Has ‘Pradhosham’ not yet come?’ It was thus that Pradhosham became a synonym for Venkatramaiyer and it ultimately became his title.
Pradhosham Venkatramaiyer carefully prepared a mental blueprint for the Mani Mantapam of the Acharya. The land was donated by Sri Vinayakram, one of the members of Sri Mahalakshmi Mathrubutheswarar Trust and the work on construction of the Memorial was put on rails.
It is planned to construct the Memorial with granite stones. As if by divine ordain, the granite stones procured for the construction work of Sri Ramakrishna Math, Mylapore, were available and have been used in the construction of the Memorial for Sri Maha
Swamigal.
 A total of 100 sculptors - sthapathi - are busy in carving all the statues and other ornamental pieces required for the Memorial, under the supervision of the much acclaimed S. M. Ganapathi Sthapathi, who has been the recipient of many an award including the coveted Padma
Shri.
The Mantapam would be of mammoth proportions - 258’ long and 58’ wide. There would be a total of four halls in the Mantapam. The inner hall is called ‘Padhuka Mantapam and the centre hall would serve as ‘Veda Patasala.’ The sthapthis are using all their training, skill and talent to deftly carve monoliths like chains containing many a link, the ‘rudhraksha’ et al, like the extremely fine and delicate carvings found in the times of Chola, Pandiya and Nayaka Kings. With the consent of Sri Jayendra Saraswathi
Swamigal the students of the College of Sculpture are getting trained while working in this project.
Portraits of all the Peetathipathis of the Kanchi Math, starting from Sri Adi Sankara would adorn the Memorial, with the period during which they graced the Headship of the Math inscribed. It is expected to be a rich and valuable treasury of our long heritage. It would incorporate the history of religious thought in India, the evolution of Hindu philosophy and Indian culture, in its fold.
 The estimated cost of the Memorial is Rs.12 crores and the work so far completed is valued at Rs.2 crores. ‘This Memorial would be a centre for Vedic chanting, teaching and propagating. It would be a centre for philosophers and research scholars to meet to further their pursuits apart from sharing their knowledge with the general public. Its services would not be confined to the precincts of religion and Veda alone. It will serve to inculcate basic values and Dharma to humanity,’ says
Athmanathan.
This project has not received any financial support from the Government. Kanchi Math has given its Srimukam to the project. ‘Donations received thus far have not been much. The great Carnatic musician M. S. Subbulakshmi has donated large sums, running to several lakhs, from her royalty earnings. Devotees from countries like Malaysia have also contributed their mite.
For more information, contact:
Sri Sri Mahalakshmi Mathrubutheswarar Trust
No.11 Sivam-Subham First Main Road,
Kotturpuram,
Chennai - 600 085
Telephone: 4474114
Saravanan
Tr. by Hari Krishnan
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