Loka Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu
Born in 1946 to the pious couple Late Sri D.H. Ranganatha Iyer and Late Srimathi Meenakshi Ammal, Sri Venkatrama Ghanapatigal was the second of 5 children. The family hails from the hamletDalapathisamudram in Nanguneri tehsil of Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu, about 40 kilometres from the town of Tirunelveli.
Sri Venkatrama Ghanapatigal studied at the local school in Dalapathisamudram till standard V. After initiation into brahmacharyam, Sri Venkatrama Ghanapatigal mastered Krishna Yajur Veda while studying at Patashaalas at Tiruvidaimarudur and at Kanchipuram, obtaining the title “Salakshana Ghanapati” from Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Sringeri Sharadambal Peetam and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD).
TTD appointed Sri Venkatrama Ghanapatigal as the Acharya-in-charge of their Vidyakendra at Tirupati. He served for four years. The then Peetadipathi of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Sri Paramacharya (Pujyashri Sri Chandrashekarendra Saraswathi) blessed Sri Venkatrama Ghanapatigal to start a Veda Patashaala in Hyderabad.
Sri Venkatrama Ghanapatigal gave up the assignment at TTD, and shifted to Hyderabad, a city that was alien to him, as he neither knew people nor the language. Living in the quarters within the premises of Swarajya Press in Padmarao Nagar, Secunderabad, Sri Venkatrama Ghanapatigal taught Surya Namaskara (Aruna Prashna), Rudra, Chamaka, Sooktas to several devotees. An association with the citizens of the twin cities had begun. With this local support and with the benign blessings of Sri Paramacharya, the Shankara Gurukula Veda Patashaala was started in 1984. What started at home in Hyderabad with 3 students, grew with his devotion, dedication and diligence to “Veda Bhavan”, a magnificent institution gaining respect and appreciation across the Dharmic landscape.
Sri Venkatrama Ghanapatigal was responsible for the students’ well-being and studies. He strived to nurture the young and energetic students into responsible citizens of India. Students were also instilled with devotion and love for the country. Every Independence Day and Republic Day was celebrated with the hoisting of the national flag and group singing of the national anthem. It was always followed by a group chanting from the Vedas for the country’s good health and safety.
As part of the activities of the Shankara Bhakta Sabha Trust, the innumerable Shankara Jayanthi mahotsavas, Chandi and Rudra homams, Veda Parayanas, Srimad Ramayana and Srimad Bhagavatha parayanas, Sampradaya Bhajans Sri Venkatrama Ghanapatigal organised over the last 4 decades, were supplications from the bottom of the heart for a happy, healthy and prosperous country and her citizens. Silent prayers were organized by Sri Venkatrama Ghanapatigal last month for India to
overcome Covid-19 and the aggression by China.
Sri Venkatrama Ghanapatigal was bestowed with the President’s Award for these efforts.
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