Date:02/01/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/02/stories/2007010219630400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Soundarya Lahari chanting on January 28

T.S. Ranganna

BANGALORE: In an attempt to renew the mission of Adi Sankara to make people, irrespective of caste, religion or sex, chant devotional songs in unison in Sanskrit, the Vedanta Bharati has organised a collective chanting of "Soundarya Lahari" by one lakh women.

The women will congregate at Palace Grounds here on January 28 and chant "Soundarya Lahari" composed by Sankara for about one hour.

The Vice-President, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, is expected to inaugurate the event and the Governor, T.N. Chaturvedi, will participate in the function.

Vedanta Bharati, started 10 years ago, has been publishing books on Sankara`s works and other subjects of Indian scripture in Sanskrit, Kannada and English and distributing them among the people at almost one-tenth of the cost of production, according to A. Ramaswamy, Principal Secretary (Agriculture), who is its trustee.

While the printing paper for the books has been donated, the cost of printing is met by a donor. Bharati Teertha of Sringeri Math, is the chief patron of the organisation and the former Advocate-General, A.N. Jayaram, is its president.

Mr. Ramaswamy said "Soundarya Lahari", called a "devi stuti" is in praise of Lakshmi, Saraswati and Parvati.

He said most of the one lakh women who would participate in the mass changing would be from backward classes.

One coordinator would teach 50 women in each of the 27 districts.