Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswati National Eminence Award conferred to Pujya Bhaishri

Pujya Bhaishri was conferred upon the coveted Sri Chandrasekararendra Saraswati National Eminence Award, named after the revered sage of Kanchi, by the South Indian Education Society, in Mumbai on December 28, 2000, to recognise the formers outstanding contribution in the field of ‘Pravachan Katha.’

The award was presented at the hands of His Holiness Sri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal, the chief patron of the society. Among other awardees was the legendary musician M. Subalakshmi, Dr. Ram Narain Agarwal, director of the Agni missile project and former Prime Minister, Mr. P.V. Narasimha Rao.

Accepting the award in his own humble way, Pujya Bhaishri responded, ‘This is the first time I am accepting any award in my life. I do not expect any award but would not neglect, if it comes as blessings. My Guru has told me not to leave the chance to do ‘vocal pooja’ even on the day of observing ‘mauna’ (silence). 

‘I do not think that I am serving the nation through the katha. The katha is not a source of livelihood for me but the life itself. It is my devotion. When the high commissioner in London honoured me there, I had said, ‘God has honoured us all by making us humans.’

‘I am thankful to my parents through whom I came to this world. I am not so discourteous that I would not accept the Jagadguru Shankaracharya’s blessings in the form of this award. I pray to the Swamigal to bless me so that on this auspicious day this award becomes the last award for me. The Maharajshri has always thought of me as his own and has called me to him and given me a chance to serve. I am feeling very fortunate for that.

‘I have never ordained anybody as a guru. How can I be a guru when I have not been a complete student myself? I am the guru-brother for the members of our order and that is the reason why they call me Bhaishri.’