Daily routine of the Acharya continues unhindered at Kalavai

Vedic mantras and the fragrance of incense greet visitors at the entrance of the hall where Kanchi Acharya performs his daily poojas at the Kalavai Math. He is carrying on with hi s routines uninterrupted since his arrival last week after being released on bail. He begins his daily routine with an early morning pooja, even as devotees line up behind a curtain in the hall, waiting for his darshan. As the devotees wait patiently, some reverentially chant the name of the pontiff and others talk about the case against him in a hushed tone. Some devotees go emotionally when they tell their prayers for the pontiff’s release. A woman said,” I fasted on 11 days and only after that he was sent out on bail.” Another claims, “I had gone on a padayatra to religious places.” Some were simply overwhelmed by the pontiff’s presence. When the pooja gets overt at 2 pm, the devotees queue up to seek the blessings of the senior pontiff. As they introduce themselves, the pontiff acknowledges their greetings and distributes “Prasad”. Some devotees are allowed to exchange notes with him after the regular darshan.

With the poojas and darshans happening on one side, the Vedic school started by the Acharya himself operates in a small open enclosure outside the room where the seer sits. More than 20 students recite mantras, and at times the pontiff himself oversees the class. The Math slips into silence late afternoon, only to stir into a lot of bustle towards evening when poojas and other rituals resume. It is as if the mounting troubles in the material world have not hampered the spiritual quest within the four walls of the Shankara Math here.