Thursday, August 19, 2010

Velukkudi Krishnan


Velukkudi Krishnan shares his experience, Bliss, to be specific, through upanyasam.

People's taste may vary when it comes to small screen entertainment in the evening, with soaps and cinema topping the list. But mornings, 6-7, are generally dominated by one voice. Gruff and soothing at once, the Tamil is both chaste and familiar.

The style is lucid, diction clear and the content rich. All of these makes the audience, drawing room or public halls, listen to Velukkudi Krishnan in rapt attention.

His lineage

“My grandfather wanted at least one of his five sons to be brought up the traditional way, acquiring knowledge in Vedanta and Sastra and spreading Dharma,” Krishnan traces his lineage when this writer meets him at his residence on Bheema Sena Garden Road, Royapettah, Chennai.

After completing Class V, Vidwan Velukkudi Varadachariar Swamigal was trained at the patasala on Narayana Mudali Street, in George Town. He then shifted to Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, for higher education. Karapangadu Venkatacharya Swami, Tirupati Jeeyar Swami Sadhu Ramachar and Sri Rangam Desika Varadachariar Swami were his gurus. “He was into Upanyasam when he was 32, thus fulfilling my grandfather's most cherished dream,” says Krishnan.

Bhagavad Gita and Nammazhwar's Tiruvoimozhi were close to the Senior's heart. He presented over 80 month-long lectures on Andal's Tiruppavai, with different interpretations each time.

Born to his parents after sixteen years of their marital life, Krishnan got the best of both forms of education. He was trained at home in the Vedas, Divya Prabhandam, Sanskrit and other related scriptures apart from regular school. Initiation into lectures began when he was eight. He was asked to speak on the last day of a series of his father's lectures for about 10 minutes. The text prepared by his father had to be memorised. This happened throughout his school days and college days too (Vivekananda College, Mylapore, Chennai). Krishnan went on to complete C.A. and ICWA courses before joining the top rung of an MNC. Never did he venture to make solo presentations during his father's life time. A great devotee of Sri Ranganatha, Sri Varadachariar Swamigal breathed his last inside the Srirangam temple after having darshan of the deity one January morning in 1991. That marked the launch of Velukkudi Krishnan on the upanyasam scene. But he found it difficult to strike a balance between his job and lifestyle. Long hauls on business meetings outside Chennai were coming in the way of his nitya karma. Rushing to the Upanyasam stage from corporate meetings well after dusk added to the stress and the decision had to be taken. “I quit lucrative job to dedicate myself to Upanyasam and related activities.”

Sharing thoughts

Krishnan gently shakes his head when reference is made to a “change in profession.” “Please don't call Upanyasam my profession. It is just sharing my own experience. It is neither a trade nor a job. Experiencing the Brahman is bliss and I only want to share it with everyone. Spiritualism does not need special skill or intelligence. Nor can you achieve salvation by memorising the 4,000 verses. The Lord only expects unconditional love. Throughout his life, my father was only trying to make people understand this. If you read the works of the Acharyas, Azhwars and Nayanmars you will see that love was the underlying factor of all their immortal works.

How is he able to quote from scriptures in Tamil and Sanskrit with such precision? “There is no special effort besides deep involvement.” Irrespective of the subject to be dealt with, he recommends at least four hours of reading authentic texts every day. “I am lucky, for all I have to do is read my father's extensive notes on all the subjects. These are my invaluable assets.”

Response to his upanyasams? “Overwhelming. Being the son of an illustrious father, the platform was ready for me but then I had the responsibility of maintaining the standards set by him.” He is deeply worried about orators changing concepts to suit the trend while dealing with scriptures. For instance, using the Gita to explain management principles. “The scriptures should be followed to realise the Brahman,” he asserts.

Krishnan's two sons are budding technocrats and he has not tried to influence them. However, he has been teaching them Sanskrit and other subjects. Velukkudi Krishnan's discourses have been digitally documented. These CDs and DVDs are also tools that help in http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifthe development of his two sons. “My duty is to make them enlightened bhaktas and not trained orators.”

“Many feel that Bhakti is for the old. On the contrary, one should attain Atma Gnanam at a very young age like Prahalada. The Bhagavad Gita is one text that should be read by everyone. Assimilating the content may be a difficult task initially, but constant reading will lead to eternal bliss. Tiruppavai too helps in fostering Gnanam.”

How does Krishnan preserve his energy and voice? “I enjoy what I speak. It is Ananda for me. While in Ananda, the inflow of positive energy is infinite. This is true in respect of the devotees who also sit through such lectures,” Krishnan concludes in typical simple style.

19 comments:

Venue Details said...

enna solla ippadipata oru gnani indiyavai aduvum tamilnattai serndavar enbade naam petra perumai Dr. D.Saisubbulakshmi M.A. Ph.D., mobile 9941147171

ramakrishnan said...

as a vishnavitewho belongs to chennai,i could realise the grateness of velukkudi krishnanonly in USA(camp.charlotte)as a ardant devotee of lord anjaneya i always pray for the health if shri krishnan.

Anonymous said...

I look forward to listening to Sri Velukkudi Krishnan in the mornings. He is so well-qualified both in spiritual and academic fields, yet so Humble. Sri Velukkudi Krishnan is a role model for today's youngsters. I feel closer to God listening to His discourses. May God be with him always !

regards,
priya ramadorai meyoor
gurgaon
Haryana

Unknown said...

namaskarams to our guruji

vaishnavathai sernthavargal enbathai tavira verondundrum theriyathavargal nangal. Dinamum ungalathu Bharadhathil Dharmam upanyasathai thavaramal ketu varugirom. ungalai engal guruvaga bhavikkirom. Neengal eppodudum aruluvadupole ararchya anugrahathinale sirithu sirithaga kurainthapatchmavathu vishaya gnanamadainthu kondirukkirom. Acharyan thiruvadigale charanam.
Srilakshmi Venkataramanan, Jaipur

prabhath said...

Prabhakar

Adiyen Dasan,

Special prayers with Srirangam Sriranganathar to give more to Swamy, strengths to deliver lectures in future.

Arvind said...

The Greatest contribution by Veukkudi Krishnan is not only translating Gita slokas and giving explanation but helping us understand the essence of it to be used in our day to day life . Hats off to us great service.

He follows Ramanuja to the tilt, Yaam Petra Peru Peruga Iv Vayagam

arvind

arun said...

swami vanakkam,
iam arun ramesh from hyderabad.
ungal aasirvatham enakku kittinale athu nan petra perumai.

arun said...

swami vanakkam,
i do n't tell about you only the word.and i pray to god for you. thank you.

Sumi said...

I was looking for some information on Sri Velukkudi Krishnan, and found this blog. I have no words to express how I feel after I listen to his discourses on TV. I started listening to him only since the last month or so, and it has changed my life so dramatically. I feel so closer to God everyday. I am in Chennai too, and hope to meet him someday.

Shankar said...

Sir i watch your program on Vijay TV and Sankara Bhakti Channel. I feel as if I am in a different world altogether while listening to your speech. You explain in such a language which is very easy to understand. Thanks a lot GURUJI.

aravind karthik said...

பகவான் கண்ணனை எங்கள் இல்லத்திலும் உள்ளத்திலும் என்றும் தங்கும்படி செய்த ஸ்வாமியின் ஒவ்வொரு வார்த்தையும் நாம் செய்த பூர்வ ஜன்ம புண்ணியத்தால் விளைந்தது. என்றும் அவர் ஆசீர்வாதம் எல்லோருக்கும் கிட்ட வேண்டும் என்று பிரார்த்திக்கிறேன்

anierutan said...

he is a great man .. parents should force youngsters in good apth.. the path at present these youngsters take is not the best . I am a proud that i have his lineage

Sriram Sudarsanan said...

Swami ku adiyeanin namaskaram,

Vaishanava kulathil piranthathai thavira ennaku veru entha thaguthiyo sirapo kidayathu. En manathil thodrum anithu vitha santhegankalum ungalathu upanyasathai keatal theernthu vidukirathu. Guru vai thedinean adiyaen thangalai kandean. Sriman narayanan entha kadyoonuku arul pozhinthida swami thangalathu guruvarul vendum. vingapanam.

Adiyean,
Dasan,
Sriram
Guragon, Haryana.

RAJAN R R said...

in these days if materialism, a prof CA & ICWA working in MNC, and leaving the job
after his father's demise to carry on the baton of spirituality... akin to ramanajuar who said he will go to hell but let millions go to heaven.after releasing the mantra for common good.

Mystic said...

“Many feel that Bhakti is for the old. On the contrary, one should attain Atma Gnanam at a very young age like Prahalada."
How truly said!!
Thank u soo much for the article.. Overwhelmed :)

Ramapriya

Priyavenkat said...

very simple being with great knowledge. Others can deliver spiritual speech but swamigal's is the best. Sure people w/o God's faith may even get into bakthi when we listen swamigal's speech.
Namo narayarana Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare HAre Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare HAre
Expecting to get still more and more spiritual messages from Swamigal.

Radha said...

VK's lectures helped me face the difficulties of like at ease. He is such a great man with atmost knowledge in sanskrit, Tamil and English.

Unknown said...

Vedics Foundation in association with
Bharatiya Temple, Troy, MI & Sri Venkateswara Temple, Novi, MI
are honored and delighted to present
Velukkudi Sri Krishnan Swami
Discourses in English
Date
Time
Event & Venue
Contact
michigan@vedics.org
Monday,
July 23rd 2012
6:30 PM
Discourse at Bharatiya Temple
6850 Adams Road, Troy, MI 48098
(248) 879-2552
Srinivasan Venkatesan
(248) 346-5358
Anand Varadarajan
(248) 767-2655

Siva said...

The greatest thing about Swamigal is that he never mixes unwanted humour in his upanyasams like many others who do that to take the crowd with them. Swamigal treats each upanyasam with utmost seriousness the subject needs. We simply forget ourselves when listening to him. May God bless him with a long life so that we can get a little more closer to HIM.