Postage stamp released on 750th anniversary of Vedanta Desikan

Naidu emphasized that Vedanta Desikan was much more than a spiritual teacher and said that he was a multi-faceted personality-- a scientist, a logician, a mathematician, a literary genius, a linguist.

The Vice President, M. Venkaiah Naidu released a postage stamp to commemorate the 750th birth anniversary of Sri Vedanta Desikan in New Delhi today. He said that our textbooks must throw light on the lives of great saints and spiritual icons such as Sri Vedanta Desikan so that our children internalize and practice the lofty ideals of humanism, peace and compassion propagated by them.

‘Sri Vedanta Desikan is one of the most prominent preceptors in the Srivaishnava tradition and one of the most effulgent luminaries to have graced this land’, the Vice President added. Initiatives like bringing out commemorative postage stamps were not only meant to pay tribute to the great contributions of visionaries like Sri Vedanta Desikan but also aimed at inspiring our younger generation to follow in their footsteps.

The Vice President termed Sri Vedanta Desikan’s scholarship as truly outstanding and said that he had authored brilliant poems, prose, drama, epics, commentaries, scientific texts and philosophical treatises in Sanskrit, Tamil, Prakrit and Manipravalam.

Naidu emphasized that Vedanta Desikan was much more than a spiritual teacher and said that he was a multi-faceted personality-- a scientist, a logician, a mathematician, a literary genius, a linguist, a military strategist and much more.

The Vice President, M. Venkaiah Naidu releasing the commemorative Postage Stamp to mark the 750th birth anniversary of Sri Vedanta Desika, in New Delhi

Referring to Sri Vedanta Desikan’s humility and non-attachment to worldly honours and his affinity to a life of simplicity and service, the Vice President said Sri Desikan considered the grace of the Lord he worshipped and served as his greatest treasure.

Pointing out that one of the essential features of Sri Vedant Desikan’s philosophy was the aspect of inclusion, Shri. Naidu said that anyone, irrespective of caste and creed could join the Sri Vaishnava fold. ‘This is a truly democratizing movement that obliterated caste distinctions’, he added.

The Vice President condemned the several acts of terror that had shocked the collective consciousness of the world in recent times and stated unequivocally that terrorism had no religion. Shri Naidu termed terrorism as the greatest enemy of humanity and welcomed the listing of Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN Security Council. He called for world peace and said that peace and humanity formed the basis of the spiritual teachings of great saints like Sri Vedanta Desikan

The Vice President expressed hope that organizations like Sri Vedanta Desikan Manipaduka Indraprastha Trust would propagate Sri Vedant Desikan’s timeless message to the younger generation. ‘It is only through such understanding that the true greatness of our illustrious land can be fully appreciated’, he said.

The Vice President also stressed that massive public awareness and education campaigns must be undertaken to bring to the fore luminaries such as Sri Vedant Desikan who have shaped our Bharat into a “Jnana Bhoomi”.

Shri Mohan Parasaran, Former Solicitor General of India, Shri Vishvapavan Pati, Additional Director General, Department of Posts, Shri R. Mukunthan, General Secretary, Delhi Tamil Sangam, Shri R. Sriraman, Founder Trustee, Sri Vedanta Desikan Manipaduka Indraprastha Trust and others were present on the occasion.