Adv. K. Harihara Iyer Award presented to Kalamandalam Gopi

G. Karthikeyan presenting memento to Kalamandalam Gopi. (From left) T. S. Hariharan, T. P. Hassan, Dr. K. P. Babudas, N. Ramachandran, Saju Paul, V. Krishnaswami, P. P. Thankachan, Dr. V. Ramalingam, Adv. N. C. Mohanan, N. Ranganathan, K. M. A. Salam, K. Hari

Honourable Speaker G. Karthikeyan presented the Adv. K. Harihara Iyer memorial award to Kalamandalam Gopi at a function organised by the Kerala Brahmana Sabha and Adv. K. Harihara Iyer Foundation, at Samooham Mandapam, Perumbavoor on Saturday, 27th of August 2011.The award consisted of a purse of Rs.10,001, memento and a citation. UDF Convenor P. P. Thankachan and Saju Paul, MLA, were present on the occasion. Dr. V. Ramalingam, State President of Kerala Brahmana Sabha inaugurated the Adv. K. Harihara Iyer Foundation. V. Krishnaswami, District President presided over the function. N. Ramachandran, President, Perumbavoor Upasabha welcomed the gathering and N. Hariharasubramanya Iyer, Convenor, Programme Committee proposed a vote of thanks. K. M. A. Salam (Municipal Chairman, Perumbavoor), H. Ramanathan (President, Vadarkutti Brahmana Samooham), Dr. K. A. Bhaskaran, T. P. Hassan, Adv. N. C. Mohanan (former Municipal Chairmen, Perumbavoor Municipality), Dr. K. P. Babudas, Kalamandalam Sumathi (Committee Member, Award Jury), were also present. Kumari Swathi recited "Surya Thejus".

25th Onam Trade Fair at Ernakulam

Tony Chammany inaugurating the Onam Trade Fair. (From left) M. Vanchiswaran, K. Viswanathan (Anand), T. V. Krishnamani, R. Ramakrishnan, T. K. Narayanaswami, P. S. Ramachandran, R. Ananthanarayanan, A. R. Krishnan, S. Narayanan

The Onam Trade Fair organized by the Kerala Brahmana Sabha, Ernakulam City Unit was inaugurated by the worshipful Mayor of Kochi Corporation, Tony Chammany on Saturday the 27^th August 2011 at 5.00 pm. This is the 25^th year of Onam Trade Fair organized consecutively by Ernakulam City Unit at the Ernakulam Gramajana Samooham premises. In his key note address, the worshipful Mayor opined that the quality of the products available at this stall is beyond doubt since they are really homemade. He also appreciated the efforts of the organization for utilizing the marginal income received from the Trade Fair for the needy Brahmin families for their upliftment. The first sale was accepted by T. S. Ramachandran of Kalyan Sarees, Thrissur.

First sale received by T. S. Ramachandran, Kalyan Sarees, Thrissur from Tony Chammany, Mayor, Kochi Corporation

The inaugural meeting was chaired by T. V. Krishnamani, President (in-charge) of Kerala Brahmana Sabha, Ernakulam City Unit. A. K. Seshadri (President, Gramajana Samooham, Ernakulam), T. K. Narayaswamy (Secretary, Gramajana Samooham, Ernakulam) were also present on the occasion. M. Vanchiswaran (Secretary, Kerala Brahmana Sabha, Ernakulam City Unit) welcomed the gathering and R. Ramakrishnan (former District Secretary and President, Kerala Brahmana Sabha, Ernakulam City Unit) delivered the vote of thanks.

Nivedyam - a must read handbook for Tamil Brahmins

A handbook - Nivedyam - was released by the State Committee of Vanitha Vibhagam, Kerala Brahmana Sabha on 29th May 2011. The first copy was received by Rajalakshmi, President of Kollam Brahmana Samajam from Dr. Latha Ramakrishnan, State President, Kerala Brahmana Sabha, Vanitha Vibhagam in the meeting held at Ramavarma Club, Kollam. P. Ananthasubramaniam (State General Secretary, Kerala Brahmana Sabha), Sreemathy Ramaswami (State General Secretary, Vanitha Vibhagam), Meena Sankaranarayanan (State Treasurer, Vanitha Vibhagam), Nagalakshmi (State Vice President, Vanitha Vibhagam), Santha Durga Parameswaran (State Joint Secretary), Hariharan (Secretary, North Zone, Kerala Brahmana Sabha) were present on the meeting.

Nivedyam release function at Rama Varma Club, Kollam. (From Left) Sreemathy Ramaswamy, Meena Sankaranarayanan, Dr. Latha Ramakrishnan, Rajalakshmi and Geetha Ananthasubramaniam

Nivedyam is a handbook compiled by the Vanitha Vibhagam of Kerala Brahmana Sabha both in Malayalam and Tamil languages. Important days followed by Tamil Brahmin community with its importance and the recepie of the 'nivedyam' to be prepared on the same day are described in simple language. The first copy was sold to Geetha Subramaniam of Edappalli on the same day. The books are made available at District Committee members of all the Districts. The book is reasonably priced Rs.100/- per copy. Anyone who aspire to get more knowledge on our rituals will feel this really worthy for sure.

T. S. Radhakrishnaji at Sankara Santhi Nilayam

Emminent musician T. S. Radhakrishnaji performed Bhajana at Sankara Santhi Nilayam, Kalady on the day of Janmashtami - 21st of August 2011. The programme was arranged by the trust for its inmates. P. Veeraraghavan (Managing Trustee), Ganesh Venkitachalam (District Secretary), Hariharaputhran (District Treasurer) attended the programme.

Treatment Aid for Sundarambal

Ganesh Venkitachalam handing over the amount to Sundarambal

Sundarambal, a member of Kerala Brahmana Sabha, Kalady Upasabha was given an amount of Rs. 10000/- as treatment aid by the District Committee. Ganesh Venkitachalam, District Secretary handed over the amount to Sundarambal on Sunday, 21st of August 2011. N. Ramachandran (District Vice President), R. Hariharaputhran (District Treasurer), Mohandas S. (District Joint Secretary), Prof. H. Padmanabhan (President, Kalady Upasabha), Neelakantan V. J. (Secretary, Kalady Upasabha) were also present on the occasion.

Honourable Speaker G. Karthikeyan to present Adv. K. Harihara Iyer Memorial Award

Adv. K. Harihara Iyer memorial award will be presented to Kalamandalam Gopi by G. Karthikeyan, Honourable Speaker, Kerala Legislative Assembly on Saturday, 27th of August 2011 in a function scheduled at 10.00 a. m. at Samooham Mandapam at Perumbavoor. V. Krishnaswami, District President of Kerala Brahmana Sabha will preside over the meeting and Dr. V. Ramalingam, State President will inaugurate Adv. K. Harihara Iyer Foundation. Saju Paul MLA, P. P. Thankachan (Former Speaker of Kerala Legislative Assembly), K. M. A. Salam (Municipal Chairman, Perumbavoor), N. Ramachandran (President, Kerala Brahmana Sabha, Perumbavoor Upasabha), H. Ramanathan (President, Vadarkutti Brahmana Samooham), Dr. K. A. Bhaskaran, T. P. Hassan, Adv. N. C. Mohanan (former Municipal Chairmen, Perumbavoor Municipality), Dr. K. P. Babudas, Kalamandalam Sumathi (Committee Member, Award Jury), N. Hariharasubramania Iyer (Convener, Programme Committee) will attend the programme. Kumari Swathi will recite a poem "Surya Thejus" on the occasion.

The Award is jointly instituted by Kerala Brahmana Sabha, Perumbavoor Upasabha and Adv. K.Harihara Iyer Foundation, and carries a citation; memento and cash prize of Rupees Ten thousand.

Read more on this topic from http://kbsekm.blogspot.com/2011/07/padmasree-kalamandalam-gopi-selected.html

Avani Avittam - Yajur Upakarmam at Muvattupuzha

The Kerala Brahmana Sabha, Muvattupuzha Upasabha and Brahmana Samooham jointly celebrated Avani Avittam on Saturday, 13th of August 2011 at Brahmana Samooham Hall.

Ganapathy Homam

A Ganapathy Homam will be conducted at the recently purchased State Committee office at Thripunithura on Saturday, 6th of August 2011. It is being conducted as per the decision of the State Committee. All office bearers of Upasabhas in Ernakulam district may attend the function - requests Ganesh Venkitachalam A. G., District Secretary.

Bhagavathahamsam Malliyoor Sankaran Namboothiri passes away

Bhagavatham exponent and Sanskrit scholar Malliyoor Sankaran Namboothiri (91) passed away at his residence at Kuruppanthara on Tuesday, 2nd of August 2011 in the morning.  He was chosen for the Dharmasreshta Award instituted by Kerala Brahmana Sabha in the year 2006. The District Committee of Kerala Brahmana Sabha, Ernakulam expressed condolence in the demise of the sage-like, scholarly Malliyoor Sankaran Nampoothiri.

He was born to Parameswara Namboothiri and Arya Antharjanam on 2nd February 1921. He did not receive any formal education, but followed the spiritual path of his father.  The turning point came when Sankaran Namboothiri, on a visit to Guruvayoor, met Padappa Namboothiri  the eminent Sanskrit  scholar and  was admitted as his ‘sishya’. On the advice of his Guru, he took up the rendering of Bhagavatham in total surrender to Lord Guruvayoorappan. Things started turning for the better and Sankaran Namboothiri never left the path shown to him by his Guru.

His Bhagavathm rendition, known for its lucidity and erudition, attracted devotees in thousands, all over the country. He was awarded the title ‘Bhagavathahamsom’ after his  successful completion of 2500 ‘Bhagavatha Sapthaham’. He was bestowed with Poonthanam  Puraskaram by Akhila Bharatheeya Guruvayoorappan  Bhaktha  Samithy.  He had focussed his activities during the  last few years at the  Malliyoor Mahaganapathy Temple, the name of which  had become synonymous with the saintly Bhagavatham exponent.

The mortal remains of Sankaran Namboothiri  will be cremated at his residential premises at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

Merit Evening at Thripunithura

The Merit Award function of Kerala Brahmana Sabha, Thripunithura Upasabha was held on 10th July 2011 at Sivapoorna Auditorium, Thripunithura. Dr. P. S. Raman (President, Thripunithura Upasabha) presided over the function. Reghuram V. (s/o P. R. Venugopal), Karthika Ramakrishnan (d/o S. Ramakrishan), Sreelakshmi H. (d/o Hariharasubramanian M.), Anagha K. P. (d/o P. A. Krishnamurthy) were the toppers who received the medals from the Chief Guest.

Bhajanolsavam held at Ernakulam

Mavelikkara P. Subramaniam inaugurates Bhajanolsavam. (from left to Right) T. S. Radhakrishnaji, Anantharaman, N. R. Parameswaran, Narayanaswami, J. Subramoni, A. R. Krishnan

The Kerala Brahmana Sabha, Ernakulam City Unit and Vinayaka Caterers jointly organized a Bhajanolsavam at the Vinayaka Kalyanamandapam, Kadavanthara from 27^th July 2011 to 31^st July 2011. Prof. Mavelikkara P. Subramanyam (RLV College, Thripunithura) inaugurated the Bhajanolsavam. Ganapathy Homam, Mahardra Yagnam were performed on the first day. Eminent Bhajana troups performed in this 5 day event. Shanmughasundara Bhagavathar & party, Pazhani; M.V.Krishna Iyer & Group, Melarcode; Kovai S.Jayarama Bhagavathar & party, Chennai; Chakkankulangara Bhajanasamithi, Tripunithura; Erode Rajamani(K.V.Narasimha)Bhagavathar & party; Manjapra Mohan Bhagavathar & party; Kadallur Gopi Bhagavathar & party, Chennai performed in the Bhajanolsavam. On 31^st July 2011, a function was arranged to honour the renowmed Bhajana Artists/Musicians.

'Vasoordhaara'