History

Raja Veda Patasala was founded in the year 1542 A.D. by Illustrious Statesman and Chief Minister for 3 Nayak kings of Thanjavur - Advaitha Vidyacharya Maharaja Saheb Sri Govinda Deekshithar. It was a well known center of higher learning of Vedas and allied subjects, but owing to the vagaries of time it slowly declined in eminence.

In the year 1972, HIS Holiness and the then Kanchi Sage Jagadguru Sri. Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi Swamigal formed a Society to manage and nurture this ancient institution. This society was named as Advaitha Vidyacharya Maharaja Saheb Sri Govinda Deekshithar Punya Smarana Samithi and was registered under the Societies Act as Serial No.38 in the year 1972.

The work was entrusted to Brahmasri Dr. V.R.Lakshmikantha Sarma an eminent scholar, Trivedi, Nithyagnihothri and Ayurveda Siromani and also an eminent practicing Ayurvedic physician of repute. Under his guidance and able administration, the Patasala regained its pristine glory.

Dr. (late) V.R. Lakshmikantha Sarma was the President and Treasurer of this Society till his demise in the year 1996. Under the guidance of Maha Periyaval Sri. Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi Swamigal (1907 - 1994), Dr. V.R.L. Sarma registered Raja Veda Patasala as Raja Veda Kavya Patasala under the Societies Act in the year 1969. Each Society has 7 independent members and one Member as President & Treasurer for both. Raja Veda Kavya Patasala Society looks after the admission of students, forming of syllabus for the course studies, appointment of Adhyapakas for Vedic courses, appointment of part time teachers for elementary education of the Vedic students, etc. The Advaitha Vidyacharya Maharaja Saheb Sri Govinda Deekshithar Punya Smarana Samithi looks after the expenses for the maintenance of Patasala building, food, clothing, medical expenses, travelling expenses of the students, examination expenses, seed money for the course completed students by way of accumulated stipend, awards, etc. The first donor to the Advaitha Vidyacharya Maharaja Saheb Sri Govinda Deekshithar Punya Smarana Samithi was Sri. T. Sadasivam and Mrs. M.S. Subbalaskhmi couple. They donated one third of their Magsaysay Award to this institution. Students who complete Pada - Krama patas are encouraged to go for higher studies by giving them Rs.4000/= as stipend on completion of the course like Ghana, etc.

Now we can find the number of aspirants for Vedic studies are increasing, we get around 40 to 45 new applications every year. In order to cater to their needs and for the enrichment of Vedic studies a new building just across the 462 years old building with 13,000 Sq.ft. area was built and inaugurated by Their Holiness Jagadguru Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal and Sri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswathi Swamigal of Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt on 21.06.2004. This in brief is the history and activities of Advaitha Vidyacharya Maharaja Saheb Sri Govinda Deekshithar Punya Smarana Samithi. Aasthikas are requested to bestow their benevolence to this ancient Vedic institution.