Sringeri Swamiji interacts with devotees at IIT Madras, 1965

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Institute Events , Visiting VIPs

This photograph was taken during the visit of Sringeri Sharada Peethadhipati Sri Abhinava Vidyatheertha Swamiji. The Swamiji was the 35th Jagadguru Sankaracharya of the Sringeri Sarada Pitha. Photographs from our collections suggest that he conducted a pooja at the Jalakanteshwara Temple on the IIT Madras campus during his visit.

His visit was possibly a part of his all-India tour which he embarked on in June 1964 from the Sringeri Matha, Karnataka. When he visited IIT Madras, the Jalakanteshwara Temple had been recently constructed and a kumbhabhishekam had been conducted a few months prior.

Seen in the image is Mr. Y. S. Ramaswamy (Superintending Engineer, wearing sunglasses) and the Swamiji (to Mr. Ramaswamy’s right hand side). Mr. C. V. Sethunathan (Registrar of IIT Madras) is also seen to the extreme left, behind a priest. Prof. R. Krishnamurthi (Head of Humanities Department, second from right) is also seen in the photograph.

Collection:

Gourishankar Collection

Album Name:

Visit of Sringeri Swamiji, 1965

Photograph ID:

001/0258/IMG_0336

Album ID:

0258

Date:

7 November 1965

Photographer:

C. Gourishankar (1936-2002). A geologist by qualification, Gourishankar started his career as a photographer after working for many years with the Geological Survey of India. In everything that he did, Gourishankar strove to achieve flawlessness and impeccable quality. Thus his photography too was characterised by this drive for perfection. Every photograph that Gourishankar took was meticulously planned and shot and printed with diligence and patience. Gourishankar carried out most of the official photography at IIT Madras in the 1960s.

Event:

Visit of Sringeri Swamiji