Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Apr 28: The much-awaited coffee table book of senior photo journalist Astro Mohan, captured on Pejawar Math’s Sri Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji, titled ‘A Day with the Saint – Then & Now’ was released at the Rajangana, Sri Krishna Math in the city on Saturday, April 27.
Karnataka Samskrutha University former vice-chancellor Prof Mallepuram G Venkatesh released the book. The book depicts the seer’s engagement in various activities on the two days of Paryaya held in 2002 and 2018.
On the occasion, in his blessings and address, Sri Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji of Pejawar Math said, ‘I do not have any role in this programme. I am just an audience here. I should think for once whether I deserve this before taking the credit. I should review myself. I know my weakness and defects very well.
“A person has three kinds of personalities. They are how people will judge a person? how a person presents himself in society and the true (real) personality.”
Appreciating the works of Astro Mohan, Pejawar Swamiji said, “It is a great job and wonderful creativity. It made me so emotional. Let him get recognition at international level.”
Addressing the gathering Prof Mallapuram said, “Pejawar senior swamiji is a multi-faceted personality. He is active in cultural, religious, social and personal activities. An image conveys hundreds of words. Capturing a photo is an art. Camera is not an instrument. It is long-lasting glimpses of Swamiji’s life and moreover it would be a documentary for future.”
In his speech, Astro Mohan said, “It was my dream of 19 years. Today that dream has come true. I saw a spiritual spark in Swamiji and a God lies in him. So I dreamt of capturing his routine activities and took it to a different angle. I was thinking Swamiji to remain as a long lasting personality in scripture. So that was how, my dream conceived in my mind.”
Sri Vidyadheesha Theertha Swamiji of Palimar Math and Sri Vishvesha Theertha Swamiji also gave their blessings on the occasion.
Dr Sandhya Pai, editor, Taranga Weekly, Dr H S Ballal, Pro-Chancellor, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Dr M Mohan Alva, Chairman, Alva’s Education Trust, Moodabidri, and Vinod Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, Manipal Media Network were present on the occasion.
Astro Mohan extended the welcome and Janadhan Kodavoor rendered the vote of thanks.
Vasudev Bhat compered the programme.
On the occasion of the 88th birthday of Pejawar Swamiji, all people showered flowers on him as a token of love.
About 'A Day with the Saint – Then & Now'
The 108-pages book has rare pictures that have captured the different emotions of the Seer like devotion and spiritual besides his involvement in education, culture and social activities and in particular, the routine he did on the days of Paryaya. In addition, the book also has a collection of pictures which were taken on Seer’s 80th birthday. The artistically captured pictures, 118 in all, are in colour. The write-ups along with the pictures are both in Kannada as well as English. These photos have not just captured the moments, but the emotions of a saint as seen by the photographer through his sensitive eyes and lens. Precious moments are precisely, poetically and artistically frozen for the present and posterity. A fine way of showing the deep respect and admiration by the photographer towards the Seer, who is relentlessly contributing to the welfare of the mankind. The book is indeed a tribute by a photographer to the great soul.
The photos are categorized under four chapters of A Day with The Saint – Then & Now, Electrification of Naxal affected village, 80th anniversary of Sanyasa Deekhsa and Most memorable photo gallery.
The foreword for the book is written by Dr Sandhya S Pai, Editor, Taranga Weekly. The book contains messages given by Karnataka Governor Vajubai Vala, Member of Parliament L K Advani, Union Minister Sadvi Uma Bharati, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, Dharmastala Dharmadhikari Dr D Veerendra Heggade, Eminent Scholar Dr Bannanje Govindacharya, and Seers of Udupi Asta Maths.