Organization background
Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam (Kanchi Mutt) is one of the five (Badrinath in the north, Jagannath Puri in the east, Dwaraka in the west, and Sringeri and Kanchipuram in the south) centres established by Sri Adisankaracharya many centuries ago. It follows the Advaita philosophy, which is based on the oneness of God (A-dvaita means not-two), i.e. there is only one supreme power which is worshipped in many forms. Further, the life force which animates living beings is no different from this supreme power. In this respect, the philosophy differs from Dvaita which also teaches the oneness of God, but makes a distinction between the life force that animates living beings and the supreme God (hence Dvaita, which means two). Visishtadvaita is yet another philosophical idea which bridges Dvaita and Advaita.

The Kanchi Mutt was established, according to legend, over 2500 years ago, during the time of Sri Adisankaracharya, who is supposed to have been the first Peetathipathi. Since his time, the organization traces its history through 70 Peetathipathis. The current Peetahipathis are Sri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal and Sri Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal, aso referred to as Perivaas. For more details on the history of the Kanchi Mutt, see here .

The Kanchi Mutt head quarters is in Kanchipuram, Tamilnadu. Sri Adisankaracharya's purpose in establishing these Mutts was to preserve the traditional Hindu way of life and serve as a reminder to people of their Vedic heritage. In consonance with this goal, daily poojas and rituals are conducted at the Mutt by the Peivaas. In addition, they also sponsor numerous other activities with the goal of preserving and propagating Hindu culture and ideals. Such activities include renovation of old temples, building of new temples, establishment of Sanksrit Patasalas where the Vedas/Sastras/Prabandas/Agamas are taught, establishing Ayerveda study centres, where Ayurveda is taught and practiced, thus ensuring that such knowledge is not lost to future generations.

In addition to religious activities, the Mutt is also involved in upliftment of the economically and socially backward social classes, and conducts activities to improve their lot, such as providing them with financial help, running educational institutions that subsidize their expenses, providing subsidized or free medical care, etc.

Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam is represented in the US by the organization Kanchi Kamakoti Seva Foundation (KKSF). For further details, see here .

Project background
The Vedas are Indian heritage but also a universal trove of knowledge and spiritual wisdom. They espouse a Vedic way of life which emphasizes spirituality over materialism and is rooted in a value system that emphasizes helping those in need, and in particular, the most vulnerable. Today, this way of life has fallen victim to the pressures of materialistic modern life and is at risk of being forgotten. Though materialism has provided many benefits, it also brings with it the seeds of destruction in the form of increased stress and strife. The panacea to these ills is to relegate materialism to a less important place and start emphasizing the spiritual and non-materialistic aspect of life. All over the world, people are re-discovering the benefits of the Vedic way of life, consequently, it makes sense to ensure that ancient ideas and customs are preserved and not lost to future generations. Veda Patasalas are study centers that provide opportunities and incentives for the study and dissemination of this ancient knowledge.

Kanchi Mutt runs several Veda Patasalas, of which one is run by the Veda Rakshana Nidhi Trust, Madras. The Patasala is located in Ramanathapuram, Tamilnadu. This was established by Dr. C. R. Swaminathan, according to the instruction of the 68th Peetahipathi, Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal. The Veda Patasalas are residential in nature. The students are provided free boarding, lodging, clothes and medical help. The children are enrolled when they are 7-8 years old and study for 6-7 years. The syllabus is prescribed by MSRVVP Ujjain. At present, they teach the following three parts of the Vedas, Sakala-sakha of the Rig Veda, Taittriya-sakha of the Krishna-Yajur veda, and Kauthama-sakha of the Sama Veda. At the end of their study period, the students undergo an internal assessment by their Acharyas, and also take an external examination conducted by the Veda Rakshana Nidhi Trust, Madras and MSRVVP Ujjain. Those who pass out with proficiency are given the title Veda Bhusana.

Project description
The project is to provide financial support to the Ramanathapuram Veda Patasala, managed by the Veda Rakshana Nidhi Trust. This currently has 53 students, and 5 Acharyas. GKF will pick up some part of the cost of running the Veda Patasala. The money will be given to KKSF USA (a 501c3 US charity, and the designated representative of Kanchi Mutt in the USA), who will then utilize it to financially support the Veda Patasala in India.

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