Mass rendition of Soundarya Lahiri held
[ 29 Jan, 2007 0007hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
BANGALORE:
Over 60,000 women, 100 shlokas, one raga and one voice... On a sunny Sunday afternoon, women congregated at Palace Grounds and rendered slokas from the Soundarya Lahiri, composed by Adi Sankara. The work is addressed to the Universal Mother — Adi Shakti, Vidya and Lakshmi. It was released in the presence of senior pontiffs and senior BJP leader L K Advani.
The unique aspect of the recitation was that all the women sang different poems and shlokas in the same raga. Advani described the event as unique in the spiritual history of India, as he did not think it was possible for over 60,000 people to congregate at one place and sing poetry in unison.
Advani said such mass recitation of Adi Sankara's poetry had never been held in the past and that it was an unforgettable experience. He recalled the contributions of Adi Sankara as rishi, organiser, poet and national integrationist.
"He went to different places of the country on foot and set up mutts. He took his concept of 'Advaita' out of Kerala, all the way to Kashmir.He always saw India as one country, one nation and one culture and even one spirituality."
The BJP leader lauded Adi Sankara's poems for inter-linking beauty, truth and divinity and celebrating the Mother Cult,which is one goddess but has many forms in many places across the country.
Advani said mass recitation is a symbol of collective strength and action "which alone brings self-respect". "Sankara worked for the oneness of all. He believed in one Hindu country with one heritage," he said.
"We also have to admire Sankara for weaving science into spirituality. I realised he links the three elements of knowledge, science and spirituality. One is incomplete without the other," L K Advani added.
For photographs of the rendition conducted by Vedanta Bharati foundation, please visit the following URL:
The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Feel proud of Indian heritage: Advani 
Re: Sanskrit shlokas 
When someone shares something of value with you and you benefit from it, you have a moral obligation to share it with others. 
Bhagwat Gita! 
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