His Holiness Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Swamigal, the 68th Acharya of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam is one of the most illustrious Peetadhipathis of the Peetam. He is known for his simplicity, erudition, strict adherence to Sanatana Dharma and his easy to understand public lectures through which he reached out to millions of devotees. The most significant part of the Mahaswami’s work is his untiring efforts to preserve and propagate the Vedas. He did this through establishing patashalas, devising various schemes to reward the teacher and the student and ensuring that they received sustained income.
 
His view that the purpose of education is to provide enduring peace and not merely make one employable, is fast gaining currency amongst leading thinkers and educationists. His belief that preserving and propagating Vedic studies for this purpose is also accepted by many.
 
However most people do not appreciate the urgency of the efforts required to preserve and propagate the Vedas. The four Vedas, Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva consisted of 1131 shakas synthesized by Bhagawan Sri Veda Vyasa. They were preserved in the parampara of Rishis by oral tradition.
 

The current trends of seeking secular education to further one’s career and employment has depleted the Vedic Shakas over the years. Today we have only 11 Shakas available and they too are in the grave danger of passing into obscurity, if we do not act with a sense of urgency.

His Holiness Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Swamigal, set in motion several ways to preserve and propagate the Vedas. It was because of his single minded effort that revival of interest in the Vedas has started blossoming.
 
One key task on hand is to ensure that at least one child from every brahmin family takes up the study of vedas along with secular education.
 
The Vidya Mandir will provide a nurturing environment for your child not only to pursue academic studies but also follow his passion in the field of arts, sports or any other field of endeavour. Your child will thus be in a position to develop the body, mind and the intellect in a manner that makes best use of his aptitude, talents and skills. Unleashing the creative potential in your child through this process will be the priority for the Vidya Mandir.
 
The Vidya Mandir provides a range of facilities to enable and accelerate this transformation. The campus has a gymnasium, a sports centre, playgrounds, meditation centre, a well-furnished library, a museum, and a computer laboratory.

Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam has carried forward the many initiatives started during the Mahaswami’s time with relentless vigor under the dynamic leadership of His Holiness Sri. Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal the 69th Acharya of Sri Kamakoti Peetam and the direct disciple of the Mahaswami, and His Holiness Sri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal.

His Holiness Sri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal has covered the length and breadth of our country several times and his principal focus has been on support of vedic studies, vedic scholars and ensuring that the tradition started by his illustrious guru continues.

The Mahaswami is known for his ability to reconcile apparent contradictions in his way of life. As a result his staunch adherence to a way of life prescribed by tradition did not come in the way of his insatiable interest in modern science - be it physics or astronomy. He recognised that reconciling such conflicts could lead to peace - the ultimate purpose of the Vedas. It is because of this view that many scientists from India and abroad sought to engage in scholarly discussions with him.

Inspired by the Mahaswami, Sri Kanchi Mahaswami Trust has started Sri Kanchi Mahaswami Vidya Mandir. This Vidya Mandir is a bold experiment to demonstrate that the study of the Vedas and pursuit of secular education need not be in conflict. Thus The Vidya Mandir located in a six acre plot in Tambaram East houses a Veda Patashala and a CBSE school.

The students of the Veda Patashala will pursue CBSE education during regular school hours. They will pursue their study of Vedas outside normal school hours.

The Vidya Mandir CBSE school also provides an opportunity to children of the families in the neighbourhood to be part of this unique school. 25% of the CBSE admissions is reserved for such students. In addition to the CBSE syllabus they would have an opportunity to take up the study of Indian culture through study of puranas, itihasas, music and arts.