Delhi LG Sandhu welcomes Kanchi Shankaracharya at India Foundation event

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Sardar Taranjit Singh Sandhu welcomed His Holiness Shankaracharya Shri Shankara Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal of the Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham while presiding over an India Foundation programme at the India Habitat Centre.

Sandhu described the Peetham as a “living civilisational institution” that has preserved India’s spiritual, educational and charitable traditions for over 2,500 years. Sandhu, who presided over the programme at the Stein Auditorium in the presence of India Foundation President Ram Madhav, said it was a privilege to host one of India’s oldest living spiritual traditions in the national capital and commended the India Foundation for bringing together policymakers, diplomats and scholars.

Describing the Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham as a living civilisational institution established by Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya at Kanchipuram, the LG said it has maintained an unbroken lineage of 71 Acharyas while preserving three core pillars: Veda, Vidya and Vaidya.

He said the institution has played a significant role in preserving Vedic scholarship, promoting education through integrated pathashalas and higher educational institutions, and providing healthcare through a network of charitable medical facilities across the country.

Sandhu also praised the Peetham’s outreach in the North-East and Jammu and Kashmir, saying its initiatives have contributed to strengthening national integration. He further highlighted its efforts in preserving India’s cultural heritage through manuscript digitisation and the revival of traditional temple architecture.

The LG said Delhi, as the nation’s capital and a meeting point of diverse traditions and communities, continues to draw inspiration from institutions such as the Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham in the country’s journey towards a Viksit Bharat.

Concluding his address, Sandhu said the timeless values nurtured by the Peetham would continue to guide the nation’s progress with wisdom and harmony. He offered his respects to the Shankaracharya and requested His Holiness to bless the gathering with his benedictory address.