A NEW BEGINNING!
Krishnanand Mankikarmam reports on the release of the new compilation of the iconic Chitrapur Sunbeam at the Holy Hands of Pujya Swamiji (April 2026)
On March 1st – the most auspicious Shishya Sweekar Divas – H.H. Sadyojat Shankarashram Swamiji graciously released the March-April 2026 issue of the ‘re-invented’ Chitrapur Sunbeam, now a bi-monthly, at Swamiji’s Jaipur camp. March 1st is a milestone day for us Chitrapur Saraswats and so, this indeed seemed a befitting date for the release of the new-look issue compiled by a new editorial committee. The Chitrapur Sunbeam was, for long – over thirty years- ably edited and single-handedly managed (this included all pre-publication ‘musts’) by Rajagopal Bhatmaam. With his impeccable erudition Rajagopalmaam brought a treasury of knowledge to enhance the various articles which he carefully selected for publication in the Sunbeam. These articles ranged from old Ashirvachan-s of our Guru-s to excerpts from spiritual magazines like Tattvaloka (published by the Shringeri Sharada Peetham).
The Editor of this freshly released Chitrapur Sunbeam is Dr. Chaitanya Gulvady. Chaitanyamaam has had a long and illustrious association with many activities of Shri Chitrapur Math.He is the President of Girvanapratishtha – the Department of Sanskrit Studies. He is also the Dharmapracharaka of our Math and in this capacity, he interacts with all the Sabha-s on dharmic matters. Besides, he is also an accomplished Keertankara and has performed very enlightening and absorbing keertana-s, like the one on the Naayanmaar saints or Kaarthikeya just to give two examples, at many of Pujya Swamiji’s camps and also during important occasions like Chaturmasa, Rathotsava and the Navaratryotsava.
The sub-editor of the revamped edition is Devyani Bijoorpachhi and members who will be actively involved are Krishnanand Mankikarmaam, Asha Awasthipachhi, Deepa Murdeshwarpachhi and Jyothi Divgipachhi.
The brand new issue of Sunbeam has three beautiful Ashirvachan-s from H.H. Anandashram Swamiji, H.H.Parijnanashram Swamiji III and the latest one delivered at Jaipur by H.H.Sadyojat Shankarashram Swamiji. Every sadhak will clearly perceive the common thread of Upadesha - उत्तिष्ठत जाग्रत प्राप्य वरान्निबोधत in all of these, beautifully expressed discourses.
This maiden issue from the new team also has an article by the popular and highly knowledgeable Sudha-pachchi Tinaikar who has for long been conducting sessions on Indian Philosophical literature. These lessons have been immensely appreciated and eagerly looked forward to, by all sadhakas There are many other interesting articles too.
One extremely interesting “looking back” article by Rajagopal Bhatmaam traces the origin and his long association with this publication while also talking about the present state of Sunbeam. With today’s technology so helpfully deployed for the laity by our Math, all former issues of Sunbeam are available on our Math website. The current ‘newborn'; issue will be available as well! With this kind of technical support we can happily endorse that all our issues are “Collector’s items”, freely accessible in a digital format.
With the Blessings of H.H. Swamiji, the forthcoming issues will carry forward the tradition of publishing articles devoted purely to Dharmic topics, and to Math news and events, in its bi-monthly editions. Please do go through this issue. Your suggestions will be more than welcome (mail address is in the magazine), as will be your contributions in English Hindi and Sanskrit, to the forthcoming issues.
A sneak-peek at events of this year's Mahashivaratri Utsava at Karkala from the March-April issue of The Chitrapur Sunbeam
