(This is a literal translation of the speech given originally in Tamil by Sri Swamigal.)

"We are celebrating Mahaperiyaval's Jayanthi with Bhagavatha Sapthaha Sathakrathu. Veda is the very breath of the Lord. Mahaperiyaval spent his lifetime for the preservation of the Vedas. Experts in various fields felt that Mahaperiyaval's knowledge was far greater than their own in their area of expertise."

"The noted Bharatanatyam dancer, Ms. Padma Subramaniam, while doing her doctorate at Annamalai University, claimed to have found some new mudras and showed her thesis papers to Mahaperiyaval. But, Mahaperiyaval directed her to Nellaiappar Temple in Tirunelveli to check the sculptures in the Gopuram (temple tower) where the very same mudras already existed."

"What is surprising is that Mahaperiyaval traversed the length and the breadth of the country by foot, which meant that he must have visited any particular place only once in his lifetime. Wherever he went people thronged to have a glimpse of him, not to mention those who came up to him for solutions to their various problems. Amidst such tight schedule Mahaperiyaval must have had just a brief glance at the gopuram. But to have observed, registered and much later recollected the mudras is indeed astounding."

"Nagasami, an archeologist, sought Mahaperiyaval's help in reading a stone inscription and Mahaperiyaval very easily read the inscription which this expert was unable to decipher."

"M.M.Ismail, an exponent of Kamba Ramayanam, was once asked by Mahaperiyaval about a verse which had the 'uvamaanam' (simile) but not the 'uvameyam'. Mahaperiyaval himself pointed to Sri Ismail that it was to be found fifty-five verses later."

"Once in Mahabalipuram, Mahaperiyaval was looking at the famous Pallava sculptures. Pointing to the 'Arjuna tapas', he appreciated the sculptor's subtle way of indicating the time of the 'tapas' as noon by showing the Sun right over a brahmin performing his anushtanam. Such was Mahaperiyaval's eye for finer details in art."

"Mahaperiyaval also greatly appreciated folk-arts. Once, after waiting for Sri Kachhapeshwarar procession in Kanchipuram till late in the night Mahaperiyaval retired to his private quarters. Next morning he enquired of the Manager the details of the procession. When the details of the folk-art held in the procession were ignored Mahaperiyaval pointed out that this particular art - POIKAL KUDIRAI - has been mentioned in Sri Rudram. In Tamil 'Poikal' means false legs and Kudirai means horse. A horse with false legs. A man gets into the legless wooden horse and uses his own two legs to dance around. In Sri Rudram it is said 'aswebyo namah; aswapathibyaschyo namah; which means HE is the horse as also the ONE who rides it."

"Mahaperiyaval has conducted 'Sathas' for the various traditional folk-arts of the country with a view to preserve them. The first such 'sathas' was conducted at Illayathankudi and the next at Kalahasthi. He was like the huge banyan tree which shelters many a creature under it."

"We have been honouring great scholars during Mahaperiyaval's Jayanthi celebrations. Sri Musiri Dikshitar was the first to be honoured with the title 'Sanathana Dharma Rakshakar', followed by Thiruvisanallur Sri Srinivasa Dikshitar with the title 'Veda Adyaapaka Rathnam', Sri Narayana Shastri with 'Sri Vidya Tatva Rakshamani', Melakaveri Sri Panchapakesa Shastri with 'Vaanmukha Saarvabowmar' and Sethalapathy Sri Soundararaja Bhagavathar with 'Divya Naama Diwakaran'."

"Kerala is the Jyothisha Kshethram (Known for Astrology adepts). It is only apt that we honour an adept in astrology (Prasna) in this State. So, we take great pleasure in conferring the title 'JYOTHISHA MARTHAANDA', on Sri Unnikrishnan Panicker."