He is highly respected as a journalist and popular as a lyricist. And he is widely acclaimed as a Hindu scriptural commentator.
Samavedam Shanmukha Sarma is a household name in the State. Huge gatherings listen to his discourses and commentaries on the sastras, puranas, itihasas, and Vedas. Mr. Sarma’s deep understanding of the scriptures and the clarity with which he explains them are being cited as the reason for the ever growing size of the gatherings.
He did his studies in Odisha, where was born, and came to work as a sub-editor in a Telugu magazine in Vijayawada. He began discoursing on the scriptures just 12 years ago and the first he delivered on ‘Agni’ at Sivaramakrishna Kshetram here was a milestone.
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There has been no looking back since then. Not severing his links with journalists, Mr. Sarma is the editor of his own monthly magazine ‘Rishipeetam’ to promote the rich spiritual heritage of India. He has also been conferred the title of ‘Brahmasri’ by Vedic scholars.
Talking to The Hindu , Mr. Sarma said that youth were showing greater interest in the scriptures. Swami Vivekananda was a great inspiration to him and his life.
“I feel it my duty to cater to their hunger for knowledge,” Mr. Sarma said. “ One student spoke to me after a talk and told me that he was on the brink of committing suicide and that he had changed his mind after listening to the talk,” Mr. Sarma said.
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Mr. Sarma is also making a point to give speeches in the rural areas where the rich culture and heritage of the country is still alive.
About commercialisation of education, Mr. Sarma said scriptures say very clearly that medicine, food, and education should not be commercialised as it would not be good for people and the country. Mr. Sarma expressed anguish over religious conversions.