Mysore/Mysuru: To mark the 1,004th birth anniversary of the philosopher Sri  Ramanujacharya, Mysuru Yuva  Brahmin Vedike and Vivekanadanagar  Brahmin Mahasabha jointly conferred Ramanuja Award on the following achievers: 

Yathiraj Sampath Kumar (Theology), K. Raghuram Vajpayee (Co-operative Sector), Dr. Bhargavi Hemmige (Media), Rajaram (Social Service), Murali (Education),  G. Harshavardhan (Theology). Sri Ilai Alwar Swamiji of Vangipura Mutt, H.V. Rajeev,  MUDA Chairman, D.T. Prakash, President, Mysore District Brahmin Association, Parthasarathi, ex-Corporator, N. M. Naveenkumar, Youth Congress Leader, M.R. Balakrishna, Member, Brahmin Developmemt Board, Secretary Niranjan, Ajay Shastri and Vikram Iyengar from Mysuru Yuva  Brahmin Yuva Vedike were present on the occasion.

Rajeev spoke about the contribution of Ramanujacharya towards an equal society, recalling how he initiated the astakari mantra ‘Om Namo Narayana Mantra’ to all communities, even though his Guru had advised him to keep it secret. He also recalled his contributions in Karnataka where he developed Melukote and the areas around it like Thonnur Kere and so on.