ಪ್ರೊ. ಎಮ್.ಎ. ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀತಾತಾಚಾರ್ಯರಿಗೆ ನನ್ನ ಗೌರವಪೂರ್ವಕ ನಮನಗಳು. 1973ರಲ್ಲಿ ಅವರೊ೦ದಿಗೆ ನನ್ನ ಪ್ರಥಮ ಭೇಟಿಯೇ ನನ್ನ ಜೀವನದಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಶೇಷ ತಿರುವು ತಂದ ಕ್ಷಣವಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಆ ಸಮಯದಲ್ಲಿ ನಾನು ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತದಲ್ಲಿ ಎಂ.ಎ ಪದವಿ ಪಡೆಯಬೇಕೆಂಬ ಬಲವಾದ ಆಸೆಯನ್ನು ಹೊಂದಿದ್ದೆ. ಆ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಾಚಾರ್ಯ ಪಾಂಡುರಂಗಿರವರು ನನ್ನನ್ನು ಪ್ರೋತ್ಸಾಹಿಸಿ, ಕಲಿಕೆಯ ದಾರಿಯನ್ನು ಸುಗಮಗೊಳಿಸಲು ತಾತಾಚಾರ್ಯರ ಪರಿಚಯ ಮಾಡಿಸಿ ಪಾಠಗಳನ್ನು ಬೋಧಿಸುವ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಯನ್ನು ಮಾಡಿ ಕೊಟ್ಟರು.
೧೯೬೯ನೆಯ ಇಸವಿ ಜೂನ್ ತಿಂಗಳು. ಎಮ್ ಇ ಎಸ್ ಕಾಲೇಜಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಪಿ. ಯು. ಸಿ. ಮುಗಿಸಿ ನಾನೂ ನನ್ನ ಆಪ್ತ ಗೆಳತಿ ವಿಜಯಾ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತ ಆನರ್ಸ್ ಗೆ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ವಿಶ್ವವಿದ್ಯಾಲಯ ಸೆಂಟ್ರಲ್ ಕಾಲೇಜಿಗೆ ಸೇರಿದ್ದೆವು. ನಮ್ಮೊಡನೆ ಇನ್ನೂ ೧೨/೧೩ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳಿದ್ದರು. ಅಲ್ಲಿಯವರೆಗೆ ದ್ವಿತೀಯ ಭಾಷೆ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತವನ್ನಷ್ಟೆ ಓದಿದ್ದ ನಮಗೆ ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರಾಧ್ಯಯನದ ಪರಿಚಯ ಹಾಗಿರಲಿ, ಐಚ್ಛಿಕ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತ ಹೇಗಿರಬಹುದೆಂಬ ಕಲ್ಪನೆಯೂ ಇರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಮೊದಲವರ್ಷ ಹೇಗೋ ಕಳೆಯಿತು. ಏನಂತಹ ರುಚಿ ಹತ್ತಲಿಲ್ಲ ಅಧ್ಯಯನದಲ್ಲಿ.
Sri Makaram Rajasimha
Associate Director - Jain (Deemed-to-be University), Faculty of Engineering and Technology
I seek refuge in the revered Guru Lakshmithathacharya, who shines like a jewel in the lineage of Seshaarya …. The descendant of the Anantaarya family.
(With his blessing) I start this reflection, with a sense of gratitude, humility and honor to write few lines on our Guru…Acharya U.Ve Dr. M.A Lakshmithathacharya Swāmīgal. I congratulate and pray to Śrīman Nārāyaṇa to shower his blessings for the success of the seminar titled Thatharya-Vaibhavam, which aptly showcases the contributions of U.Ve Prof M.A. Lakshmithathacharya Swāmīgal to Indian knowledge Systems.
Dr. Srinivas Sampalli
Professor of Computer Science Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
On this monumental occasion of the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of the Samskriti Foundation, I would like to share my tribute and my remembrance of its founder and my Acharya U Ve Sri M.A. Lakshmithathacharya Swami.
Sri Lakshmithathacharya Swami was the 'Acharya' for our Sampalli family. My father, grandfather and forefathers had the utmost respect for the Acharya lineage, and showed unconditional devotion to the Acharya as the true personification of God. Words cannot capture the magnanimity, the scholarliness, and the immense knowledge that were embodied by Sri Lakshmithathacharya Swami. Not only did he uphold our dharmas, our shastras and our traditions, but also took every opportunity to impart that knowledge to many others through his skillful writings, discourses, lectures, and informal discussions. One could carry on an in-depth and intellectual conversation with him on anything from the ancient Vedas to modern computer science subjects such as machine learning, deep learning and artificial intelligence. The front cover of the book Jnana-Vijnana-Vicaksana, a book published in his honour on his 70th birthday, carries the picture of an ancient palm leaf manuscript on the left and a laptop on the right with Sri Lakshmithathacharya's photo in the middle. That says it all – he was able to seamlessly create such linkages and integrate modern technology with ancient knowledge systems.
M.A. Lakshmithathachar was a well known personality. We knew him from our childhood as he used to frequent our house. Our father supported him in all his endeavours. His initials were M.A.L which is pronounced as 'mal'. In today's cities, there are shopping malls and in those malls, all varieties of goods are available. Similarly, was like a mall of information, where one could obtain any and all types of information and knowledge. He was a mall of information.
