Bhikshavandanam

Chaturmasya Bhikshavandanam — Vyasa Puja & Chaturmasya Vratam

At Orikkai, Kanchipuram — Shri Kanchi Mahaswamigal Shatabdi Manimandapam, Sri Chandramoulishwara Swami Puja Mandapam. 29th July – 26th September 2026.

Parabhava Samvatsaram Chaturmasya Vrata Anushtana of Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetadhipati Jagadguru Pujyashri Shankara Vijayendra Saraswati Shankaracharya Swamiji and Jagadguru Pujyashri Satya Chandrashekarendra Saraswati Shankaracharya Swamiji will be at Shri Kanchi Mahaswamigal Shatabdi Manimandapam, Sri Chandramoulishwara Swami Puja Mandapam, Orikkai, near Kanchipuram.

The chaturmasya vrata kalam starts with Vyasa Puja on Ashada Purnima (Wednesday, 29th July 2026) and concludes with Vishvarupa Yatra on Bhadrapada Purnima (Saturday, 26th September 2026). Visesha pujas, spiritual and cultural programmes will be held throughout. The Avatara Dina Utsava of the 69th Peetadhipati Pujyasri Jayendra Saraswati Shankaracharya Swamigal will take place on Friday, 31st July 2026, with special Puja, Homa, Veda Parayanam and Namasankirtana.

You can sponsor a bhikshavandanam sankalpam for any one or more of the visesha puja days during this Chaturmasya period.

Bhikṣhāvandanam

About bhikṣāvandanam

Bhikṣāvandanam is a supreme form of guru sevā (service to the guru).

A vandanam: Bhikṣāvandanam is actually a vandanam, paying obeisance through bhikṣā. Total humility, śhraddhā and involvement are far more important than the actual money or materials contributed.

Periyavā is a sanñyasī - someone, who by definition, has given up everything for the sake of the world. A sanñyāsī subsists on bhikśhā. Although periyavā does not seek bhikśhā, it is enjoined upon gṛuhastās to seek out sanñyāsīs and offer bhikṣāvandana samarpaṇam. That is the reason gṛuhastāśhramā is called as uttama āśhramā.

How much do I offer?

The normal practice is that, in samaṣhṭhi or group bhikṣāvandanam, the amount offered covers not just the bhikṣhā for periyavā, but also is able to provide fruits, flowers and other materials for trikāla pūjā and neivedhyam and supply of provisions for prasādam and annadānam, providing vastrams for niyama brahmanās and sarees for suhāsinīs.

While we suggest a minimum amount of $51.00, more is always welcome since it will help with covering all of the things listed above.

About Uttarāṣhāḍhā and śhatabhiṣhā Bhikṣhāvandanam

Uttarāṣhāḍhā is the auspicious star under which our āchāryāl Śrī Śaṅkara Vijayendra Sarasvati Mahasvāmi's avatāram took place.

Śhatabhiṣhā is the auspicious star under which our āchāryāl Śrī Satya Chandraśhekarendra Sarasvati Mahasvāmi's avatāram took place.

So, every month, performing the bhikṣāvandanam on the day of that star is very auspicious and very beneficial to the kartā (doer).

Samaṣhṭhi bhikṣāvandanam - Performing an act of bhikṣāvandanam along with others. This is the format of this bhikṣāvandanam.

This program has been setup to help people living in North America to be able to offer the bhikṣā to our āchāryāls.

How do I offer Bhikṣhāvandanam in USD?

The process is very simple (please read this fully and follow to ensure your sankalpam is done):

1. Click one of the following: the "Bhikṣhāvandanam samarpaṇam" button, or "Subscribe to Monthly Bhikshavandanam", and complete the payment.
2. Wait for the payment to complete.
3. Register: IMPORTANT — the payment page will provide a link to a registration form. Click that and complete the form with your sankalpam details.
4. Provide sankalpam information: the day before uttaraśhaḍhā (as occurring in IST) the information will be sent to Kānchi Kāmakoṭi Peeṭham. Your information will be used to perform saṅkalpam and prasādams will be sent.

How do I offer Bhikṣhāvandanam in INR?

The process for INR payments is different than for USD payments. Please read.

Option 1: Cheque or Demand Draft (mail to address below with sankalpam details)

SRI KANCHI KAMAKOTI PEETAM
No. 1, Salai Street, Kanchipuram - 631502
Phone: +91 44 27222115
Email: kanchiacct@gmail.com
Cheque/DD in favour of "Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam".

Option 2: Online Transfer

ACCOUNT NAME: Sri K.K.P. Sankaracharya Swamigal SriMatam Samasthanam
BANK NAME AND BRANCH: Indian Bank, Sankara Mutt Branch, Kanchipuram
ACCOUNT NUMBER: SB A/C: 411550436
IFSC CODE: IDIB000S085
Note: Please send your contributions only to the account mentioned above.

• Name
• India address
• Mobile Number
• E-mail id
• Amount transferred
• Seva Name (for which you are contributing)
• Date of Bhikshavandanam
• Sankalpam details
• Transaction date
• Bank reference number, transaction

Details needed (send to kanchiacct@gmail.com) — kindly send your contribution details namely:

How will I get prasādams?

India Address

The easiest way is to provide an address in India in the form. That will ensure the prasādams will reach your India address promptly.

USA Address

The devotees who are unable to receive in India can opt to get their prasādams at their address in the USA.

Depending on the situation, we will get the prasādams either by courier (for instance, this is not an option during COVID times) or hand carried by someone coming here. So, your prasādams will reach you, but the timing is not deterministic. Kindly be assured that the bhikṣa was offered in your name and please be patient. You will receive your prasādams.

Salient Dates

Contact

If you have any questions, please contact rvaidhee@gmail.com.