Frequently Asked Questions

What is the age limit to participate?

No age limit. Anyone can participate

How many competitions are conducted in a year?

Two competitions are conducted in a year. One during swAmy rAmanujA’s tirunakshatram (around Mid of May) and the other during Sri vEdAnta dEsikan’s tirunakshatram (Last week September or First week of October)

When will the flyer be released?

We will release swAmy dEsikan tirunakshatram competition flyer during May and swAmy rAmAnujar tirunakshatram competition during October so that participants have atleast 4 to 5 months to learn and practice for the competition

What is the syllabus for the competition?

Every year the portion for swAmy rAmAnuajar’s tirunakshatram will change. But for swAmy dEsikan’s tirunakshatram it is mostly same. We have categorized dEsika stOtram into 6 levels based on the number of slokams and desika prabandham into 5 levels based on the number of pAsurams.

Can you pls. list the stotrams levelwise?

Level 1:

दशावतारस्तोत्रम् தஶாவதாரஸ்தோத்ரம் Dashaavataarastotram, भगवद्ध्यानसोपानम् பகவத்த்யாநஸோபாநம் Bhagavaddhyaanasopaanam, वैराग्यपञ्ज्चकम् வைராக்யபஞ்சகம் Vairaagyapanchakam, वेगासेतुस्तोत्रम् வேகாஸேதுஸ்தோத்ரம் Vegaasetustotram, अष्टभुजाष्टकम् அஷ்டபுஜாஷ்டகம் Ashtabhujaashtakam, कामासिकाष्टकम् காமாஸிகாஷ்டகம் Kaamaasikaashtakam, परमार्थस्तुति: பரமார்தஸ்துதி Paramaarthastuti, न्यासदशकम् ந்யாஸதஶகம் Nyaasadashakam, सुदर्शनाष्टकम् ஸுதர்ஶநாஷ்டகம் Sudarshanaashtakam, गरुडदण्डक: கருடதண்டகம் Garudadandakam

Level 2:

गोपालविंशति: கோபாலவிம்ஶதி Gopaalavimshati, न्यासविंशति: ந்யாஸவிம்ஶதி Nyaasavimshati, षोडशायुधस्तोत्रम् ஷோடஶாயுதஸ்தோத்ரம் Shodashaayudhastotram, श्रीदेशिकमङ्गळम् ஸ்ரீதேஶிகமங்களம் Desika Mangalam

Level 3:

श्रीहयग्रीवस्तोत्रम् ஸ்ரீஹயக்ரீவஸ்தோத்ரம் Sri Hayagriivastotram, अभीतिस्तव: அபீதிஸ்தவ: Abhiitistava, देहळीशस्तुति: தேஹளீஶஸ்துதி Dehaliishastuti, श्रीस्तुति: ஸ்ரீஸ்துதி Sriistuti, भुस्तुति: பூஸ்துதி Bhuustuti, गोदास्तुति: கோதாஸ்துதி Godaastuti, न्यासतिलकम् ந்யாஸதிலகம் Nyaasatilakam

Level 4

वरदराजपञ्ज्चाशत् வரதராஜபஞ்சாஶத் Varadaraajapanchaashat, शरणागतिदीपिका ஶரணாகதிதீபிகா Saranaagatidiipikaa, देवनायकपञ्ज्चाशत् தேவநாயகபஞ்சாஶத் Devanaayakapanchaashat, गरुडपञ्ज्चाशत् கருடபஞ்சாஶத் Garudapanchaashat

Level 5

महवॆरवैभवम् (रघुवीरगद्यम्) மஹாவீரவைபவம் (ரகுவீரகத்யம்) Mahaveera Vaibhavam (Raghu Veera Gadhyam), यतिराजसप्तति: யதிராஜஸப்ததி Yatiraajasaptati

Level 6

दयाशतकम् தயாஶதகம் Dayaashatakam, अच्चुअसअअम् (अच्युतशतकम्) அச்சுஅஸஅஅம் (அச்யுதஶதகம்) Accuasaam (Acyutashatakam)

Can you pls. list the Prabandhams levelwise?

Level 1

அடைக்கலப்பத்து Adaikkalappaththu, அருத்தபஞ்சகம் Arthapanchakam, ஸ்ரீ வைணவதினசரி SriVaishnavadinasari, பந்நிருநாமம் Pannirunamam, திருமந்திரச்சுருக்கு Thirumandhirachurukku, துவயச்சுருக்கு Dwayachurukku, சரமச்லோகச்சுருக்கு Charamaslokachurukku

Level 2

திருச்சின்னமாலை Thiruchchinnamalai, மும்மணிக்கோவை Mummanikkovai, நவமணிமாலை Navamanimalai

Level 3

பரமபதசோபானம் Paramapadhasopanam, கீதார்த்தசங்கிரகம் Gitarthasangraham, ப்ரபந்தசாரம் Prabandhasaram, ஆகாரநியமம் AharaNiyamam, பிள்ளையந்தாதி Pillaiandhaadhi

Level 4

அமிருதரஞ்சனி Amrutharanjani, அமிருதாசுவாதினி Amruthaswadhini, மெய்விரதமான்மியம் Meyviradhamanmiyam or aththigiri mahatmiyam

Level 5

அதிகாரசங்கிரகம் Adhikarasangraham, பரமதபங்கம் Paramadhabangam

How to register for these competitions?

Registration links will be there in the competition flyer. Click the link to register.

I see dEsika stOtram, dEsika Prabandham and pAdukA sahasram in the competition. Do I have to register for all?

No. You can register as per the following based on your comfort level.

1. Register only for dEsika stotram

2. Register only for dEsika Prabandham

3. Register only for pAdukA sahasram

4. Register for dEsika stOtram and dEsika Prabandham

5. Register for dEsikan stOtram and pAdukA sahasram

6. Register for dEsika Prabandham and pAdukA sahasram

Can I participate in multiple levels in dEsika stOtram and dEsika Prabandham?

No. Each participant can participate in only one level. However you can register and participate in multiple stOtrams or Prabandhams in the same level.

Can I participate in multiple stOtrams or Prabandhams?

Yes. You can register and participate is multiple stOtrams and Prabandhams as long as all the stOtrams and Prabandhams you are registering are all in the same level. You cannot register and participate across multiple levels.

I am registering for the first time. Do I have to register myself in Level 1 stOtrams/Prabandhams or can I register myself in Level 2 stOtrams/Prabandhams?

Anyone can register themselves in any level. You can register yourself in Level 2. But you will be tested on all StOtrams/Prabandhams in Level 1 apart from the stOtrams/Prabandhams that you have registered in Level 2. Pls. note that certificates will be issued only for StOtrams/Prabandhams that you have registered. This is applicable for all participants and not only first time participants.

Examples:

Scenario 1: If you have registered for gOpAla Vimshati

What you can expect: You will be tested in all 10 stOtrams in Level 1 and also in gOpAla Vimshati to make sure that you know all the Level 1 stOtrams before moving on to Level 2 stOtrams.

Secaniro 2: If you have registered for Prabandhasaram

What you can expect: You will be tested in all 4 Prabandhams in Level 1 and 3 Prabandhams in Level 2 and also in Prabandhasaram to make sure that you know all the dEsika Prabandhams in the lower levels before moving to upper levels. Pls. note that certificates will be issued only for StOtrams/Prabandhams that you have registered.

Will I get an acknowledgement after registration?

Yes. You will receive an email after successful registration submission.

How do I get information/updates about the competition?

We recommend you to join our Telegram group to get instant updates. However, we will send email to the email address registered under "Email for communication". It is the responsibility of the Parents/Gurus/Participants to make sure that they are checking the messages/emails and to act accordingly.

Do I get a certificate after the competition?

Yes. We will give the certificates for all participants.

How are these competitions conducted?

We conduct these competitions through video conferencing and also in person based on the region. Video conferencing software is also decided based on the region. We normally use Google Meet, Webex, Zoom and FreeConferenceCall (FCC). Before COVID-19, these competitions were held in person in Middle East and in India.

What are all the areas the participants will be assessed/judged?

1. Accuracy – 20 marks

a. No corrections

2. Tone & Diction – 20 marks

a. For Samskrutham Stotrams proper pronunciation for all aksharas

1. Example: क, ख, ग and घ must to be pronounced accurately

b. For Tamizh Prabandhams proper pronunciation for all ezhuthukkaL

1. Example: ந, ன, ண, ழ, ல, ள, ர and ற must be to pronounced accurately

3. Confidence – 20 marks

a. Confidence with respect

4. Memory – 20 marks

a. Needed no prompting/help from books or anyone (Parents, Gurus and Judges)

5. VIVA – 20 marks

a. Correct answers for the questions asked

How are the participants graded?

We have the below grading categories. These grade are done based on Agewise, StOtram/Prabandham wise, Regionwise.

Outstanding, Excellent, Great, Very Good and Good. Judges decision will be final.

I am not in the USA. Can I participate in these competitions?

Yes. This competition is conducted and organized around the globe. We are a group of volunteers working across the globe to conduct this competition around the globe .

What are the regions? How should I get in touch with the regional contact?

We have the four regions and their contact email address. However this information can also be found in the competition flyer.

Americas: competitions-americas@takshika.org

UK & Europe: competitions-ukeurope@takshika.org

Middle East: competitions-uae@takshika.org

Asia Pacific: competitions-ap@takshika.org

When will I know the exact date for competition?

We will update atleast a week before with the exact date. Dates may change based on the region.

How do I join the competition and recite?

Each participant will be assigned a date and time atleast couple of days before the competition. We also assign a video conferencing link to the participant.

These information will be published in our website. We also send this in our Telegram group and we also send emails.

We want the participant to be there in their respective video conferencing channel 5 minutes before their alloted time.

Are there any dresscode or rules that needs to be followed?

Yes. We have a guidelines document.

You can find the guidelines document at https://sites.google.com/takshika.org/vedantadesikan752-2020/home

I want to add or remove stOtrams or Prbandhams to my registration? How do I do that?

You should have received an acknowledgement email when you reigstered with the link to your regisration information. Pls. use that link to change your registration. However, you will be able to do this only till the registration close date and time. We don't encourage any changes once we close the registration.

I have registered. But I will NOT be able to participate. What should I do?

We totally understand this situation. In these kind of scenarios, pls. send an email to your regional contact with your registration number and request them to remove your registration. We request you to let us know if you are not participating because this will save our time, Judge's time a lot if you inform us. If you don't inform us, we will be alloting you date and time. Judges will be waiting for you to come for the competition. Not only that, this affects your next participants too. For example, if a Judge has 20 participants in his/her list and if 10 didn't show up without informing us then this affects Judge's time, Our time and other participants's time. We request to respect other's time. So, pls. inform us if you are not participating.

How do I know my region?

If you try to egister yourself and if you can't find your country in the dropdown, then you are NOT in that region. Below are the list of countries regionwise.

Americas:

• USA
• Canada

UK & Europe:

• Albania
• Andorra
• Austria
• Belarus
• Belgium
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Czech Republic (Czechia)
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Holy See
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Moldova
• Monaco
• Montenegro
• Netherlands
• North Macedonia
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Russia
• San Marino
• Serbia
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Ukraine
• United Kingdom

Middle East:

• Akrotiri and Dhekelia
• Bahrain
• Cyprus
• Egypt
• Iran
• Iraq
• Israel
• Jordan
• Kurdish
• Kuwait
• Lebanon
• Oman
• Palestine
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• Syria
• Turkey
• United Arab Emirates
• Yemen

Asia Pacific:

• American Samoa
• Australia
• Bangladesh
• Bhutan
• Brunei
• Cambodia
• China
• Cook Islands
• Fiji
• French Polynesia
• Guam
• India
• Indonesia
• Japan
• Kiribati
• Laos
• Malaysia
• Maldives
• Marshall Islands
• Micronesia
• Mongolia
• Myanmar
• Nauru
• Nepal
• New Caledonia
• New Zealand
• Niue
• North Korea
• Northern Mariana Islands
• Pakistan
• Palau
• Papua New Guinea
• Philippines
• Samoa
• Singapore
• Solomon Islands
• South Korea
• Sri Lanka
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Timor Leste
• Tokelau
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Vanuatu
• Vietnam
• Wallis And Futuna