In praise of the guru

His Holiness, Jagadguru Shankaracharya, Dakshinam Naya, Sri Shringeri Sharada Pitham, Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji is pleased to confer the Adi Shankaracharya Award on Sri Swami Dayananda Saraswati, Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, in recognition of the exemplary service rendered for the sustenance and propagation of Sanatana Dharma, Advaita philosophy, the Hindu cause and the welfare of mankind.

In addition, below is an extract from the speech the Shankaracharya gave at last year's birthday ceremony. It is in praise of Adi Shankara, but could easily be a description of Swami Dayananda Saraswati:

Vishwa Gunadarsha Campu

“Rough translation: It is quite difficult to attain competence in learning and in committing the Vedas to memory, even more so to discern their meaning with clarity. Among those who have these two abilities, it is still more difficult to find one who is able to compose prose and poetry with elegance. Still, if a few such are to be found with these three abilities, the possibility is miniscule that they will be of good character, with devotion towards the Lord and of a forgiving nature. However, all these four characteristics were expressed playfully in their full glory with Bhagavatpaada.”

Thanks for this are due to Prasad Krishnan (posted in Swami Paramarthananda Followers on Facebook).