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Learning Vedas the modern way
Students of the Veda Adhyanan and Research Institute and Jeeyar Ashram participating in a long jump event as part of thier annual sports competitions on the beach. --Photo: K.R. Deepak
Learning the Vedas for upholding Indian tradition and protecting its heritage and supremacy in the world of knowledge is today not totally bereft of modern scientific ways of studying and hence students do not forgo the advantages of normal academic excellence. The Vedic University, being run by the Jeeyar Educational Trust (JET), makes all this possible and Sri Tridandi Srimannarayana Ramanuja China Jeeyar Swami has embarked on taking the vedic knowledge to people from a young age by setting up schools.The Jeeyar has set up the Vedic Adhyayana Research Institute Jeeyar Ashram (VARIJA) on the pristine beach of Visakhapatnam on the lines of his Seetanagaram Ashramam (near Guntur). Girijans, irrespective of their caste and creed from the agency areas, also get a scope to pursue vedic studies at VARIJA.Children are always children and do not waste a moment in enjoying their free time, and sishyas at VARIJA are no different. It was different experience recently for the `city child' watching pony-tailed yellow dhoti clad students vying with each other on the beach sands opposite their Ashramam to display their prowess in physical fitness in various sporting events.The annual sports event was a refreshing interlude for the 150 vedic students from their hectic daily schedule from 4.30 a.m. to 9.30 p.m. beginning with Sandhya Vandanam and ending with a prayer to the Lord before going to bed.Vedic Sounds, the formation of the mantras and the a:nupu:rvi, i.e. the structure of the whole Veda is unchangeable since time immemorial. So it is called ''Nithyam'' (eternal). The daily routine provides the student a comprehensive health sharpening, both mental and physical abilities, in the most traditional Indian way. Vedic science has been divided into four main streams by the great seer, Veda Vyasa Badarayana, probably 7,000 years ago and named them after Rug Ve:da, Yajurve:da, Sa:ma Ve:da and Atharva Ve:da. Four of his disciples Pyla, Vysampa:yana, Jaimini and Sumanthra respectively, further divided these 1,131 branches for safe preservation. This exercise was done keeping in view the drastic exponential degradation of human memory. In spite of all this, we are so unfortunate to lose 99 per cent of the whole Vedic knowledge and have only 12 branches with us.The Vedic University, trying to preserve the available branches with its meagre resources, made a humble beginning in 1984 with 17 students, established a school on the southern banks of the Krishna. Traditionally training the students in the conventional method with vedic practices like performing Sandhya Vandanam thrice-a-day and performing sacred fire (Agnika:ryam) twice-a-day, imparting Yo:ga:bhya:sam, stho:thra:s and Prabandha:s, etc., is a part of their curriculum.Students play games, serve devotees visiting ashramam and conduct different social service activities. Those from the Seetanagaram Ashramam participated in rescue and rehabilitation programmes during natural calamities. The exposure to modern science and gadgets like the personal computers also form part of their curriculum.The quality of its interactive website speaks volumes about its eagerness to spread the vedic science taking advantage of modern science.Though plagued with the controversy over Coastal Zone Regulatoins and allotment of land on the Visakhapatnam-Bheemunipatnam beach road that is being expanded to four-lane highway, the visit to ashram provides one peace.At present, the Vedic University is imparting, RugVeda, Krishna Yajurveda, Shukla Yajurveda, Atharva Veda, Maithrayani Sakha branches of the Vedas. Sa:ma Ve:da would be started soon. There are about 10 branches of vedic schools and 12 gurus are imparting training to the students at the VARIJA. The Vedic school run by JET, established by the Jeeyar in 1983, depends mostly on the contributions of vedic lovers like the managing director of Maharja Bank, M.R.K. Raju.Students are provided with study material, accommodation, food, clothing, medicines, etc., free of cost throughout their stay in the school. Usually, it takes 12 years for a student to complete one branch of a Veda. Three batches of vedic scholars have come out after successful completion and were put up in various famous temples in Simhachalam, Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanam, Bhadrachalam, Yadagirigutta, etc., for regular Veda Parayana.Some of the scholars are dedicated to train new students, while others are in pursuit of higher studies related to their particular vedic branch, though the Jeeyar opines one life is not enough to reach the root of any particular branch. Research is on in vedic projects like understanding various effects and benevolence of chanting mantras, performing vedic practices, in association with modern science and subjects.
RAMESH SUSARIA
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