The Three-day International Virtual workshop on “The Ideology Inherent in the Tradition of Vedic Recitation and Practices – An exposure” jointly organized by Amrita Darshanam, International Centre for Spiritual Studies (ICSS), Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Mysuru Campus and South Zone Cultural Centre, Thanjavur (Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India) was successfully conducted between 25 and 27 February 2021 at Amrita premises in Bogadi, Mysuru.
The workshop was inaugurated by Prof. K. E. Devanathan, Vice-Chancellor, Karnataka Samskrit University on 25 February 2021. In his inaugural address, he brought out the relevance and significance of Vedic recitation and remarked that the Vedas being the oldest scripture have not lost their sanctity as they have been fiercely protected by the gurus over the ages by strictly adhering to the established style and pattern of chanting and rituals. This is the very reason why UNESCO has acknowledged the Vedas as an intangible heritage. He further emphasized on the enhanced energy, sharper focus and better performance that are observed among the Vedic practitioners.
Dr. Rekha Bhat, Principal, School of Arts and Sciences, Mysuru campus, in her welcome address felt that, “If comprehended and adopted appropriately, the Vedas have the potential to ensure global peace and contentment.”
The three-day event comprised the demonstration of the Vedic ritualistic practices dotted with recitations and explanations along with deliberations and interactions on the three Vedas – the Rigveda, the Yajurveda and the Samaveda.
The performances of Pavamana Ritual, Rudra Yaga and Darsheshti were the unique features of the workshop. Dr. Vamshi Krishna Ghanapaathi, Dr. Vigneshwara Bhat and Dr. Narasimha Bhat led these rituals along with their scholarly teams.
Chanting system along with its nuances of the Rigveda and the Samaveda were presented by Vidwan Manjunatha M and Prof. Manjunatha Shrouti, the renowned Samavedic practitioner and Prof. Subrahmanya Bhat respectively.
Sessions on “Relevance and Importance of Vedic Studies in the Modern Time” by Dr. C. M. Neelakandhan, Former Professor, Sree Sankaracharya University, Kalady; “Influence of the Vedas on Various Cultures” by Dr. Santosh Bhagoji More, Director of Samatvam Foundation, USA and “Yogic Wisdom Enshrined in the Vedas” by Mr. Alexander Medin, Director of Nosen Yoga Retreats Center & Back in the Ring, Norway presented the significance and relevance of Vedic practice for common men in today’s world.
Prof. K. E. Dharaneedharan, Professor of Sanskrit, Pondicherry University addressed the gathering on the topic “The Ideology Inherent in the Tradition of Rigveda.” He opined that there is no author for Vedas and that Rishis are the founders of the Vedas not the creators. Dr. Chakravarthy Ramachandran, Maharaja Sanskrit College, Karnataka Samskrit University spoke on “Vedic Analytical Theory as per Meemamsa.”
In the valedictory function, Prof. Srinivasa Varakhedi, Vice-Chancellor, Kavikulaguru Kalidas Sanskrit University, Maharashtra said that, the COVID-19 pandemic made people return to traditional knowledge for medical solutions and remedies. He opined that the need is not just to preserve the Vedas in museums and archive them but to adopt Vedic practices in our daily life. In the context of new education policy, scholars should look for ways to blend Vedic knowledge with modern technology to uplift the modern society. He urged everyone to learn it personally – by sparing sometime.
Brahmachari Anantananda Chaitanya, Director; Brahmachari Muktidamrta Chaitanya, Correspondent, Amrita Mysuru; Dr. Rekha Bhat, Principal; Dr. Vigneshwara Bhat, Workshop Convener; Dr. Srikantha Parida, Workshop Co-Convener and others were present on the occasion.
Over 2000 participants were a witness to the workshop through various online platforms such as Microsoft Teams, YouTube and Facebook Live. The active participation during the interactive session indicated that the workshop provided deeper insights and brought out newer possibilities in Vedic practice and research.
