IMPORTANCE OF VEDAS AND SASTRAS FOR THE MANKIND
दैवाधीनं जगत्सर्वं मन्त्राधीनन्तु दैवतम्।
ते मन्त्रा ब्राह्मणाधीना ब्राह्मणो मम दैवतम ||
Entire Universe is in control of God and God is in control of Mantras and Mantras are in control of Brahman. So, Brahman is my God. (Lord Krishna – Mahabharath).
वेदो२खिलो धर्म मूलम्वेदो२खिलो धर्म मूलम्:
Vedas are origin for Dharma and other Sastras and endowed with intellect Dharma and adored by all. They are chanted by the scholars. They are the authority for human race and it is immortal.
वेदा अपौरुषेयाः
Vedas are not depicted or written by mankind. They are emanated from the face of almighty or supreme Lord Eeswara.
वेदो२खिलो धर्म मूलम्वेदो२खिलो मूलम् |
Vedas should be chanted only by Brahmin Scholars. Other than brahmins and even women of brahmin race should not chant Vedas. This doctrine was stipulated by Rishis and scholars. Veda Sastra is the supreme containing Dharma and intellect. Vedic knowledge keeps away one from death or mortality.
वेदमूलमिदंब्राह्म्यं भार्यामूलमिदं गृहम्।
कृषिमूलमिदं धान्यं धनमूलमिदं जगत्।।
Veda is prime and important to Brahmanas. House Wife is prime (important) for Gruhasthashram (Homestead). Cultivation is primary for crops. Wealth is primary for world. (Udhistair-Mahabharath)
अन्नाद्भवन्ति भूतनि पर्जन्यादन्नसंभवः
यज्ञाद्भवति पर्जन्यो यज्ञ्ः कर्मसमुद्भवः
श्लोकम् ॥
(Lord Krishna – Bhagavatgitha)
All creatures/ living beings are emanated from food/ live stock. Food is produced by clouds/ rains. Clouds are formed due to sacrifices(yajnas), and sacrifices are performed as per Vedas/ Vedic doctrine. So, Vedas are considered the origin for creatures/ living beings.
गोभिर्विप्रैश्च वेदैश्च सतीभिस्सत्यवादिभिः।
अलुब्धैर्दानशीलैश्च सप्तभिर्धार्यते मही।।
श्लोकम्॥
The earth is sustained due to the presence of the following seven viz. Cows, Brahmanas, Vedas, Pathivratas (fornication), persons who speak only truth(satyavrath), non-greedy and generous/benevolent people.
यामिमां पुष्पितां वाचं प्रवदन्त्यविपश्चितः ।
वेदवादरताः पार्थ नान्यदस्तीति वादिनः।।
श्लोकम् ॥
There are people who delight themselves in the eulogistic statements about Vedas and argue that the contents of Vedas are celestial truth only and nothing else. They are fully in worldly desires and totally blind of spiritual sense.
धर्मार्थं ब्राह्मणे दानं यशोर्थं नटनर्तके।
भृत्येषु भरणार्थं वै भयार्थंचैव राजसु।।
श्लोकम ॥
भृत्येषु भरणार्थं वै भयार्थंचैव राजसु।।
Money is to be given to Brahmins for upholding Dharma, to Classical Dancers for eternal fame (Keerthi), to servants for maintenance, and to kings owing to fear (Udhishtir-Mahabharath).
The shlokas quoted above are proving about relation between Vedic education-Brahmins – universal peace and through that the necessity to protect Vedas and Vedic education is being emphasize.
श्लोकम् ॥
तस्माच्छास्त्रं प्रमाण्ं ते कार्याकार्यव्यस्थितौ
ज्ञात्वा शस्त्रविधानोक्तं कर्म कर्तुमिहार्हसि
To determine what to do and what not, the scriptures are the authority and one should act according to doctrines laid in Vedas and scriptures.
वन्दे वेदमातरम्
God himself said that: “धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे”
From this shlokam, it is evident that how much the virtue (Dharmam) is important for the survival of mankind. That is how the sages, Rishis, the spokespersons of Hindu religion and noble persons considered and advocated that protection of virtue as their principal goal. Having attained from Vedas, protection of virtue is one of the goals of human being in life. Through virtue one gets emancipation (mukti). The origin of virtue is vedas. India is the birth place of Vedas. We are fortunate to be born in such a great land.
Vedas are standard for Hindus like Bible for Christians. Every Hindu should follow religiously Vedas in their daily life. Vedas wished happiness of mankind as the above shloka says. That is the greatness of Indian culture. Vedas wished for universal brotherly hood many centuries ago. Our ancient culture and traditional conduct which was said in Vedas, brought glory in the world. God dwells in the heart of Vedic scholar. That is how he is godly, pious and the most respectable person in the society. The greatness of Vedic verses(mantras) is inexplicable. In the name of modern civilization, the society is disregarding/ignoring ancient culture, old traditions and eternal virtue. This is not desirable to mankind. Encouraging the study of Vedas, helping Vedic scholars and their families suitably, giving wide publicity to vedic literature, and making all experience the benefits out of these processes are not possible only by individuals or religious trusts. State and central Governments should take up this activity as a big movement. There should be proper economic support to persons who depend only on Vedic study. The persons who teach vedas and who perform vedic study (Veda adhyayanam) should be given honorarium and living wages (Jeevan bhruti). The society should recognize the importance of benevolence and should be action oriented. Then only anarchies, atrocities, injustice, tyrannies in society will perish. Mankind will live with happiness, comfort and peace.
Examinations
The main objective of this Society is “to conduct examinations from Shravana Bahula Vidiya to Sapthami thidhi every year in all branches of four Vedas for students who intend to appear in examinations from all over India by inviting and deputing famous exponents in Vedas and Sastras as examiners and awarding pattas/pass certificates in Ghanantham and Kramantham to students who passed the examination.”
Veda Sastra Parishat is conducting examinations every year in the following branches of Veda.
1. Krishna Yajurvedam : Thythireeya shakha
Mythrayaneeya shakha
2. Sama Vedam : Ranayaneeya Shakha
: Kouthuma Shakha
: Jaimaneeya Shakha
3. Rugvedam : Shakala Shakha
4 Adharva Vedam : Shounaka Shakha
: Pippalada Shakha
5. Shukla Yajurvedam : Kanva Shakha
Madhyadhina Shakha
Like this, the selfless service is provided only in Kancheepuram and Rajamahendravaram. In no other examination centres, examinations in these many shakhas are being conducted.
Awarding certificates and rewarding the successful students and felicitating, suitably /properly all patta/certificate holders (Ghanapathis and Kramapathis) who ever passed the examination from this Parishat since inception, and also scholars in Veda sastras and Aahitagnis on Krishnastami day every year is a Convention of Veda Sastra Prishat.
The examiners for evaluating the examinees are selected from famous Peethams, Mutts and Veda Pathasalas (Schools where veda is taught) all over India. For Examiners and examinees, the boarding and lodging facilities are provided by Hota family in their Bungalow.
Since inception, (i.e., from 1937 to 2022) more than 60 scholars conducted the examinations. Two examiners evaluate each examinee and one member of the Executive Body of Parishat observes the process of examination conduct.
Number of Students who pursue Veda Adhyayan in traditional way are reducing year by year. To encourage such students the Parishat is extending monetary benefit to students, and prepared to conduct examinations in Tarka, purva and Uttara Meemamsa sastras also.
Veda Sastra Parishat is conducting examinations in every year in Vedabhashyam also in addition to examinations in regular Veda Shakhas, and is giving monetary benefit along with Patta/ pass certificate to examinees whoever performed par excellence. Every year two Gold medals are presented to students who performed excellently one each in Ghanapathi and Kramapathi categories. Also, six silver medals are presented to second rankers among all shakhas of Vedas.
With continuous and uninterrupted serious efforts of the executive body, Veda Sastra Parishat is producing many Saanga Veda Adhyayis as Vedic scholars who propagate Veda Sastras to the world. Till now, about 800(eight hundred) Kramapathis and 154 (one hundred and fifty-four) Ghanapathis were graduated from this Parishat. Since this Parishat is recognised by Government, many students who passed out from Veda Sastra Parishat were absorbed in Tirumala Titupati Devasthanam, other reputed Hindu Temples, Religious Institutions, and Veda Pathasalas as permanent employees serving Veda Matha by reciting Vedas daily in India and abroad.
रेवातीरे तपःकुर्यात् मरणं जाह्नवीतटे।
दानं दद्यात्कुरुक्षेत्रे गौतम्यां त्रितयं वरम्।।
आद्या तु गौतमी गड्ग़ा पश्चाद्भागीरथी स्मृता। तयोरेकतरा सेव्या गौतमी तत्र पावनी।।
Enchanted as above in many Puraanaas, the glory of city Rajamahendravaram, on the banks of Mother Gauthami-Godavari River and purified by its sacred waters, the city appears ever green and live with reverberating Vedic chanting, vibrant discussions on Sastras, discourses on Puranas and poesy meetings.
Rajamahendravaram became very popular and had been the crown in the state of Andhra Pradesh due to predominant ruling of many capable kings like Rajarajanarendrudu, dynasties like Chalukya, Reddy Rajulu, Gajapathi Kings of Vijayanagaram empire, glory of scholars like Adi Kavi Nannyya, Narayanabhattu, Mallanna, Srinadha mahakavi, Bheemakavi, Mallikarjunudu etc., and presence of famous social reformers.
Such an ancient city, Rajamahendravaram is a repository for arts and birth place for Sastras. The city gave birth to many Mahamahopadhyayas, Scholars in Sastras, Doctorates in literature, recipients of President awards, Ghanapathis and Kramapathis.
PREVIOUS YEAR EXAMINATION TRENDS
To appear for the examinations conducted by Veda Sastra Parishat in Rajamahendravaram, the students arrive from different states of India like Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttara Pradesh, Uttara khand, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
For the past two years i.e 2020 and 2021 the examinations could not be conducted and Vedasabhas could not be held due to pandemic. In the year 2022, about 270 students appeared for examinations from 68 schools all over India where Vedas are taught. The no. of pupils attended for examination in each Veda during the year2022 are as below:
1 Krishna Yajurvedam : 110
2 Shukla Yajurvedam : 73
3 Rugvedam : 12
4 Samavedam : 26
5 Adharvana Vedam : 45
Total : 266
Out of the above students appeared for examination, 64 passed full examination and 145 passed part examination.
During the Veda Sabha held on Sri Krishnastami (19-08-2022) total 178 scholars/Veda Pandits attended the felicitation, including Veda Bhashya Scholars, scholars of Sastras, Ghanapathis, Kramapathis and Aahithagnees (Excluding the complete passouts this year)
No. of Veda Pathasalas from different states (which) sent students for examinations in the year 2022 are as below:
Tamilnadu : 12
Karnataka : 3
Maharashtra : 3
Uttara Pradesh : 3
Uttaraa khand : 1
Himachal Pradesh : 1
Rajasthan : 1
Orissa : 2
Telangana : 9
Andhra Pradesh : 33
Total Schools : 68
स्वस्तिप्रजाभ्यःपरिपालयन्तां न्याय्येन मार्गेण महींमहीशः। गोब्राह्मणेभ्यश्शुभमस्तु नित्यं लोकास्समस्तास्सुखिनोभवन्तु।।
श्लोकम्॥