Praying forces of nature

By SNV Sudhir

Gajapathinagaram (Vizianagaram), April 8: Nature blossomed and even the scorching summer heat bowed in reverence to the vibrations of the four Vedas chanted by around 200 Veda pandits and students who gathered in Gajapathinagaram. A 100kms from Visakhapatnam, in the Vizianagaram district, the Veda Sammelan was held on March 7 and 8. The chanting of Vedas is a prayer to the forces of nature. True to this trait, the Devathadhipathis of the five elements of the nature were propitiated and the weather stood testimony. The two-day fete 'Veda sammelan' conducted by the Uttarandhra Veda Vidya Trust was a feast to the eyes and ears of all who visited the site. Veda pandits from various parts of Andhra Pradesh and the students learning Vedas at various Veda Pathashalas across the state gathered at one site. They chanted the four Vedas-Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharvana all the day to please Mother Nature for the welfare of humanity and universal peace. "We need to pray to the forces of nature to pacify them, so that they maintain balance for the benefit of the entire humanity. This is why Veda pandits are necessary these days in the society,” says Raghavendran of the Anandavanam of Bheemili. The Uttarandhra Veda Vidya Trust comes under Anandavanam of Bhimili, the abode of the spiritual master Satguru Kandukuri Sivananda Murthy. Durvasula Bhaskara Murthy, the member of the trust says that ironically no one was coming forward to learn Vedas in today's modern world thinking that it will not benefit them in any way. In order to revive the vedic culture in the three districts the trust was conducting these sammelans since 2000. Around 100 Veda pandits belonging to Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts and the students right from the age of six studying Vedas in Veda pathashalas in Vizianagaram, Simhachalam, Tuni, Annavaram, Kakinada, Kapileswarapuram, Rajahmundry, Vijayawada, Srisailam,Mahanandi and Kanchi in Tamilnadu took part in the event. "The main aim of the Sammelan was to revive vedic culture in the three districts of north Andhra which was known for Vedas before a decade. It was learnt that there were more than 100 Veda pandits experts in their field in these districts but now there are less than ten. And in a bid to encourage the younger generations and boost up the existing old pandits the sammelans are being conducted regularly" says Bhaskara Murthy. The students also took part in the oral examinations conducted by the organizers. They were given bahumanam (gift) as per their performance on the last day. Rs 60 is paid per panna (cantos). As many pannas they recite that much bahumanam they get besides to and fro travelling expenses and some clothes. The teachers who taught the students were also felicitated by Satguru Sivananda Murthy. Urlam veda mahasabhas that were held near Srikakulam by Urlam Zamindars between 1890-1930 were very popular in those days and Veda pandits from various parts of the country used to take part. But after some years the sabhas got a break and in order to bring back the past glory also these sammelans are held in the three districts. "It takes 16 years for any person just to learn a single veda completely which is a person's entire education period during his life time, besides complete dedication, concentration without any diversions. These days most of the youngsters are showing interest in learning other subjects that can fetch lucrative jobs. Daily chanting of Vedas please the Mother Nature and maintains the balance. So Veda pandits are need of the hour. These youngsters who are learning Vedas are sacrificing their life for the benefit of the entire mankind in order to restore the universal peace" adds Bhaskara Murthy. The Veda sammelan started with the procession taken out by the Pandits and students on March 7 in the streets of Gajapathinagaram. And all the day during the two days four Vedas were chanted. On March 7 Satguru K Sivananda Murthy inaugurated the Jana sabha and stressed the need to conduct these sort of sammelans in villages as they are the places of culture. "Veda sammelans should be conducted regularly to restore and revive the rich Indian heritage and culture. Everything related to mankind right from music, medicine, science and technology are there in these Vedas. Vedas should be taught and chanted daily for the universal peace," said Sivananda Murthy."I take pride in learning Vedas in this state of modern days. I chant Vedas for the universal peace and for the benefit of the entire humanity. Even though I earn very little when compared to the present day pay packets earned by a software professional, doctor or an IT person I have the satisfaction of working for the mankind" said Chityala Lakshmi Nrusimha Sarma, 17 who was learning Yajurvedam at Simhachalam Veda pathashala since 2 years. The Uttarandhra Veda Vidya Trust was founded in 2000 with benign blessings of Kanchi Kama Koti Peethadipathi Sri Janardhananada Saraswathi. It was Janardhananda Saraswathi's last desire to revive vedic culture. This was promised by Satguru Sivananda Murthy and the trust was formed in 2000 and has been conducting Veda sammelans ever since.