Speech of HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji during Navaratri – October 3, 2011 – Mysore
In 1978 the Veda Patasala began in the ashram in a small way with pundits fromMysorecoming in to teach the students. This was during the days when even the next meal was not guaranteed in the ashram. It is difficult to believe that such circumstances existed here, when you see the present grandeur and the plentiful supply of free food now. Swamiji struggled very hard to make it happen, although he will always say that he did it happily. Such was the strength and determination of Sri Swamiji to preserve and protect the Vedic studies.
In 1985 the residentialVedaSchoolwas established with only 5 full time students of whom Sri Bala Swamiji is proud to say that he was one of them. Another student in the same class was Kuppa Viswanatha Sastry. Sri Kuppa Krishnamurty was instrumental in handling the administration of this institution.
Today the Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Shastra Pathasala is being inaugurated in Tirupati with Viswanatha Sastry in charge of the instruction. He is employed fulltime at the University there and is offering his services to the ashram school gratis.
These days it is very hard to find teachers to teach the Shastras. It is even harder to find students who are willing to learn Shastras. Veda studies begin at a very young age. But Shastra studies require more mature and serious minds. In this day and age when the youth is more interested in movies rather than in learning the meaning of the Vedas, which is what the Shastras explain, it is difficult to find interested and dedicated students. Sri Swamiji has donated the building that was gifted to him, for the purpose of establishing this school. That shows how much he is willing to sacrifice for this cause.
There is a false belief among people that those who learn Vedas lack proficiency in other academic studies. Vamshi Krishna Ghanapathi has disproven that belief. He has mastered the Vedic studies, earning the status of a Ghanapathi. He has earned a Master’s Degree from a University. Now he has written a thesis based on his Vedic knowledge, in simple Telugu language explaining the significance and benefit of ‘Shrouta Karma’, for which he has been awarded a Ph.D by theTeluguUniversity. He is placing the fruits of his labor at the lotus feet of Sadguru Sri Swamiji, dedicating them to him totally.
Ganesh Avadhani is doing meritorious work conducting Yajnas such as the Om Namo Hanumate Namah Japa Yajna that is going on right now.
These meritorious students have been nurtured and moulded by Sri Swamiji. They are ever eager to serve him with all the resources that they have been endowed with.
Veda studies develop a very strong memory, which makes it easy for Veda students to grasp and master other academic subjects.
Sri Rani Subbayya Dikshitulu said that Vamshi is also a linguist who is proficient in Telugu, Kannada, English, Tamil and other languages. These young stalwarts are saplings planted, nurtured, and protected by Sri Swamiji who have now grown into mighty trees.
Courtesy: Smt. Hira Duvvuri