Speech of HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji – Shastra Sabha – December 9, 2022 – Mysore
As per Pujya Sri Swamiji’s sankalpa, the Shastra Sabha is being conducted annually. Today, the 15th Shastra Sabha is being hosted here. All the scholars who have assembled have come here with the utmost devotion to submit and worship Lord Dattatreya and Gurudeva with their learning today.
For 3 days Vidya Archana shall be performed. When what we learn is offered and submitted back to Guru, the learning attains fruition.
Amongst all the countries in the world, what distinguishes our country – Bharat, is the Vedas. Our country emphasises this gnyana or knowledge. We must never forget this knowledge. With this gnyana, perform karmas; and perform karmas to attain this gnyana. Vedas alone propagate this tradition. Our tradition commands us to respect the Vedas. We cannot even fathom this country without the Vedas, and in order to understand the Vedas, we need Scriptures. Vedas and Shastras are two eyes, with which if we see the world, our perspective of how we view people and this world will change. Without the Vedas and Shastras, our lives would be very different which is why many noble souls learn and teach the Vedas, and propagate the learnings and teach laymen how to live by the scriptures.
Sri Swamiji is now propagating the Bhagavad Gita and encouraging everyone to learn the Gita. There are many who fluently read the slokas, but when we memorize the Gita, the slokas will come to our mind and Sri Krishna will sit in our hearts and remind us, and make sure we remain on the path of Dharma. This is why Sri Swamiji is urging everyone to memorize the Bhagavad Gita and conducting parayanas with thousands of chanters.
Adhyeyam (studying), adhyaanam (reflecting or meditating on the teachings), aacharana (observing and putting into practice) and prachaarana (promotion) are the four activities which our Pujya Sadgurudeva is constantly undertaking to protect and propagate Vedic and scriptural teachings.
It is not enough to simply publish books. What is the use if they simply lie in shelves, collecting dust? Students and scholars must be readied. There should be people who read and teach others and those who learn these Vedic teachings and propagate to the four corners of the country. This is why ashramas are being established in various parts of the world where Vedic teachings are learnt and put into practice. Vedas cannot be upheld if we do not live by them – both on the path of gnyana and karma. Veda Pathashala, Vedic exams, shastra Pathashala and Shastra Sabha have all been established to uphold Dharma, so that we may all live righteously and understand Paramatma’s tattva.
Many scholars in the fields of Meemaamsa Shastra, Nyaaya Shaastra and Vyaakarana Shaastra are here today as speakers in this 15th Shastra conference. For these three days, they shall worship God with their knowledge and also impart teachings from the Shastras to those present here.
We must not think Samskritam is a difficult language which we do not know. When you first started learning Bhagavad Gita, you found the slokas hard. Now that it has become easy, focus on learning the meanings of the slokas.
In the sloka, ‘paritrānāya sādhūnām vināshāya ca dushkrtām dharma-samsthāpanārthāya sambhavāmī yuge yuge’ every word is easy to understand since it is also used in Telugu. There are many such words which we use. By doing adhyeyam – learning the meanings, when conferences like these are conducted, you will clearly understand what is being discussed. Then you can share what you learn with your children and why certain things must be done a certain way. Then they will abide by Dharma and thus, Dharma will be upheld. Make an effort to speak simple words and sentences in Sanskrit at home. There is a village named Mattur, where all the people speak very simple and easy to understand Sanskrit. If you make a steady effort, you will be able to understand and appreciate what is discussed in these conferences. Take a pledge to offer what you learn from the scriptures to Sadguru.
A few people – Kuvalaya Datta, Sri Kuppa Krishnamurthy and Sri Vamshi Krishna Ghanapathi have come up with a plan to host Hasta nakshatra Shastra Sabha once every month when Hasta nakshatra is in ascent. This is a small sankalpa which is being taken on the occasion of HH’s 80th birth year. This will encourage students to come forward and present their talks. Many doubts which people have regarding the scriptures will also be addressed during these conferences.
This Sabha shall begin from February, probably after Sri Swamiji’s Sahasra Chandra Darshana. I urge all of you to participate and support this endeavour.
Jaya Guru Datta. Sri Guru Datta.