Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan,

Race Course Road,

Bangalore - 560 001.

Tel.: 2226 7303, 2226 5746. Fax 2228 7373

Website : www.bharatiyavidyabhavan.com

e-mail : contactus@bhavankarnataka.comRe.1/-

Vol. 12. No.8. August - 2013

KARNATAKA

BhavanBharatiya VidyaBharatiya VidyaBharatiya VidyaBharatiya VidyaBharatiya Vidya

NewsNewsNewsNewsNews

Governor H.R. Bhardwaj on

Sunday, (July 21) came down heavilyon both the State Government and theKarnataka Sanskrit University on theirnegligent attitude towards the Sanskritlanguage. He opined that neither the

former nor the latter, nor even otherorganizations had come forward todevelop and promote the ancientlanguage.

Inaugurating the eight-day long aunique Vedic Conference in Bangalore

VEDAS NOT GIVEN THEIR DUE,BEMOANS GOVERNOR

Dr. P. Ramanujan, Associate Director, (IHLC), C-DAC, (forth from the left), explains the contents in theVedic manuscripts to H.E. Dr. H.R. Bhardwaj, Governor of Karnataka. (third from the left) Others seen are(L to R)Sri. K.G. Raghavan, Hon.Secretary, BVB, Sri. N. Ramanuja, Chairman, BVB, Sri. Madhu Pandit

Dasa, President, ISKCON, Bengaluru, Sri. H.N. Suresh, Director BVB.

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jointly organized by the Bhavan'sBangalore Kendra and ISKCONat the latter’s premises, as partof Bhavan's Platinum Jubileecelebration.

Dr. Bhardwaj, said Indiahad so much to offer in terms ofVedic Science. In this contexthe stressed the need of the StateGovernment and the Sanskrit

Vedic Prayer by Veda BrahmaSri. Bennegadde NarayanaBhatta Ganapathi and associates

H.E. Dr. H.R. Bhardwaj writing on the Palm leaf model board to mark theinauguration of the eight day Veda-Samvada. Sri. K.G. Raghavan and

Sri. H.N.Suresh look on.

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University to give attentionboost to the growth of thelanguage of the Vedas. Buthe said he was disappointedover the way the latter wasfunctioning.

He recalled that “theuniversity was set up so as tonurture the language. But it hadfailed in fulfilling the very objectivewhich is to save the language andspread its knowledge among themasses, he added.

Concept of Religious Tolerance in theVeda-s (July 21) by

Prof. NabanarayanBandyopadhyay,Director, School ofVedic Studies, Rabindra Bharathi

University, Kolkata

Veda Vaibhava and Vedâìga-sJuly 21) by

Prof. V. Kannan,Ex Pro-VC, Univ. of Hyderabad,

Hyderabad

Environmental Focus of theVeda-s (July 21) by

Prof. S. Kannan, Chennai

Veda-s for All(July 21) by

Sri. Sudhakara Sharma, Vedadhyayi,Bengaluru

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Stressing the importance ofVedic literature, Dr. Bhardwajexplained that Vedic maths, Vedicastronomy and Vedic medicinewere the three quintessentialstudies from which “we canbenefit greatly to meet thevarious needs of the presentgeneration”. He hoped theinstitution would take necessarysteps in this direction.

*******If the purpose of the

ambitious conference was toencourage the youngergeneration to make use of theancient wisdom extant in theVedic texts, it can be safelyclaimed that the objective isserved adequately, judging bythe fair sprinkling of engineersin-the-making in the large turnout.

Here is how some of theyoungsters viewed the conference

“I came here to know moreabout the greatness of Vedas.There is a scientific base that ourVedas share and has a major roleto play in the formulation of ajust and a better society,” saidDipayan Banerjee, a 19-year-oldstudent.

“There is much to follow inIndian culture. Instead of apingthe west, we should dig deep intoour tradition and we will besurprised by the amount oftreasure. Vedas are not only forthe old. Young generation shouldknow more about them, as theprinciples mentioned can helpimprove society,” is the viewof Tattwa Darshi, anotherengineering student who attendedthe inaugural.

Krama Pâöha Tradition inKanchipuram (July 21) by

Prof. P.V Satakopa Tatacharya,Associate Professor, SSSU, Thrissur

Guest Lecture : What Veda Means to Me(July 21) by Rev. Prof. J.ChellappaPackiaraj, Visiting Faculty, Dept. of

Religion & Culture, United TheologicalCollege, Bangalore

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The conference thatopened in the jam-packedISKCON auditorium saw theparticipation of over 100eminent scholars from acrossIndia in the next seven days.The different sessions soughtto enlighten the young to useVedic texts in everyday life.

“Vedas are universal anddo not belong to any particularsection of people or religion.

They transcend geographicalboundaries and preach that weshould live peacefully with natureand fellow human beings,” saidR Ganesh, Director of Bhavan’sK.M. Munshi Institute of Artsand Culture speaking about theVeda sammelana.

An exhibition of manuscripts,books, CDs and DVDs onVedic literature formed part ofthe conference.

Vedic Recitation (July 21) by Students of Sri SiddalingeshwarSnathakotharaAdyayana Kendra, Siddaganga Kheshtra

Vaidika Bhajana (July 21) being performed byartists under the direction of Sri. Sudhakara Sharma

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VEDAS AS

MESSAGE OF

RELIGIOUS

TOLERENCE

The different sessions spread

over eight days in the Bhavan’sfirst –ever Veda Samvada,began with the oration of Prof.Nabanarayan Bandyopaadhyay,Professor and Director, Schoolof Vedic Studies in RabindraBharati University, of Kolkata.Titling his talk as “Concept ofReligious Tolerance in theVedas”, he declared that Vedasoccupied the first and foremostposition in the intellectual traditionof the world. Vedic texts are thestorehouse of knowledge,covering all subjects under thesun, worthy to be classified asthe highest philosophy in the truesense of the term.

Inter alia, he explained howthe focus in the Vedic texts is onDharma, described mainly asduty, code of conduct, religiouspractices, etc. Sacrifices foundgreat importance in the Vedicmantras ascribing differentinjunctions to those belonging tothe four Varnas and falling under

the four Ashramas. These aredescribed in detail in theUpanishads.

Though these teachingsgave rise to controversies, thesepractices ensure purification ofthe mind and body, paving theway for realizing the ultimate –Paramaatman which isSacchidananda (TruthConsciousness and Bliss),he explained.

Vedic people propitiated anumber of Gods and Goddessesas enunciated in the Rig Vedamantra …..” These mantras,he said are addressed singly andseverally to the different deitiesfor the fulfillment of desires,though their plurality landedVedic people in problems,giving rise to intolerance amongpeople believing in differentdeities. Likewise the prevalenttypes of sacrifices, rites, ritualscould also result in animositiesand disturbances in respect ofrights and duties, he added.

VEDIC TEXTS

COVER ALL

SUBJECTS

UNDER THE SUN

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Referring to the manyShakhas, Caranas ie. branches orrecessions in Patanjali’s time, hesaid Rigveda has 21 Shakhas,Yajurveda 101, Saamaveda –1000, Atharvaveda 9 Shakhas(ef. SkeÀeEJeMeefle Oee yee»=Y³eced, SkeÀMeleceOJe³e&gMeeKee, menñeJelcee& meeceJesoë veJeOeeLeJe&Ceë -ceneYee<³e 1st Ahnika) Here againthere was every possibility ofconflicts among the students,teachers, priests and performersregarding the study and practiceof the Vedic lores at theSampradaya level.

Despite all these disparatefactors, Dr. Bandyopadhyaya saidthe Vedas throughout maintainedthe concept of tolerance. He saidthe Varnaashrama is not caste-based but decided on theprinciple of Guna and Karma(of ®eelegJe&C³e¥ ce³ee me=äb iegCekeÀce&efJeYeeieMeëBhagavad-Gita). So conversionfrom one Varna to another wasnot infrequent. He explained thatin the Ashrama system there wasno conflict since it was conceived

as four stages of life – student,domestic, forest and mendicant.Life had its own development,compliment and glory, so therewas no question of intolerancequoting from Kalidaasa’sRaghuvamsha :

MewMeJesY³emle efveL³eeveeb ³eewJeves efJe<e³ewef<eCeeced ~JeeOe&ke̳es YegefJe Je=Êeerveeb ³eesiesveevl³es levegl³epeeced ~~

he said people spoke variedlanguages and observed variousrites. Still the earth, like a constantcow never refusing to be milched,is one dwelling place. TheAtharvaveda (12.1.45) preaches :

peveb efJeYe´leer yengOee efJeJee®emebveeveeOecee&Ceb He=efLeJeer ³eLeewkeÀme ~menñeb Oeeje êefJeCem³e cesogneb OegJesJe OesvegjveHemHegÀjleer ~~

Again the concept offraternity towards all creaturesloomed large in Vedic literature :

efce$em³e cee ®e#eg<eemeJee&efCe Yetleeefve meceer#evleeced ~efce$em³eenb ®e#eg<ee meJee&efCe Yetleeefve meceer#es ~efce$em³e ®e#eg<ee meceer#eecens ~~ (YV 36.18)

VEDAS BREATHE

CONCEPT OF

PEACE AND

TOLERENCE

VEDIC MANTRAS

ENSURE

PURIFICATION

OF MIND, BODY

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According to Vedic seers,this entire universe was like a nest- ³e$e efJeéeb YeJel³eskeÀveer[ced (SYV. 32.8),a concept of unity not divisionamong the masses wasconspicuously present in theSaammanasya Suktaas of theRigveda and the Atharvaveda :

meceevees cev$eë meefceefleë meceeveermeceeveb ceveë men ef®eÊeces<eeced ~meceeveb cev$eceefYecev$e³es Jeëmeceevesve Jees nefJe<ee pegnesefce ~~

(RV 10.191.3)

‘Let your intention be thesame, your hearts same and yourmind the same that it may begood company for you.’

p³ee³emJevleef½eefÊevees cee efJe³eewämebjeO³evleë meOegje½ejvleí ~Dev³ees Dev³emcew Jeuieg JeovleSle meOe´er®eerveeved Jeë mebcevemke=ÀCeesefce ~~

(AV 3.30.5)

Referring to the plurality ofthoughts, Dr. Bandyopadhyaysaid ultimately belief in one god

and all the deities who weremanifestations of one SupremeGod as described in theRigveda…. SkebÀ meled efJeÒeeë yengOee Jeoefvleand by the Yajurveda : SkeÀ SJe osJeyeYetJe meJe&ced (peaceful existence. theidea of pantheism), monotheism,henotheism conspire in Vedicliterature. Hence no scope ofquarrel among worshippers inrespect of gods and goddesses,as Nirukta elucidates

ceneYeei³eeÎsJelee³ee SkeÀ SJeDeelcee yengOee meg³eefle Fefle ~~

Dr. Bandopadhyaya assertedthat rituals reflect the faculty ofgiving away dear things to others,benevolence, self-sacrifice, etc.There may be proceduralvarieties, disputes, hazards,lapses, etc. but the system wascohesive, division of labour andinvolvement of all sections ofsociety.

³e%esve ³e%ece³epevle osJeeëleeefve Oecee&efCe ÒeLeceev³eemeved ~

RITUALS ECHO

CONCEPT OF

GIVING AWAY

GOOD THINGS

BELIEF IN ONE

GOD IS THE

ESSENCE OF

VEDIC TEACHING

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les n veekebÀ ceefnceeveë me®evles³e$e HetJex meeO³eeë meefvle osJeeë ~~

(RV 1.164.50)

The Vedic ritual functions likeÒew<e, DeeÞeeJeCe, Òel³eeÞeeJeCe ³eep³eeJeeke̳eevegJe®eve, Deengefle etc. were verymuch dramatically and suitablypoised. The division of jobs ofRutviks are dilated upon asfollows .

$eÝ®eeb lJeë Hees<eceemles HegHeg<Jeevediee³evleb lJees iee³eefle Me“Œjer<eg ~ye´ïee lJees Jeoefle peeleefJeÐeeb³e%em³e cee$eeb efJeefveceerle G lJeë ~~

Hence there is no scope ofdisturbance or overlapping ofrivals. Each sacrifice had its ownfruits, norms, procedures, models,etc. Result, there is hardly anyconfusion; everyone has to abideby the Vedic injunctions with theultimate aim of offering them all toBrahman.

ye´ïeeHe&Ceb ye´ïenefJeye&ïeeiveew ye´ïeCee ngleced ~ye´ïewJe lesve ievleJ³eb ye´ïekeÀce&meceeefOevee ~~

Regarding the rights andduties of performers of Vedicsacrifices, the learned scholarsaid there was restriction, notall eligible to perform Vedicrituals. Women could do so jointlywith their husbands. But the fruitsof sacrifices will accrue to both inequal share; no question ofdeprivation of women in real term.He said, in the Vedic period fullright was not enjoyed by womenand shudras because of the lackof learning of the Vedas and theirengagement in other sort ofactivities and services.

ñeerMetêefÜpeyevOetveeb $e³eer ve Þegefleiees®eje ~Fefle YeejleceeK³eeveb ke=ÀHe³ee cegefvevee ke=Àleced ~~

Vedas, the professorexplained were divided intovarious versions called Shakhasdifferent recessions calledCaranaas, also calledSampradayas which are groupsof preservers of the Vedas. Butsampradaaya was looked uponwith due respect as against the

EACH RITE

HAS ITS OWN

PROCEDURE,

NORMS, FRUITS

WOMEN NOT

ENTIRELY

DEPRIVED

OF BENEFITS

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current attitude of looking downupon them. Despite variedreligious systems and customs ofsampradaayakaaras, the feelingof tolerance reigned supreme.The cordial relationship betweenteachers and students of Vediclores was cordial.

menveeJeJeleg men veew YegveÊegÀmen Jeer³e¥ keÀjJeeJenw ~lespeeqmJeveeJeOeerlecemlegcee efJeefÜ<eeJenw ~~

It is evident that the messageof tolerance and fraternity fromour great fore-fathers of Vedicperiod can enlighten younggeneration in the present criticaljuncture of culture, humanity andreligious acts.

Here he emphasised uponthe socio-religious habits, customsand outlook with reference todifferent group of people wherehostility among them was scarcelypresent in Vedic period. AsB.K. Matilal, analyzed :

1. “A religious act is onethat pleases god.

2. A religious act is onethat is enjoined in thescriptures.

3. A religious act is onethat brings one nearer to thereligious goal, MokshaNirvana, or Salvation.

4. A religious act is onenot Immoral, and has one or allof these characteristicsmentioned above.

With reference to thereligious act of the Vedic people,Dr. Bandopadhyaya said, thethree characteristics of God,scriptures and Moksha were inperfect unison. That is whyuniversal nature of religion issuperbly embedded in VedicLiterature. As the beautifulverse of the Atharvaveda(3.30.4) preaches :

³esve osJee ve efJe³eefvle vees ®e efJeefÜ<eles efceLeë~leled ke=ÀCcees ye´ïe Jew ie=ns meb%eeveb Heg©<esY³eë ~~

'RELIGIOUS RITE

IS A SACRED

ACT THAT

PLEASES GOD'

WHATEVER IS

ENJOINED

IN SCRIPTURE

IS RELIGIOUS

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‘ Whereby the gods do notgo apart, nor do they hate oneanother, that prayer we performin your house for the concord ofyour men’. (Trans. Chanlacy,P. 35)

Concluding, he stressedupon that unless and until theintention, the hearts and mindsof the people were united, nokind of intolerance, animosity,hostility, dominance, exploitation,etc., in the world could beeradicated. Let us remember theuniversal message of tolerance aspropounded in the Atharvaveda(3.30.1) :

meËo³eb meebcevem³eceefJeÎs<eb ke=ÀCeesefce Jeë ~Dev³ees Dev³eceefYe n³e&le Jelmeb peeleefceJeIv³e ~~

‘I make you alike-hearted,alike minded and free fromhostility, Each of you showaffection towards the other as acow towards her newly borncalf.’

Bharatiya Vidya BhavanBangalore - 560 001

Kala BharatiSchool of Visual & Performing Arts

MridangaTablaVeenaFluteCarnatic VocalHindustani Vocal

Sugama SangeethBharatanatyamKathakDrawing & PaintingKeyboard

AdmissionOpen

All Classes : Saturdays : 4.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. Sundays : 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon

For more details contact :

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Race Course Road, Bangalore - 560 001.Tel.: 2226 7303, 2226 5746. Fax 2228 7373

Website : www.bharatiyavidyabhavan.come-mail : contactus@bhavankarnataka.com

'SHOW AFFECTIONTO OTHERSAS THE COWDOES TO ITS CALF'

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BHAVAN - BBMP PUBLIC SCHOOLWORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY :

ACTIVITY FOR EVERY DAY LIFE

Bhavan - BBMP Public School children observed the World Environment Dayrecently. Short film on the subject was also screened.

Fine muscle activity of stringing beans for Nursery and Everyday practical lifeactivity for U.K.G (Buttoning the shirt)

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Bhakthi Sangeetha by

Sri. Keerti Kumar Badseshi and Party (June 13, 2013)

BHAVAN -INFOSYS FOUNDATION

MUSIC PROGRAMME AT

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF

WORLD CULTURE, BANGALORE

Dasara Padalu by

Ms. Sowmya Pathar and party (May 23, 2013 )

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Sugama Sangeetha by

Ms. Rashmi Patil and Party (July 25, 2013)

BHAVAN -INFOSYS FOUNDATION

MUSIC PROGRAMME AT

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF

WORLD CULTURE, BANGALORE

Sugama Sangeetha by

Ms. Seema S Kabate and Party (July 11, 2013)

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Sat 5.00 p.m. - Khincha Hall 3. M.S. Hanumantha RaoEndowment -Book launch “ Deevige - A collection ofLectures delivered under the auspices ofM.S. Hanumantha Rao Endowment” bySri. H.N. Suresh, Director, BVB,Veena Recital by Dr. Suma Sudhindra

Thu 6.00 p.m. - Khincha Hall 8. Dr. Mathoor KrishnamurtiEndowment -Vaachana – Vyakyana‘Krishna Sandhana’fromKumaravyasa Bharata,Kavya Vachana :Gana KokilaSri. Hosahally Keshava Murthy and Vyakhyana VisharadaSri. K.N. Markandeya Avadhani

PROGRAMME :

AUGUST - 2013

Thu 9.00 a.m. to 10.00 a.m.15. Independence Day celebrationsat (a) BVB Office / Bangalore(b) Bhavan-BBMP Public School,(c) Bhavan-Bangalore Press Schooland (Ra.Bha. Hasanagi Endowment )

Dr. K. Venkatalakshmma

Thu 6.00 p.m. - Music Concert

22. Sugama Sangeetha bySri. Veeresh G. Wali.

(in association with InfosysFoundation) Venue : Indian Institute ofWorld Culture, Basavana Gudi

Sat 6.30 p.m. - Esv Hall

24. Astrology lecture : Dr. S.M. Shivappa

Topic : Astro Palmistry

Sat 5.00 p.m. - Khincha Hall 17. Prof. U.S. Krishna Rao andSmt. Chandra Bhagadevi Endowment. -Bharatanatya by Sri. B.V. Devaraju(Disciple of Guru Smt B. Bhanumatiand Guru Smt. SheelaChanderasekhar). Chief Guests : Smt.Yamuna Gopinath & Sri. N.R. Gopinath

Thu 6.00 p.m. - Sugama Sangeetha 8. by Sumangala Gunjal and Party(in association with InfosysFoundation) Venue : Indian Institute ofWorld Culture, Basavanagudi

Sat 6.00 p.m. - Khincha Hall10. Dr. K. VenkatalakshmmaSmt. Moogooru Jejamma andSri. H.R. Keshavamurthy Endowment‘Guruvandana’ - Bharatanatya byNupura artistes - Nritya SakhiConcept - Choreography bySmt. Suma KrishnamurthyChief Guests : Dr. T.S. Sathyavathy,Dr. M. Sooryaprasad,

PRINTED BY L.V. SRINIVASMURTHY AT THE BANGALORE PRINTING & PUBLISHING CO., LTD.,88, MYSORE ROAD, BANGALORE-560 018 AND PUBLISHED BY H.N. SURESH FOR THEBHARATIYA VIDYA BHAVAN BANGALORE KENDRA, RACE COURSE ROAD, BANGALORE-560001. EDITOR : H.N. SURESH

"Registered News Papers"

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Bangalore Kendra News

Reg.No. : KARENG / 2001 / 6498 / 29 APR 2002

August - 2013