85. वेदशास्त्रपरित्राता Veda-śāstra-paritrātā

One who was the custodian of the Vedas and Śāstras

The Vedas form the principal basis for dharma, be it pravṛtti (action-oriented) or nivṛtti (liberation-oriented). ‘Śāstra’ here comprises the six Vedāngas, auxiliaries, and the four Upāṅgas, subsidiaries, of the Vedas. The Vedāṅgas are śikṣā (phonetics), chandas (prosody), vyākaraṇa (grammar), nirukta (etymology), kalpa (guidelines to perform rituals) and jyotiṣa (astrology). The four Upāṅgas are Purāṇa (including the Upa-purāṇas), Nyāya (including vaiśeṣika), Mīmāṁsā (including Vedānta) and Dharmaśāstra (including the Itihāsas, Sāṅkhya, Yoga and the six matas namely Śaiva, Vaiṣṇava, Gāṇapatya, Kaumāra, Śaura and Śākta). ²³¹

The importance of protecting, by preservation and propagation, the tradition of learning the Vedas and Śāstras, is underscored by the saying, “Had the community of teachers not painstakingly taught the Vedas and Śāstras to the generations of students, then it would have been devastating, for the earth would have been divested of both Vedic wisdom and sacrifices.”²³²

His Holiness was verily a paritrātā, protector, of the Veda-śāstras, because He accomplished several vital tasks for their sustenance, propagation and uplift, apart from Himself setting an example by following their decrees with sincerity and devotion.

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222 85. Veda-śāstra-paritrātā

His Holiness took personal interest in the welfare and studies of the students of the pāṭhaśālā in Sringeri and spoke to the students now and then. He renovated the pāṭhaśālā building and provided them comfortable accommodation and a good atmosphere for studies. At times, he probed the students’ knowledge by gentle questioning. If the student did not know the answer, He never humiliated the boy but merely went on to the next question, often after having given a brief clarification.

He established Veda-pāṭhaśālās at numerous places. He started the Veda-poṣaka-sabhā for facilitating the teaching, study and propagation of the Vedas. Through it, He encouraged Vedic scholars by providing them financial assistance, honouring them and presenting them with cash awards. The Veda-poṣaka-sabhā has been unfailingly doing this every year to this day, during the five-day Śaṅkara-jayantī celebrations. It also conducts Veda examinations in this period; students from pāṭhaśālās all over the country have been taking these highly valued examinations. The successful students receive certificates and cash awards.

His Holiness invited those knowledgeable in the Śāstras such as Vedānta, Tarka, Mīmāṁsā and Vyākaraṇa, from all over the country to participate in the vidvat-sadas (assembly of scholars) commencing every year on Vināyaka-caturthī and ending on the subsequent paurṇamī. A scholar par excellence, He presided over and personally participated in this annual sadas. He ensured that humiliation of others, particularly budding scholars, was not indulged in and if any such attempt were made by a paṇḍita, He gently intervened. When students spoke, He encouraged them by posing simple questions that they could have the pleasure of answering.

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The following was narrated by Sri Venkatappa Yajnanarayana (who became Śrī Jñānānanda-tīrtha after saṁnyāsa).

“As I was fortunate enough to accompany His Holiness during His tour of (then undivided) Andhra Pradesh, I was able to witness numerous incidents that underscored the faith He had in the Vedas and the regard He had for vaidikas. Whenever He visited a village or a town in Andhra Pradesh, He posed the question, ‘Is there any agnihotrin (a maintainer of the ordained fires and performer of the agnihotra rite every day at dawn and dusk) living in this place?’ If the answer was ‘Yes,’ He expressed His wish to pay a visit to the house concerned. Whenever He visited any such house, He praised the agnihotrin for his faith in performing such rites and specially blessed him and his family. He also advised the people who accompanied Him to such places to be sincere in the performance of their nitya-karma.”

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Once during His Holiness’s camp at Tenali, He heard about a sincere agnihotrin and decided to visit his house. The person concerned was informed about His Holiness’s proposed visit and he was, naturally, delighted.

When His Holiness came to his place, He asked the agnihotrin to take Him to the place of his agnihotra worship. The house he lived in as also the shelter where he performed agnihotra were in a dilapidated condition. Appreciating his strict adherence to his dharma despite his penury, His Holiness instructed the officials of the Maṭha to construct a new house at the expense of the Maṭha and offer it free of cost to the sincere agnihotrin. The agnihotrin was moved at this compassionate gesture of His Holiness. Within months, the house was ready for the agnihotrin to occupy.

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His Holiness presided over the conduct of several Atirudra-mahāyāgas (in which the Vedic Śrī-rudra is collectively chanted 14,641 times and offerings are made into fire), Sahasra-cāṇḍī-mahāyāgas (in which the Devī-māhātmya is chanted a thousand times and offerings are made into fire), koṭi-kuṅkuma-arcanas (in which arcana is done to Śrī-cakras, chanting the names of the Divine Mother from the Lalitā-sahasranāma) and homas, such as the Ṛgveda-saṁhitā-homa, Yajurveda-saṁhitā-homa and Sāmaveda-saṁhitā-homa (in which the hymns of the corresponding saṁhitā are chanted and offerings made into fire). All these were conducted for the welfare of all.

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For the propagation of Sanskrit, His Holiness started the Sura-sarasvatī-sabhā. This sabhā has a graded sequence of courses, with books for each level and teachers to train students. Those passing the examinations are awarded certificates.

For spreading Sanātana-dharma and facilitating connection with the Sringeri Math, He initiated the publication of magazines such as ‘Shankara Krupa’ in Tamil, Kannada and Telugu and ‘Tattvāloka’ in English. The Abhinava Vidyatheertha Mahaswamigal Education Trust was started with the blessings of His Holiness and caters to the publication of books; Tattvāloka is published under its aegis.

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