Mahaganapati Vakyartha Vidwat Sabha
Conducted under the august chairmanship of Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji in Sri Sacchidananda Vilas, Narasimha Vanam, the Mahaganapati Vakyartha Vidwat Sabha proceedings consisted of deliberations in four Shastras namely Vedanta, Mimamsa, Nyaya and Vyakarana. About 50 renowned Shastric scholars across the country participated in the Sabha and deliberated in Sanskrit for 13 days from Vinayaka Chaturthi day (Aug 29th). While the audience marvelled at the spectacle of the Shastric deliberations in the Jagadguru’s divine presence and chairmanship, scholars presented their topics and delighted in the erudition of the Jagadguru.
Scholars who participated in the Mahaganapati Vakyartha Vidwat Sabha 2014 in the divine prescence of the Jagadguru Mahaswamiji
The Sabha concluded on 10th September with a Valedictory function. Administrator & CEO, Dr. V R Gowrishankar welcomed the scholars and offered thanks on behalf of all devotees for their participation and invited the scholars to involve and assist the Peetham in bringing out unpublished works in Shastras which are maintained in the form of Palm leaf and paper manuscript. He also mentioned that apart from the usual honours given, every scholar would be rewarded a gold coin as a recognition of the service to the sustenance and propagation of the Shastras. Sri Gowrishankar pointed out the importance given to nurturing scholarship by recalling how the Jagadguru on His Pattabhisheka day 25 years back, had set aside all the Pada Kanikke received (on that auspicious day) towards the Shastra Samvardhini Sabha to conduct the annual Sadas.
A section of renowned scholars who participated in the Mahaganapati Vakyartha Vidwat Sabha 2014 listening to the presentation in Tarka Shastra in the divine prescence of the Jagadguru Mahaswamiji
The Jagadguru then released three books in Sanskrit on the occasion – the first being “Vidwat Pratibha 2013″ containing the proceedings of last year’s Sabha. The second book, being “Dharmitavacchedaka Pratyasatti VicharaH” a hitherto unpublished work in Nyaya Shastra written by Sri Harirama Tarka Vagisha, and edited by Vidwan Naveena Holla. The book also contains a Tippani (explanatory notes) written by Vidwan Naveena Holla for this work. The third book to be released is “Vacharambhana Shruti VicharaH” written by the disciple of the Jagadguru Mahaswamiji, Brahmachari Sri Umesh. When the author had expressed that he had not written this work for fame, the Jagadguru had conveyed that this work would be useful for scholars and students of Vedanta and hence the book was being released on the occasion. Brahmachari Sri Umesh, who had the fortune of learning the Chandogya Upanishad Bhashyam of Sri Adi Shankracharya from the 35th Acharya of the Peetham, Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji, has penned this work to explain the verse, “वाचारम्भणं विकारो नामधेयं मृत्तिकेत्येव सत्यम्” of the Chandogya Upanishad and to offer responses to objections raised by other philosophic schools. The Jagadguru also released a book on Nitya Parayana Shlokas in Kannada script, compiled by Dr H V Narasimhamoorthy, Dharmadhikari of Sringeri Shankara Math, Kundapura.
In His Sanskrit Anugraha Bhashanam, the Jagadguru stated that seekers of knowledge would be much benefitted from the conduct of the Vidwat Sabha. The Jagadguru commended the efforts of the scholars towards the publication of the Annual Journal, Vidwat Pratibha – a compilation of the summaries of the topics presented by the scholars in the previous year. The Jagadguru also underlined the fact that the summaries would need to be written by scholars with utmost attention, as these books would remain an immense source of knowledge for centuries to come. The Jagadguru had words of praise for His disciples, Vidwan Naveena Holla and Brahmachari Sri Umesh for their sincere and selfless efforts in bringing out the aforementioned books in the Nyaya and Vedanta Shastras.
Expressing joy on the participation of scholars, the Jagadguru mentioned that the Sabha has to be decorated only by such scholars and quoted Sri Nilakantha Dikshita’s shloka –
षड्दर्शनीपरिज्ञानमण्डितैरिव पण्डितैः ।
स्तम्भैः कुड्यैर्वितानैश्च सभा किमवभासते ॥
– “The glory of the Sabha depends only on the scholars and not on ornate pillars, walls or canopies”. The Jagadguru also mentioned that scholars would do well to stay for more number of days in the coming years and delight one and all.
Then Jagadguru announced that gold rings would be awarded to Vidwan K.E. Madhusudanan of Sringeri in Nyaya Shastra, Vidwan Srihari Dhaygude of Pune in Vedanta Shastra, and Sringeri Sadvidya Sanjeevini Pathashala Adhyapaka, Vidwan Sri B L Ganapati Bhat for his scholarship in Vyakarana Shastra.
Scholars awarded with gold ring in the divine presence of the Jagadguru Mahaswamiji in the Mahaganapati Vakyartha Vidwat Sabha
The three young scholars received gold rings from Dr. Harish of Gudemarnahalli Chayamma Trust, and were awarded with citations. Following this, every scholar was honoured along with gold coin, shawl and cash award by the Peetham’s Shastra Poshaka Sabha, as well as by the Veda Vedanta Gurukula Mahavidyalaya of Madipadu, Andhra Pradesh.