Veda Sammelans conducted across India
Thousands of Vedic scholars and students took part in various Veda Sammelans that were held across the country under the auspices of Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri with the Blessings of Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji.
CEO & Administrator of the Peetham, Sri V R Gowrishankar and Chairman of Sringeri Vidya Bharati Foundation, Stroudsburg, USA, Dr. Yegnasubramanian were present to convey the Blessings of the Shankaracharya and to oversee the Proceedings of the 5 Vedic Sammelans that took place in January-February.
Andhra Pradesh
On January 28th and 29th 2010, the fourth edition of the Vedic Sammelan in Andhra Pradesh was held at Dharmapuri. About 370 Veda scholars including 200 Ghanapathis participated in the function. The first day of the event witnessed Veda Parayana, Ghana Swasti Parayana and Pravachanas highlighting the importance of the Vedas. The Padukas of the Sringeri Jagadguru were carried in a procession on 28th morning and in the evening, the Valedictory function was conducted where all the Vedic scholars were honoured.
Maharashtra
The annual Vedic Sammelan organised by the Peetham in Maharashtra, now in its 10th year, took place in Beed on 17th and 18th January 2009. About 150 Vedic scholars participated. Five senior scholars were specially honoured with Rs. 25,000/- during the Sammelan.
New Delhi
A section of Vedic scholars at the Delhi Veda Sammelan
On February 2nd, the 9th annual Vedic Sammelan was held in New Delhi. Around 150 Vedic scholars took part. A highlight of the event was the chanting of the entire Bhagavad Gita along with the translation in English by a 8 year old boy, Sri Anubhav Chaturvedi. He was rewarded with a special prize of Rs. 25,000.
Uttar Pradesh
A section of the Veda Vidyarthis at the Veda Sammelan in Varanasi
The 10th annual Vedic Sammelan in the holy town of Varanasi took place on 4th and 5th February. About 155 scholars and 700 students took part with recitation of all the extant 11 Veda Shakhas reverberating from the Sringeri Shankara Math premises in Varanasi. 3 elderly scholars were specially honoured. 60 students took part in the Bhagavad Gita Jnana Yagna scheme of the Peetham and were honoured with cash awards. 15 of them received Rs. 21,000/- for having memorised and having recited the entire Bhagavad Gita. The event was attended by the Vice-Chancellors of the various Universities in and around Varanasi.
West Bengal
On 6th February, the 4th edition of the Vedic Sammelan was conducted at Shankara Hall in the Sringeri Shankara Math at Kolkata. 150 Veda scholars filled Shankara Hall with Vedic chants. The scholars came from the eastern states of Orissa, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Assam and represented various Shakhas of the four Vedas. The scholars carried out Parayana individually and as a group. A Varna Krama PathaH of the word “Saraswati” was rendered by a scholar from Jamshedpur as part of the Sammelan.