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 12 days from Vinayaka Chaturthi day (Sep 9th). 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.
The Sabha concluded on 20th 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. He also mentioned that besides the usual honouring, every scholar would be rewarded a gold coin as a recognition of the service to the sustenance and propagation of the Shastras.
The Jagadguru then released three books on the occasion – the first being a new commentary titled Deepika by Vidwan Naveena Holla on the Anyatha Khyati VadaH of Gangeshopadhyaya’s Tattva Chintamani in the Navya Nyaya Shastra; the second being “Vidwat Pratibha 2012” containing the proceedings of last year’s Sabha held during the Jagadguru’s Chaturmasya in Chennai; and the third being “World and God” – containing the English translation of seven of the Chaturmasya discourses on Vedanta (based on the Brahma Sutra Bhashya of Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada), given by the Jagadguru during the Chaturmasya in Chennai last year.
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 also pointed out that scholars too benefit from participating in such a Sabha. Eventhough scholars would have attained their scholarship by residing in a Gurukula, such a Sabha will facilitate scholars to examine their own scholarship. The great poet, Kalidasa has himself said –
आ परितोषाद् विदुषाम् न साधु मन्ये प्रयोगविज्ञानम्
Hence one scholar can place his understanding of a subject before a group of scholars in such a Sabha, get their approval and arrive at the conclusion that he himself has studied the subject well. Kalidasa too opines that it is scholars who have the proficiency to differentiate between what is right and what is wrong. Placing one’s knowledge before a pool of scholars is like placing gold in fire and purifying it –
तं सन्तः श्रोतुमर्हन्ति सदसद्व्यक्तिहेतवः ।
हेम्नः संलक्ष्यते ह्यग्नौ विशुद्धिः श्यामिकापि वा ॥
Hence Vidwat Sabhas such as the Mahaganapati Vakyartha Vidwat Sabha play a major role in shaping scholars and scholarship.
We note that even in the Upanishads, the Rishis got together to discuss on philosophical matters and approached a person of great learning to strengthen their own knowledge. To clarify a doubt, they sought a person well versed in the subject, even if the person were to belong to a lower Varna. For instance, Uddalaka and others who were Brahmanas went to the knowlegeable Ashwapati, a Kshatriya to seek knowledge.
It is the duty of everyone who has undergone the study of the Shastras in a Gurukula to participate in such Vidwat Sabhas and polish their knowledge. The Jagadguru said that it was with this intent that His Parameshti Guru (Jagadguru Sri Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Narsimha Bharati Mahaswamiji) had started this Vidwat Sabha.
The Jagadguru remembered that there was a time when the best of scholars participated in the Sabha. However they were very few in number. They used to take up a topic and expound it for days together. For instance, the entire Shatakoti in Nyaya Shastra or even a single Adhikaranam like Devataadhikaranam of Nyaya Rakshamani in Vedanta used to be expounded for an entire week. The listeners of the Sabha too were knowledgeable enough to appreciate the exposition. The Jagadguru then mentioned that as the elderly scholars He Himself had observed dwindled in number with time, He felt the need to foster the study of Shastras amongst youngsters and had established the Shastra Poshaka Sabha (in the early 90s). The Jagadguru was happy to note that many of the young scholars attending the Sabha today have been nurtured under the auspices of the Shastra Poshaka Sabha.
Referring to the first book released on the occasion, the Jagadguru said that He experienced great joy as Vidwan Naveena Holla, who had studied the Nyaya Shastra from the Jagadguru Himself, had penned a new commentary on the Anyatha Khyati VadaH of Gangeshopadhyaya’s Tattva Chintamani. The Jagadguru also explained which teacher would not be happy to have such a disciple as Vidwan Naveena Holla, who had acquired such scholarship – one that derived praise from all scholarly groups.
The Jagadguru also mentioned that the Peetham would publish any valuable research work in the Shastras produced by any scholar. The Jagadguru also encouraged that the knowledge that had been acquired by scholars has to be passed on and made of use to the society. The Jagadguru also expressed joy towards scholars who were able to attend the Sabha for most of the days.
The Jagadguru announced that gold rings would be awarded to Vidwan Vachaspati in Nyaya Shastra (this young scholar is a fifth generation scholar in Nyaya in line after his great great grandfather, great grandfather, grandfather, and father), Vidwan B V Venkataramana of Jaipur for his scholarship in Vyakarana Shastra, and to Vidwan Ganesha Ishwara Bhat, of Rajiv Gandhi Vidya Peetham, Sringeri in Vedanta Shastra.
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 the Veda Vedanta Gurukula Mahavidyalaya of Madipadu, Andhra Pradesh.