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A nice initiative to popularize vedas among students.
Extract of news item published in ‘News today’ dated: 31 January 2014 is shared:
Promoting Vedas among students
Rahul Lahkar - Friday, 31 January 2014
Chennai: It is the tradition of spiritual relationship and mentoring where teachings of ancient Hindu scriptures are transmitted from a Guru (Teacher) to his Sishya (Student). This has been the lineage of Indian culture from time immemorial and the aim of Om Charitable Trust (OCT), Guindy, to pass on values to today’s younger generation.
Formed to encourage the fields of education having Indian heritage value, the trust has been conducting inter-school competitions for Vedic schools across the country. 'We have been conducting this event for the last five years and this is the sixth year now,' says founder and trustee of OCT L Narayanan.
The efforts of the trust have not only helped preserve the rich heritage of Vedic studies but also promoted its values in every part of the country through educational activities. 'In the beginning, there were 148 students and now there are 350.
The number of Patashalas (schools) were about 32, that have enrolled in this learning process, now there are about 54,' Narayanan says.
The main objective of the trust apart from conducting the contest is also to encourage the students to pursue their studies with added zeal and improve skills in both Vedic and regular studies.
'We aim to drive home the point that excelling in regular stream will be easier for students if they also undertake Vedic studies,' Narayanan says.
Apart from sensitising learners about the importance of Vedas and Shastras, the trust also ensures that a student develops a good character and remains humble in every life situation. Humbleness is a quality and the essence of a Guru (teacher) and Sishya (student) relationship, Narayanan says.
‘We also do Pada Puja event here to promote the quality of being humble. While doing the puja, students will be reciting Vedas.
We are also conducting competitions in Sashtras from this year. There are competitions in three types of Vedanta Sashtras and four types of Mantra Sashtras. Students, must learn lessons in Vedas properly, without changing rhythm pattern. If the rhythm changes even slightly, there can be a different meaning. To avoid that, constant interaction has to be there with Guru,' he says.
The first lessons at a Patashala are dedication, discipline and determination, says Vivek MRV, a student of Brahmanam syllabus at the Bharathi Theertha Veda Patashala in Kochi.
'The school environment is like an Ashram and we learn Vedic alphabets by chanting them repeatedly. This is followed by learning small words, long sentences and paragraphs in Sanskrit. After regular practice and learning of words, our Gurus teach Vedic lessons with a morals.'
Besides promoting heritage studies, the trust helps poor and deserving students of mainstream education by providing monetary support and contributes to society by catering to the medical needs of the poor and differently-abled.
With co-founder L Balaji Srinivasan and volunteer AS Kumar, the trust with its team of dedicated team is on a mission to popularise Vedas as a source of proven concepts in support of scientific research.
Regards
Source: Promoting Vedas among students | News Today
A nice initiative to popularize vedas among students.
Extract of news item published in ‘News today’ dated: 31 January 2014 is shared:
Promoting Vedas among students
Rahul Lahkar - Friday, 31 January 2014
Chennai: It is the tradition of spiritual relationship and mentoring where teachings of ancient Hindu scriptures are transmitted from a Guru (Teacher) to his Sishya (Student). This has been the lineage of Indian culture from time immemorial and the aim of Om Charitable Trust (OCT), Guindy, to pass on values to today’s younger generation.
Formed to encourage the fields of education having Indian heritage value, the trust has been conducting inter-school competitions for Vedic schools across the country. 'We have been conducting this event for the last five years and this is the sixth year now,' says founder and trustee of OCT L Narayanan.
The efforts of the trust have not only helped preserve the rich heritage of Vedic studies but also promoted its values in every part of the country through educational activities. 'In the beginning, there were 148 students and now there are 350.
The number of Patashalas (schools) were about 32, that have enrolled in this learning process, now there are about 54,' Narayanan says.
The main objective of the trust apart from conducting the contest is also to encourage the students to pursue their studies with added zeal and improve skills in both Vedic and regular studies.
'We aim to drive home the point that excelling in regular stream will be easier for students if they also undertake Vedic studies,' Narayanan says.
Apart from sensitising learners about the importance of Vedas and Shastras, the trust also ensures that a student develops a good character and remains humble in every life situation. Humbleness is a quality and the essence of a Guru (teacher) and Sishya (student) relationship, Narayanan says.
‘We also do Pada Puja event here to promote the quality of being humble. While doing the puja, students will be reciting Vedas.
We are also conducting competitions in Sashtras from this year. There are competitions in three types of Vedanta Sashtras and four types of Mantra Sashtras. Students, must learn lessons in Vedas properly, without changing rhythm pattern. If the rhythm changes even slightly, there can be a different meaning. To avoid that, constant interaction has to be there with Guru,' he says.
The first lessons at a Patashala are dedication, discipline and determination, says Vivek MRV, a student of Brahmanam syllabus at the Bharathi Theertha Veda Patashala in Kochi.
'The school environment is like an Ashram and we learn Vedic alphabets by chanting them repeatedly. This is followed by learning small words, long sentences and paragraphs in Sanskrit. After regular practice and learning of words, our Gurus teach Vedic lessons with a morals.'
Besides promoting heritage studies, the trust helps poor and deserving students of mainstream education by providing monetary support and contributes to society by catering to the medical needs of the poor and differently-abled.
With co-founder L Balaji Srinivasan and volunteer AS Kumar, the trust with its team of dedicated team is on a mission to popularise Vedas as a source of proven concepts in support of scientific research.
Regards
Source: Promoting Vedas among students | News Today
