A unique centre of learning - Kapileswarapuram (East Godavari)

A tiny village, but rich on all fronts, on the banks of the mighty Godavari is a place which produces many a Vedic scholar. Kapileswarapuram, 35 km from Rajahmundry, has not only been enriching Vedic dharma for almost four decades, but also keeping our rich cultural heritage alive for the benefit of future generations. The Vedic school, being run by the Sri Balusu Sarvaraya Educational Trust since 1973, is the only school which teaches all the four Vedas -- Yajur, Rig, Sama and Adharvana -- in the entire country. Unique feature The school principal, Tangirala Balagangadhara Sarma, is an outstanding scholar - he can explain the meaning of each Veda and translate the same into Telugu. The routine begins in the wee hours with 70 to 100 children taking a holy dip in the Godavari and begin chanting hymns and the Vedas. All students get free accommodation and food during their nine-year course. When Paramacharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Chandrasekhara Saraswathi Swami, came to the village 1970's, he asked his disciple S.B.P.B.K. Satyanarayana, the founder chairman and former Union Minister, to do something to keep Indian culture alive. On his advice, Mr. Satyanarayana established this school. Twenty-five children in the age group of 8-12 in each branch of four Vedas learn any one of their choice. "After completion of the course, we issue a certificate that is equal to TTD's Veda Patasala. All scholars, who complete the course in our school, will get employment in TTD or any other temple in the State," says Mr. Satyanarayana. "There are 1,231 branches in the Vedas of which only 145 are protected. Vedas can't be taught through distance education or in CD form. It is learnt by `gurumukha vucharana' -- some one has to teach personally," says Mr. Blagangadhar Sarma, recipient of the prestigious `Kalidas Samman.' He appreciates the efforts of R.V.S.S. Avadhani of Hyderabad in bringing out the Vedas in CD form.