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.

Brahmam Okate

The song that I am currently singing is "Brahmam Okate" by Annamacharya.

The meaning is very nice and is somehting which I was taught to believe in. So, I am enjoying this song. The song itself, though in the Carnatic form, has a folk touch to it. This itself signifies the Universal Spirit or "One God" theory.

brahma okaTE
raagam:
bowLi
maayamaaLava gowLa janyaAa: S R1 G3 P D1 SAv: S N3 D1 P G3 R1 S

OR

naadanaamakriyaa
maayamaaLava gowLa janyaAa: S R1 G3 M1 P D1 N3Av: N3 D1 P M1 G3 R1 S N3

taaLam: aadi
Composer: Annamaacaarya

Language: Telugu

pallavi

tandanAnA Ahi tandanAnA purE tandanAna bhALa tandanAnA bhaLAbrahmamokaTE para brahmamokaTE brahmamokaTE para brahmamokaTE

caraNam 1

kanduvagu hInAdhikamu lindulEvu andariki shrI harE antarAtmAindulO jantukulamu intA okaTE andariki shrI harE antarAtmA

caraNam 2
ninDAra rAjU nidrincu nidrayu okaTE anDanE baNTu nidra adiyu okaTEmeNDaina brahmANuDu meTTu bhUmi okaTE caNDAlundEti sari bhUmi okaTE

caraNam 3
anugu dEvatalakunu ala kAma sukhamokaTE ghanakITa pashuvulaku kAma sukham okaTEdIna mahOrAtramulu tegi dhanAdyuna-kokaTE vonara nirupEdakunu okaTE aviyu

caraNam 4

koralu SiSTnnamulu gonu nAkkalokaTE tirugu duSTAnnamulu dinu nAkkalokaTEparagu durgandhamulapai vAyuvokaTE varusha parimaLamupai vAyuvokaTE

caraNam 5
kaDagi Enugu mIda kAyu eNda okaTE pudami suanakamu mIda bolayu-nendokaTEkaDu puNyalanu pApa karmulanu sarigAva jaDiyu shrI venkaTEShvaru nAma-mokaTE

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Meaning:

pallavi: "Tandanana" is a word giving the punch of rhythm in the song. Ahi, Pure, Bhala are the words expressing the excitement or ecstasy or appreciation. The absolute spirit is one & only one.

caraNam 1: There are no differences of low & high. "Srihari" (A name of Vishnu. Vishnu is the form of God who is in charge of maintenance, protection of the good & destruction of the bad. In this context, Srihari is the Supreme Spirit) is the indwelling Spirit to one and all. All the beings in creation are one because the indwelling spirit in every creature is one and the same.

caraNam 2: Sleep is same to all, be it a king or a servant. Be it a "Brahmin" (man of the highest caste) or "Chandala" (man of the lowest caste), the earth they live on is the one and the same.

caraNam 3: The sensual pleasure is one and the same either for angels or for the insects and animals. The day and night are equal to the rich as well as to the poor.

caraNam 4: One could afford to eat tasty food and the other the condemned food. But the tongues that taste the food are alike. An object of fragrance or an object of foul smell, the air that carries the smell is one and the same.

caraNam 5: Be it an elephant or a dog, the sun shines alike on both of them. For the good and the bad, Lord Venkateshwara alone is "The Savior".

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Other information:Lyrics contributed by Lakshman Ragde.
It is said that this song was a folk song sung called "tandana padam" sung with a folk instrument called "dappu."

I can instead lead a meaningful life

I came across this saying in http://www.puttaparthilive.com/julythoughts06.html

The Vedas have taught the means to make life in the world pure and meaningful. They have declared: "Na karmanaa na prajayaa dhane na, thyaagenaike amrutatwamaanashuhu" (not through rituals, progeny or wealth, but only through sacrifice can immortality be achieved). A Thyagi (renunciant) does not hesitate even to sacrifice his body for other's welfare. Sacrifice means something more than giving up of wealth, gold and material objects. Evil qualities like hatred, jealousy, wrath and malice which have become ingrained in man over many lifetimes should be discarded.

When will I become a Brahmin?

As per Atri Smriti ""By birth, every man is a Shudra (an ignorant person). Through various types of disciplines (samskaras), he becomes a dwija (twice born). Through the studies of scriptures, he becomes a vipra (or a scholar). Through realization of supreme spirit (brahmajnana), he becomes a brahmin."

Reference: http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/people/brahmins/brahmin.htm

The Da Vinci Code and Hinduism

I was reading "The Da Vinci Code" last month and could not help discovering the similarities between the "Priori of Scion" and Hinduism. Ancient Hinduism praised feminism and worshipped the goddess "Lalithambiga" or "Lalitha". Hindus believed that the male counterpart "Shiva" came from "Lalitha" as described in Lalithopakyana.

The text of Lalitopakyanam is available in this website:
http://www.dattapeetham.com/india/festivals/navaratri99/lalitopakyana.pdf