Udupi: Conference of Vedic Scholars Lays Stress on Environment, Dharma

Media Release by Srikant Shenoy

Harikhandige, Udupi, Feb 2: The first successful conference of vedic scholars and priests in over four decades concluded here on Sunday, January 30, with a call for betterment of society in general and with a message of peace and goodwill towards all.

The byproducts of the two-day conference, attended by vaidiks from Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka, were environmental issues and a call for planting of more trees and plants — especially the oxygen-emitting tulasi plant — besides the ill-effects of modern life on morals and health of all.

It is only through following the principles advocated by our dharma (religion) steadfastly that many solutions can be found to modern-day problems, the conference concluded. It was decided that such a conference be turned into an annual affair since it also discussed issues relating to the welfare of society and the issues faced by priests themselves.

The conference was held on the sidelines of the Ayut Chandi Mahayaag that is being held at the scenic Shri Mahalasa Narayani Devi Kshetra at Harikhandige, about 22 kms from Udupi town.

Inaugurating the conference, Guruji Suresh J. Pai, the trustee of the Kshetra, called upon educated persons to take up priesthood so as to better understand the needs of the people at large. He echoed the feelings of many senior scholars, who lamented that many are forced to take up priesthood as a profession only when they are not able to complete their formal education successfully.

Guruji also exhorted upon the priests to perform their duties without any expectations and only think of their dharma. They should not be worried about their future and dedicate themselves to God, saying God will take care of them. They should thus concentrate on the present only and how to work for the betterment of society.

Guruji Pai also called for discarding negative thinking and said constructive thoughts should be encouraged by all.
 
Guruji expressed his dismay at the division of the Hindu United Family and said that of late, parents are being neglected when they are alive, and even after their death, since disputes arise between brothers over who should perform the annual shraadha (post-death) rites. The social safety net of the yore is being shredded, and thus dharma is being neglected, he observed.

In the backdrop of this development, he called for revival of important role played by temples, where people of all sects congregated and the welfare of others were discussed and ways of helping them were chalked out.

Temples also play an important role in this modern age, as they help people to connect with God with focus, which does not happen in many homes now due to occupational and other pressures. Towards making temples to play better roles in the society, the priests have an important role to play, he opined, and exhorted them to discharge their duties as envisaged by the great sages.

Pai also mentioned the importance of following and observing our rituals and traditions and conducting of activities such as Yajnas and Yaagas regularly. He said that Gods get appeased by such rituals, hence devotees stand to gain.

K Ravindra Bhat, a Vedic scholar from Karkala, called upon the people to follow the religion’s call of humanity, love, truth, non-violence, sacrifice, charity, and so on. He lamented that truth was a major casualty in this age, where even children were encouraged to lie by the parents. As an example, he mentioned about how a son was told to say that his father was not at home when a call is received, and the wife follows suit by informing him that she is in the market whereas she was at the cinema or a kitty party.

He also lamented that people today were expecting fruits before without doing any labour. “As you sow so shall you reap,” he said, stressing that only the soul are permanent, money and property are not.

He also pointed out that dharma asks us to do unto others what we expect the society to do to us.

Ravindra Bhat also expressed his dismay at the break up of large families and emphasised on the role of the temples in this age, saying congregations at such temple were our families now.

Chempi Ramachandra Bhat of Udupi wanted priests and Purohits to encourage the revival of worship of Gods and deities at homes and the importance of festivals and rituals. He enumerated a list of do’s and dont’s for family priests, who preside over important rituals like marriage and thread ceremonies.

Another Vedic scholar termed the person who keeps all his earnings for himself without distributing it to the needy, or who performs religious rituals for self-progress and glory, as ‘the biggest thief’. Srikant Bhat of Chempi said that charity and well-being of society was more important than one’s own self or family.

He mentioned how Yajnas and Yaagas helped in the preservation of environment and how western research has now concluded that many of our rituals have a scientific base. “The entire area where a Yajna is performed, benefits environmentally,” he said.

That plants and trees absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen and thus the need to plant more trees and look after were mentioned in our scriptures written ages ago, he said.

K Ananda Bhat from Kundapur lamented that in this age a major debt is not being repaid, that is, the debt to our elders and deceased ancestors. “We all have to go where our parents, our elders have gone,” he said, adding that is why performance of Shraddha is important.

He pointed out that a person who ignores his parents — dead or alive — does not acquire any punya (good virtues) or good points even if he does any amount of religious rituals or performs charity.

Madan Bhat, chief priest of Shri Mahalasa Narayani Temple at Mardol, Goa, said it is necessary for a person to perform a Shraadha ceremony himself. Only in very dire circumstances can one tie up with a temple or priest to perform this ritual, in cases like where it is unacceptable for a physically and financially to do so.

Rajesh Bhat, chief priest of Shri Shantadurga Temple, Goa, said there should be a one way of performing various rituals such as threat ceremonies, marriages and Shraadha ceremonies. He pointed out that these rituals are being performed differently in Goa, Uttara Kannada and Dakshina Kannada.

Among others who spoke at the two-day conference were K Kasinath Bhat of Kallianpur, K Krishna Bhat of Chikmagalur, and Kashinath Bhat Kashikar.

On the occasion, a directory of priests and Vedic scholars, temples, mutts and trusts was also released.