REVIVING ANCIENT GURUKUL SYSTEM : Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

 REVIVING ANCIENT GURUKUL SYSTEM

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

The Hans India (23-03-2025)

    {Vidyaranyam located in Chippalapally village in Kandukur mandal of Rangareddy district, is rooted in the ancient gurukul system. It seamlessly integrates Rigveda and Krishna Yajurveda studies with formal education, nurturing scholars deeply rooted in Sanatana Dharma. It even has a tie-up with IIT Madras. It will soon establish a Centre for Brahmin Excellence with a broad-based approach to support Brahmins} - Editor's Synoptic Note

    Many in the Brahmin community are unaware of the remarkable achievements of a confident and enthusiastic 50-year-old Shashi Bhushan Somayaji Madugula, an extraordinary person with diverse academic and artistic background. A law graduate, astrology postgraduate, talented in Carnatic music, proficient in flute, saxophone, mridangam and veena, Shashi Bhushan is all in all. As the founder chairman of the progressive Vedic center Vidyaranyam in Chippalapally village in Kandukur mandal of Rangareddy district, about 50 km from Hyderabad city center, he established a unique Vedapathashala in 2015 with just two students.

    Today, in a sprawling 6-acre ancestral property of Shashi Bhushan, the Vedic center has grown into a thriving institution with 111 students, with the first batch entering into class 10, offering a holistic and integral education system, entirely free of cost. The vision of Vidyaranyam is to expand the Pathasala to 500 students by 2029. Its steady growth is catching the attention of several Brahmin organizations and individuals by frequent visits to the place.

    The six-acre Vidyaranyam and Veda Pathasala campus is an integrated complex of ‘Veda Sadanam, Acharya Sadanam, Go Sadanam, Yaga Sadanam, Anna Sadanam, And Kreeda Sadanam,’ where Vedas are taught as a guidebook; acharyas guide and mentor; cows are taken care of; Hindu rituals are performed; feeding as a form of charity is considered; and a playground is provided for physical (Karrasamu), social, and cognitive growth among children. The uniqueness of the center is that, teachers are highly knowledgeable and dedicated to their students' learning, instilling a deep sense of respect for Brahmin, Hindu, and Indian culture and tradition in the children, which is to be valued greatly.

    Vidyaranyam is leading in reviving the ancient gurukul system for a glorious future. at a time when the essence of Vedas and Upanishads, which reflect the last composed layer of texts in the Vedas, are seldom imparted to the younger generation. Here is a person, Shashi Bhushan, who initiated the process systematically. Vedas contain spiritual, scientific, and intellectual knowledge, covering life and death to nature’s secrets. The Purusharthas, four major goals of human life dharma (righteousness), Artha (prosperity), Kama (desire), and moksha (salvation), which are the essence of Vedas, form part of Veda Pathasala teachings.

    The best part of Vidyaranyam strategy to convince parents and children is that after the child is provided an integrated education from age seven to seventeen, he will be handed over to the parents with an intermediate qualification done in English medium, abundantly backed by Vedic knowledge. Shashi Bhushan Somayaji hopes that a significant number of them, with this foundation, would be either professionals or would enter the civil services.

    This sort of holistic education in the long run may answer several pertinent doubts. For instance, everyone is made to believe that science means modern science only, history means modern history only, and medicine means modern medicine only, as they were evolved in the west. The emphasis till date is on empirical data and knowledge but not complete knowledge in its purest form. A child simultaneously learning Vedas and modern education will easily comprehend as to what is what.

    A ten-member group of conscientious individuals comprising former IAS officer, journalist, entrepreneur, chartered accountant, architect, management expert, industrialist, budding film director of the prospective ‘Center for Brahmin Excellence (CBE)’ on study tour visited the Vedic center on March 20, 2025, and spent three hours to have a detailed understanding of its functioning. The visit commenced with ‘Veda Asheervachanam’ by a group of 111 students.

    Founder Shashi Bhushan Sharma Madugula and his team briefed the CBE team about the activities, supported by Power point presentation. Madugula said that in his own ancestral land, with single determination and without anticipating any monetary benefit, he started this center 10 years ago with some core ideals. He emulated the ideal of the sun god in accomplishing work with the punctuality of sunrise and sunset. He recalled how Brahmins inherited the knowledge of Rishis and Adi Shankaracharya’s dharma. Shashi Bhushan revealed the thought behind the establishment of the center. ‘God has in his mind to get done a particular work from a particular individual, and I am destined to work for Sanatana Dharma,’ said Madugula.

    He expressed the hope that everyone who will be a product of gurukul would contribute to society. He explained the essence of dharma for happiness, Artha for Dharma, Vinayam for Artha, and the importance of gaining knowledge. For reaching health and wealth, sadhana is needed, which according to Shashi Bhushan, is possible only in a gurukul like the one he is running, where all-round development is possible. He was immensely happy while confidently expressing that in Vedapathashala, scholars are in the making, and character building as a major contribution is attempted there. With the ideal of Brahmins imbibing heritage and knowledge of rishis, his gurukul works, concluded Shashi Bhushan, his brief introduction.

    In a world increasingly driven by modern education and technology, Vidyaranyam stands as a beacon of hope, striving to preserve and promote India's timeless Vedic heritage. Rooted in the ancient gurukul system, Vidyaranyam seamlessly integrates Rigveda and Krishna Yajurveda studies with formal education, nurturing scholars deeply rooted in Sanatana Dharma. Interestingly, the center’s partnership with IIT Madras for teacher training is another brilliant move. It keeps teachers updated, including use of Artificial Intelligence.

    As part of the four quadrants holistic and integral education system, the center offers a 12-year comprehensive education covering Vedic Studies (Sharauta Yagas, Upanishads, Shastras, Rigveda, Krishna Yajurveda, And Sanskrit), arts and music (including mridangam and flute), go seva (care for cows, instilling values of compassion and service), modern education (English communication and computer skills), and formal academics (Telangana State Open Board Society curriculum for grade 10 and +2 stage or intermediate according to the national institute of open learning methodology, with opportunities for bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Vedic studies).

    With a vision to reach 500 students by 2029, the schematic expansion is supported by a dedicated team of Vedic Scholars who uphold the rigorous traditions of Vedic learning, academicians who ensure students receive well-rounded formal education, and dedicated volunteers who tirelessly work towards building a robust learning ecosystem.

    Notwithstanding the ambitious journey towards its goal of imparting free education even after the strength reaches 500, the center has a revenue model for sustenance. A monthly subscription model allows participation in (Jeeva Nadi) all five Yagas and Homas, ensuring constant spiritual upliftment.

    Raising contributions for daily anna santharpana, celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, upanayanas, and Shasthi Poorthi with the blessings of Veda Parayana and Anna Danam at Vidyaranyam, as contributions for participation, supports nourishing students with unadulterated dairy products while preserving native cow breeds.

    Vidyaranyam is driven by a dedicated team in ably assisting the founder Shashi Bhushan, including CEO Sirisha Pingali, Sunil Sathyavolu, Raja Sekhar Devarakonda, Pavan Narva, Ghanapatis Saikiran Joshi, Vignesh, and Sreevani Joshi, in addition to a team of Vedic scholars, formal education staff, and administrators.

    Infrastructure development, student enrollment, enhancing formal education, building a strong support system, dedicated volunteers, a think-tank to guide strategic decisions and shape the institution’s future, wisdom partners to bring deep insights from various disciplines, and a robust administrative team to ensure seamless operations and long-term sustainability. Each of these areas is crucial to fulfilling its vision of reviving the gurukul system while integrating modern education for a well-rounded and impactful learning experience etc. are the challenges facing it.

    The soon-to-be-established CBE with a broad-based approach to support Brahmins, intends to collaborate with Vidyaranyam progressive Vedic center in accordance with CBE aims and objectives in various fields, including civil services preparation, Vedic studies, multi-skill development, leadership, music, dance, literature, and the creation of a comprehensive knowledge repository.