FROM SANATHANA DHARMA TO SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH - MURALI JI AND HIS TEAM – FACTS UNKNOWN TO THE SISHYA WORLD*

[V Subrahmanian]

*

The Author was in Sringeri between 24th evening and 26th Morning. Group Chairman of one of India’s leading Corporates was also in Sringeri for Acharyas Dharshan.  

On 26th January between 3:20PM and 4:50PM, there was a 90-minute presentation by the backbone team of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham in the presence of their leader - Guru Seva Niratha Sri PA Murali and the Distinguished Guest - the Group Chairman. 

90 glorious minutes espousing what Sringeri Sharada Peetham stands for. Any Sishya would have felt floating high seeing the presentation impregnated with rarest of information and data. 

It all started with Sri Tyagarajan and Sri Anand’s presentation, a combination of texts, Anugraha Bhashanas, discussions between the Acharyas in the Vidwad Sadas, the rare Manuscripts, and what every Sanathani should aspire and work towards for its upkeep, preservation and propagation. Intricate details emitted through them in a flawless flow. The content though very strong was digestible, and the doubts and concerns raised were impactful. 

Sri Murali Ji aided the presentation in bringing out the social angles and conditions of both the Vaidekas and the Vedantis - Marriage, family, social identity and the future prospects of the upcoming young scholars, besides the depletion in strength across universities in learning and pursuing Shastras. The presentation also displayed the MOUs entered into with various institutions on the preservation of rare manuscripts. 

This was followed by a short but a very sweet presentation by Gowtham Bharadwaj of Aham Bhramasmi. The data shown through the slides was very inspiring - Team of over 80 scholars, discourses over hundreds of centers, penetration into various continents evoking overwhelming responses and the way forward. It concluded by shooting out a surprise angle that Aham Bhramasmi is running short of Scholars as the demands are progressing astronomically. 

 *The distinguished guests watched the telling paradox – less and less scholars trying to learn the Shastras and Vedanta while the world is demanding more and more of them and discussed what are the worrying factors.* 

Is it insecurity, material recognition, social status or an uncertain future. Do these scholars end up as school teachers or professors in colleges/universities and whether scarcity of students lead to closure of these institutions and unable to go past this fixed prototype. 

Sri Ranganathan brought out a slide show on how important it is to have a multi-specialty hospital in rural areas and how it can save lives of many who simply perish for want of medical care. The CEO engaged in a very meaningful discussion as to why such hospitals do not emerge in Rural areas. Middle aged professional doctors find it impossible to relocate due to lack of good schools for their children, along with the insecurity of missing the urban influence. Critical care gets delayed easily by 3-4 hours as one had to rush either to Shimoga, Manipal or Mangalore and how Sringeri can become a hub to serve and cater the needs of the poor and the unaffordable in the radius of 100 kms.  

The presentation finally ended with a very impactful slide show of Sri Krishna Venkatesh who pioneers our scientific research institute in Bangalore and heads the governing council of our Management Institute in Delhi.  

The distinguished guest was stunned and remarked “over 25 new innovations through research displayed in 15-min” and congratulated him as the spectrum was too large and the two ends were indeed so wide. Starting from alternate raw material for storage batteries to reaching the Artic Circle and hoisting the banner of Sri Adi Shankaracharya, it covered simply too many things. 

The guest rose up and surged forward to congratulate Sri Murali Ji for such a powerful presentation ranging from Sanathana Dharma to Scientific Research. All of us should be truly thankful to Sri Murali Ji in bringing out these talents and getting it recognized from a Global Business leader. All of them along with Vidhya Shankar, Pala Chandra, Satish and the rest are gems studded to the gold plate – the CEO of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham. Someone who slogs from 9:30AM – 9:30PM, 7 days a week and 30 days a month without any break. 

The Author was in two minds whether to seek permission and then write or write and receive the bashing and chose the latter as seeking forgiveness is much easier than seeking permission. 

The idea of writing this is young Sishyas should know the kind of sacrifices all these people make for our sake. All of us land in Sringeri, have Dharshan and move away into our routines and in the back of our mind, will give a one-line compliment “great job”. The endeavor is to connect and make the Sishyas know what is that “great job” and how people slog it out in bringing the best of ideas, rather the needed ones and all of us as Sishyas should be drawn towards it and be part any one of the causes which each one of us is fond of. 

The Author has requested Murali Ji to soon convene a 2-day workshop for young Sishyas across all locations to assemble at Sringeri and seek focused guidance from Sri Sri Sannidhanam. 

Wherever we are, let us rise up for a minute and offer a standing ovation to the whole team and its leader. 

Offering at the Lotus Feet of Acharyas.