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From: "RR" <rr@xxxx>
To: <ramanbil@xxxx>
Subject: Sri Ranganatha Paduka Vidyalaya Trust
Date: Fri, 17 Jan 2003 22:16:23 +0800

Dear Shri Ramaswamin,

Sending h/w file 1 - Sanskrit Patasalas - A long term Vision:

Sri Ranganatha Paduka Vidyalaya Trust - Srirangam
Sanskrit Veda & Prabandham Patasalas - A Strategic Vision

It had been the ardent desire of H.H. Srimad Andavan to start new Veda/Prabandham Patasalas in different centers, train many Vidyarthis in Vedas, Prabandham, Agamas and Hari Kathas', start Siromani courses in Ayurveda to develop Adhikaris in these disciplines; thus He has advised that we reverse the current declining trend by i) starting Patasalas in different centers, ii) inducting Vidyarthis with proper background, iii) offering adequate financial support during their studies (presently Rs.500/- per month) and a lump sum on completion when they enter their profession and iv) teaching them to read/ write English, to acquire basic Math's knowledge, to operate computer etc., to be reasonably literate in the modern education as well.

As a first step, we have started a Veda Patasala (our second, the first is at Srirangam) at Vaduvur under our Asthana Ganapati Sri Veeravalli Srinivasa Desikachariar on the 18th October 2001 with 7 Vidyarthis; now this Patasala has 24 Vidyarthis including 3 aiming to become Salakshana Ganapatis. His Sishya Ganapati Govindachar Swami assists him in this adventure that is progressing beautifully due to the tremendous efforts and commitment of the Ganapati Swami and his Sishya (the bonus here is that the 3 would be Ganapatis have completed their Kramantham under him and double as Teachers, when the need arises, for the Shaakai course!!). The first batch of Vidyarthis will complete their Shaakai course by Dec. 2003. As they will graduate to their Samhithai course, the Ganapati Swami will recruit the second batch of 20/25 Vidyarthis by early 2004.

By early 2006/07 we will recruit the third batch of Vidyarthis, when the first batch will complete their Padhams and move on to Kramantham. The Asramam premises cannot fully accommodate all the incoming Vidyarthis and we need extra accommodation. A family of committed Sishyas of H.H. Srimad Andavan in Vaduvur has offered their ancestral property, opposite to our Asramam building, on an initial lease of 15 years (yes, years!!). There is no charge for this lease. This house property will be renovated at a cost of appr. Rs. 6.00 lakhs to accommodate the said new Vidyarthis from 2004 onwards.

As per the directions of H.H. we have started/are starting more Patasalas at:

i) Kanchipuram - we have a sprawling Asramam premises (which is used with some modifications for the Patasala), an Adhikari had been appointed and the Patasala was started on 18th August 2002 with 7 Vidyarthis and is progressing well.

ii) Thiruvahindrapuram - construction of Asramam/ Veda Patasala building nearing completion, targeted date of completion/ commencement of classes - Sankaranthi day 2003.We are also planning to start Prabandham classes' full time and part time at Kanchipuram and at Thiruvahindrapuram.

iii) Thiruchanoor - a plot measuring app. 6 grounds was purchased in June 2002 @ Rs.9.25 lakhs to accommodate an Asramam/ Veda Patasala & Kalyana Mandapam, a major project with a budget of Rs. 55.00 lakhs, the target date of completion for the Patasala October/November 2003. Our Srikaryam Swami and our Ganapati Swami formally inaugurated this Patasala on Sunday the 27th October 2002 with 18 Vidyarthis. The current strength is 27 incl. 4 Vidyarthis who have enrolled for the Rig Veda Adhyayanam (total teachers - 3). The Patasala is now functioning in two rented houses. More Vidyarthis will join shortly; we shall cap this at a maximum of 40 Vidyarthis for administrative reasons. Sri V.Chakravarthi, a retired official from T.T.Devasthanams is our Trustee in charge of this project subject to the writer's direct control.

iv) Chennai outer/ Pallikkaranai: The mini Mandapam at the Chennai Asramam will be converted as the premises for the Pracheena Pathathi Vidwans scheme being launched by H.H. shortly. We also have over 2000 Sq.Feet of built space available in the Main Mandapam and we can utilise this also. In Pallikkaranai/ outer Chennai area we are looking for app. 4/6 grounds of vacant land to build yet another Patasala, if this succeeds well and good otherwise we will run this at our Asramam premises!

H.H. desires that we should train as many Vidyarthis as feasible in Veda Adhyayanam, Prabandham, Hari Kathas, Agama and/or in Upadhyayam in view of the severe shortage of trained Adhikaris. We hope that these projects will be up and running full steam by 2006/07 when we plan to have around 225/250 Vidyarthis at different levels in these Patasalas. The most proficient and the brightest Vidyarthis from the Siromani courses will be sponsored for higher studies, say M.A., M.Phil, PhD etc., The ultimate goal is a Sanskrit University named after Sri Bashyakarar, latest by 2015, being the Sathabishekam year of H.H. Srimad Andavan!!

Similarly the brightest and the best from the Veda Patasalas will be sponsored for Kramantham, Jata Parayana/Gana Parayana Adhyayanam and for Veda Baashyam, (say equal to a D.Sc in Vedas) with higher level of stipends. We have started M.A. (Sanskrit) course this year in the Arts & Science College (for administrative reasons). 8 Students have enrolled this year, encouraging compared to other Colleges in the region but inadequate for an Institution of our standing. However it is a good beginning and we have to build on this for the future. By 2005/06/07, we plan to start M.Phil. & PhD courses in Sanskrit in our College itself. This will partly redeem another unfulfilled wish of the Founder, the late H.H. Srimad Thirukkudanthai Andavan who often dreamt of many such projects; His successor H.H.Srimad Srimushnam Andavan is fulfilling all those dreams and much more.

By the year 2006/07 the revenue expenses for the Sanskrit Patasalas are estimated @ Rs. 55.00/60.00 lakhs annually to be met from the revenue incomes of Sri Ranganatha Paduka Vidyalaya Trust and from the donations of many committed Sishyas and Abhimanis who are already contributing substantially in this regard. We pray to the Padukas that their support will continue.

Our Vice Chairman Sri V.S. Narasimhan has, with the Blessings of H.H., proposed that we start Siromani courses for Ayurveda now and an Ayurveda College later for which all support will be forthcoming from the University, but we need hospital beds for this. We are entering into a collaboration with a university in the U.S. in the field of Bio Sciences with particular reference to Ayurvedic life saving and other medicines requiring a full fledged Herbal Garden (even otherwise needed for the College for Ayurveda). A separate note will be submitted by VSN in this regard.

H.H. Srimad Andavan is very very serious about these projects as He is very much concerned with the dearth of trained Adhikaris. We are bound to ensure that the Patasalas are properly established, transparently organised and efficiently administered. Currently we have 123 Vidyarthis in four Patasalas plus 8 in the College for M.A. Sanskrit as against 50 (in two Patasalas) at the same time last year. This number will increase before March 2003!! Shri Kasturirangan, Trustee, Sri Paduka Charities, has been directed by H.H. to assist the Trust in the administration and has therefore been inducted into the Executive Committee of Sri Ranganatha Paduka Vidyalaya Trust.

We need to specify strategic goals for these Patasalas in terms of the resting capacity of the Vidyarthis in each unit, the long term salary structure, stipends payable, ex- gratia payable on completion, how these Adhikaris would be helped to find their feet professionally etc., and develop a policy manual to administer these projects professionally.

There are two areas (of deep concern); firstly the Asramam and its Patasalas have to institutionalise a set up to train Ganapatis in Vedas, otherwise the future will be quite bleak. After completing Kramantham or even the Padhams most youngsters go for the Profession of Upadhyayam by taking a short-term training course with some reputed & senior Vadhyars. Saastras stipulate that only those who have completed Veda Adhyayanam can go on for Upa-Adhyayam but many take up Upadhyayam as a profession without completing even the Padhams in Vedas and become Brihaspathis (Vadhyars as we know them).

Already the Vedas available are quite limited in number, over the past several decades the output from the Veda Patasalas - particularly from the Vaishanavaite Patasalas in Tamizhnadu - is dwindling, maybe we are focusing more on teaching of Saastras. For the past two decades, thanks to the efforts of the late H.H. Srimad Thirukkudanthai Andavan, some bright Saama Veda Adhikaris have also blossomed. These limited steps are clearly not adequate as Jata / Gana Parayanam and Veda Baashyam will be lost to our Asramam Patasalas unless steps are taken in right earnest in this regard. Just as we are introducing Master's & Doctoral degree courses in our Arts & Science College, we should develop higher studies in Vedas in our Patasalas. A dozen Adhikaris completing their Gana Parayanam and Veda Baashyam in our Patasalas by 2010 will thereafter develop two generations of Adhikaris on their own.

The German Universities, Indo French Institute etc., have taken up the study of Sanskrit / Vedas in a big way. The latter is now running a huge Project in Pondicherry with the help of Maha Vidwan U.Ve Sri Srivatsankachariar Swami to transliterate and digitize several of our ancient Granthams whereby instant translations will be available in several European languages at the click of a mouse as it were!! But we in Tamizhnadu have allowed the Study of Sanskrit to languish and the study of Vedas more to the efforts of private schools (apart from the Sankara Mutt Patasalas).

SriVaishnavaite Temples and Mutts run some very strong Veda/Agama Patasalas in Andhra and other states. We should do this in Tamizhnadu and ensure a steady flow of trained Adhikaris through our Patasalas. A group of 15/20 Adhikaris coming through once every 6/7 years is not enough; we need a minimum of 30/40 Adhikaris coming out every year from our Patasalas at least from 2007/08 onwards. We should develop our Srirangam Patasala as an Institution of Excellence in the study of Vedas as well.

Secondly the level of Excellence of the Saastras' teachers at our Srirangam Patasala has to be drastically up graded; no doubt they have their M.Phil. & PhD's, they do teach the Vidyarthis well and get good results in the Siromani exams but this is not an end by itself. Our teachers are to be constantly trained and their knowledge up graded with a "training the trainers" programme by inducting MahaVidwans as Visiting Professors and given a very strong grounding in Meemamsa and Vyakarna. In say 5/6 years they will gain the level of Vidwath that will add Real Value to our Patasala, that will enable them to attract brilliant Vidyarthis to our Patasala and that will empower them to train a whole generation of Scholars on their own. H.H.Srimad Andavan has taken a momentous decision in this regard; we want to keep this under wraps till this is implemented successfully. In my humble opinion this is the most difficult but the most essential component of all our assignments. We cannot afford to fail here.

The Grace of the Poorvacharyas' Padukas and the Blessings of H.H. Srimad Andavan will ensure that the Sanskrit & Veda Patasalas Projects will be run properly, transparently and successfully.

R.Rajagopal S.Narasimha Raghavan

Chairman. Srikaryam.















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