Vol.15 No. 8 August -2015

ETERNAL VALUES IN MAHAPURANAS RECALLED

A unique five-day national

conference, “Message ofMahapuranas” was heldbetween June 23 and June 27 atISKCON, jointly organized by

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan,Bengaluru, and ISKCON.

This was a follow-up ofthe conferences entitled“Veda Samvada” and

Prof. Dr. Satya Vrat Shastri, Chairman, National Sanskrit Commission, New Delhi, lighting the lampto mark the inauguration of National Conference on Mahapurana while others (from left)Sri. K.G. Raghavan, Hon. Secretary, BVB, Sri. Madhu Pandit Dasa, President of ISKCON

Bengaluru, Sri. Sri. Sri. Jayendra Puri Mahaswamiji, Mataadipati of Kailash Ashram Mahasamsthanamand Justice Dr. M. Rama Jois, former Governor of Bihar and Jharkhand join.

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“Message of Upanishads”and held in 2013 and 2014respectively.

The conference began onthe 23rd July with the recitation ofverses from the Mahapuranas

by students of SandipaniGurukula, under the directionof Smt. Rohini Chakravarthy.Sri K.G. Raghavan,Hon.Secretary of the Bhavan’sBengaluru Kendra welcomedthe gathering. Shathavadhani

Prof. Ved Kumari Ghai of Jammu being honoured by Sri.Sri.Sri. Jayendra PuriMahaswamiji Mataadhipati of Kailash Ashram Mahasamsthanam while others(from left) Sri. K.G. Raghavan, Sri. Madhu Pandit Dasa, Sri. Pathi Sridhara,

Sri. H.N.Suresh joins.

Dignitiries on the dais join together to launchthe DVD’s on Message of Upanishad

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Dr. R. Ganesh gave a synopticview of the Puranas.

Prof. Satyavrat Shastri, thefirst Jnanapeeth awardee in

Samskritam, and Chairman,National Sanskrit Commission,New Delhi, in his inauguraladdress brought out the eternal

Prof. K.T. Pandurangi, Renowned Vedic Scholar being honoured bySri. K.G. Raghavan, while others (from left) Sri H.N. Suresh, Justice Dr. M. Rama

Jois, Sri Stoka Krishna Dasa, and Sri. Bharatashrabha Dasa of ISKCON joins.

Prof. Murali Manohar Patak, Gorakhpur being honoured bySri. K.G. Raghavan and Sri. H.N. Suresh

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values enshrined in thePuranas and stressed thatthey are relevant for all times tocome. Prof. K.T. Pandurangi,Renowned Vedic ScholarProf. Ved Kumari Ghai ofJammu, Prof. Murli Manohar

Pathak of Gorakhpur,Prof. K.E. Devanathan ofTirupati, and Dr. H.S.Nagabhushan Bhatta ofBengaluru were honoured fortheir lifetime contribution toindological studies.

Prof. K.T. Pandurangi, launching the book on Message of Upanishad while from leftDr. S. Ranganath, Sri. H.N. Suresh, Justice Dr. M. Rama Jois, Sri. Stoka Krishna

Dasa, Sri. Bharatarshabha Dasa and Sri. K.G. Raghavan joins.

Prof.

Satya Vrat

Shastri

with

Children

who

participated

during

the

inaugural

function as

Brahma,

Vishnu,

Maheshwara.

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Sri. Sri. Sri. JayendrapuriMahaswamiji, Mataadhipati ofKailasa Ashram Mahasamsthanain his address brought out theinterrelationship between Sruti,Smriti and Puranas.

Sri Madhu Pandit Dasa,President, ISKCON, Bengaluru,

in his presidential remarkshighlighted that Puranas are highlyscientific and not mere stories orworks of fiction.

Six papers were presentedin the first academic session.Vid. Ganapaiah Holla of Kumtanicely brought out the concept of

Prof. K.E. Devanathan of Tirupathi being honoured bySri. H.N. Suresh while others join

Sri. Sri.Sri.Jayendra

PuriMahaswamijiMataadhipati

of KailashAshramMaha-

samsthanamwith thechildren

whoparticipated

in theinauguralprogramme

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creation according to VayuPurana in the backgroundof the 18 Mahapuranas.

Vid. G.S. Natesh ofShivamogga highlighted howpower and position are notpermanent and how societywould be safe in the hands ofgood and righteous people as

depicted in the Padma Purana.Dr. Sujatha of Dharwad broughtout the political thought in GarudaPurana with special reference toAcharya Kanda of the text.

Shatavadhani Dr. R.Ganeshdepicted the ecologicalconcept with special referenceto Bhagavata, Matsya, Bhavishya,

Invocation

by

Vedic

students

during

the

inaugural

Ceremony

Dr. H.S.Nagabhushan

Bhat beinghonoured

bySri. H.R.Ananth,

ViceChairman,BVB, while

Sri.H.N. Suresh

and Sri.Vedavyasa,

Member, BVBBengaluru

KendraCommittee

joins.

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Shiva and Vishnu DharmottaraPuranas. Dr. Mahadevanbrought out the managerialaspects of the Puranas byquoting relevant passages fromthe Puranas. Dr. Shanthakumarifrom Pondicherry broughtShuddha Advaita ofVallabhacharya succinctly with herphilosophical acumen.

The second day’s deliberationbegan with chanting from thePuranas. The forenoon sawsix papers being presented.Dr. Pranav Sharma Shastri fromPilibhit (U.P.) brought out theimpact of Puranas on Hindiliterature with reference to Tulasi,Nirala, Surdas and Mahavir

Prasad Shastri. Dr. Kumudavallidepicted social concepts inMatsya Purana with specialreference to Raja Dharma.Nadoja Dr. Hampa Nagarajaiahbrought out the significance ofJaina Mahapuranas by quotingselect passages extempore.

Dr. G.T. Narasimhachardelineated on Periya Purana, aTamil poetic account depicting thesayings of 63 Nayanars in relationto Puranas. Vid. Ananth Sharmapresented his views on advaiticconcepts occurring in VishnuPurana with special reference toconcepts like Brahman,world, emancipation and so on.Vid. Ramprasad brought out thesignificance of pilgrimages andthirthas with special reference toJangama Tirtha, Sthavara Tirthaand so on.

The afternoon session hadsix papers. Prof. Murli ManoharPathak of Gorakhpur presented

Students of Sandipani Gurukula reciting few passages fromMahapuranas during the inaugural function.

IMPACT OFPURANAS ONINDIANLITERATURE

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his views on the impact ofPuranas on the literature ofTelugu, Kannada, Tamil,Malayalam, and Bhojpurilanguages and on various dialectsother than Samskritam.Dr. Harsha made a powerpointpresentation on the impact ofPuranas on Ayurveda undervarious heads like backgroundpatterns, themes, future and so on.

Prof. Ved Kumari Ghai ofJammu highlighted the Neelimatha,a Kashmiri Purana which depictsthe cultural history of Kashmir andhow that became a source bookfor Rajatharangiri of Kalhana lateron. Dr. Keladi Venkatesh Joisgave a personal account of palmleaf manuscripts based on thePuranas available in the Keladimuseum. Smt. LalithaNarayanaswamy highlighted theconcept of Lalitha according toBrahmanda Purana in thebackground of LalithaSahasranama. Prof. G.Ashwathanarayana highlighted

Kannada works based onPuranas with special referenceto adaptations, translationsand editions. This was followedby Smt. GangammaKeshavamurthy’s kavya vachanaon Rukmini Swayamvara basedon Bhagavata Dashama Skanda.A dance feature, “Krishnaleela”,was presented by SuryaKalavidaru. Later a dance feature‘Ras’ was presented byNatyanjali under the directionof Sri. Ashok Kumar.

The third day’s deliberationsbegan with chanting from theMahapuranas. Five papers werepresented in the morning session.Dr. K.B. Sudarshan clearlybrought out that in the Puranas,the sun is one of the mostpowerful gods whose fame ismentioned in a number of Puranaslike Vishnu, Garuda, Matsya and

“Dhashavatara” presented by Surya Kalavidaru

Dance feature ‘Ras’ presented byartists of Natyanjali

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Bhavishya. Dr. H.S. NagabhushanBhatta highlighted the variousfestivals mentioned in the majorPuranas with special reference toSkanda Purana. Dr. ChakravarthyRanganathan of Tirupati broughtout the society reflected in VishnuDharmottara Purana withspecial reference to RajaDharma and the four-foldcaste system. Dr. Vaidehi madea powerpoint presentation onscience in Puranas with specialreference to chemistry, biology,veterinary sciences, humananatomy and so on. Dr. SheelaKumari of Mysore highlighted thepopular stories in Puranas withspecial reference to thosepertaining to that of Dhruva andNahusha as occurring in theVishnu Purana, Hiranya Kashipuof Padma Purana and so on.

In the afternoon session,six papers were presented.Vid. Shankara Bhatta depictedGita(s) in Puranas with particularreference to Uddhava Gita and

Avadhoota Gita of BhagavataPurana, Devi Gita of DeviBhagavata Purana, Guru Gitaof Skanda Purana, Yama Gitaof Vishnu Purana, Shiva Gita ofPadma Purana and GaneshGita of Ganesha Purana.Dr. Shivashankar traced thebackground of Om from thevedas and upanishads andplaced them in the context of AgniPurana. Prof. K.E. Devanathanof Tirupati depicted theinterrelationship betweenPancharatra and VaikhanasaAgamas with that of Vishnu,Bhagavata, Koorma, Varaha,Skanda and Brahma VaivartaPuranas.

Dr. S. Krishna Kumar drewa connection between astrologyand Puranas and highlighted howPuranas are used for prediction,remedies and performing variousfestivals and rituals in a nutshell.Sri M.A. Jayarama Rao presented

Chanting based on Puranas byVeda Brahmashri Sri. Raghavendra

Hedge and Dr. Tirumala

SIMILARITIESIN DIVYAPRABANDHAAND PURANAS.

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Kavya Vachana with selectedverses from Varaha Purana.

Dr. G.N. Bhat of Mangaloredepicted the role of human valuesaccording to Garuda Purana byquoting relevant passages.

The day concludedwith a delectable Katha Keerthanby Smt. G. Shobha Naidu.The fourth day began withchanting based on the Puranas.Three papers were presented inthe forenoon session. Sri DilipBellave highlighted the personalityof Krishna as depicted inBhagavata Purana. Vid. GanapatiHegde gave a general survey ofShaiva Purana and highlighted theShiva consciousness occurring inBrahma, Vayu, Linga, Skandaand Shiva Puranas.

Prof. K.G. Krishnamurthydiscussed the content andnoteworthy features of Puranaswith text-based analysis.

The afternoon sessionhad six papers. Prof. V.R. Tripurahighlighted the similies, alliterationand metaphors occurring inVishnu, Markandeya, Vayuand Varaha Puranas. Prof.D.K. Subramaniam of Tumkurdiscussed how Gajendra Mokshais a link between Mahabharataand Bhagavata Purana byquoting relevant passages.Vid. Suryanarayana highlightedthe concept of Vishnu as occurringin Vaishnava Puranas.

Vid. M.R. Sridhara Sharmaof Honnali traced the vedicbackground of Dakshinamurthyand related it with reference toPuranas. Prof. MadhusudanaShastri of Dharwad made asynaptic survey of sastraicelements occurring in the Puranaswith special reference to vedangasand the six systems of Indian

BHAGAVATAPURANA IS THEESSENCE OFVEDIC LITERATURE

“Katha Keerthan” bySmt. G. Shobha Naidu

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philosophy, taking relevantpassages from Vayu, Narada,Agni, Koorma, Bhagavata,Vishnu and Matsya Puranas.Sri Gangadhar Bhode highlightedthe importance of language andgrammar based on the VishnuPurana. The day concludedwith the staging of the play,‘Sambhavami Yuge Yuge’directed by D.K. Shinde.

The last day’s deliberationscommenced with the chantingof Puranas. Prof. M.N.Chandrashekar highlighted andstressed that a special feature ofthe Hari Vamsha is to show thenon-difference between Hari andHara. Dr. S.Ranganath derivedthe word ‘Arya’ from traditional

sources and gave an account offive migrations of Aryansaccording to the Puranas.Sri Shankarlal Mehta ofKolkata drew references fromMarkandeya and BrahmandaPuranas and related it toSoundarya Lahari ofShankaracharya and Keerthansof Muthuswamy Dikshitar.

Sri. Bharatarshabha Dasaof ISKCON depicted thatBhagavata Purana is the veryessence of vedic literature.Stoka Krishna Dasa of ISKCONdelineated the poetic descriptionsof autumn in Bhagavata Puranaby drawing the relevant passages.Sri S. Sundararajan, formerI.A.S. Officer, depicted themessage of Vishnu Purana.Dr. G.B. Harish drew attention tothe Thirthankaras as depicted inJaina Puranas. He said that theascent of Jeeva from the animalinstinct towards transforming intoa liberated being is highlighted inthe Puranas.

PURANASRELEVANT TOMODERN TIMES

“Sambhavami Yuge Yuge” presented byKalavidara Balaga

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In the afternoon session,four papers were presented.Dr. Shilpa Datar stressed onPanchakosha, Tridosha andTrigunas and related it to puranikstatements. Vid. Narayana Bhattahighlighted the importance ofAshtanga Yoga, Manvantara andGaya in the background of VayuPurana. Smt. Goda Gopal quotedrelevant passages from DivyaPrabandha and drew similaritiesto it with various puranas.Dr. Sridhar Hegde highlighted theimportance of Vishnu in the lightof Padma Purana.

In his valedictory address,Prof. K.T. Pandurangi stressedthe relevance of Puranas tomodern times.

He was honoured forhis lifetime achievements.Dr. M. Rama Jois stated thatDharma is the backbone on

Dr. S. Ranganath

which all the Puranas have beenformulated. Dr. S. Ranganathwas the master of ceremoniesand moderated the five-day eventwith his scholary opening andclosing remarks. All daily sessionsof the conference began withrecitation from various Puranasby a team of two led byVid. Raghavendra Hedge.The programme was a grandsuccess as many youngstersattended the programme andexpressed their happiness.

A view of

the book

exhibition

organised

during the

‘Message of

Mahapurana’s

Conference

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BHARATIYA VIDYA BHAVAN ANDSAI GRACE FOUNDATION ENDOWMENT PROGRAMME:

SRI. YADALAM NANJAIAH SETTYMEMORIAL LECTURE HELD ON 14TH JULY 2015

AT KHINCHA AUDITORIUM

H.H. Sri Swami Japanandaji, Chairman, Sri Ramakrishna Sevashrama, Pavagadabeing honoured by Sri. Yadalam Gangadhara Setty, while Sri. H.N. Suresh and

Yadalam Vijay Kumar joins.

H.H. Sri Swami Japanandaji, delevering the Sri. Yadalam Nanjaiah SettyMemorial Lecture on the topic : ‘Relevance of Bhagavad Gita’

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BHAVAN’S DR. K.M. MUNSHI INSTITUTE OFART & CULTURE PROGRAMME

VARSHA – VAIBHAVA A DANCE FEATURE BASED ONCOMPOSITIONS OF SHATAVADHANI DR. R. GANESH

PRESENTED ON 19TH JULY 2015 ATKHINCHA AUDITORIUM

Artists who performed in the dance feature a ‘Varsha-Vaibhava’ pose for a groupphotograph along with Dr. Sudha Murty, Chairperson, Infosys Foundation,

Dr. R. Ganesh and Sri. H.N. Suresh

Dr. Deeksha Shastry andDr. Nayana Somayaji

Dr. Shobha Shashi Kumar

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BHAVAN-INFOSYS FOUNDATIONMUSIC PROGRAMMES ATINDIAN INSTITUTE OF WORLD CULTURE,BASAVANAGUDI, BENGALURU ON JULY 10, 2015

BHARATIYA VIDYA BHAVAN AND INDIRA GANDHINATIONAL CENTRE FOR THE ARTS PROGRAMME :PERINI - A LECTURE DEMONSTRATION HELD ON

19TH JULY 2015 AT KHINCHA AUDITORIUM

Flute concert by Sri Jayatheertha Kulkarni and party

Dr. Sudha Murty, Chairperson, Infosys Foundation, lighting the lamp along withBhavan’s Director Sri. H.N. Suresh and Artist Sri. Kalakrishna

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BHAVAN-INFOSYS FOUNDATION

OUTREACH CULTURAL PROGRAMME

JUNE 27 & JULY 25, 2015

Carnatic Music on MadolinArtistes : Sri. V. Akshay

Violin : Sri. Arjun Dinakar Mridanga : Sri R. GaneshGhatam : Sri. T. Nataraj

on June 27, 2015 at Prof. B.K. Subba Rao College, Vidyaranyapura

Music Concert : A Journey with Harmonium

Artistes : Harmonium : Dr. Ravindra G. Katoti,Tabla : Pt. Udayraj Karpoor,

Tabla: Sri. Sumit Nayak, Harmonium: Sri. Chirag Kanitkar,Manjira: Sri. Venkatesh Purohit

on July 25, 2015 at Sri. MPL Shastri PU College, Vidyavihara, Rajajinagar

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Remembering theKrishna Raos

Dancers of Maha Maya havebeen paying tribute to their GurusChandrabhaga Devi and U SKrishna Rao through an annualendowment programme at theBhavan. Befitting the occasion,well-known dance coupleKiran Subramanyam andSandhya Kiran will dance thisyear on the occasion on Aug. 9.Recipients of KarnatakaKalashree at a relatively youngage, the Kirans have been trainingdancers in North Bengaluru,pitching in their best for theoverall development of the

WATCH OUT

FOR

AUG 9, 14, 2015

dancers and the art itself, throughtheir dance school Rasika.

Their confidence as teachershas given rise to the Rasika DanceEnsemble, the professionalperforming outfit of the school.

Although born and broughtup near Chitradurga, Bharatanatyadancer K Nagaraj moved toBengaluru in search of alivelihood, which proved tobe a turning point for his dance.His rangapravesha was in 2013.He is learning Odissi too, andteaches dance at several cityschools. Nagaraj received theKala Pratibha award in 2008.The recital of Kirans andNagaraj is at 6 pm at Bhavan.

Evening of Dasapadas

The BVB-InfosysFoundation programme iscarrying out its objective ofreaching art to different cornersof the city, drawing an enthusedaudience. The Indian Institute of

Kiran Subramanyam and

Sandhya Kiran

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World Culture is the next venuefor an evening of Dasapadas bySushma Shyamprsad, on Aug.14,at 6 pm.

Sushma is a gold medallist inHindustani music, having done herpost-graduation from the KalaSangeet Vishwa Vidyalaya,Khairagarh.

She conducts classes at theDr. Rajguru Music Academy,

INFOSYSFOUNDATIONPROGRAMMEON AUG 14.

Bengaluru, while learning fromPandit Parameshwara Hegde.Online teaching of music isanother of her music activities.

- Jyothi Raghuram

Bharatiya Vidya BhavanBangalore - 560 001

Kala BharatiSchool of Visual & Performing Arts

MridangaTablaVeenaFluteCarnatic VocalHindustani Vocal

Sugama SangeethBharatanatyamKathakDrawing & PaintingKeyboardViolin

AdmissionOpen

All Classes : Saturdays : 4.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. Sundays : 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon

For more details contact :Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Race Course Road, Bangalore - 560 001.

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Mon 6.00 p.m. - ESV Hall03. Prof. M.S. Hanumantha RaoMemorial Endowment lectureSpeaker : Prof. K.J. RaoTopic : Jnana is not just knowledge

Fri 6.30 p.m. - Khincha Hall07. Book launch bySri JSD Pani, President,Federation of AYUSH IndustryTitle : Holy CancerHow A Cow Saved My LifeA memoir by Amit Vaidya PhD (US)

Sat 6.30 p.m. - Khincha Hall08. Horizon series ofBVB-ICCR : Music ConcertOrchestra by Bangalore Schoolof Music(in association with IndianCouncil for Cultural Relations)

Sun 6.00 p.m. - Khincha Hall09. Prof. U.S. Krishna Raoand Smt. Chandra Bhaga DeviEndowment.

Bharatanatya by Sri. K. Nagaraj,Guru Sri. Kiran Subramanyam andGuru Smt. Sandhya Kiran

Fri 6.00 p.m.14. ‘Dasara Padagalu’by Smt. Sushma Shyamprasad(in association with InfosysFoundation)

Venue : Indian Institute ofWorld Culture, Basavanagudi,Bengaluru

Sat Independence Day15. Celebrations :9.00 a.m. : Flag Hoisting atBhavan’s premises R.C. Road.

9.30 a.m. : Bhavan’s BBMP PublicSchool, Srirampuram.

PROGRAMME :

AUGUST - 2015

Sat 6.30 p.m.22. BVB Infosys FoundationOutreach programme :Sitar recital byUstad Hafiz Bale KhanTabla : Sri Shylesh ShenoyVenue : MES Kalavedi,MES College, 15th Cross,Malleswaram, Bengaluru.

Sat 3.00 p.m. - Khincha Hall29. Raksha Bandhancelebrations : Smt. Vimala RamaJois and Dr. Rama Jois EndowmentChief Guest : Sri. Sadananda GowdaHon’ble Union Minister for Law

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August -2015