"Jeevottam Vidyapeetham", a
new centre for Vedic learning, was inaugurated on Wednesday at the
sacred Shree Gokarn Partagali Jeevottam Math, which is home to the
77-foot bronze statue of Lord Rama inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri
Narendra Modi. The inauguration took place on the auspicious occasion
of Nija Jyeshtha Shukla Dashami of the Parabhava year, in the divine
presence of His Holiness Srimad Vidyadhish Teerth Sripad Vadeer
Swamiji.
Shree Gokarn Partagali Jeevottam Math was established
in 1475 by Srimad Narayan Teerth Sripad, who accepted Sanyasashrama
from Srimad Ramachandra Teerth Sripad of Palimaru Math. Through an
uninterrupted Guru tradition spanning nearly 550 years, the Math has
preserved and propagated the Dvaita philosophy of Srimad Madhvacharya
and presently has 34 branch maths across the country. The Math
conducts daily Trikala Puja in accordance with the Vaishnava
tradition under the blessings of Lord Ramadev Veeravittal and the 23
pontiffs of the Guru Parampara.
For centuries, the study of
the Vedas and Shastras has continued through the traditional Gurukula
system. The 18th pontiff, Srimad Purna Prajna Teerth Sripad,
established a special Gurukula to impart education and produced
several scholars and pandits who contributed significantly to
society.
In 1953, the 22nd pontiff, Srimad Dwarakanath Teerth
Sripad, founded Shri Indirakanta Teerth Sanskrit Pathashala at
Vyasashrama in Bicholim, Goa, following the ancient Gurukula
tradition. The institution was later shifted to Venkatapura in
Karnataka, where students were taught Sanskrit literature, poetry,
grammar, Vedas and Dvaita philosophy, with all educational expenses
borne by the Math.
In 1972, the 23rd pontiff, Srimad
Vidyadhiraj Teerth Sripad, shifted the institution to Partagali and
renamed it Jeevottam Vaidika Sanskrit Pathashala. More than 500
students received education through this institution and went on to
lead respected lives. However, due to the growing influence of modern
education, student admissions gradually declined and had come to a
complete halt by 2016.
With renewed interest in Vedic studies
in recent years, the 24th pontiff, His Holiness Srimad Vidyadhish
Teerth Sripad Vadeer Swamiji, revived the institution under the name
"Jeevottam Vidyapeetham."
Addressing students and
devotees, His Holiness said that the Vidyapeetham would serve as a
centre for Vedic learning based on the principles of Srimad Madhva
Siddhanta and aimed at preserving Sanatana Dharma. He stated that the
five-year curriculum would focus on Sanskrit, Vedas, Karmanga and
Jyotisha, while the ten-year curriculum would provide comprehensive
education in Sanskrit, Vedas, Karmanga, Jyotisha, Nyaya, Vyakarana
and Vedanta.
Shri Ganesh Bhat Gokarn and Shri Raghottam
Acharya of Bengaluru have been appointed to the Sanskrit department,
Shri Atharv Bhandekar to the Veda department, and Shri Lakshmikant
Bhat of Idagunji, Honnavar, as the Principal and head of the Jyotisha
and Karmanga departments.
The institution aims to nurture
scholars who will dedicate themselves to the propagation of Srimad
Madhva Siddhanta and the service of the Saraswat community. His
Holiness observed that the Vidyapeetham represents not merely the
establishment of an educational institution, but an important step
towards preserving and transmitting the rich heritage of the Vedic
tradition, Madhva philosophy and Guru Parampara to future
generations.
Following the worship of Shri Hari, Guru and
Goddess Saraswati, textbooks and educational materials were
distributed to the students, marking the formal commencement of the
Vidyapeetham.
Among those present on the occasion were Padma
Shri awardee Shri Mohandas Pai, Shri R. S. Shanbhag of Bengaluru,
Central Committee President of the Math Shri Srinivas V. Dempo,
Vice-President Shri Ramachandra R. Kamat, Partagali Chaturmasya
Committee President Shri Anil Pai, committee members Shri Dinesh Pai
and Shri Yogish Kamat, scholar Shri Ramakrishna Bhat, former students
of the Pathashala, members of the Jeevottam Vaidika Sangha, Vedic
scholars and members of the community. The information was notified
by the social media team of the math