Vedic theme for summer camp

TRIPUNITHURA: It’s a summer camp of a different kind. When kids make a beeline for dance, music and fine arts classes to brush up their extra-curricular activities, a group of young students have opted to learn routine Vedic rituals at Raghavendra Math situated near Kalikotta Palace.

The Raghavendra Math is filled with the reverberations of Gayathri mantra. As part of the summer Vedic training camp, nearly 25 students between the age group seven and 12 are attending classes on routine rituals like sandhya vandanam, agni karyam, purusha sooktham, bhagya sooktham, sreesuktham, salagrama pooja, vishnupooja and also astrology.

Nearly five years ago, Raghavendra Math, in association with Thrissur District Madhwa Sabha, started organising summer Vedic training camp at Raghavendra Math.

The 10-day camp begins at 5 a m. The students attending the camp should be dressed in traditional style. A set of pooja utensils will be provided to them.

“The students are given a list of things they have to bring including plate, tumbler and a pair of dhotis. They have the barest of facilities, have to sleep on mats spread on the floor and wear a simple two-piece dhoti,” said M Vasudevan, secretary, Thrissur District Madhwa Subha.

Under the leadership of chief priest V Narayana Bhatt, a group of young learned Vedic scholars is conducting classes. Apart from the selected subjects, the correct pronunciation of Sanskrit shlokas has been included in the course.

As part of the strict training schedule, the wards will be woken up at 5 a m and while bathing, training for sandhya vandanam will be given by the priests. After sandhya vandanam it is time for special training in yoga. Sala grama pooja, special routine rituals that are inevitable for Thulu Brahmins, will also be held.

From 10 a m, special training for chanting myriad sookthas like purusha sooktham, bhagya sooktham and Vishnu sahasranamam will be held. In the evening, religious discourses, bhajans and quiz based on Puranic texts will be held.

“The camp helps the student learn self-discipline, realise the unity of creation and the universal message of the Vedas,” says M Vasudevan.

The 10-day camp will conclude on May 13. Certificates and medals will be distributed at a special function.

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