National conference on Sanskrit literature

Sanskrit literature as guide to natural disasters
By Ravindra Saini

UTTARANCHAL Sanskrit Academy organised a three-day national conference on ‘Solution to natural disasters as mentioned in Sanskrit literature’ in Haridwar. The conference concluded on May 29. According to Secretary of the Sanskrit Academy Dr Buddha Dev Sharma eminent Sanskrit scholars from Haryana, Rajasthan, Jammu, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh attended the conference.

Some eminent scholars also presented research papers, which will soon be published in a book form. The research papers will also be sent to Government of India. On May 27, a total of 19 research papers were presented. Similarly, on May 28 and 29, a total of 47 papers were presented. It was first of its kind conference in the country.

Speaking at the Conference Dr Buddha Dev Sharma said Nature is our mother and we have to respect her accordingly. “She gives us everything to survive. When she is over-exploited, the natural calamities occure. The Vedas and Puranas contain many solutions to natural disasters but unfortunately the world is still ignorant of them. Now the Sanskrit Academy has decided to bring them into light for the welfare of the entire world,” he said.

Presiding over the conference, Acharya Balkrishan of Patanjali Yogpeeth, Haridwar said the world is facing many natural disasters because of the negligence to Sanskrit. He said the Sanskrit literature clearly describes the importance of Nature and it is well mentioned that animals, birds and even plants and trees forecast the weather. That is why even today people believe that ants, frogs forecast the weather.

National general secretary of Samskrit Bharati Shri Chamukrishna Shastri appealed to the Sanskrit scholars to contribute in the propagation of Sanskrit and also promote researches.

Vice Chancellor of Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Sanskrit University, Rajasthan, Prof Ramanuj Devnathan said there is detailed description in Sanskrit literature how to save the world from natural disasters and how we should behave with Nature and how we should maintain a balance between needs and greeds. He said in ancient time, there was a custom of performing panchangvachan activity on first day of every New Year. It was performed with a view to protect and save the world from natural disaster.

Prof Vinay Kumar Pathak, Vice Chancellor of Uttarakhand Open University, said Sanskrit is not only a language, but is the base of life force and lifestyle. He said in spite of being ancient, the Sanskrit literature is highly scientific and most modern.

Eminent scholar Acharya Buddhivallabh Shastri said natural disasters cannot be controlled unless Nature is worshipped as Goddess. The concept behind the worship of Nature is only to protect the world from natural disasters.

Dr Prem Shankar Pandey and Dr Kanhaiya Lal Parashar pointed out that eight ways have been suggested in Matasya Purana to prevent natural disasters. Dr Dhruvapati Pandya said natural disasters occur due to men’s disturbing of five elements of nature — earth, water, air, sky, fire, and protection of these five elements is a must to save the world from disasters.

Shankaracharya Shri Rajrajeshwarashram Maharaj said natural disasters are the result of the sins committed by human beings. He said if mind, action and words are directed to righteous point, there cannot occur natural disasters. Vice Chancellor of Uttarakhand Ayurvedic University Prof Satyendra Mishra, Dr Premchand Shastri, Prof Mahavir Aggarwal, director of Uttarakhand Language Institute, Dr Savita Mohan, Prof Mohan Chandra Balodi, Shri Kanta Prasad Badola, Dr Devi Prasad Uniyal, Dr Harish Gurani, Shri Brahmanand Bidaliya, Dr Yogesh Mishra, Dr DN Sharma, Shri Ratnesh Singh, Dr Om Prakash Bhatt, Shri Narendra Pandey and Smt Manjula Bist were among the prominent Sanskrit scholars who were present at the conference. Prof Manudev Bandhu, Prof Jaidatt Upreti, Prof Gyan Prakash Shastri, Dr Arvind Narayan Mishra, Dr Prakash Pant and Dr DSR Linga Reddy presented papers on the Vedas, Vedang, Jyotish, Ayurveda, Purana, etc.

Describing Sanskrit as a scientific language former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Shri Bhagat Singh Koshiyari praised the Uttarakhand government for making Sanskrit the second official language. Uttarakhand Assembly Speaker Shri Harbans Kapoor also spoke on the occasion.