6. Recent Trends (regarding vedic studies)

Recently there is a tendency among various religious groups and agencies to take up vedic studies in the name of popularizing traditional wisdom for example, Sri Sathya Sai Seva Samithi conducts Vedic classes. for devotees at some of their branches in Kerala situated at Tirur, Kottakal, Nilambur, Aluva etc. Those who want to learn Veda are admitted to the classes without any caste, sex, and age discrimination. These centres do not teach any particular Veda as a whole but they teach selected portions of Vedas and Upanisads like Purusasukta, Srisukta, Durgasukta, Medhasukta, Gayatri Mantra etc. They do not follows traditional methods but some elements of tradition are incorporated.

173 The method of teaching is oral. After the loud recital of the Mantra with proper accents its meaning is also explained by the Vedic scholar who conduct the classes. Students also recite the Mantras with the clarity of pronunciation. These suktas are used in daily Bhajans and prayers. Ramachandran master conducts Vedic classes at Shornur and Irinjalakuda for Satya Sai Seva Samithi. In Thrissur, Vedic class were started on 2003 March. About 45 students attended this class in the first batch, classes are conducted on every Sunday morning from 10 am to 12pm. At first Mantras are recited loudly, then the meaning of each mantra is explained. After the class printed notes are given in Malayalam script. But now after 6 years, only ten students are regularly attending this class. Some elderly people who came to attend the class had to discontinue as 17 they felt difficulty in pronouncing and memorizing the texts. Later this organisation began to publish books for the purpose of these Vedic classes. Now these are available in six volumes as compilations of various suktas. Purusasuktam, Srisuktam, Narayana- suktam, Narayana Upanisad, Ekadasa rudram; CD's of these hymns are also available now. 18 Kasyapa Vedic Research Foundation, Ballussery also teaches Vedas without any discrimination of Caste, sex and age under the leadership of M.R. Rajesh. Selected Vedic portions are taught to the students once or twice weekly. In the kozhikode branch they conduct

174 19 classes only on Sunday morning. These religious organizations use the Mantras of Veda simply as prayers in bhajans as a clear means to inculcate popular faith in their particular cults and beliefs by relating them to the Vedas. The Vedas, Itihasas and Puranas are used in the name of the eternal Hindu Dharma to attract more and more devotees and attain acceptability to the new cults and faiths sponsored by the powerful Godmen and Godwomen in the community. Actual teaching and learning does not take place in their bhajans mode of preaching, but an acquaintance with the scriptures are made with a strong religious motivation. In depth study of Sanskrit or Vedas are not possible in such contexts. But a person having some knowledge in Sanskrit can get something more from these classes. Discriminations on the basis of caste and creed are also absent in these groups which are not orthodox or Brahmanic in character and follow the 'Bhakthi' pattern of religion modified to suit the modern times.