JAMMU, Sept 11: Jammu and Kashmir’s Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Gurukul, where students have been learning the text of the Vedas or Hindu holy books besides Karamkand and other Pooja (prayer) rituals since 2010, has been granted affiliation to one of the country’s oldest and largest Sanskrit Universities.
Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Varanasi, which has a long list of affiliated schools and colleges all over the country, granted affiliation to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Gurukul as a special case, a spokesperson of the school said.
“Shri N. N. Vohra, Governor J&K, who is Chairman of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, took keen interest in the establishment of the Gurukul. Members of the Vaishno Devi Shrine Board are very happy to learn that the Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Varanasi, has granted affiliation to the Gurukul,” he said.
The Mata Vaishno Devi shrine is one of the holiest pilgrimage sites in India and draws millions of devotees every year.
‘Gurukuls’ or traditional vedic schools were quite prominent in medieval India and were emphatic about the sanctity of the teacher-taught relationship, all of them often living together as a family. At these institutions often knowledge about sacred texts of Hinduism was imparted to the students.
However the management of the Gurukul, started by the shrine board in winter capital Jammu region, says it also imparts education in english, mathematics, science, social studies, computer sciences and music to around 60 students presently on roll.
They said affiliation of the Gurukul to the Sampurnanand Sanskrit University up to the level of “Acharyas” (post-Graduate level for high priests or teachers) opens new vistas for the students who shall be graduating from this institution which has very highly qualified teachers.
Apart from students, the management have been regularly organising workshops for providing refresher training to the Pujaris or prayer leaders from the entire region.
“This training, provided free of cost, aims to enable the Pujaris to improve their knowledge and understanding of the rituals and religious practices. The Gurukul has so far organised twelve such refresher courses and trained more than 100 Pujaris and Pandits from the various areas of the Jammu region,” the spokesperson said.
