Please find the proceedings of the workshop held in Chennai from August 11th to 13th, 2006 on the topic "Significance of Vedic Culture in Ancient Dravidian Literature" given below.
(An experience scrutinizing the Significance of Vedic Culture in Ancient Dravidian Literature)
WEBOLIM:
Web of Life Makers (Webolim) is an organization, which facilitates people to experience the treasured esoteric Vedic values and inculcate them in their everyday life. It conducts regular camps around the country to elucidate the public on various topics of interest, thereby providing simple yet clear solutions that are always integrated to the ��Big Truth��. This was one such camp [To put it literally, an exquisite experience!], a two day residential workshop in Chennai from August 11th to 13th 2006 with the below objectives;
��Research and hence Refresh, the general misconception that Dravidian languages & culture are against Vedas�� ��To spread the awareness of the similarity of the Vedic and Dravidian roots and the practical usage of Vedic culture in Dravidian life from time immemorial��
Venue: VKC Cultural Centre No. 41, Kuppaiah Street West Mambalam, Chennai
Inaugural Address �� Dr. Kalyanaraman The camp started with the inaugural ceremony at 7.15 PM on 11th August 2006 (Friday). Dr. Kalyanaraman, Director of Saraswathi Research Centre who had done pioneering work in scientifically proving the Saraswathi River and its relevance to history of India gave the inaugural address.
��Introduction to Vedas���� Smt. Dhrushya, Shri. Jaishankar, Shri. Ranganji This session [had three sub sessions in it] prepared the audience with the right kind of tempo that was needed for the workshop by setting the tone right, making the spirits fly high and created a deep thirst for acquiring the true knowledge about the Vedic and Dravidian cultures. Smt. Dhrushya dealt with the structure by detailing on the Systematic Arrangement of the Vedas and explained why out of the four divisions of the Vedas: Samhitha, Brahmana, Aranyaka and Upanishads; the Samhitha assumes a higher importance. The part, Uniqueness of Vedas taken by Shri S.Jaishankar and the final part on ��Why Vedas?�� was taken by Shri Ranganji. After these lectures there was a question & answer session.
Works by Dravidians on Vedas �� Dr. T.N. Ramachandran The speaker enthralled the audience with his stomping authority and grand style on the various Dravidian works on Vedas. He explained the work of Shri Jambunahtha Iyer who translated Vedas to Tamil and who worked for the welfare of depressed people. He also explained the Tamil translation of Krishna Yajur Veda & Sama Veda by Shivadhyananda Maharishi. Then the work of Shri Kapali Shastri on Rig Veda was explained. That Friday, came to a close as we bid an unwilling adieu!
Yoga starts a blissful day �� Shri. Ananthan Saturday dawned with a salubrious yoga session presented by Shri. Ananthan from Vivekananda Yoga University, Bangalore. The participants were taken across a pleasant one hour yogic voyage [5.00 am to 6.00 am] through performing some Asanas �� the science of postures and practicing some Pranayamas - the art and science of structured breathing.
The Myth of Aryan Invasion �� pondering the fugitive Truth �� Dr. Kalyanaraman The Aryan invasion Theory, one amongst the most controversial stake clouding the facts was taken to task by the veteran scholar in the session. The stage couldn��t have been more suitably set, as Dr. Kalyanaraman, Director of Saraswathi Research Centre who had done pioneering work in scientifically proving the Saraswathi River and its relevance to history of India tore through the Fabricated theory with his logical shafts. Briefly describing how the theory was manufactured and propagated, he took the session on the evidences that are available, contrary to the Aryan Invasion. He pointed out at archeological evidences from nearly 200 Indus valley sites, pointed out linguistic and genetic facts that demolish theory of Aryan Invasion. He quoted the works of many researchers and scholars from the days of Frenchman Marius Fontane (who in 1881 who wrote ��Histoire Universelle, Inde Vedique��). It won��t provoke any awe to state that the session was enlightening with a lot of information providing insight. Hot breakfast followed the wonderful lecture on the hot topic.
Modern Tamil and Vedas �� Shri. Ranganji Cometh the Man, Cometh the Hour! The stage was set for the founder President of Webolim to take over. What not? �� He took over in style by delivering a lecture on Modern Tamil and Vedas, showing how Bharathi��s Tamil poems ran high having a good large content of the Vedic concepts in them. The master explained the many translations of Vedic mantras by Bharathi in Tamil. Considering many poems of Bharathi on Agni, Indra and Soma, he threw light on the ��concept of Archetypes�� in the Vedas.
Vedic Chanting of 26 important Vedic mantras soon followed suit in the ��lead and follow method��. To make the chanting, an enchanting experience, and the meanings of the mantras were explained then and there.
Concept of Dharma �� Panel discussion A vast topic, the concept of dharma was discussed with a clinical approach to define dharma universally without having any superimposition of race, gender, caste, religion etc. Using the concepts like Shreyas, Preyas etc a model was presented for deciding an action into dharmic or adharmic. A skills session took place after lunch in which the participants exhibited their talents. This went on till 3.30 in the evening.
Life Craft �� Individual narrations The session witnessed all participants narrating numerous events from the immortal epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata. The incidents that were narrated were of acute beauty as they were associated with a practical utility in our everyday life. There were nearly 30 or 40 incidents from Ramayana and Mahabharata discussed and clarified. This session went on till 5 pm.
Single Culture of the Whole Nation in the light of Ramayana �� Shri. Ranganji A close follower will find out how Shri. Ranganji raises an excitement in the listener by putting forw