Bharatatma Veda Awards Ceremony Held in Pune in the Presence of Swami Govindadev Giriji Maharaj

“The Vedas Are the Soul of Indian Culture”: Swami Govindadev Giriji Maharaj

The Bharatatma Veda Awards ceremony, held in memory of Bharatatma Shri Ashokji Singhal, took place at the Dadasaheb Darode Auditorium in Pune. The event was held in the esteemed presence of Swami Govindadev Giriji Maharaj, with Acharya Pradyumnaji Maharaj attending as the chief guest.

In his address, Swami Govindadev Giriji Maharaj said that the Vedas form the very soul of India. He noted that all knowledge that has flowed across the world finds its source in the Vedas, and that the essence of Indian culture rests within them. He added that the Vedas are the soul of India as well as the soul of Ashokji Singhal.

Salil Singhalji, chief trustee of the Singhal Foundation, spoke about the purpose behind the awards and shared insights into the initiative’s nine-year journey. He explained that the Bharatatma Veda Awards are presented in three categories—Outstanding Veda Student, Ideal Veda Teacher, and Best Veda Institution. Each award includes a cash prize of ₹3 lakh, ₹5 lakh, and ₹7 lakh respectively, along with a certificate and a memento. He also highlighted that the application and selection process is conducted online to ensure transparency and fairness.

The Outstanding Veda Student Award for 2025 was presented to Nori Kedareswar Sharma from Hyderabad. A scholar of the Krishna Yajurveda, Taittiriya branch, he has studied classical Sanskrit texts such as Raghuvamsa, and specialised works like Pratishakhya and Varnakrama. Under Guru Shriram Ghanapathiji, he completed the six Vedangas, and later pursued full grammar studies under Shri Bilvesh Shastriji.

The Ideal Veda Teacher Award was given to Ananta Krishna Bhatt from Chennai. A distinguished scholar of the Krishna Yajurveda, Taittiriya branch, he has edited and published several texts and is well-versed in Nyaya and Mimamsa. He cleared examinations on Nyayaprakasha and Jaiminiya Nyayamala at Kanchi Math and studied Purva Mimamsa under Narayana Adiga Guruji at the Maharaja Sanskrit College in Mysuru.

The Best Veda Institution Award went to Shri Dattatreya Veda Vidyalaya in Rajamahendravaram, Andhra Pradesh. For the past twenty-five years, the institution has been dedicated to teaching the Krishna Yajurveda, Taittiriya branch, in its complete traditional form. Students are trained in recitation methods such as Pada, Krama, Jata, and Ghana, along with the Prasthanatrayi, Shrouta–Smarta texts, and key commentaries. The institution has played an important role in preserving and strengthening the traditional study of the Krishna Yajurveda, and many of its students now serve in Vedic fields across the country.

The final shortlist also included Kedareswar Sharma of Sambhajinagar and Shrinidhi Svanand Dhaygude of Pune in the student category; Swanand Shivram Dhaygude of Pune in the teacher category; and Shankaramath Veda Vidyalaya (Villupuram, Tamil Nadu) along with Shri Sarvaraya Veda Vidyalaya (Kapileshwarapuram, Andhra Pradesh) in the institutional category.

The Bharatatma Veda Awards not only honour excellence in Vedic study and teaching but also inspire continued commitment to preserving and enriching this timeless tradition of knowledge.