Academic and research programmes at Sri Venkateswara Vedic University were tailor-made to focus more on modern research and in unravelling the sciences hidden in ancient scriptures, said varsity's Vice-Chancellor K.E. Devanathan.
As Governor and Chancellor E.S.L. Narasimhan could not make it to the varsity's 4th annual convocation held here on Wednesday, Prof. Devanathan read out his address.
Apart from linguistics, philosophy and Vedic studies, the courses offered included seismology, meteorology, hydrology, indigenous herbal science, and computer applications, he said. “SVVU is moving ahead to prove the all-time relevance of Vedas in a systematic way by corroborating with national scientific agencies such as the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The aim is to unearth science and technology in the Vedas, undertake exploratory pursuits in relevant fields and compare them with modern trends and give international focus to S&T aspects in traditional disciplines of knowledge,” he said.
Contemporary issues having alarming repercussions like global warming and ecological imbalances would also be dealt with. He explained the research projects in progress such as water purification methods in ancient Indian perspective and modelling ground water investigations based on concepts in Brihatsamhita of Varahamihira.
Prof. Devanathan said the varsity had brought out 19 compact discs on rare Sakhas of Upanishads and Samhitas of four Vedas through Sri Venkateswara Vedic Recording Project to preserve the Vedic recitation in its pristine form, with emphasis on ‘Swara’ and the regional variations found across the country. “The university is contemplating establishing an Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), as Vedic education also needs quality uplift through improved pedagogical aspects, especially in this age of information technology”, he said.
The varsity conferred honoris causa ‘Mahamahopadhyaya’ title on Vishnubhatla Sri Ramamurthy Sastri, an 89-year-old renowned scholar. Later, Ph.D., M.Phil, M.A. and B.A. degrees, diplomas and certificates were presented to about 360 candidates. TTD Special Officer N. Muktheswara Rao and Registrar A. Venkata Radheshyam were present.
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