Management of the 65-year-old institution said that they were struggling to operate it as they were unable to meet operational expenditure

By | Published: 10:59 pm

Mancherial: Sri Mahadeva Veda Pathashala of Achchulapur village in Thandur mandal has nurtured 300 scholars since its inception. But, it is now reeling under severe financial crisis.

Management of the 65-year-old institution said that they were struggling to operate it as they were unable to meet operational expenditure even as philanthropists were donating funds and groceries. They are seeking support of the State government for sustaining the institution and for introducing new courses.

The institution is one of the oldest vedic schools of Telangana and one of the reliable sources of learning for Brahmins of the region. Spiritual preacher Garikapati Mahadeva Shastri of Guntur district had established the institution to provide the ancient vedic education to enthusiastic Brahmins free of cost, when he was touring the region in 1952.

The school remained closed following financial crisis between 1962 and 1971. At present, Duddila Manohara Avadhani, a resident and priest of Achchulapur, reopened it. He has been with the institution since 1972. He has played a vital role in running the one its kind private schools.

“We are relying on donations by philanthropists and good samaritans to operate the school. But, the funds are insufficient to meet the expenditure incurred for operating the institution. Government should come to the rescue of the ageing institution,” Manohara said.

He said the institution was receiving Rs 3 lakh scholarship each from Sri Thirumala Thirupathi Devasthanam and Sri Sringeri Matham of Karnataka per nnuam. “A sum of Rs 1.5 lakh is spent on meals, salaries of teachers and other requirements every month. Income generated from selling milk and dung of cow, reared in a goshala of the institution, is utilised for meeting expenditures,” he added.

The institution, an affiliate of Sri Venkateshwara Vedic University of Tirupathi, is offering two courses, Veda and Smartha. Duration of Veda programme is 12 years and Smartha is four years. Total strength of the school is 25. Students from not only Telangana, but also Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Padesh pursue vedic studies at this Pathashala.

Alumni of the school are rendering services in several prominent shrines of Telangana. They are performing divine rituals in Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy Devasthanam of Vemulawada and Thousands pillar temple in Warangal. Some of the former students are working priests in religious structures across the State.