Vedas are sources of our Indian heritage and culture and UNESCO has recognised vedas as oral heritage. Vedic seers had codified 14 vidyas into 4 vedas, 6 vedangas, puranas, nanya, mimamsa and Dharmashastra.

President Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated Sri Venkateswara Veda Patasala at I. Bhimavaram village in West Godavari district on Friday. Tirumala Tirupati Devastanams (TTD) had constructed the school building at a cost of Rs.4.70 crore in Akiveedu mandal.

Addressing the students, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee praised the TTD for promoting vedic traditions and knowledge. The TTD was running Veda Patasalas at Tirumala, Hyderabad, Nalgonda, Vizianagaram, Kotappakonda and I. Bhimavaram in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana States and over 1,000 vedic scholars were being provided financial aid, he said.

The new veda institute houses a Gosala, Yagasala and Gnana Mandiram.

"Vedas are sources of our Indian heritage and culture and UNESCO has recognised vedas as oral heritage. Vedic seers had codified 14 vidyas into 4 vedas, 6 vedangas, puranas, nanya, mimamsa and Dharmashastra. These vedic texts enshrine the message of world peace, prosperity and sustainable development," the President said.

In ancient times, vidyas were taught in residential universities or gurukulas like Takshashila, Vikramashila and Odantapuri and were found across the world particularly in South East Asian countries and China.

In Andhra Pradesh, we had good vedic education centres along Krishna and Godavari river bunds with many foreign students coming to pursue education in these institutions.

The old Indian tradition of vedic teachings was primarily oral and depended on the 'guru-shishya' relationship. The guru would stand as a trusted medium to percolate the true interpretation of vedic knowledge, which has weaned over a period of time.

Therefore, Veda Patasalas acquire greater importance in dissemination of veda education, knowledge and culture, Mr. Mukherjee opined.

TTD signs MoU with DRDO

The TTD has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with RCI-DRDO for conducting scientific research on vedas. The TTD has established the Centre for Veda Science Research (CVSR) for promoting research in the field and has recognised seven patasalas as 'Centres of Excellence' in vedic studies to give a fillip to oral tradition of dissemination of vedas, he said.

"I hope that I. Bhimavaram will become a centre for vedic studies soon,' said the President and praised the State Government for setting up the vedic learning centre. Earlier, he went round the patasala and interacted with the students.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Ministe N. Chandrababu Naidu said that River Godavari and Sri Dwaraka Tirumala temple will highlight the importance of Sri Venkateswara Veda Patasala, which was constructed with good infrastructure.

"The tradition depends on vedas and it is our duty to protect and respect vedas and culture," said Mr. Naidu.

Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, Union Civil Aviation Minister P. Ashok Gajapati Raju, Ministers Kamineni Srinivas, Peetala Sujatha, P. Manikyala Rao, MPs Gokaraju Gangaraju, Maganti Venkateswara Rao (Babu), TTD Chairman Chadalavada Krishnamurthy, former MP Kanumuri Bapiraju and others participated.