One of the oldest and most renowned Sanskrit education institutions in India, the city-based Shrimadjagadguru Shankaracharya Sanskrit Pathashala is all set to complete 125 years, not only in rendering fruitful service to the field of education, but also in upholding the culture.
Started on the auspicious day of ‘Naga Panchami’ in 1887 by the then Shrigeri Jagadguru Shri Narasimhabharati Mahaswamiji, the Sanskrita Pathasahala was donated land at the Halageri lake by Shripadrao Lokhande where noted advocate and founder Pathak Gurunathrao constructed a five-storey building. Since then this has become the centre for the study of Vedas, Vedangas, Nyaya, Vedanta and astrology.
The pathashala so far has shaped a number of scholars of international repute and pontiffs. The 125th year celebrations of this historical pathashala will be held for three days from Friday, and the disciples of the institutions decided to celebrate the occasion with fervour.
Under the guidance of Pathashala director Pandit Prakand Bhalachandra Shstri and ‘Nyayachudamani’ Rajeshwar Shastri, a number of religious and cultural programmes, including Chaturvedaparayana, old students’ convention, women’s meet, Adwaita Chintana Gosti, Lalitahoma, and Dhanwantarihavana among others, have been planned.
In the presence of both the pontiffs of Kudli Shringeri Mahasamsthanam, Trustee of the Lok Shikshana Trust Ashok Haranahalli will inaugurate the programme at 5.30 pm on Friday while MPs Prahlad Joshi and Anantkumar Hegde and Hubli-Dharwad Mayor Panduranag Patil will be present on the occasion. On the second day, the convention of the past students of the historical pathashala will be organised under the leadership of Nagesh Shastri Joshi. This will be followed by Women’s convention at 3 pm. The concluding function will be held at 5 pm wherein Shri Brahmananad Saraswati Swamiji will grace the occasion and Shri Dattawadhoota will preside.