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Vedas, the most comprehensive and universal of all ancient scriptures that contain spiritual knowledge, encompassing all aspects of life are the original scriptures of Hindu teachings. Literally, Veda means wisdom, knowledge or vision. The Vedas are the earliest compositions and dates back to about 2500 B.C.E. They had been passed down orally through generations before writing and printing were developed.
Kerala being the land of Adi Sankara has always showed a special inclination towards Vedic knowledge and philosophies. The tradition of Vedas is still preserved in some of the homes of the Namboothiri community in Kerala. There are a few schools for Vedic learning in Kerala and the most prominent among them is the Kamakoti Yajurveda Patasala, near Irinjalakkuda, in Thrissur district.
Situated near the renowned Koodalmanikyam temple in Irinjalakkuda the Kamakoti Yajurveda Patasala focuses on Yajurveda - one of the four Vedas - the other three being the Rigveda, Samaveda and Atharvaveda. Yajurveda comprises archaic prose mantras. Since it inspires human beings to transmute their noble thoughts into action; it is also referred to as Karma Veda.
This cultural institute was registered as an NGO partnership organistation in the year 1979 for the promotion of Yajurveda in India. The gurukula system of teaching is followed at the Kamakoti Yajurveda Patasala. Gurukula system is residential in nature, where the shishyas (students) live in the houses of gurus and they learn and help their guru in day-to-day activities. Brahmin boys, after upanayana, (the initiating ritual in which boys are invested with a sacred thread that symbolise their maturity and transference of knowledge, usually at the age between 8 -10) are eligible for the course. Brahmins from other states of India, who are interested to learn Yajurveda in Kerala style are also admitted here.
The classes begin in the early morning at 5:30 a.m.; a time when there is no barrier between the eternal beauty and truth. Samhita Padam is the main course. Most of the faculty are former students of the institute. In the evening, students are given tuition for other subjects and they are also allowed to appear for school exams. Six years of intense education helps the students master the nuances of the Yajur Veda. After completing the course the students either become priests in temples or engage themselves in the practice of Vedic rituals like athirathram and somayagam.
Address
Kamakoti Yajurveda Patasala
Brahmaswom Madam
Irinjalakuda, Thrissur
Kerala, India
Ph: +91 480 2826719
Topics: Institutions Heritage Culture
