Ancient wisdom, modern awakening: Gurukul revives vedic learning in city
Nagpur: An ancient chapter in Indian education began at the quiet and spiritually charged atmosphere of Narayan Nagari at Waddhamna earlier this month. The formal inauguration of residential Shri Vedvidyavardhini Gurukulam recently marked a huge step towards reviving the traditional gurukul system of learning — an education model rooted in India's prodigious vedic past.
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This serene ashram is not just an institution but a living embodiment of India's rich heritage. The Gurukul is led by 'Ahitagni' Vivek Pandharikar Guruji, a revered scholar who dedicated his life to preserving and nurturing the timeless gurukul tradition. For decades, he ran a small gurukul at his own residence. With the inauguration of this new premises, his life's mission now has a formal address.
"In this gurukul, we teach them rig veda, yajur veda, sama veda and atharva veda, as per their sub-forms.
Vedic hymns and mantras are recited and taught. Indian philosophy, sanskrit, dharma shastra, sanskar vidhi, yagya as per the scriptures are taught," says Pandharikar Guruji.
What truly sets this gurukul apart is its non-commercial approach to education. There is no formal fee structure here. Admissions are based purely on the acumen and intelligence of a student — not on financial capacity. Students are accepted into the fold as shishyas, and as per tradition, they offer 'guru dakshina' only at the completion of their education, not during the course of study.
All praise for the Gurukulam, Swami Gunanand Maharaj of Ramakrishna Mission, Nagpur, called it "a sacred space where shishyas get ancient experience of knowledge with ayurvedic lifestyle. They get an opportunity to serve 'go mata' and learn life lessons. They also learn law, niti, yoga, and meditation, which will benefit them for life".
The spiritual and educational practices at the Gurukulam reflect a strict adherence to vedic traditions.
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Young students, some leaving their homes at a tender age, immerse themselves in an ashram life that begins at dawn with sandhyavandan, agnihotra, recitations, dhyana, and abhyasa. Dressed in traditional attire with their hair tied in the ancient 'shikha' style, they live simply, learning not just scriptures but a holistic way of life.
The head guru of the Gurukulam is vedmurti Satish Kulkarni, while Abhishek Dubey, Kavita Joshi, and Shashimohan Joshi handle Sanskrit instruction and other aspects of the curriculum. The Gurukulam currently houses 29 students, each embarking on a unique path of disciplined learning, spiritual growth, and cultural immersion.
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