Marking a departure from past traditions where honorariums did not enter the transactions with priests and traditional scholars, the Vidyapeetham is offering varying salaries ranging from Rs 4,000 to Rs 8,000 for the assignment. A Hindu organisation from India is searching in Nepal for 8,000 traditional scholars to take part in an ongoing prayer for world peace. The Maharshi Bed Bijnan Vishwa Vidyapeetham, a Hindu organisation in the Ratanpur area of Bhopal, has begun a ?yajna? (a traditional service where Hindu priests and holy men chant over a sacred fire) seeking world peace.
The Vidyapeetham, which draws its inspiration from Indian spiritual guru Mahesh Yogi, is now scouting in Nepal?once the world'sonly Hindu kingdom and seat of the Pashupatinath temple, one of the holiest Hindu shrines?for over 8,000 scholars well-versed in the four Vedas, and other Hindu holy scriptures, to keep the yajna going. It is one of the very few job searches where priority will be given to applicants who do not know English. However, familiarity with Indian languages, like Bengali, Assamese, Bhojpuri and Awadhi is going to be an advantage.
The scholars have to be well-versed in specific chapters of the Rig, Yajur, Atharva and Sam veda as well as have experience in conducting worship for specific deities, like Mahadurga, Mahalaxmi and Mahasaraswati.
Finally, as a sign of the changing times, it is also asking applicants for certificates to prove their abilities and a recommendation from any Vedic organisation in their districts. The new search for traditional scholars comes at a time when Nepal is dominated by the Maoist guerrillas. The communist rebels are against religious ceremonies and have even opposed setting up of the Sanskrit schools and university in the kingdom. (FOC)
