Cover Story/Kasyapa Veda Research Foundation : Unravelling Vedic Roots
T Satisan from Kerala
Kasyapa Veda Research Foundation (KVRF), with headquarters in Kozhikkode of Northern Kerala, is a powerful movement to preserve the values upheld by Sanathana Dharma. It is a serious endeavour to counter the challenges Hindu Dharma has been facing for the last one century in Kerala. It tries to translate into action the Bhagavat Gita saying that whenever Dharma faces degeneration, Lord Krishna takes incarnation to protect and elevate the Dharma.
The Kasyapa Veda Research Foundation has to be viewed in this context. Its founder Acharya M R Rajesh, a journalist by profession and a veteran in Vedas, Upanishads, Darshanas and almost of all braches of Bharatiya philosophy, launched his organisation as a charitable society in 2004 sans any sort of caste or gender bias. He started his ‘school’ in a make-shift shed in a village called Balussery with eight students. Smt Meera Rajesh, Acharyasri’s better half has always been a helping hand in the expansion and development of the KVRF.
Kasyapa Veda Research Foundation, an initiative by Acharya M R Rajesh, is a family which brings to light the hidden talents and true spirituality in a human being by conducting Vedic classes for all, irrespective of age, caste or gender. A family of more than 50,000 disciples who perform Sandhya Vandana and Agnihotra on a daily basis. Perhaps, one of its kind in the entire South India to teach Vedic literature to the commoners
When several like-minded souls joined Acharyasri, the school spread its wings to other parts of the state with the main centre in Kozhikode city. Suktas from four Vedas, viz., Bhagya, Sanghatana, Saraswati, Medha and Shivasnkalpa belong to the syllabus. The daily rituals like Panchamaha Yajnas, Sandhya vandanam and Agnihotra are taught thoroughly. These studies enable the disciples, mostly family people, to observe them in their daily life. Now, thousands of people enjoy the ecstasy of this spiritual experience in their otherwise materialistic life. Acharyasri insists that Vedas are the basis of all Dharmas—“Vedo Akhilo Dharma Moolam”.
KVRF conducted Somayaga in Kozhikode in 2014 which was witnessed by about 13.5 lakhs and about 6 lakh could have ‘anna prasada’ there. It was cooked with the rice and vegetables cultivated in organic farming. Plastic materials were kept aloof.
The tribals who visited the yajna shala from Wynad were received by traditional Brahmins with lighted lamps, a real practice of the preaching of great visionaries like Sree Narayana Guru and Chattambi Swami. More than one lakh people congregated on Kozhikode beach when ‘Prajnanam Brahma’ was organised in April 2016.
Renaissance
When days, months and years passed and the institution expanded, Acharyasri’s full-time presence became essential hence Acharyasri gave up his scribe’s job and dedicated his life for the cause. Acharyasri, who moves on the path shown by Maharshi Dayanda Saraswathi, was blessed by Mahashay Dharampal and Acharya Ram Dev when they visited the programmes of KVRF.
Classes were kicked off in Kannur and Wynadu districts in 2009. Gradually the activities were taken to Thrissur, Ernakulam, Malappuram, Palakkad, Kottayam and capital city of Thiruvananthapuram. KVRF has now made its enthusiastic presence in Dubai also.
Dharampal, the chairman of MDH groups of companies visited the venue of Somayaga and was amazed by the system and rituals and extended his helping hand to establish a spacious ashram in the country side of Kozhikode on the bank of a river in Ottathengu. The new gurukul was inaugurated in April, 2017.
Apart from running classes KVRF conducts yajnas as well. It has organised yajnas like Sarawati, Makarasankranti and Chaturveda in large scale attracting thousands of believers. At the same time it carries out social obligations like free
mid-day meals to the poor patients in the hospitals and people in street. Now, KCRF has got more than two lakh followers in northern Kerala alone. Keralites observe KVRF as the true attempt to fulfil the renaissance of Sanatana Dharma. Acharyasri contemplates an evil free society sans casteism and untouchability through the propagation and practice of Vedas. n
