Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, Jun 28: Girls have repeatedly proved that they are in no way inferior to their male counterparts. Ladies have even undertaken travel by spacecraft and there are ladies who are counted amongst a handful of specialist doctors in the world. However, rarely one comes across women getting involved with officiating religious programmes in the capacity of celebrants as this has remained a male domain. However, a girl from here has voluntarily engaged herself in learning religious scriptures and mastering the art of officiating religious ceremonies.

Anagha, daughter of Kashekody Sooryanarayana Bhat, who is a member of Karnataka State Religious Council, has studied Vedas. She now takes part with her father as assistant in performing religious functions and other rituals.

Vedic scriptures are studied in depth at the residence of Sooryanarayana Bhat, a Purohit by profession, and residing at Kashekody near Dasakody in the taluk. Children also come to Bhat to study music and Bhagavad Gita. Therefore, the Vedic hymns she kept hearing in her home and Vedic chanting helped Anagha to get interested in this knowledge.

Anagha used to observe Vedic study from a young age. When she approached her father with a request to study Vedas, he happily agreed and began to train her in the art. Anagha's younger brother, Adityakrishna, has also shown interest in Vedic study and has been officiating religious programmes.

Anagha says that the environment in her house supported her interest to study Vedas. Therefore she did not find it difficult to get involved with the study. She says that she still has to study more Sanskrit and Vedas before she can become a full-fledged celebrant. By taking part in the officiating of Hindu religious procedures along with male Purohits, Anagha has parted from the beaten track and thereby opened up a new leaf in the history of officiating religious programmes in the region.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader, Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat, is elated at the interest shown by Anagha in the study of Vedas. She has encouraged her to continue deeper in the study so as to become an inspiration for other girls in the school. Kashekody Sooryanarayana Bhat says that this has given further boost to the interests of Anagha.