The mentor Sri Sri Vidyamanya Tirtha Swamiji and his disciple Sri Sri Pejavara Swamiji, who was hardly 25 years when they took up the challenging task of building the Vidyapeetha at the then remote Kattriguppa in South-West, Bangalore in 1956. Elders recall that Swamijis hanging jolige (satchel) on their shoulders went from house to house in the downtown and extensions of old Bangalore to collect donations from generous devotees.

With single-minded devotion towards Lord Sri Hari and an unwavering respect for sanctity of human life the Swamijis did a miracle in a short span of two to three decades.

Today, as you enter south Bangalore either from Basavangudi or from Mysore Road towards Kattriguppa, pleasant rhythmic waves of chanting Vedas, Upanishads, Shastras and verses praising the glory of lord Krishna reaches you and your heart. Over 500 ardent, devoted and intensely enthusiastic students are there to welcome you. The venue is Poornaprajna Vidyapeetha – a humble renaissance of Sanskrit education in the country situated at prime place in a 3½ acre plot in the garden city, Poornaprajna Vidyapeetha stands as a testimony for the tenacious efforts of two noble sages in providing an university atmosphere for free traditional education. At present the serene Vidyapeetha complex houses spacious research center, Sanskrit school and Collage, hostel, perhaps the biggest Sabhagraha in the city and a temple of Sri Krishna, Sri Madhwa Guru, Sri Vadiraja Teertha and Sri Raghavendra Swamy.

SALIENT FEATURES:

Gurukula: Nucleus of traditional and ritualistic Sanskrit education for an uninterrupted – 13 year course, first of its kind in the country, accommodates over 500 students. The student has to be minimum 9 years to get admission. The subject taught in the course include basics like Aksharabhyasa, Sthothra, Manthrapata, Higher studies in Kavya, Vyakarna, Tharka, Vedanta, Yagnik Karma, Pooja Vidhna and Sanskrit classics. His holiness Sri Sri Pejawara Swamiji himself teaches the disciples Nyaya Sudha, Chandrika and other Dwaita classics during the final year.

After 6 years of initial studies students are compulsorily encouraged to pursue secondary, under-graduate, graduate, and post-graduate courses to better their prospects in future life.

Both the Union and the Karnataka Government, after extensive evaluation and assessment on quality in teaching, interaction and proficiency in various disciplines recognized and commended the Poornaprajna Vidyapeetha as a model Gurukula in the country.

As a token of honor for the success and perfection in Sanskrit learning each student, after passing Sriman Nyaya Sudha Examination in the final year is bestowed with a scholarship – a Nidhi of Rs. 1.50 Lakh for pursuing further research and education in his lifetime.

Poornaprajna library: Held with higher esteem by scholars and research associates from all over the country. The 8,000 volumes in the library include Sayana Bhashya on Rigveda, commentaries on Gita, Srimad Bhagavata, Ramayana, Ashtadasha Purana, Sarva Moola Grantha, Brahma Sutra and other classics. Original works of Sri Jayatirtha, Sri Vyasaraja, Sri Vijayadhwaja, Sri Vadiraja, Sri Raghavendra, and other Sanths are compiled and kept for ready reference. Besides rare collections in English, classics in Kannada and Hindi form a part of the library.

Research And Publications: Poornaprajna Samshodhana Mandhiram ( Research Center) at the Vidyapeetha was established for higher research in Indian Philosophy in General and Dwaitha Philosophy in particular with benevolent assistance from the Union Ministry of Human Resources, New Delhi in 1995.

The prime objective of Samshodhana Mandiram is to cater higher research opportunities for students both from within and outside the institution. Vidya Vaaridhi equivalent to doctor of philosophy (Ph.D) is being awarded to scholars for applied research by the Rastriy Sanskrit Samshthanam, New Delhi a deemed university in-coordination with Mandiram.

Conservation, documentation, publication and computerization of rare original palm-leaf manuscripts and classics is another major assignment scrupulously carried out at the Poornaprajna Samshodhana Mandira.

P.G. Center: In addition to this Poornaprajna Samshodhana Mandiram has been recognized as post graduate center from Rastriya Sanskrit samsthnam, New Delhi. Scholars are encouraged to undertake research in Indian Philosophy, Vyakarna Sastra, Darshana, Meemamsa, Nyayashastra and other subjects.

Today, Poornaprajna Vidyapeetha Prathishtana has attained the status of a traditional-university. International and National seminars conducted at the Vidyapeetha throughout the academic year have been attracting scholars from all over India and abroad. There has been growing demand for admission to various disciplines of Sanskrit learning.

Vidyapeetha has grown into a movement in the propagation of Bhakti Sahitya and Dasa Sahitya. The annual conferences and Aradhana of great thinkers, composers-philosophers and Hari Dasas are drawing large audience of Bhaktas from various walks of life.

A visit to Vidyapeetha, as many people have said is an education by itself.