On the concluding day of Shravani fest and Raksha Bandhan, the new entrants to Acharyakulum founded by Swami Ramdev and his aide Acharya Balkrishna received induction into the Vedas by the mentor duo. The programme started with yajna (sacrificial fire) after which the students were given the sacred thread to wear amidst recitation Vedic mantras. After the Upnayan Sanskar as part of the Vedic rituals, the girl students tied ‘raksha sutra’ (rakhi thread) on the wrists of their batch mates with a pledge to protect national culture and humanity as a whole. Attired in the ceremonial uniform of cream silk lehenga and choli (long length skirt with top) with golden borders, the girls were seen tying rakhi to Acharya Bal Krishna and Swami Ramdev.
Presiding over the function, the urban development minister Madan Kaushik said, “Patanjali Group of Institutions is the pride of Uttarakhand. The efforts of Swami Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna have revived the hoary science embedded in Yoga and Ayurveda while taking them to the world platform.”
Swami Ramdev exhorted the students to work steadfastly in achieving their individual goals while keeping the nation at the forefront of their mission. He asked them to work in tandem towards national prosperity in tune to the heritage of the Rishis and Munis of yore.
Notably, Acharyakulum combines the essence of both the modern Montessori type of education as well as the ancient concept of Gurukulum in which the teachers and students stayed at one place till the education of the child was completed. A student wasexpected to practise the yogic kriyas and observe celibacy during the Brahmcharya period and the sanskar of Upanayan or wearing the sacred thread imposed certain restrictions which the students under training have to follow. Baba Ramdev has announced opening of 500 such Acharya Kulums across the country while saying that documentation formalities for the formation of the Vedic Board is already complete. The proposal has been sent to the ministry concerned for approval, he added.