Karnataka Samskrit University has been formed exclusively for the development of Samskrit language. Samskrit has a hoary, glorious, scientific, literary, cultural tradition and heritage. Its contribution in the area of Prose, Poetry, Drama, Dance, Sculpture, Paintings, Fine arts, Medicines, Philosophy and other allied areas is far more extensive and lasting than has been realised by the Indian scholars till today.
The university was established in 2010 with great efforts by the Kanataka Government. The study of Samskrit language and literature was greatly encouraged by the kings of Mysore. There are 31 Samskrit colleges in Karnataka.
There are also 243 aided Veda and Samskrita Pathashalas spread over the state. Directorate of samskrit education is established by the Government of Karnataka to administer the samskrit pathashalas. The Karnataka Samskrit University was established with the vision and mission of bringing these together under a single umbrella, maintaining uniformity in education, providing greater opportunities for study for students and teachers and to raise the standards in Samskrit research at National and International level.
Karnataka Samskrit University has predominantly four wings. They are
1. Teaching Wing
2. Research Wing
3. Publication Wing
4. Administrative Wing
through which the university has to be dynamically active. The university will promote the activities related to Samskrit in Karnataka through these wings.
One Hundred acres of land has been identified for the University in Kuduru Hobli, Magadi Taluk, Ramanagar District. The university currently includes 2 constituent Samskrit Colleges, 10 aided affiliated colleges and 9 unaided affiliated colleges under its ambit. It has established the Directorate of Samskrit Education, to take care of Pre-university education in Karnataka. The directorate includes 354 recognised Samskrita pathashalas throughout the state.
Objectives and Educational Activities
The Karnataka Samskrit University has the following objectives:
1. To function as a high-level teaching and research institution in Samskrit language, Literature and Vedic studies and Shastras such as Vyakarana, Samkhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Mimamsa, Vedanta, Bauddha, Jaina, Dharma Shastra and others and also supportive education.
2. To preserve, foster and promote the traditional system of learning in Vedic, Agamic and Cognate Literature, with special emphasis on unique features available in Karnataka.
3. To highlight the wisdom contained in the Vedic and other disciplines, and their reference to the modern world.
4. To facilitate and regulate advance study and research in the fields like
- Geeta based management science.
- Yoga based human Psychology.
- Eco-balance related health related traditional knowledge.
- Archaeology.
- Ancient Sciences.
- Agama Shastra.
- Ayurvedic Sciences.
- Humanities.
- Social Sciences.
- Performing arts.
- Fine Arts and Communication.
- Vedadhyayana and Vedabhashya Studies and any other Sciences that have developed in Samskrit
5. To highlight the profoundness of the rational approach and the scientific temper presented in the Vedas and the Shastras in the context of pursuit of knowledge empowerment and realization of higher levels of consciousness.
6. To consolidate, revive and promote the Bharateeya Jnana Parampara as also to integrate the scientific thoughts contained in the Vedas and Samskrit Literature particularly in the disciplines of Agriculture, Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Humanities, Information Technology, Law and Jurisprudence, Management, Mathematics, Metallurgy, Meteorology, Physics, Social Sciences and Yoga with modern scientific and technological studies.
7. To bring out awareness about the authentic interpretations of the Vedas.
8. To create a network of Vedic, Samskrit Institutions, Educational and Research oriented Institutes having similar objectives with reciprocal arrangements and facilities for interaction with a view to fostering a synergy of efforts made by all such Universities and Institutions.
9. To create a body of literature in Modern Indian and foreign languages on the contents of Samskrit and the Vedas.
10. To translate/publish all the Vedas, Shastrik works and related texts, Bhashyas and Commentaries in Kannada and other languages.
11. To build-up audio, audio-visual records of Vedic Chanting and related traditional practices.
12. To take appropriate measures for promoting inter-disciplinary studies and research in the university and such other related activities congenial at University level.
13. To collect, preserve, critically edit and publish rare manuscripts and ancient works by establishing an Oriental Research Institute in Samskrit.
14. To computerize and digitize the entire corpus of manuscripts and Samskrit texts.
15. To bring out Research journals of high standard through the University/Departments.
16. To organise seminars, conferences, workshops, Vidvath Goshties with a view to promoting awareness about the messages contained in ancient knowledge systems.
17. To admit educational institutions not maintained by the university to the privileges of the University as affiliated colleges/mahapathashalas/pathashalas in Karnataka.
18. To provide through its professors, teachers and the Department; a special research institutes such teaching and guidance as the affiliated colleges/mahapathashalas/pathashalas may require.
19. To undertake any other activities connected with or incidental to above objectives of the University.
20. To recognise and maintain for any purpose, either in whole or part, any institution on such terms and conditions as may vary from time to time be prescribed by Statutes and to withdraw such recognition.
21. To do such acts and other things, whether incidental to the power of aforesaid or not, as may be required in order to promote the objectives of the university.
22. To maintain such bodies as are by statutes declared to be the authorities of the University.
23. To establish ‘Chairs’ in various disciplines for conducting advanced research.
The University is trying to achieve the above objectives through the following educational activities
1. Strengthening Samskrit pathashalas and colleges, and creating the required facilities.
2. Encouraging students through scholarships.
3. Developing good library facilities in pathashalas and colleges.
4. Developing good hostel facilities in colleges, and providing food-lodging facilities to students with joint effort of the government and local patrons.
5. Encouraging students to organise and participate in Samskritotsavas and Samskrit competitions in each Taluk and district.
6. Identifying outstanding students in BA-Samskrit, MA-Samskrit and Vedic studies every year. Encouraging them through certificates and cash-prizes with the help of endowments, trusts and public funds.
7. Providing special facilities for Samskrit students of scheduled caste, scheduled tribes and other backward classes.
8. Conducting competitions in Samskrit singing, gamaka, and samskrit-sports.
9. Introducing compulsory English and Computer papers at Kaavya, Saahitya and Vidvat exams, and formulating appropriate syllabi for the same.
10. Scientifically revising the syllabus from Prathamaa to Vidvat levels. Ensuring that the texts focus equally on ancient and modern knowledge systems.
11. Creating higher learning centres for Samskrit in North Karnataka, Hyderabad Karnataka, Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada and Central Karnataka. Providing an environment conducive to higher study and research in these centres. Undertaking collaborations with local Samskrit learning bodies.
12. Introducing special package programmes for all pathashalas older than 50 years, and develop infrastructure in these pathashalas
13. Providing equal recognition and opportunities to Vidvat-scholars, as those available to BA and MA degree holders.
Logo and Motto
The logo of Karnataka Samskrit University was created by a famed artist of Karnataka, Sri. Muralidhara V Rathod. The logo, as conceptualised by the honourable Vice Chancellor and the artist, is unique. It contains the title of the university in Devanagari, English and Kannada scripts. Devanagari script has been chosen since the university is based on the foundations of Samskrit language, literature and knowledge. Devanagari has been extensively used since ancient times for representing many Indian languages. Through Devanagari script, the University symbolises the greatness of the divine language, Samskrit. The expanse and global reach of the university is signified by the English script. The university is a dream-child of the Karnataka government. It is a representative of all Samskrit scholars of Karnataka, and also intends to nurture mutual co-operation between Samskrit and Kannada languages. This is signified by the use of Kannada script in the logo.
The bird used focally by the logo is our National bird, the Peacock. The peacock represents beauty and creativity. The vast expanse of knowledge which will be nurtured by the university is symbolically represented by this peacock. It emphasises the vision that human life should be entwined inseparably with knowledge.
Motto for the university has been chosen from Srimanmahabharata of Vedavyasa. The motto has been represented in Devanagari script in the logo. ‘prajvālito jñānamayaḥ pradīpaḥ’ indicates the supremacy of knowledge. This motto represents the objective of the university to unite ancient and modern knowledge systems. The lamp of knowledge should light up this world, going beyond place and time – this is the objective. This lamp will never be extinguished. It is not fueled by oil, but by knowledge itself, and will continue to burn forever. The logo and motto of the university represent this dream, with which the university has been set up.