Jaya Guru Datta Sri Guru Datta

Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Veda Sastra Parishat

Avadhoota Datta Peetham

Invitation for Veda Nidhi Symposium

(17th & 18th May 2008)

Respected Patrons!

Pranaam. At the outset, we extend warm greetings to all those pious persons, whose hearts yearn to render some service to our eternal Heritage in the form of Sacred Vedic Texts. Dedicated People around the globe are doing their bit of service to foster, protect and propagate Vedic Heritage in different forms including Electronic and Internet media, with the blessings of Holy Masters such as Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji and other great Mahatmas in India and abroad.

This is to inform all of you that, efforts are on to include all the Vedic Scripts/ Accents/ Symbols in the set of Unicode. This could help reading INDIC scripts in browser, without the requirement of font’s installation in the users’ computers. Many scholars of Indology are putting their hearts and minds towards this goal.

There are alternative patterns of thought, about the utility/ futility of these efforts among scholars, who are proponents of alternative course of action, independent of Unicode. At the outset, the whole idea might seem abstract/ conceptual or even intangible. But, we hope to see a new trend/ methodology with scope of betterment in the search/ research in the Vedic Knowledge Database for better objective understanding.

In light of the above mentioned scenario, we are very glad to announce the conduct of this Symposium

On Standardising Vedic Character, Symbol, Accent-marking Scheme

For Computational Processing

At Avadhoota Datta Peetham, Mysore on 17th and 18th May 2008.

This event is organised as part of Veda Nidhi series of Annual Vedic Programs conducted in Datta Peetham from 17th to 21st May 2008 on the occasion of the 66th Birth Day Celebrations of Avadhoota Datta Peethadhipati, Jagadguru Parama Pujya Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji. This year’s program comprises of five important events; 1) Veda Examinations 2) Veda Nidhi Symposium 3) Veda Sadas (Convention) of Veda Teachers and Pundits 4) Srouta Ishti (Vedic Rituals) and 5) Veda Vignana Prakasa – Series of discourses for dissemination of Vedic Knowledge.

Noted Scholars from both the streams of knowledge (both traditional and modern spheres) have committed their participation to achieve the common objective. You are hereby urged to pledge your support to the initiative undertaken with the Patronage of Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji, intended to preserve and propagate our Knowledge, Tradition and Culture by Participating as delegate in this program and beget the benediction of Aadiguru Dattatreya Swamy. Jaya Guru Datta.

In the service of the Divine

Organising Committee

Note: This Symposium is organised with the Academic support and Intellectual collaboration of the following esteemed institutions: 1) SV Vedic University, Tirupati; 2) Maharshi Sandeepani Rashtreeya Veda Vidya Pratishthan, Ujjain; 3)Sri Parankusam Acharyar Institute for Vedic Studies, Bangalore; 4) Sanskrit Department, KSOU, Mysore 5) Veda Parayana Pratishthanam, Bangalore. Kindly write to sgsvedanidhi@gmail.com or bhaskararao@yahoo.com for free registration as delegate.

Schedule of the Symposium

17th May 2008 Saturday

Pre- Inaugural Session for Orientation towards the subject)

Chair: Dr.Sannidhanam Sudarshana Sarma, VC – SV Vedic University

3.00 PM Praarthanam

3.05 PM Welcome to delegates by Sri N Bhaskara Rao (Convenor) (5 Min)

3.10 PM Orientation and explanation to Software Professionals and Pundits about the concept (60 Min)

4.10 PM Inter Action (30 min.)

4.40 PM Tea Break

Session 1

Chair: Prof. SK Mishra, Secretary, Maharshi Sandeepani Rashtreeya Veda Vidya Pratishthan, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh

5.00 PM Symposium Inauguration by Chairman (Prof. SK Mishra)

5.05 PM Introductory Speech by Dr.S Sudarshana Sarma, VC Vedic University (40 min)

6 PM Presentation - Road Map to Documentation of Vedic tradition documents in Indic Languages: Characters, Symbols and Accent markers –

Unicode perspective - Dr.B.V.Venkatakrishna Sastry (45 min)

(Hindu University of America/ International Sanskrit Research Academy)

Discussion Facilitator: Dr.K.Narmadamba, IISc, Bangalore)

6.45 PM Inter Action with Delegates (30 min)

7.15 PM Address by Chairman (30 min)

Session 2 18th Sunday

Chair: Sri BV Rama Rao (Retd.Chief Secy & VC - ICFAI Institute of Public Policy)

10.00 AM Presentation - An alternative approach to Codification of Indic Scripts and resultant benefits for Vedic Scriptural knowledge (45 Min)

By Dr.Sri P Ramanujan, CDAC (Bangalore)

10.45 AM Panel Discussion and Debate

· Research in Vedic Scripts

· Methodology to Vedic Character Codification

· Information about Research projects undertaken by various Organisations/ Individuals

· Necessity of networking similar efforts

· Co-relating ISCII, Baraha, Unicode Font standards

· Efforts to start E-Magazine Veda Nidhi – to periodically update developments

Presenters/ Participants:

· Sri KR Paramahamsa (Retd.IAS & Director – Sri Satya Sai Veda Pratishthanam)

· Dr. RVSS Avadhanulu, CL Prabhakar & Other Guest Speakers

11:45 PM Launch of Veda Nidhi Website (2 min)

Audience with Sri Swamiji

12:15 Noon Lunch Break

Session 3

2.30 PM Panel Discussion & Finalisation of Resolutions

3:30 PM Submitting the Resolutions of Symposium by Dr.RVSS Avadhanulu (15 min)

3.45 PM Presidential Address (15 Min)

4.00 PM Interaction with participants & Pledge of support (15 min)

4.10 PM Honouring the participants (15 min)

4:30 PM Concluding Remarks by organisers

——————