“The world exists in the Brahman but the truth of the Brahman cannot be seized by the intellect. The Rishi Agastya speaks of it as tat adbhutam, above all, beyond all time.”

Sri Aurobindo

In celebration of the eighth Siddha Day, AuroBharati, Sri Aurobindo Society, Union Territory of Puducherry, convened an International Conference on Rishi Agastya, Sri Aurobindo, and the Vedic Tradition of Puducherry on 19th December 2024. The eighth Siddha Day theme, “Siddha for Public Health,” is being commemorated by the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, and was also a focus areas of the conference.

Speaking on the occasion, Sri Pradeep Narang, Chairman of the Sri Aurobindo Society, Puducherry, remarked on the connection between Sri Aurobindo and Maharshi Agastya, noting that Sri Aurobindo had provided interpretations of several Suktas attributed to him. He pointed out accurate translations are crucial for understanding the essence of the Vedas and the interpretations of Sri Aurobindo’ the Vedic hymns emphasize the importance of Vedic culture, rituals, and traditional practices.

During the event, Dr. Kishor Kumar Tripathy, Member Secretary of AuroBharati, Sri Aurobindo Society, articulated that the primary aim of the conference is to explore significant elements of the ancient Vedapuri and the Ashram associated with Rishi Agastya and Sri Aurobindo in this city renowned for its knowledge as well as the legacy of Siddha system for public health.

A concise report on the ongoing project titled “Vedapuri, Rishi Agastya, Sri Aurobindo, and the Vedic Tradition of Puducherry” was presented by the Member Secretary and Mrs. Charu Tripathy, Associate Director of of AuroBharati, SAS. The significance of the ancient name of Vedapuri,  as a hub for Vedic scholarship, and the existence of the Ashram of Rishi Agastya and Sri Aurobindo at this sacred place were discussed. Vedapuri with its temple of Vedapurishvara in antiquity, the hermitage of the esteemed sage Agastya Rishi, where Sri Aurobindo and the Mother established their seat ‘where the main building of the Ashram now stands’ presented during this presentationwith references from literary, archaeological, mythological, and other resources of socio-cultural importance.

Speaking on the occasion, Smt. K. Swarnambika, IPS, Deputy Secretary, Auroville Foundation, Tamil Nadu, India said Rishi Agastya as the father of Siddha medicine and Sri Aurobindo, as a living Siddha, also referenced Agastya and his divine abilities in Pondicherry.

Prof. K. Tharanikkarasu, Vice-Chancellor (i/c), Pondicherry emphasized that spirituality is essential to the Siddhas and highlighted the legacy of the Vedic tradition in Puducherry, historically known as ‘Vedapuri.’ Shri Alok Pandey, a Sadhak from Sri Aurobindo Ashram, delivered a special address on Sri Aurobindo, Rishi Agastya, and the Vedic Tradition.

Sage Agastya‘s profound contributions to South India, including his authorship of Rigvedic hymns and his impact on Tamil literature in grammar, alongside transformative philosophy of Sri Aurobindo was highlighted by Dr. Ajit Sabnis, Member Executive of the Sri Aurobindo Society. He also focused on the shared Vedic foundation connecting these important occurrences and emphasised the need for continued research and documentation of Puducherry’s significant spiritual legacy, inspiring youth scholars to further explore this compelling historical and philosophical landscape.

On this occasion, Shri H P Rama, Founder President of AURO University, Gujarat conveyed his message that “the ancient Veda-Puri was the home of Agastya Rishi, the legendary sage from the most ancient lineage of Vedic Rishis, alongside Rishi Vasishtha. There is a striking similarity between Agastya’s Yoga and that of Sri Aurobindo. Sri Aurobindo was given divine guidance (Adesh) by the Supreme to go to Puducherry, settle there, and practice his Supramental Yoga of Transformation.”

Organizing Chairman and Director General of the Central Council for Research in Siddha under the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, Prof. Dr. N. J. Muthukumar said that the timeless contributions of Rsi Agastya, Sri Aurobindo, and the Vedic tradition of Pondicherry, serves as a significant platform to explore the deep spiritual, cultural, and medicinal legacies of India. The theme of “Siddha for Public Health” is of particular importance, as it aligns with our collective efforts to promote holistic health practices, rooted in traditional knowledge, for the well-being of society.

Dr Nagesh Bhandari, President, Indus University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat said about the legacy of the profound heritage of Rishi Agastya, Shri Aurobindo, and the Vedic tradition of Pondicherry and the deep-rooted fundamental concepts, theories, principles and practices of Ancient India initiated by Rishi Agastya  and Sri Aurobindo, also the connections between Shri Aurobindo’s philosophy and contribution in areas of Science and Health.

The valedictory session was done with the presence of Shri V Kaliaperumal, Director of the Department of Art and Culture, Government of Puducherry, Dr Kishor Kumar Tripathy, Member Secretary, Mrs. Charu Tripathy, Associate Director, AuroBharati, Sri Aurobindo Society and Shri Peeyush Arya, Patron of Vedic Vidya Kendra, Puducherry.

The conference highlighted the importance of revitalizing the legacy of the Vedic tradition of Puducherry with emphasis on educational development, institutional collaboration, research and community engagement initiatives.

Distinguished spiritual leaders, scholars, and researchers from various institutions from India and abroad, including Shri Naresh Ram Sharma, Prof. Vedvyas Dvivedi, Dr Sundar Murugan, Prof. Krishna Mohan Kotra, Prof. Charlotte Schmid and many others contributed their insights on Rishi Agastya, Sri Aurobindo, and the Vedic Tradition of Puducherry.

Their discussions encompassed interpretations, scholarly viewpoints, and documentation related to the Vedic and Siddha practices, emphasizing their significance, as well as the literary, archaeological, and archival resources pertaining to the Vedic Tradition of Puducherry and the theme of Siddha for Public Health.