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About Pujya Bhaishri

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Pujya Bhaishri’s Vision

One of India’s most revered spiritual leaders, Pujya Bhaishri Shri Rameshbhai Oza has dedicated his life to sharing the eternal wisdom of Sanatan Dharma through Kathas and discourses. He is also using education as a tool to nurture Indian culture and values in children. He is considered a mentor and guide to many around the world.

His motto “Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam” (the whole world is one family) shows clearly in his goals to establish humanity, create a world of peace, love, compassion, brotherhood and awaken spirituality.

Pujya Bhaishri’s life and work has been and is a divine Yagya (offering), an embodiment of the combination of Gyan (knowledge), Bhakti (devotion) and Karma (actions/duty). He has led the path of devotion through satsang, tirtha yatras and Anushthans and has set up initiatives to create ambassadors of Indian Hindu culture.

He instils these values by undertaking humanitarian work including providing aid in response to disasters and serving the underprivileged. His life’s journey is a continuous pursuit for the betterment of society.

Watch a summary on Pujya Bhaishri and Sandipani Vidyaniketan.

Pujya Bhaishri’s Childhood and Youth

Pujya Bhaishri was born on August 31, 1957, in Devka, a small village situated in the coastal district of Saurashtra in Gujarat, India. His parents, late Shri Vrajlal Kanjibhai Oza and late Smt. Laxmiben Oza were Brahmins hailing from the Audichya community. His grandmother, late Smt. Bhagirathiben Oza was a staunch follower of Shrimad Bhagavat and had a large influence on his life.

At the age of 10 years, on a summer evening, while other children were playing, Pujya Bhaishri gathered dry leaves, small wooden sticks and twigs and created a pretentious fire pit. He then sat with his friends in a circle and offered the leaves, sticks and twigs into the pit as though this were a Yagya (fire sacrifice). As they did not know any Sanskrit ślokas, they would merely chant ‘svāhā’. In the end, Pujya Bhaishri opened a small packet of candies and distributed them to his team as prasād.

Shri Jeevrajbhai Oza, his uncle, noticed this spirituality and enrolled Pujya Bhaishri in his first Sanskrit program in Rajula at Tatvajyoti School, while his father instilled in him a habit of reciting the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita daily.

Tatvajyoti School, Pujya Bhaishri’s first Sanskrit School.

People were impressed by his natural charisma, skills and knowledge.

By age 13, Pujya Bhaishri conducted his first Shrimad Bhagavad Gita Katha in the grounds of his house. He and his friends collected one rupee from each home in the community and used this money to set up a simple tent and temporary stage.

The family moved to Mumbai and he continued his schooling and education there, originally studying to become a doctor and later an accountant. Although he pursued his education, his heart and soul belonged to learning the scriptures and spreading the divine message.During his spare time, he studied Bhagavat, Ramayan, Gita and other religious texts.

At other times, he sat quietly to mediate upon the teachings of these texts and the learned discourses from saints he met regularly.

First Katha in Chinchpokli, Mumbai, 1976

At 18, he recited his first Shrimad Bhagavat Katha in Central Mumbai.  From then on, his faith and beliefs continued to grow. His simple but elegant style appeals to many. He not only imparts wisdom on religion and rituals, but also links scriptures to guide people through the purpose of life, family, marriage, education, career, politics, society, and the daily issues we all face.

As Kathas gained popularity all over India, devotees were eager to listen to these sermons beyond the Indian shores. Across the world, in the USA, Canada, UK, Portugal, South Africa, Kenya, Zambia, Australia and New Zealand, the message captivates audiences of all ages and communities. He is a source of knowledge and inspiration.

Kathas by Pujya Bhaishri

Pujya Bhaishri mainly conducts the Shrimad Bhagavat Katha. He also provides discourses on Shri Ram Katha and Shrimad Bhagavad Gita. Recently, he has also been widely conducting Hanumant Charitra Katha and Shiv Charitra Katha. He has also carried out discourses on Gopi Geet, Shri Bhishma Stuti and Gau Katha.

Pujya Bhaishri believes that the combined power of Shrimad Bhagavat, Ramayan and Bhagavad Gita can sustain a man through the journey of life. While Bhagavat is devotional, Ramayan stresses responsibility in conduct and behaviour, Bhagavad Gita advocates overall spiritual knowledge. Hence, one imbibes knowledge from Gita, the art of living from Ramayan and devotion and riddance of the fear of death from Bhagavat.

Katha is an inspiration and motivation to adopt honourable ways. Katha has a unique capacity to instil the ability to differentiate between good and bad.

Pujya Bhaishri’s sermons contain a balance between devotion and wisdom. He tries to show us the path to lead an ideal life, be a true devotee, with a complete understanding of life’s spiritual laws thus indicating the path of salvation. Pujya Bhaishri presents his discourses in a unique way through examples, story-telling, practical and easy to understand manner to explain the symbolisms which captures the minds of the listeners.


Thousands of peoples’ lives have been and continue to be transformed by Pujya Bhaishri’s kathas. Some youngsters have even confessed in their testimonies that they were on the verge of suicide due to issues that seemed surmountable and unbearable and Katha turned their lives around. Those unhappy and depressed have found a new direction in life, those with spiritual quests have found their answers and those seeking more found peace.

Pujya Bhaishri says, ‘We find the origin of our lifestyle in Vedic Scriptures. From rising to going to bed, our family or commercial life, political or social life, religion and spirituality always mark their presence guiding us in every walk of life. It’s therefore important to read and listen to the scriptures, understand them and live them accordingly.’

The Journey of Pujya Bhaishri

As of 2018, Pujya Bhaishri has visited over 29 countries, conducted over 460 Bhagavat Kathas, over 100 Ram Kathas, 35 Navratri Anushthans, over 45 Gita Gyan Yagnas, Hanumant Charitra Kathas, Shiv Charitra Kathas and 100’s of discourses in his first 60 years.

As of 2018, Pujya Bhaishri has conducted over 240 Bhagavat Kathas and over 50 Ram Kathas in the rest of India (excluding Gujarat)

As of 2018, Pujya Bhaishri has conducted over 140 Bhagavat Kathas and over 35 Ram Kathas in Gujarat itself.

Establishing Sandipani Vidyaniketan and the Spread of Education

The history of Sandipani Vidyaniketan starts from a school situated in a village named Babda about 35km North of Porbandar in Gujarat. In 1984, when Pujya Bhaishri was at Porbandar delivering a Shrimad Bhagavat Katha, he was invited to visit this Sanskrit school, Babadeshwar Vidyalay, by the teachers and the local people. There was amazing dedication and sacrifice being shown by the teachers and students in order to provide and receive this education. The teachers solicited money from the surrounding villages to support the school.  Though the resulting budget was meagre, the students responded in kind, dedicating themselves wholeheartedly to learning.

Pujya Bhaishri decided to support the school. Soon after, Pujya Bhaishri was appointed the Chairman of the trust running the school to take complete charge and lend his vision. This led to the establishment of the governing body Bhartiya Sanskruti Samvardhak Trust (BSST) in 1984.  While they are entrusted to support and run the school, he personally invests his time, energy and money to expand this institution and make it a beacon of knowledge that is so vital to the future.

The school grew faster than anticipated, with more children clamouring for the education that was being provided. Applications grew too numerous for the school to accommodate. Pujya Bhaishri decided to set up Sandipani Vidyaniketan, which he emphasised, would be run like an ashram and be called Rishikul. This was the ancient way of imparting education in India.

All his students would be called Rishikumars, who after completing their studies from the Rishikul, would become assets to society.

Pujya Bhaishri with the students of Sandipani Rishikul.

Pujya Bhaishri approached the Government of Gujarat requesting an adequate piece of land to set up his Vidyaniketan. Deeply impressed by his endeavours, the Government of Gujarat allotted 85 acres of land in 1991 to set up this Vidyaniketan in Porbandar.

 

Plans were formulated to set up a complex with amenities to house 500 students on campus and to provide them education in Sanskrit grammar and modern subjects necessary to become capable and virtuous Brahmins.

Sandipani Vidyaniketan was fully operational on February 6, 1992. Since then it has been continuously expanding its activities. The discipline adopted by Sandipani is based on the system of ancient education of Vedic culture specifically termed tapovan.

Pujya Bhaishri says that the motto of Sandipani Vidyaniketan is:

“Gyānārth Pravesh, Sevārtha Prasthān”

Meaning, the student will enter the school determined to gain knowledge and leave to be of service to mankind.

Students here will learn to be virtuous and kind people and earn a living; they will be selfless and live for others.

Pujya Bhaishri believes greatly in the spread of knowledge and wisdom. He believes that education and scriptures not only makes one intellectual but also a good character to serve in the society and world. He strongly suggests that teachers should be of high standards and high morale. This will empower the right education in students of today’s generation therefore leading to good citizens of the country. Read further on the History of Sandipani 

Pujya Bhaishri believes greatly in the spread of knowledge and wisdom. He believes that education and scriptures not only makes one intellectual but also a good character to serve in the society and world. He strongly suggests that teachers should be of high standards and high morale. This will empower the right education in students of today’s generation therefore leading to good citizens of the country.

Awards and recognition

Whilst Pujya Bhaishri has conferred numerous awards upon people, he himself has largely declined many awards. These are a few that he has chosen to accept as blessings as they would have a positive impact on the school and his work around the globe.

Chandrak is an award instituted by the Somnath Mandir Trust given to individuals who have done significant and inspiring work in different fields. Pujya Bhaishri was awarded the Chandrak in the year 2000 for his significant contribution for spreading the messages of Sanatan Dharma through Kathas and discourses and establishing Sandipani Vidyaniketan.

Chandrak by Somnath Mandir Trust in 2000.

Shri Chandrasekararendra Saraswati National Eminence Award by South Indian Education Society in 2000.

On December 28, 2000 Pujya Bhaishri was honoured with the Shri Chandrasekararendra Saraswati National Eminence Award by the South Indian Education Society, in Mumbai, to recognise his outstanding contribution in the field of reciting Katha. The award was presented by His Holiness Shri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal, the chief patron of the society. Other awardees included legendary musician Smt. M.S. Subbulakshmi, Director of the Agni Missile Project, Dr. Ram Narain Agarwal and the former Prime Minister of India, Shri P.V. Narasimha Rao.

In 2006, Hinduism Today celebrated Pujya Bhaishri with the Hindu Renaissance Award – Hindu of the Year 2006 – to honour his influence on Hinduism, spreading its values, compassion and wisdom across the globe. The award was presented to him by Shri Rajiv Malik, Hinduism Today’s Chief India Correspondent in Mumbai, during the Sant Milan Samaroh, the event held every year during Pujya Bhaishri’s birthday.

Hinduism Today is an award-winning, quarterly magazine based in Hawaii, USA, articulating Indian spirituality for 135,000 readers around the world. Started in 1990, Hinduism today has honoured one eminent Hindu woman or man every year with The Hindu Renaissance Award. Past Awardees include: Swami Chinmayananda ji, Shri Sathya Sai Baba, Mata Amritanandamayi, Shri Pramukhswami Maharaj and Dada Vaswani ji.

Read further on https://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/2006/10-12/pdf/section-1_2006-10-01_p01-37.pdf

Hindu Renaissance Award – Hindu of the Year 2006 by Hinduism Today.

Vidyavachaspati (Doctorate of Literature) by Somnath Sanskrit University in 2010.

Pujya Bhaishri was presented with the Vidyavachaspati (Doctorate of Literature) by the Somnath Sanskrit University for his special contribution to the field of Sanskrit studies. The then Governor of Gujarat and the Chancellor of Somnath University, Her Excellency Smt. Kamla Beniwal, conferred the degree on Pujya Bhaishri on January 31, 2010 during a graduation ceremony at the university.

Patron to Encyclopedia of Hinduism.

The Encyclopaedia of Hinduism is a colossal works by more than a thousand esteemed scholars from around the world, totalling eleven volumes and approximately seven thousand entries. It is truly a compendium of thousands of years of History, Science, Art, Architecture, Politics, Religion, Philosophy and Culture.

Founded by Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati ji under the Indian Heritage Research Foundation, the Encyclopaedia has been more than twenty years in the making. It is the first time in history that the depth and breadth of India’s great spiritual culture is made available in authentic and academic form.

Pujya Bhaishri narrated a Shrimad Bhagavat Katha in Columbia, South Carolina in 1989 for the benefit of the Encyclopaedia project. He became the Honorary Patron of the Encyclopaedia in 1992 and conducted a number of kathas, Dharma yatras, discourses and events around the world for the project.

After that, he decided to dedicate all of his activities abroad in 1993 to raise awareness and support for the Encyclopaedia. This was named as Vishwa Mangal Mahotsav with prominent kathas taking place in North Carolina, New Jersey and London. In addition, in 1996, Pujya Bhaishri conducted a Shrimad Bhagavat Katha in Atlanta, Georgia, to raise further support for the project. His support since then has never wavered.

Prior to going to print, the first volume of the Encyclopaedia was presented by the Encyclopaedia team to Pujya Swamiji and Pujya Bhaishri during the latter’s Katha at Parmarth Niketan in Rishikesh in 2010.

A special preview and blessing ceremony was held in the presence of H.H. Dalai Lama. The international edition of the Encyclopaedia was presented to then Honourable President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, on 23rd June 2014 at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

A true ambassador and spiritual leader of Sanatan Dharma, Pujya Bhaishri has created a legacy not just in bricks and mortar, not just by building Sandipani Vidyaniketan or Shri Hari Mandir, but by his divine thoughts.

He is a living example of what we can be: intellectual, compassionate, spiritual, and loving. 

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