Sydney Sanskrit School had the privilege of hosting a full‑day workshop with the honourable Vidwan Arjun Bharadwaj, an acclaimed author, researcher, and Co‑Founder of Chanakya University. The event centred on the Mahabharatha, and the lessons extracted from it, offering students and teachers a rare opportunity to engage with the epic through the guidance of a distinguished scholar.
As with all of our major occasions, the day began in the mandir with praarthana, chanting from the Bhagavad Gita, and an arathi to mark an auspicious start. The atmosphere was reverent and welcoming, setting the tone for the learning ahead. Breakfast followed, with all meals throughout the day graciously prepared by Shri Mandir as prasad.
Once gathered in the main hall, we welcomed our special guests and did the Deepa Jwalanam. Everyone chanted along and one of our students, Samanvitha Ramanathan sang a song to invoke Shri Krishna, this was followed by Pandit Narendra Dave who performed vedic recitations to bless the proceedings. With the inauguration complete, the first session commenced, focusing on studenthood. Arjun Ji explored what it means to learn with sincerity and discipline, he drew from the characters in the epic by first outlining the role of Vyasa and then detailing the relationship of the Pandavas and Kauravas with their respective gurus.
After a short break and worksheet activity, Arjun Ji led a session on siblinghood, drawing from numerous stories in the Mahābhārat of familial relationships. He presented each narrative with clarity, breaking down the morals in a way that was accessible and engaging. Another worksheet was given, after which students enjoyed a break while senior students and the student teachers were given a special opportunity: an exclusive interview with Arjun Ji. They were able to learn more about how he approaches teaching and learning Sanskrit, alongside his views on interpreting the Mahabharata.
Before lunch, the senior students chanted the Annabrahmopasanam veda mantra. Lunch was served by Shri Mandir, after which the afternoon sessions began. The next topic explored governance, while simultaneously Arjun Ji conducted an impromptu workshop for the teachers. He tasked them with decoding the Eka Shloki Mahabharatha and preparing to teach its essence to the students. As the students continued with their worksheets and listened to the remaining sessions, the teachers worked through translation and interpretation. They concluded the day by presenting the morals of the Eka Shloki Mahabharatha to the group.
The workshop was highly successful and deeply enriching. Students and teachers alike were able to engage with the Mahabharatha in meaningful ways, guided by a scholar whose depth of knowledge and clarity of teaching made the experience truly memorable.
Neha Natarajan
Neha Natarajan
Neha Natarajan is a teacher at Sydney Sanskrit school who teaches both online and in-person classes. She completed her Truteeya exams under Surasaraswathi Sabaha in 2023 and is a current Tureeya student. She is heavily involved in curating workshops for Paniniyam or Autumn camps. She was awarded Highly Commended in the Ministers Award for community languages and has participated in International Gita Mahotasav. She is also a student at the University of Sydney, currently undertaking a double degree in Biomedical Engineering and Science. Having studied western literature and the arts extensively, she continues to further this passion through her work with a South Asian theatre company based in Sydney. She was a featured guest in a plenary discussing South Asian identity as part of the diasporic community, as well as contributing to their annual Mela. She is currently working on assisting the development of one of their plays. Additionally, she is an avid listener to Carnatic music and has been learning this art form for many years and is in the process of acquiring a diploma.
