Shri Somnath Sanskrit University, Somnath, and the BAPS Research Institute at Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Delhi jointly organized a special Shalaka (Memorizing) Competition based on the first adhikaran of the Brahmasutra Swaminarayan Bhashya written by Bhadresh Swami.
In the preliminary phase, over 1,000 students studying Sanskrit at various universities and institutes throughout India participated. Of these, 125 were selected to compete in the final in New Delhi.
In the final, the students underwent written and oral tests on the memorized verses of the Bhashya. Among the expert scholars present for this competition were Prof. P.N. Shastriji (Vice-chancellor, Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, Delhi), Dr. Kameshwar Upadhyayji (National Secretary, Akhil Bhartiya Vidvat Parishad, Varanasi), Dr. Rameshchandra Pandeyaji (Vice-chancellor, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapith, Delhi), Dr. Deven Patel (Associate Professor, University of Pennsylvania, USA), Dr. Gajendra Panda (Head of Department, L.D. Arts College, Ahmedabad), Pujya Shrutiprakash Swami (Head, AARSH, Gandhinagar), and others.
The expert judges were very impressed by the standard of knowledge and recitations of the participants. A total of 20 prizes were awarded to the outstanding performers.