# Vagish Shastri

Bhagirath Prasad Tripathi (15 July 1935 – 11 May 2022), better known as Vagish Shastri, was an Indian scholar of Sanskrit grammar, linguist, tantra and yogi. In 2018, he was awarded the civilian award Padma Shri by the Government of India for his contributions to literature and education.

## Life and career

Shastri was born in Khurai, Madhya Pradesh, in 1934 and educated in Khurai, Vrindavan and Benaras. He began his teaching career in 1959 as a lecturer of Sanskrit at Tikmani Sanskrit College, Varanasi. In 1970, he became Director and Professor of the Research Institute at Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Varanasi, a position he held for three decades. He received a master's degree (Vyākaraņa Āchārya) in 1959, and a PhD (Vidyāvāridhi) in Grammar and Historical Linguistics in 1964. He received a German Diploma in 1966 and a D.Litt. (Vāchaspati) in 1969 from Sampurnanand Sanskrit University.

## Contributions

Shastri began writing essays at the age of 19. His essays and research papers have been published in various journals, both nationally and internationally.
He served as secretary president of one section in the fifth World Sanskrit conference and as chief editor of many series such as Sarasvati Bhavana Granthamala; he also edited more than 300 manuscripts which were published as books. Additionally, he was the chief editor of the Sanskrit journal Sarasvati Susama. He wrote on a variety of topics, including grammatical and philological research, drama, history, poetry, satire, historical research, and metaphysics.

## Honors and awards

* Padma Shri (2018) - awarded by the President of India
* Senior Research Fellowship (1964–67) - University Grants Commission
* Kālidasa Award (1966–67) - Highest literary Award, Uttar Pradesh
* Honored 6 times by Uttar Pradesh Sanskrit Academy (1968, 1971, 1981, 1985, 1995 and 1996)
* Mahāmahopādhyāya, Śri Kashi Pandit Parishad (1982)
* Bāņa Bhatţţ Award, Uttar Pradesh Sanskrit Academy (1990)
* Veda-Vedānga Award, Rajasthan Sanskrit Academy, (1994)
* Anusansdhan Puraskāra (Research Award) - Utkal Pāti trust (1995)
* Swami Vishnu Tirth Sammāna (Spiritual writing Award) - Indore (2002)
* Special Award - Govt. of Uttar Pradesh Sanskrit Sansthan (2005)
* Special Award - Govt. of Uttar Pradesh Sanskrit Sansthan (2005)
* Certificate of Honour for Sanskrit (2013) - awarded by the President of India
* Sauhard Samman - Uttar Pradesh Hindi Sansthan, Lucknow (2014)
* Yash Bharati Samman - Highest Honour of U. P. Govt., Government of Uttar Pradesh (2015)
* Vishva Bharati Samman (2013) - Highest Honour in Sanskrit Work, by U. P. Sanskrit Samsthan, Lucknow
* Mahakavi Kalidas Sanskrit Vrati Samman (2016) - Highest Honour in Sanskrit Work, by Kavikulguru Kalidas Sanskrit University, Nagpur
* Rashtriya Chatrasal Samman (2017) - by Bundeli Sahitya Parishad, Bhopal
* Sanskrit Sadhana Samman-"Maharshi VedVyas Samman 2017" (2017) - by Delhi Sanskrit Academy, New Delhi
* Honorary D.Litt., Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Varanasi (2018)

## Books authored

Whitney's principal criticism of the Dhatupatha was that it was unreliable, accusing Pāṇini and Pāṇiniyas of this unreliability. He stated that more than half of the nearly 2000 roots of Dhatupatha published by Westergaard and Bohtlingk were not attested in literature. Pāniniya Dhātupātha Samikşhā (1965) is an ambitious work in this area, providing an alphabetically arranged catalogue of roots found in different Dhatupathas along with attestations (verbal and nominal forms) in Sanskrit Grammar, Pali, Apabhramsa and other Prakrits. Vagish Shastri's stated aim was to refute Whitney's claim.
The radio drama Krişakānām Nāgpāshah is described as a symbolic play with patriotic themes, promoting harmony, national pride, and sacrifice for one's nation.

### Grammatical and philological research work

* Pāniniya Dhātupātha Samikşhā, Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, 1965.
* Taddhitantah Kechana Sabdah, Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi, 1967.
* Anusandhana Paddhatih, Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, 1969 (This book is currently being translated into Telugu by the Sanskrit Department of Waltair University.)
* Dhātvartha-Vijnanam, Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, 1980.
* Sabda Nirvachana aur Sabdartha, Yogic Voice Consciousness Institute, Varanasi, 2004.
* Gypsy language and Grammar, Yogic Voice Consciousness Institute, Varanasi, 2005.
* Upsahityam, Yogic Voice Consciousness Institute, Varanasi, 2007.

### Creative writing in Sanskrit, Hindi and English

Shastri's creative writing includes drama, story, poetry, and satire.
* Krişakānām Nāgpāshah: A drama concerned with National Awakening, Chaukhamba Vidya Bhavan, Varanasi, 1958.
* Katha Samvartika, (Original Sanskrit Stories), Chaukhamba Vidya Bhavan, Varanasi, 1959.
* Tolstoy Kathasaptakam, (Translation in Sanskrit), Chaukhamba Vidya Bhavan, Varanasi, 1970. (In Sampurnanand Sanskrit University curriculum).
* Bharat Mein Sanskrit ki Anivaryata Kyon, Choukhamba Vidya Bhavan, Varanasi, 1977.
* Sri Ganga Stavana Chayanika, Yogic Voice Consciousness Institute, Varanasi, 1987.
* Sri Siva Stavana Chayanika, Yogic Voice Consciousness Institute, Varanasi, 1989.
* Narma-Saptasati : verse-satires, Education ministry, Uttar Pradesh Sanskrit Academy, 1994.
* Sanskrit Vangmaya Manthanam, Financial support by Ministry of Education, Govt. of India, 1990.
* Atankavada Satakam : Verse critique on Terrorism, Yogic Voice Consciousness Institute, Varanasi, 1992.
* Sasvata Kavya ki Atma, Yogic Voice Consciousness Institute, Varanasi, 2000.
* Jagatika Prema aur Sasvta Ananda, Yogic Voice Consciousness Institute, Varanasi, 2004.
* Humour in Ancient India, Yogic Voice Consciousness Institute, Varanasi, 2004.
* Shabd Nirvachan Aur Shabdarth, Yogic Voice Consciousness Institute, Varanasi, 2007.
* Sanskrit Enhanced Knowledge of West, Vagyoga Chetna Peetham, Varanasi, 2009.
* Sri Vagyoga Tantram, Yogic Voice Consciousness Institute, Varanasi, 2010.
* Nisargsarsanjali, Vagyoga Chetna Peetham, Varanasi, 2013.
* Anushandhan Sampadan Pravidhi, Vagyoga Chetna Peetham, Varanasi, 2013.
* NAAD SHABDIKAM, Vagyoga Chetna Peetham, Varanasi, 2017.
* WHY SANSKRIT, Vagyoga Chetna Peetham, Varanasi, 2017.
* Antyajon ke Prati Hinduvon ka Kartavya, Vagyoga Chetna Peetham, Varanasi, 2017.
* SANJYÀKRIYÀPADA-SAMSLESHIKÀ VYÀKRIYÀ, Vagyoga Chetna Peetham, Varanasi, 2017.
* SANKSHIPTA SAAR VYAKARAN, Vagyoga Chetna Peetham, Varanasi, 2017.
* SHIV SANKALP SUKTAM, Vagyoga Chetna Peetham, Varanasi, 2017.

### Historical research work

* Bundelkhand Ki Prachinata (Antiquity of (Bundelkand), Self Publication, 1965.
This book refutes the claim of archaeologist Alexander Cunningham that the native place of Bundelas was in Maharashtra. It describes an etymological identification of the 'pulindas' mentioned in later Vedic, Epic, pauranika and inscriptional literature.
* Gypsy Bhasha : An historical and grammatical study, Yogic Voice Consciousness Institute, Varanasi, 1986.
* Mahakunmbh evam Sangama Snanana : Ek Vaijnanika Vivechana, Yogic Voice Consciousness Institute, Varanasi, 1988.
* Nadiya Ek Ghat Bahutere, Yogic Voice Consciousness Institute, Varanasi, 2001.
* Autobiography of the Vagyogi, Yogic Voice Consciousness Institute, Varanasi, 2003.
* Migration of Aryans from India, Yogic Voice Consciousness Institute, Varanasi, 2007.
* Bundelkhand Ki Prachinata, Enlarged Edition, Vag Yog Chetna Granthmala, Varanasi, 2011.

### Metaphysical writing

* Parachetana ki Yatra (Journey to Superconsciousness), Yogic Voice Consciousness Institute, Varanasi, 2000.
* Shakti, Shiva and Yoga, Yogic Voice Consciousness Institute, Varanasi, 2000.
* Yogachudamani Upanishad, Yogic Voice Consciousness Institute, Varanasi, 2004.
* Samvit Prakasha (Vaishnav Tantra), Yogic Voice Consciousness Institute, Varanasi, 2006.
* Trayambakam Yajamahe, Yogic Voice Consciousness Institute, Varanasi, 2006.

### New Sanskrit grammar

Shastri published three books on his Sanskrit grammar system "Vagyoga Technique".
* Sanskrit Sikahne ki Saral aur Vaijnanika Vidhi, Yogic Voice Consciousness Institute, Varanasi, 1990.
* Vagyoga : Mnemonic Sanskrit Technique, Yogic Voice Consciousness Institute, Varanasi, 2000.
* Vagyoga : Conversational Sanskrit, Yogic Voice Consciousness Institute, Varanasi, 2001.(Also translated in Russian language, 2009).

### Dictionary

* Vamana-Purana Visayanukrama Sabdakosa, Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, (1996).
* Etymological Bundeli Dictionary, Vagyoga Chetana Prakashan, Varanasi, (2017).
* SHABDA PARANYAM NAAM DHATUNIRBHAR SHABDAKOSHAH, Vagyoga Chetana Prakashan, Varanasi, (2017).

## Research papers

More than 200 research papers were published.
* Rakshnadyastadasharthakah: Root Av, All India Oriental Conference, Vol. XXVII, Kurukshetra University, 1975.
* The Science of Abbreviation in Ancient India, Third World Sanskrit Conference, Paris, 1977.
* Some Pāṇinian roots used only in Persian and European languages, V world Sanskrit Conference, Weimar, 1979.
* Padma Purana and Raghuvamsa, Ganganath Jha Research Journal, Vol. XXXViii, January 1982, Allahabad.

## Supervision

As the Director of the Research Institute, Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, he supervised 53 students for PhD degrees and 6 students for D.Litt. degrees in various subjects.
| S.No. | Subject | Degree | No. of Students |
| 1. | Sanskrit Grammar | PhD | 20 |
| 2. | Poetics & Poetry | PhD | 20 |
| 3. | Philosophy & Tantra | PhD | 06 |
| 4. | Veda | PhD | 02 |
| 5. | Purana | PhD | 02 |
| 6. | Jyotisha | PhD | 01 |
| 7. | Ayurveda | PhD | 02 |
| 8. | Sanskrit Grammar | D.Litt. | 01 |
| 9. | Poetics & Poetry | D.Litt. | 03 |
| 10. | Philosophy & Tantra | D.Litt. | 01 |
| 11. | Purana | D.Litt. | 01 |