HOMAGE TO ARYA MISSIONARY ACHARYA NARENDRA BHOOSHAN

Noted Vedic scholar and Arya Missionary Acharya Narendra Bhooshan passed away at 6.40 am on 16 Nov 2010 in Kochi. On his demise Aryan world has lost an exemplary scholar and propagator of vedic ideals.

Acharya ji was born on 22 May 1937 at Chengannur in Kerala. He got academic education from Kallissery High School and NSS College Changanassery. Later on he obtained Vidyarathna, Vidya Bhooshan, Acharya degrees from Arya Samaj Gurukul at Hissar in Haryana. After his Gurukul studies he devoted his life for propagation of Maharshi Dayanand Saraswathi’s ideals in Kerala. He continued the unfinished vedic propagation works of earlier Arya Missionaries of Kerala like Pandit Veda Bandhu Sharma and Swamy Parameswarananda ((formerly known as Sadhuseelan Parameshwaran Pillai in his purva ashram). He almost single handedly prevented the outflow from Hinduism to Christianity/Islam in southern Kerala and conducted many shudhi (re-conversions) works. He also took an active role during 1975 emergency period as a part of Bharathiya Jan Sangh to bring back democracy and served Jail sentence. He started the first ever Malaylam vedic journal named ‘Arshanadam’ from Chengannur. This magazine made a tremendous social impact in Kerala. The Agnihothram and other vedic yagyas got popularity among general public with his vibrant articles in this journal and other literary works. With the quoting from vedic literatures he defended the sanathan dharma i.e. present day Hinduism from the onslaught of its adversaries.

He has to his credit a large number of books - translations, commentary and his original works. His contribution for propagating the ideals of Maharshi Dayanand Saraswathi and his literatures moulded many youngsters to select the path shown by Rishi Dayanand in Kerala. The contribution of Swamy Dayananda Saraswathy and Aryasamaj were made familiar to the people of Kerala mainly through Acharya's translated work of "Sathyartha Prakasham" and Veda Paryadanam which were originally written in Hindi.

Major Works : Some of his major works are appended below :-

1. Chathurveda Samhitha
2. Commentaries on all major Upanishads.
3. Translation of Geetha Rahasyam of Lokmanya Balgangadhar Tilak.
4. Translation of Sathyartha Prakasam and Rigvedadi Bhashya bhoomika (Veda Paryadanam) of Maharshi Dayanand.
5. Translation of Justice Ganga Prasad Upadhyaya's book ‘Origin of Religion’.
6. Translation of Swamy Sathyapathi Parivrajaka's "Yogameemamsa"
7. Purooravasum Urvasiyum.
8. Devathakalude Vaidika Sankalpam.
9. Veda Geethamrutham.
10. Yogeswaranaya Sree Krishnan.
11. Mathavum Yukthiyum
12. Vaidika Sahithya Charithram.
13. Achara Bhanu.
14. Paralokavum Punarjanmavum.

Awards and Honours

Acharya Narendra Bhooshan was also the recipient of many awards and recognitions. The Arya Samaj Centenary puraskar 1983, Maharshi Dayanand Puraskar both from Ajmeer, the Vedopadesha Puraskar Bombay in 1992 presented by the then President of India, Dr Gyani Zail Singh, are a few to name. The first Amrita Keerthi Puraskaram (award) was also bestowed to Acharya Narendra Bhooshan. He was among the panel of scholars to prepare the History of Vedic literature in 1988 for the Kerala Sahitya Academy. This work was published by the Academy in 1991. He also served as a member in the selection committee for Academy Award of Kerala Sahitya Academy. He was entrusted by the Kerala state language institute to prepare the history of the three reformation movements of 19th Century, the Arya Samaj, the Brahma Samaj and Prarthana Samaj.
Let us take inspiration from his work and continue the Veda Prachar. This will be the great tributes to the departed soul. Pranaam to the departed soul!

Om krinvantho vishwamaryam!