Bhagirath Prasad Tripathi (15 July 1935 – 11 May 2022), better known as Vagish Shastri, was an Indian Sanskrit grammarian, linguist, tantra and yogi. In 2018, Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian award Padma Shri for his work in the field of literature and education.

Life and career

Shastri was born in Khurai city, in Madhya Pradesh in 1934. His primary education was in Khurai, followed by his education in Vrindavan and Benaras. He started his teaching career as a lecturer of Sanskrit at Tikmani Sanskrit College, Varanasi in 1959 and soon he became the Director and Professor of the Research Institute at Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Varanasi in the year 1970. He served this academic post for about three decades. He received his master's degree Vyākaraņa Āchārya (1959); PhD Vidyāvāridhi in Grammar and Historical Linguistics (1964), German Diploma (1966) and D.Litt. Vāchaspati (1969) from Sampurnanand Sanskrit University.

Contributions

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

Honors and awards

Books authored

Whitney's principal target in accusing Pāṇini and Pāṇiniyas of unreliability was the Dhatupatha. He set forth his views that of nearly 2000 roots of Dhatupatha published by Westergaard and Bohtlingk, more than half of these are not attested in literature. The most ambitious work in the direction noted is Pāniniya Dhātupātha Samikşhā (1965), wherein the author gives an alphabetically arranged catalogue of roots found in different Dhatupathas together with attestation – verbal and nominal forms – in Sanskrit, Pali, Apabhramsa and other Prakrits. BPT Vagish Shastri's professed aim is to refute Whitney's Claim. The radio drama Krişakānām Nāgpāshah is a symbolic play with the tone and tenor of patriotism which aims at common harmony, pride in one's own nation and sacrifice for one's motherland which is highly relevant. This is a creative work from the vibrant pen of BPT Vagish Shastri.

Grammatical and philological research work

Creative writing in Sanskrit, Hindi and English

His creative writing of drama, story, poetry, satire is present in his books.

Historical research work

He refused the claim of archaeologist Alexander Cunningham who suggested native place of Bundelas in Maharashtra. This book describes an etymological identification of the mysterious 'pulindas' mentioned in later Vedic, Epic, pauranika and inscriptional literature.

Metaphysical writing

New Sanskrit grammar

Shastri has published three books on his invented Sanskrit Grammar "Vagyoga Technique".

Dictionary

Research papers

More than 200 research papers are published.

Supervision

Being the Director of Research Institute, Sampurnanand Sanskrit University he has guided 53 students for PhD and 6 students for D.Litt. degree in different subjects.

Vagyoga: Natural law and mnemonic technique

Dr. Vagish Shastri has invented a unique technique of teaching Sanskrit grammar called 'Vagyoga'. This is a mnemonic method to enter in the soul of words, it is based upon natural law, which does not require learning by heart any sutras. This is a mathematical way of learning Sanskrit grammar. Many scholars from all over the world learned Sanskrit in very short time and they made translation of Sanskrit texts in their own language and many of them appointed professors.

Tutelage of Madonna

Pop singer Madonna sang Yoga Taravali; Dr. Vagish Shastri found mistakes in her singing. Madonna came in touch with Dr. Shastri through BBC radio and learned the proper pronunciation.