Vishwamurti Shastri
A Sanskrit scholar from Udhampur who taught for 44 years and teaches the Vedas free, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2022.
Vishwamurti Shastri is a Sanskrit scholar with deep knowledge of Nyaya, the Vedas, Sanskrit grammar, metre and ritual, who is also known for his social work. He was named for the Padma Shri in 2022 in the field of literature and education, from Jammu and Kashmir [1].
Forty-four years of teaching
Shastri was born on 10 October 1946 in Kasuri village in Udhampur district [2]. After more than 44 years in teaching and administration, he retired in 2011 as principal of the Sri Ranbir Campus of the Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan in Jammu [2]. He twice received a best teacher award [2].
Keeping recitation alive
Since the age of ten he has memorised and recited the scriptures, a practice that is fading, and at 75 could still recite for hours [2]. He holds free Vedic classes [2]. For about two decades his Navratri discourses at the Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra have been broadcast on television [2]. He has promoted Sanskrit at hundreds of informal centres across Jammu and Kashmir, and was nominated to the executive of the Amarnath Shrine Board [2].
He is also an actor and director of plays, and has won first prize for directing 16 times [2]. He received the President’s award for Sanskrit scholarship [2].
Sources
- [1] Padma Awards 2022: list of awardees — Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Accessed 24 October 2026.
- [2] Padma Awards 2022: citation for Vishwamurti Shastri — Padma Awards, Government of India. Accessed 24 October 2026.
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