There are books aplenty in the world dealing with a vast variety of subjects. The adherents of each religion single out one book for special veneration, believing that it shows them the way to salvation. Buddhists have the Tripiṭaka, Pārsis the Zend-Avesta, Christians the Bible, and Muslims the Qur'ān. What work is basic to our religion, common to śaivas, vaiṣṇavas, dvaitins, advaitins, and followers of various other Hindu traditions? Most of us find the answer difficult, Why?

There is an important reason. People born in other religions are taught their sacred texts in school. Or they receieve instruction [at home] in their respective faiths for two or three years, and then have what is called "secular" education. So even at a youthful age, they are fairly conversant with the religion into which they are born. We Hindus receive no religious instructions at all. Our education largely follows the Western pattern and the only place where systematic, institutional teaching of traditional knowledge takes place is in the gurukulas.

Hence many Hindus are ignorant of the scriptures that are the very source of their religion. What does this mean? That despite being the inheritors of the world's oldest religion and culture, we have no concern for them ourselves; that we are living as foreigners in our own land. We know all works of Milton and Wordsworth, but know precious little of the poetry of Bhavabhūti or Kālidāsa. We are acquainted with the history of the Louis dynasty and of the Tsars, but we know nothing of the solar and lunar dynasties of our own country. 

Our ātmavidyā (science of the Self) is extolled by people all over the world. People world over come to India in search of our śāstras and translate them into their own languages. Being the pioneers of śāstric sciences, shouldn't we take the lead rather than hand over the reins to others? Today the situation is so lamentable that most of us do not know even the name of the texts that form the foundation and authority of our religion.

Now, let us go a step further. Why do we need sanātana dharma at all? dhārayati iti dharma. sanātana dharma is that which holds, that which sustains. By practicing the tenets our religion, many have had the beatific experience of bliss and tranquility. When we are harassed by difficulties, we try to find solace in books or in listening to the advice of saints of wisdom and virtue. Religion is that which shows the way to śānti and in order to pursue happiness and well-being of not just the self but also the society, it is important that we don't lose access to the tremendous wisdom of the  śāstras.

Gurukulas continue to hold this śāstric and vedic wisdom. For the sake of all our collective welfare, it is important that we equip such islands of wealth with the tools and technology needed for them to disseminate it to the larger society. And it needs to happen in bhāratavarṣa! Dharmo rakṣati rakṣitaḥ ... Dharma protects those who protect it!