A rare moment in India’s spiritual history unfolded in Varanasi, where 19-year-old Vedic scholar Vedamurti Devavrat Mahesh Rekhe accomplished something that even seasoned practitioners hesitate to attempt. Devavrat has successfully completed the Dandakrama Parayanam—one of the most rigorous, complex, and least-practiced recitations of the Shukla Yajurveda.
Experts believe this feat, performed traditionally in its original and purest form, has taken place after nearly 200 years, making Devavrat one of the youngest in history to revive an endangered Vedic tradition.
PM Modi Hails the Teen Scholar
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who represents Kashi in Parliament, shared Devavrat’s achievement on X, calling it a “moment of pride for every lover of Indian culture.”
In his post, PM Modi wrote:
“What 19-year-old Vedamurti Devavrat Mahesh Rekhe has done will be remembered by coming generations… He completed the Dandakrama Parayanam—2000 mantras in the Madhyandina branch of the Shukla Yajurveda—over 50 days without interruption. He embodies the finest of our Guru Parampara.”
The PM also offered pranams to Devavrat’s family and the saints and scholars who supported him.
Who Is This Young Vedic Genius?
Devavrat is a native of Maharashtra and the son of renowned Vedic scholar Vedabrahmasri Mahesh Chandrakant Rekhe, who is the chief examiner of the Shukla Yajurveda (Madhyandina branch) under the Veda Poshaka Sabha of Sringeri Peetham.
He trained Devavrat from childhood with strict discipline, long hours of practice, and intense memorisation techniques. Their combined effort has restored a practice believed to have been performed only 2–3 times in recorded history.
What Makes Dandakrama Parayanam So Difficult?
The Dandakrama Parayanam is often referred to as the “crown jewel of Vedic chanting” because of its extraordinary complexity.
●It involves nearly 2,000 mantras arranged in a highly disciplined sequence
●Requires flawless pronunciation, breath control, and rhythm
●Must be recited entirely from memory
●Cannot be paused, altered, or corrected midway
●Only a handful of Vedic masters have ever completed it
The recitation demands not just knowledge but also mental endurance, physical stamina, and spiritual discipline — qualities rare even among senior scholars.
A Historic Moment in Kashi
That Devavrat completed this feat in Kashi, the spiritual capital of India, adds deeper cultural significance. Scholars across the country have praised this revival, calling it a turning point in the preservation of India’s oral Vedic heritage.
With this achievement, Devavrat has not only honoured the ancient Guru-Shishya parampara but also inspired a new generation to take pride in India’s spiritual sciences.
