A four-day International Conference on ‘Lord Srirama in Art, Literature and Religion,’ organised by Prof. Bhashyam Swamiji of Sri Sudarshana Narasimha Kshetra, Vijayanagar and the Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage, Government of Karnataka, in collaboration with Ayodhya Research Institute; ICHR, New Delhi; IGNCA, New Delhi; I-SERVE, New Delhi; IAS, New Delhi & National Museums & NMI, Government of India, commenced this morning at the Department auditorium in Karnataka Exhibition Authority premises here.

About 60 Professors Emeritus and Research Scholars from across India and abroad are participating in the Conference featuring presentation of papers followed by interactions.

However, former CM Dr. M. Veerappa Moily, who was to inaugurate the Conference, was conspicuous by his absence.

Inaugurating the Conference, Dr. Yogendra Pratap Singh, Director, Ayodhya Research Institute, Lucknow in UP, said that Karnataka was  Janma Bhoomi  of Hanuman and Karma Bhoomi of Lord Rama. He thus hailed Karnataka as a treasure house of history, mythology and heritage.

He added that Allahabad in UP was a place of innumerable Hanuman Temples. He spoke on The relevance of Lord Rama in dharma and history.

Gracing the occasion, Prof. Bhashyam Swamiji narrated the significance of Dhashavatara of Lord Vishnu.

A commemorative souvenir was released by Prof. T. Rukmani, Concordia University, Canada.

Exhibition: An exhibition of paintings of Ramayana and puppet show masks was inaugurated by Dr. Soraj Bala (retd.), Director, I-SERVE, ISRV.

Prof. D.P. Dubey of Allahabad University, presided over the inaugural. Event Convenor B.S. Krishna Prasad welcomed.