MP varsity offers diploma in Karmkand!

Bhopal, Mar 7 (UNI) Ujjain's Vikram University has had a headstart in the race for new types of courses as it boasts of a full-fledged Karmkand Department for teaching the nuances of Hindu rituals and chanting hymns.

''The department has been in existence for several years and offers a year-long post-graduate diploma course having about 50 seats,'' Vice-Chancellor Ram Rajesh Mishra told UNI over telephone today from the ancient temple town.

On completion of the course, the alumni find employment as priests.

The venue of the Simhastha Mela, which takes place once in 12 years, Ujjain is also a famed centre of Sanskrit learning and was also Gupta-era poet Kalidasa's karmabhoomi.

The world-renowned Mahakaleshwar shrine here is one of the 12 jyotirlingas.

Karmkand in Indian culture is the name of the procedure laid down for propitiation of planets and deities.

UNI