A 12-year-old Indian American Bruhat Soma has been crowned the Spelling Bee champion. The seventh grader clinched the title by spelling 29 words correctly in a rapid-fire tiebreaker round that lasted just 90 seconds. He outpaced his competitor, Faizan Zaki from Texas, who managed to spell 20 words. But Somas talents extend beyond spelling he has also memorized 80 percent of the Bhagavad Gita.Academic excellence with spiritual depthSomas achievement in the Spelling Bee is impressive, but his dedication to memorizing the Bhagavad Gita is equally noteworthy. He has found inspiration and strength in the holy scripture, which he has been memorizing steadily. This spiritual practice has given him a sense of divine support and resilience, qualities that likely contributed to his success in the competition.Heres the video:#WATCH | Maryland: Winner of the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee, a seventh-grade Indian-American student Bruhat Soma recites Shloka from Bhagavad Gita.He says, ...I slowly started memorising Bhagavad Gita, then I started doing spelling a bit more but now I am going to… pic.twitter.com/tXVPrqOe8r— ANI (@ANI) June 2, 2024Reciting the Hayagriva StotraWhen asked to share a piece of his spiritual journey, Soma recited the Hayagriva Stotra, a hymn dedicated to Lord Hayagriva, an avatar of Vishnu associated with knowledge. This recitation has garnered attention online, with many people expressing admiration for Somas deep-rooted cultural values and spiritual knowledge. One user commented on the noticeable change in Somas accent when he recited the Sanskrit shloka, expressing awe at his ability to switch seamlessly. Another praised him for staying connected to Sanatana Dharma and commended his parents for instilling such values. The video of his recitation has created a buzz, highlighting the blend of modern achievement and traditional wisdom.Proud moment for Soma and his familySomas victory in the Spelling Bee has been celebrated not just in the United States but also by his relatives in India. He shared his excitement and happiness, mentioning how hard he had worked over the past year to achieve this milestone. The support from his family and their shared joy made his victory even more special.With the Spelling Bee win behind him, Soma is looking forward to continuing his spiritual journey. He plans to finish memorizing the Bhagavad Gita.
