MA in Sanatana Dharma
Over the millennium, the ancient seers and saints living across the river Sindhu made profound intuitive realizations of the eternal spiritual truth (satya), delving deep into the essence of existence itself. They visualized not just the core principles that govern the world but also the underlying interconnectedness of all beings, recognizing that these principles are the guiding forces responsible for both material and spiritual progress of every living entity. This intricate balance between the external world and inner life is encapsulated in the concept known as dharma, which serves as a moral compass for individuals navigating their journey through life.
In this regard, they expressed their wisdom in eloquent verses, illustrating how adherence to dharma leads to a harmonious existence, where every action aligns with the greater cosmic order. As articulated by Saแน karฤcฤrya in his commentary on the Bhagavadgฤซtฤ:
เคเคเคคเคเคธเฅเคฅเคฟเคคเคฟ เคเคพเคฐเคฃเค เคชเฅเคฐเคพเคฃเคฟเคจเคพเค เคธเคพเคเฅเคทเคพเคคเฅเค เคญเฅเคฏเฅเคฆเคฏเคจเคฟเคเคถเฅเคฐเฅเคฏเคธเคนเฅเคคเฅเคฐเฅเคฏเค เคธ เคงเคฐเฅเคฎเคเฅค
This encapsulates the essence of dharma as the very foundation for both the welfare and ultimate liberation of all beings in the cosmos.
The core and eternal principles known as the Sanฤtana dharma, the mighty edifice of the Indian civilisation, are manifested and transmitted both orally and textually within a variety of knowledge traditions and practices that have evolved over centuries. These traditions form the bedrock of an intricate cultural tapestry, illustrating the profound depth of wisdom that the Indian civilization has contributed to global intellectual heritage.
The study of such rich oral as well as textual traditions and practices is the kernel of Hindu study, highlighting the essential role that stories, rituals, and philosophical discussions play in understanding the essence of this ancient belief system. Different streams of Hindu studies intertwine like the branches of a single living tree, deeply rooted in the fertile soil of Indian culture, thought, ritual, and spirituality. This showcases the interconnectedness of various elements that define the Indian experience.
The course has been envisioned, designed, and structured by the Honโble Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sunaina Singh, whose vision aims to foster a greater appreciation for the complexities and nuances inherent in these studies. It is uniquely designed to grasp not only the rich spiritual but also the intellectual system of the Hindus โ a distinctively interdisciplinary framework where the textual and the oral, the verbal and the visual, the scientific and the metaphysical, the transcendental and the functional are interlocked as parts of a whole. This approach encourages a comprehensive understanding of the diverse methodologies and perspectives that contribute to the richness of Hindu thought and practice.
Courses
- Introduction to the Vedas: แนgveda, Yajurveda, Sฤmaveda, and Atharvaveda
- Introduction to Major & Minor Upaniแนฃads
- Introduction to Itihฤsa texts: The Rฤmฤyaแนa & the Mahฤbhฤrata
- Introduction to Purฤแนa texts: Viแนฃแนu Purฤแนa, and Agni Purฤแนa
- Ethics in Hindu Philosophy
- Fundamentals of Hindu Philosophy
- The Bhagavadgฤซtฤ and understanding of the โSelfโ
- Puruแนฃฤrthas: Goals of Human Life
- The Yogasลซtra of Pataรฑjali: Theory and Practice
- Studying the Nฤแนญyaลฤstra of Bharatamuni (first chapter)
- Basic Tenets of Major Upaniแนฃads: Chฤndogya Upaniแนฃad & Bแนhadฤraแนyaka Upaniแนฃad
- Ancient Knowledge Tradition
- Philosophy of Language: Introduction to Mahฤbhฤแนฃya and Vฤkyapadฤซyam
- Study of Paรฑcatantra
- Poets & Philosophers of highest awakening
- Capsules of Knowledge: Sลซtra, Vฤrtika & Bhฤแนฃya (Commentaries)
- Study of Smrti texts: The Yฤjรฑavalkya Smแนti
- The Arthaลฤstra of Kauแนญilya
- Study of Vedanta Philosophy with ลaแน karฤcฤrya, Rฤmฤnujacฤrya, Madhvฤcฤrya and Sadฤnanda
- Mastering Sanskrit Language
- Seminar Course
- Dissertation
Mandate
The two-year MA in Hindu Studies (Sanฤtana Dharma) will
- Attempt to retrieve the resource pool of knowledge on Hindu dharma and its spiritual traditions.
- Provide an overview of spiritual Hindu literatures and basic tenets therein.
- Introduce the major and minor texts along with select fundamental commentaries.
- Provide an opportunity to develop the specialization in any stream of Hindu Studies.
- Foreground the relevance of the Hindu Studies in the contemporary changing world order.
Outcome of the Programme
A student with a MA in Hindu Studies (Sanฤtana Dharma) shall โ Develop a good understanding of foundational principles underlying Hindu spiritual traditions and culture.
Course Curriculum
- 10 Core courses equivalent to 30 credits (3 X 10)
- 7 Electives equivalent to 21 credits (3 X 7)
- 4 Reading Seminar courses equivalent to 4 credits (1 X 4)
- Dissertation equivalent to 9 credits
Total: 64 credits
Semester โ I (Foundational Courses): 16 credits
4 Core Courses:(3 Credits Each)
Core Courses:
- Introduction to the Vedas: แนgveda, Yajurveda, Sฤmaveda, and Atharvaveda
- Introduction to Major & Minor Upaniแนฃads
- Introduction to Itihฤsa: The Rฤmฤyaแนa & the Mahฤbhฤrata
- Introduction to Purฤแนa texts: Viแนฃแนu Purฤแนa, Agni Purฤแนa & Bhฤgavata-purฤแนa
1 Elective Course (3 Credits Each) (Students may choose one of the following
- Sanskrit Language-1 (compulsory)
- Ethics in Hindu Philosophy: Puruแนฃฤrthas, Varแนas and ฤลramas
- Tenets of Indian Philosophy: Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism
- SHS/SLLH/SMS/SEES (Courses from other schools in the cafeteria model)
- Critical Thinking (Extra Credit Course)
Seminar-I (1 Credit)
Semester โ II (Bridge Courses): 16 credits
3 Core Courses: (3 Credits Each)
- Fundamentals of Hindu Philosophy: Six Darลanas Sฤแนkhya, Yoga, Nyฤya, Vaiลeแนฃika, Mฤซmฤแนsฤ & Vedฤnta
- The Bhagavadgฤซtฤ: the concept of Dharma, the path of Knowledge, devotion, and the idea of sthitaprajรฑa
- Vฤlmฤซki Rฤmฤyaแนa: Textual and Thematic Study
2 Elective Courses: (3 Credits Each) (Students may choose two of the following)
- Mastering Sanskrit Language (Level 2)
- The Yogasลซtra of Pataรฑjali: Theory and Practice
- Studying the Nฤแนญyaลฤstra of Bharata: The Indian Tradition of Performing Arts
1 Seminar (1 Credit)
Semester โ III (Advanced Courses): 16 credits
2 Core Courses: (3 Credits Each)
Core Courses
- Tenets of Major Upaniแนฃads: Chฤndogya Upaniแนฃad & Bแนhadฤraแนyaka Upaniแนฃad
- Sources of Indian Knowledge Tradition: Sลซtra, Vฤrtika & Bhฤแนฃya (Commentaries)
3 Elective Courses (3 Credits each) (Students may choose three of the following
- Mastering Sanskrit Language (Level 2)
- Study of Vedฤnta: ลaแน karฤcฤrya, Rฤmฤnujacฤrya, Madhvฤcฤrya
- Study of Paรฑcatantra: Capsules of Life Lessons
- Indian Aesthetics- Rasa Theory
- Indian Philosophy of Language: Introduction to Pataรฑjaliโs Mahฤbhฤแนฃya and Bhartแนhariโs Vฤkyapadฤซya
- Hindu Cosmology and Astronomy
- SHS/SLLH/SMS/SEES (Courses from other schools in the cafeteria model)
- Critical Thinking (Extra Credit Course)
1 Seminar (1 Credit)
Semester โ IV (Specialised Courses): 16 credits
1 Core Course (3 Credits)
Core Course
- Introduction to Dharmaลฤstra: Selected portions from Gautama, Manu and Yฤjรฑavalkya
1 Elective Courses (3 Credits) (Students may choose one of the following
- Select Major Thinkers of Ancient India: Brahmagupta, ฤryabhaแนญแนญa, Varฤhamihira Bhฤskara, Bฤแนabhaแนญแนญa and Abhinavagupta
- Nฤgฤrjuna and the concept of ลลซnyatฤ
- The Arthaลฤstra of Kauแนญilya
- Sanskrit Language- 4
- SHS/SLLH/SMS/SEES (Courses from other schools in the cafeteria model)
1 Seminar (1 Credit)
1 Dissertation (9 Credits)
Read more :
- Encyclopedia of Sanatana Dharma by Tanmoy Bhattacharyya
- Rishis will Reinstitute the Sanatan Dharma if Diluted (SB 8/14/4)
- Madan Mohan Malaviya on Sanatan Dharma
- The place of Purans in Sanatan Dharma
- Es Dhammo Sanatana (Therefore it is called Sanatana Dharma-1st Lecture by OSHO)
- Sanatana Dharma Versus Prophetic Creeds-Sita Ram Goel
- All Puranas are fake and written by greedy people and Europeans to defame Sanatana Dharma