Marriage In Sanatana Dharma : A Revisit

Marriage in Sanatana Dharma is not a mere pact or contact, agreement or adjustment. It is intended to be a great samskaara, a threefold refinement that works at the levels of mind, speech and body; the individual, family and society; physical, emotional and intellectual needs. It is for this multilayered purpose, marriage in Sanatana Dharma is manifolded and variegated. Just by understanding the nature of marriage in Sanatana Dharma, one can realize the magnanimity of true Indian culture and its objective of universal well-being.

In this short, informal and introductory talk, a glimpse of Hindu marriage in its essential features will be explained.

सूर्य – Majestic God Of Radiance ( Hindi Talk )

In Sanatan Dharma, Surya is a very important diety. It is also known by names such as Aditya, Arka, Bhānu, Savitṛ, Pūṣan, Ravi, Mārtāṇḍa, Mitra, Bhāskara, Prabhākara, Kathiravan, and Vivasvat. The famous Surya Namaskara is basically a worship of the Sun.

In this lecture, Dr Omkar will enunciate upon the glory of this great deity of Radiance who touches every aspect and every form of life.

Atma Upanishad

Atma Upanishad delves deep into Atma Jnana.Totally Four levels of Atman are identified :Jeeva Atma,Antar Atma ,Vijnana Atma and finally Parama Atma.

Jeeva Atman as body level of self consciousness .Antar Atma as the mental,emotional and intellectual levels of self consciousness.Vijnana Atma is the philosophical knowledge level of self consciousness and finally Parama Atma is transcendental supreme Brahman level of Self Consciousness which encompasses all the levels of self consciousness of all beings.This Advaita level of self consciousness when reached by the individual by transcending the above stated other three levels Moksha state of Kaivalya is attained.

Introduction To Paramahamsa Upanishad

The Paramahansa Upanishad is one of the 108 Upanishads in the Muktika Canon and is counted among the Sannyasa Upanishads. The Upanishad is a discourse between Bhagavan Brahma and Rishi Narada. Their conversation is centered on the characteristics of Paramahansa Yogi.

A Paramahansa is a highly exalted spiritual personality. In this Upanishad the attributes of a real Paramahansa are described in detail. A Paramahansa renounces the world and establishes himself in the Supreme Being always. He is equanimous to everything and he is a Sthitaprajna.He is free from the effects of all dualities. A Paramahansa is always established in the supreme state of Advaita . He is in Brahmi state of Supreme Self Awareness and hence is always liberated from all bondage.

Prof. CSR Prabhu will provide a detailed introduction and overview of the teachings of the text.

The Essential Yoga Practice

The yoga śāstra offers us a compass, map and user’s guide for the human experience. It also offers us thousands of wonderful yoga techniques.

However, from a certain perspective, the amazing benefits of these techniques are only accessed when the practice is rooted in the foundation principles of the yama-s. The first of the aṣṭāṅga/eight limbs, the yama-s are described by Patañjali in the yoga sūtra as the essential, all times, all places practice.

This session will elucidate why the yama principles are considered the essential practice, how they facilitate and support all other practice methods, and how they provide robust, reliable references to cultivate yogic steadiness amidst the inevitable ups and downs, comings and goings of life.

Shukarahasya Upanishad: An Introduction

Shri Shuka Rahasya Upanishad stands out as the tallest and in fact the very top most tip of all the 108 Upanishads and hence celebrated to be at the very apex point of Vedanta Darshana.

Being a direct instruction of Advaita , both in theory and practice , directly from Lord Shiva himself to Shri Shuka on the occasion of Upanayanam of Shri Shuka , it resulted in total transformation of Shri Shuka into a Brahmi Bhoota , a personality of total identification with Brahman .

This Upanishad contains the formal Mantra Upadesha of the Four Maha Vakyas of Vedanta using the Six Angas and also the Anga Nyasa and Kara Nyasa.

The study , understanding and practice of the procedure of Anusthana given in this Upanishad results in definite Release or Moksha from the World of Karma and Maya resulting in being established in a total state of Advaita

భగవద్గీత శ్రీశంకరాచార్యుల భాష్యంతో

భగవద్గీత అనే అమృతాన్ని ఆస్వాదించడానికి సిద్ధంగా ఉన్న జిజ్ఞాసువులం మనమంతా. ఒక ప్రసిద్ధ శ్లోకంలో ఇలా చెప్పారు. ఉపనిషత్తులన్నింటిని ఆవులతో పోలిస్తే, శ్రీకృష్ణుడిని గోపాలుడిగా భావిస్తే, అర్జునుడు లేగ దూడ స్థానంలోని వాడు. ఉపనిషత్తుల సారమే గీతామృతం అనే పాలు. దూడకు చేపు వదిలిన తర్వాత మనం పాలు పితుకుకున్నట్లే మనలాంటి జిజ్ఞాసువులందరూ ఆ అమృతాన్ని సేవించే భోక్తలు. ఇంపుగా ఉంటుంది కాబట్టి అమృతం అని కాదు. అజ్ఞానం మృత్యువు లాంటిది అంటుంది వేదాంతం. దాని నుండి కాపాడడానికి జ్ఞానం కావాలి. ఆ జ్ఞానమే అమృతం. ఇది వేదాంత శాస్త్రంలోని పారిభాషిక పదం.

భగవద్గీతను బ్రహ్మవిద్య అని, యోగశాస్త్రమని, సకల వేదార్థానికి సంగ్రహమని వ్యాఖ్యానించారు. ఇది మనకెందుకు అనే ప్రశ్న రావచ్చు. ఇది అన్ని దేశాలకు, అన్ని కాలాలకు, అందరికీ అవసరమైన విషయం. ప్రపంచంలో ఇవాళ జరుగుతున్న సంస్కృతుల పోరాటాన్ని గమనిస్తే మన మనసుల్లో మెదిలే అనేక ప్రశ్నలకు సమాధానం కావాలంటే భగవద్గీతను తెలుసుకోవాలి. విష్ణువు గొప్పవాడా శివుడు గొప్పవాడా లేదా గణేశుడు అందరికంటే గొప్పవాడా మొదలైన ప్రశ్నలు మన పిల్లలు వేస్తే సమాధానం చెప్పగలగాలి. అందరికంటే గొప్ప దేవుడు ఎవరు, అతడు ఎక్కడ ఉంటాడు అంటే సమాధానం చెప్పగలగాలి., మన సమాజంలో కులవ్యవస్థ ఎలా వచ్చింది దేవుడు సృష్టించాడా అంటే సమాధానానికి భగవద్గీతకు రావాలి.

మనం విగ్రహాన్ని ఎందుకు పూజిస్తున్నాము అంటే సమాధానం కోసం భగవద్గీతకు రావాలి. ఇలాగా ఈనాటి సమాజంలో మన ఎదుర్కొంటున్నటువంటి అనేక సందేహాలకు సమాధానం భగవద్గీతలో దొరుకుతుంది. సమాజంలోని అశాంతికి మూల కారణం ఉపనిషత్తుల సారమైన భగవద్గీతను తెలుసుకోకపోవడమే అని కచ్చితంగా చెప్పవచ్చు. కేవలం మన సమాజమే కాదు ప్రపంచంలో ప్రపంచమంతటా శాంతి నెలకొల్పాలంటే దానికి పునాది భగవద్గీత అని చెప్పవచ్చు.

అలాంటి భగవద్గీతకు శ్రీ శంకర భగవత్ పాదులు విపులమైన వ్యాఖ్యను వ్రాశారు. ఆ వ్యాఖ్యను అర్థం చేసుకొని మన సందేహాల్ని నివారించుకోవడం, అందులో చెప్పిన ఆత్మజ్ఞానాన్ని పొందడానికి ప్రయత్నించడం మన భాగ్యం.

తేది 09 జనవరి 2025 నుండి ప్రారంభం

ప్రతి సోమ మరియు బుధ వారములలో

సమయం: ఉదయం 10.00 నుండి 10.45 వరకు

Sarva Darshana Of Sarva Dharma

With the advent of Sri Ramakrishna, the possibility for universal understanding between spiritual paths and religions, has expanded considerably. Babaji has composed his new book, Footfalls of the Indian Rishis based upon this principle, revealing India’s stunning contribution to it. A brief discourse of key elements of the book will both support and clarify this important facet of spiritual life.

Living The Yoga Sūtra-s

‘I wish there was a user’s guide for this human incarnation thing!’ Said the seeker.

‘There is!’ Replied my teacher, ‘Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtra distils the foundation principles of yoga and gives us a practice manual for a human birth. These sūtra-s are the stiches that weave together the fabric of unity.’ And, as we’ll explore in this session, the principles set out in the yoga sūtra can help us weave deepening harmony into the whole of our lives and help us remember more fully who we really are.

-As described by the speaker, James Boag.

Symposium On ‘Prakarana Granthas’

Prakarana Granthas are authoritative texts that elucidate complex concepts in an accessible manner, providing clarity on technical terms and terminologies used in the Shastras. They also serve an important pedagogical function, namely facilitating a graded teaching of Shastras wherein a student is first taught these texts before taking them to a study of more advanced texts. Thus, they serve as invaluable companions for students embarking on deeper study of the Shastras.

The Vedanta tradition encompasses a profound journey of self-discovery, involving the renunciation of ego-driven desires, mastery over the mind and eventual transcendence of all notions of duality. It is essentially a path of Knowledge or Jnanayoga which involves deep inquiry into the Upanishadic teachings accompanied by contemplation and meditation on those teachings which would cultimate in realization of the Absolute Truth (Tattva-Jnana).  Known as Sravana (listening to Vedantic teachings from Guru), Manana (intellectual enquiry), Niddhidhyasana (contemplation on truth), these constitutes the three stages of Vedanta Sadhana (or Jnanayoga) which cultimates in Atma-Jnana or Self Knowledge.

This being the case, a systematic study of Vedanta Shastras plays a central role in Vedanta Sadhana.

To facilitate this, Adi Shankara Bhagavadpadacharya, the great master in his utmost compassion had authored a large number of works for communicating Vedantic knowledge to everyone. He authored the Prashthana Trayi Bhashyas for the intellectually leaning panditas. He composed a large number of Stotras for the devotionally oriented seekers. And finally, he composed numerous Prakarana Granthas both as introductory texts introducing the subject of Vedanta and as texts imparting directly the essential teachings of Advaita helpful for the Mumukshus in their quest for liberation.

Following Bhagavadpadacharya, many other Advaita Acharyas have composed a larger number of Prakarana Granthas as well. The purpose of these Vedanta Prakarana Granthas are three fold:

  1. Introduce the student to the essential teachings of Vedanta in a simple manner, thereby providing a comprehensive overview of the entire system.
  2. Introduce the student to all the Shastriya concepts and terminologies, and other preliminaries necessary for a student.
  3. Facilitate the beginner student to gradually become competent to take up study of advanced Vedanta texts such as Prasthanatrayi Bhashya.

Some of the prominent Vedanta Prakarana Granthas by Bhagavadpadacharya and his lineage of acharyas in the Advaita Sampradaya include:

Vivekachudamani
Upadesha-Sahasri
Atma-Bodha
Aparokshanubhuti
Vakya-Vritti
Panchikarana
Dasha Sloki
Tattva bodhaa
Nirvana Shatkam
Panchadashi
Vedanta Sara
Vedanta Paribhasha
Advaita Makaranda
Dṛg-Dṛśya-Viveka

The symposium seeks to highlight some of the distinguishing features of Vedanta Prakarana Granthas as well as shed light on its important teachings.

Schedule

Time Speaker Title of Talk
9.00 AM-9.15 AM Nithin Sridhar
Director & Chief Curator, INDICA Moksha
Opening Remarks
9.10 AM-10.00 AM Mahamahopadhyaya Swamini Bramaprakashananda
Chief Acharya, Dr. Shrikant Jichkar Memorial Arsha Vijnana Gurukulam, Nagpur
Significance Of Prakarana Granthas In Advaita Parampara
10.00 AM-10.30 AM Kathirasan K
Certified Mindfulness Teacher. Founder CEO of the Centre for Mindfulness, Singapore
Upadeshasahasri: A Unique Perspective On The Teaching Of Vedanta
10.30 AM-11 AM Vidwan K Giridhara Sarma
Traditional Vidwan of Vedanta and Mimamsa. Electronic Engineer.
Insights From Panchadashi Of Swammi Vidyaranya
11.00 AM-11.30 AM Gokulmuthu Narayanaswamy
Director of Product Development at Itron India, Bangalore
Tattvabodha – The book Of Vedanta Vocabulary
11.30 AM – 12.00 PM Br. Ved Chaitanya
Student of Sanskrit and Vedanta
Aparokshanubhuti: The Intimate Experience Of the Reality
12.00 PM – 12.30 PM Sudhanshu Shekhar
Additional Commissioner of Income Tax, Pune
Ajnana In Sushupti As Per Naishkarmya Siddhi
12.30 PM – 1.00 PM Dr. Suryanarayana Jammalamadaka
Senior Project Manager, Siddhanta Knowledge Foundation,
Co-founder, Kameswari Foundation
Why so many Prakarana Granthas in Vedanta
1.00 PM – 1.30 PM Acharya Jaishankar Narayanan
Vedanta Acharya. Runs Aarsha Vidya Varshini Gurukulam at Kallidaikurichi
Shabda Pramana In Vedanta Paribhasha
1.30 PM – 2.00 PM Dr. Srinivas Jammalamadaka
Scholar – IKS Courses, Siddhanta Knowledge Foundation,
An Analysis of Functionality Of Unreal: From Shastra-Siddhanta-Lesha-Sangraha By Appayya Dikshita
2.00 PM – 2.30 PM Vidwan P V Rajaraman
Traditional Vidwan and Chief Technology Officer, Adi Shankara Institute of Engineering and Technology in Kaladyy
Unveiling the Greatness Of Vivekachudamani: A Guide To Liberation
2.30 PM – 3.00 PM Vidwan Manikandan Iyer Traditional Vidwan and Banker Drk Drsya Viveka- A deliberation Of The First Verse Of The Text
3.00 PM – 3.30 PM Jayakumar S. Ammangudi
Founder and Managing Trustee of Arsha Seva Kendram
Uniqueness Of Atmabodha
3.30-4.00 PM Nithin Sridhar
Director & Chief Curator, INDICA Moksha
Conclusion and Vote of Thanks