Indian Knowledge Traditions

Spirituality is the master-key of the Indian mind. But spirituality does not flourish in the void, it needs a solid base of a richly lived intellectual and vital life. When we look objectively at the past of India, we are in awe of her stupendous vitality, her inexhaustible power of life and joy of life, her prolific creativeness. India’s mighty intellectual and creative prowess and accomplishments have also been many-sided, leaving no domain of human activity.

The abundant contributions our ancients left behind in the fields of philosophy, astronomy, natural sciences, mathematics, technology, medicine, literature, architecture, engineering and arts are matchless in the history of world civilizations. In addition, there are ample records of the ancients’ advanced social-political thought which led to the formation of great republics, kingdoms and empires. We find evidences of all kinds of monuments, palaces, temples and public works, communities, societies and religious orders, laws, codes and rituals, physical sciences, psychic sciences, systems of Yoga, systems of politics and administration, arts spiritual, arts worldly, trades, industries, fine crafts, — the list is endless, and in each area, there is a plethora of activity.

Scientific Heritage of India

Research Objectives:

Appreciation of the fact that there was never an artificial divide between spiritual and secular knowledge in ancient India.
Identifying some of the key contributions made by the ancient Indians in fields such as science, engineering, medicine, urban planning, and technologies related to textiles and water management.
Comprehension that the pursuit of knowledge in ancient India also included a deeper intuitive way of knowing in addition to rational, scientific ways.
Appreciation of the fact that Indian civilization has the potential to make great contributions to the future world of knowledge.

Visual Arts

Research Objectives:

Appreciate the deeper Indian cultural view on Beauty, Art and Aesthetics.
Understand the deeper spirit behind the key forms of the Visual Arts in which the ancient Indians made significant development.
Identify some of the key advancements made by the ancient Indians in fields such as painting, sculpture and temple architecture.
Comprehend the Indian view of the sacred aspect of all creative and artistic process.
Appreciate the deeper connection between Art and Spirituality.

Performing Arts

Research Objectives:

Appreciate some of the fundamentals of Indian traditions of music, dance and theater.
Understand the deeper spirit behind the key forms of the Performing Arts in which the ancient Indians made significant development.
Identify some of the key contribution made by the ancient Indians in fields such as music, dance and theater.
Comprehend the Indian view of the sacred aspect of all creative process.
Appreciate the deeper connection between Art and Spirituality.

Literature

Research Objectives:

Appreciate the broad lines of development of Indian literature beginning from the Vedic times to the start of the mediaeval period.
Understand the deeper spirit behind the evolution of the Indian literary tradition.
Identify some key contributions of the ancient Indian literary giants in fields such as poetry, drama, grammar, poetics, and related aspects of literature and language.
Identify some leading stalwarts of the classical Sanskrit literature, and their pioneering contributions.
Appreciate the deeper connection between Spirituality and Literary creation.
Learn a few key unique aspects of the Indian literary tradition.