About the Course

Introducing Shaastra Application in Shaastra Study

Recommendations of Acharyas 

Facilitated by

Siddhanta Knowledge Foundation (SKF)

Convener: Sai Susarla and SKF Faculty team.

Introduction 

As Bharat rises in influence on the global stage, its rich knowledge heritage will play a crucial role in shaping world culture. There is an urgent need of scholars who can articulate and apply Bharatiya wisdom to address contemporary issues. 

Bharat has a rich systematic intellectual tradition that was instrumental in carrying its wisdom down the ages by continually applying its core tattva to changing contexts in the form of shaastras. This innate adaptivity ensured continuity of bharatiya civilization over millennia in spite of existential threats, while several other ancient civilizations perished.

However, recently shaastra education has restricted itself to preservation mode via teaching of shaastra jnanam without the necessary recontextualization. The time has come to once again rejuvenate the interpretative spirit in the next generation by inculcating the skill of shaastra prayoga. Prayoga alone can ensure that a student imbibed the jnaanam. 

SKF would like to facilitate an idea exchange among acharyas of various shaastras to discuss the following issues and evolve a strategy for bharatiya-vijnana-dvaaraa vishva kalyanam.

Agenda

• Acharya of each shaastra to present what prayoga means for his/her shaastra
• Articulate what is the expected value to the society
• Give an account of current status of that shaastra
• Suggest changes needed in shaastra shikshanam to bring the above value

Expected Outcome

• Consolidated recommendations on how to change shaastra adhyayanam and mulyankanam – teaching and evaluation
• Concrete suggestions on how education process in both universities and gurukulas needs to be transformed
• Resolve by acharyas to pilot those changes in specific institutions over the next one year to gain experience.

Attendees

Attendance to the satram is by invitation. We request acharyas to nominate others with requisite experience and influence to change the status quo.

 

To ensure a fruitful discussion, we would like to limit to 20 attendees. We can organise a separate meeting for a larger audience later.

Shaastras Covered

• Vyakarana
• Nyaaya-Vaiseshika
• Mimaamsa
• Artha
• Dharma
• Phalita-Jyotisha
• Ayurveda
• Siddhanta jyotisha
• Saahitya
• Naatya
• Vedanta

Logistics

Meeting type: online meetings followed by an In-person roundtable workshop.