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Faculty: Dr. D. K. Hari

Exploring Hinduism -Geography and History

Course Description:

Who is a Hindu? Why are they called a Hindus? Who started the Hindu “religion”? When did it start? What makes Hinduism different? Is being a Hindu relevant in today’s world? Answers to such questions and more await the students in “Exploring Hinduism” a series of courses that facilitate a structured exploration of various facets of one of the world’s most ancient families of traditions.

Coming in this series of courses, the course, titled “Exploring Hinduism – Geography and History”, will prepare the explorer to trace the geographical location and extent of the roots of the Hindus and also the timeline of this civilization. This course will also throw light on significant events that changed the course of their civilization as well as the course of its narrative. It will help see the Geography and the History of the Hindus from a Hindu perspective and experience how different this narrative is. Open to teens and/or their parents as well as grandparents, either together or separately, this series is designed to take discussion and contemplation from beyond the course window, into the portals of home, family and society.

Course Design and Class Structure
The Course has been designed as 10 sessions that go to build up the picture successively.
Course will be covered with 2 online sessions of 100 minutes each, per week for the USA batch and 1 online session of 100 minutes per week for the Australia Batch

Course content:

This course involves approximately 10 sessions of 100 minutes each delivered in one quarter. These sessions will cover aspects of the Geography and History of the Hindu Civilization, such as: 

  1. 1. Geographical extent of the Hindu civilization
    2. Unique features of this Geography and their influence on the Hindu culture
    3. What are the sources for the Hindu history?
    4. Tracing the Hindu history with the historicity of Mahabharata and Krishna
    5. Tracing the Hindu history with the historicity of Ramayana and Rama
    6. Tracing Source, History and Transmission of the Veda
    7. How did Hindu history get reduced to Mythology?
    8. Was the Aryan Invasion Real or a Myth?
    9. Did Alexander invade India and defeat Porus?
    10. Do the Geography and History of the Hindus converge? If so where and when?

This course can be taken as the inaugural course of a whole series titled “Exploring Hinduism”, or as a stand-alone course. It can be enjoyed by teenagers in the age group 12-18, on their own or together with their parents. Alternatively, parents who have teens may also benefit from this course. 

Course Learning Objectives:

In this course, students will be able to:
1. Discover the geographical extent of the Hindu Civilization
2. Learn about the civilizations it had connects with and how?
3. Realize the advantages that this geography endowed on the Hindu Civilization
4. Learn of its influence on the civilization and its history
5. Learn of the various methods by which the Hindu Civilization kept its records that tells us about the history of this civilization today
6. Uncover the antiquity of this civilization
7. Gain insight into the singular features of both the geography and history of this civilization which make the Hindus, people of this civilization, one of the oldest yet youngest and relevant people for the present world.

Area of Study: Hindu Studies Foundation

Required/ Elective: Core

Instructor: Dr. D.K. Hema Hari & Dr. D. K. Hari

Quarter Offered: Summer 2022 (US Summer time)

USA Batch –

Days : Saturday and Sunday

Time : 11 :00 am EST – 12:30 pm EST (8:30 pm IST – 10:00 pm EST)

Start Date: July 16, 2022

End Date: August 14, 2022

Australia and New Zealand Batch –

Days : Sunday

Time : 6:00 PM AEST – 7:30 PM AEST  (1:30 pm IST – 3:00 pm IST)

Start Date: July 17, 2022

End Date: September 18, 2022

 

Exploring Hinduism for Teens and Parents

Who is a Hindu? Why are they called a Hindus? Who started the Hindu “religion”? When did it start? What makes Hinduism different? Is being a Hindu relevant in today’s world? Answers to such questions and more await the students in this course.

Course content: This course involves approximately 20 sessions of  90 minutes each delivered in one quarter. These sessions will cover a variety of topics and themes, such as: 

  1. Hindu Geography – The land of the Hindus
  2. Hindu History – How ancient is Hinduism really?
  3. The Ramayana – Historical Figure or Mythical Hero
  4. The Mahabharata – Did the Kurukshetra war actually happen?
  5. The Spread of Hindu thought and ideas around the world
  6. Hindu conception of Divinity – Understanding Gods and Goddesses
  7. Hindu conception of Divinity – Consciousness and Matter
  8. Hindu symbolism – Representing the Divine
  9. Hindu conception of Divinity – Male and Female divinities
  10. Hindu Sampradaya and Parampara – Rishi, Guru, Yogi, Acharya
  11. Hindu Cosmology and Astronomy – Jyotisha
  12. Hindu Timekeeping and Calendar – Panchanga
  13. Hindu accomplishments and contributions to the world
  14. The Hindu worldview and lifestyle – The emphasis on spirituality
  15. The Hindu Social System – Varna, Jati and the so-called Caste system
  16. Women in Hindu Society – Breaking some myths
  17. Invasions and Colonization
  18. India’s Freedom Struggle
  19. Hindu Ethos
  20. Hindu Life today – Being happy, healthy, organic and responsible

This course can be taken as the inaugural course of a whole series titled “Exploring Hinduism – The Overview”, or as a stand-alone course. It can be enjoyed by teenagers in the age group 12-18, on their own or together with their parents. Alternatively, parents who have teens may also benefit from this course. 

Course Learning Objectives:

In this course students will be able to: 

  1. Develop a deeper understanding of history, culture, and traditions of Hinduism
  2. Discover the various ways in which Hindus conceptualize and relate to the Divine
  3. Examine the wisdom of ancient Hindu traditions in the light of contemporary life
  4. Revisit and Clarify certain pervasive myths that are prevalent regarding Hinduism 
  5. Recognize the place of Hinduism in the world and its contribution to humanity
  6. Discover new conversational spaces within the family unexplored so far 
  7. Learn to describe and talk about Hindu ideas and thought with others . 

Area of Study: Hindu Studies Foundation

Required/ Elective: Elective

Prerequisites: None

Instructor: Dr. D.K. Hema Hari & Dr. D. K. Hari

Quarter Offered: Summer 2021 (US Summer time)

USA Batch –

Days : Monday, Wednesday and Saturday

Time : 9:30 pm EST – 11:00 pm EST

Start Date: July 12,2021

End Date: August 25, 2021

Australia and New Zealand Batch –

Days: Saturday and Sunday

 Time: 06:00 pm AEST – 07:30 pm AEST

 Start Date: 17th July 2021

 End Date: 12th September 2021

Hindu Contributions to the world in the realm of matter

Course Content:

In contemporary times, following the European Colonization of India, it has become ‘received knowledge’ that the Hindus were and continue to be ritualistic, superstitious, poverty-ridden, timid, bare and barely noticeable as a ‘static’ people, whose history is nothing more than the history of successive waves of invaders and colonizers who made India their home for a time. This course looks beyond this myth set in motion by a 200-year colonial encounter, and examines the evidence for the sciences, technologies, inventions, industry, prosperity, and wealth that made India such a desirable civilization across time. It addresses the question, why did everyone, seemingly the world over, seek out the Hindu civilization, and for what?

This course can be taken as a continuing course in the series titled “Exploring Hinduism”, or as a stand-alone course. Both the parts can be taken sequentially in any order or as a stand-alone course. It can be enjoyed by teenagers in the age group 12-18, on their own or together with their parents and grandparents too.

“Exploring Hinduism” is a series of courses that facilitate a structured exploration of various facets of one of the world’s most ancient families of traditions and civilization.  This course moves past the modern myth that the Hindus were ‘other-worldly’ and were immersed in nothing more than the Vedas, Yoga, Spirituality, Meditation, Penance, and in seeking Liberation from birth and death. It uncovers a holistic view of the source of the sustained prosperity and wealth of the Hindus across vast stretches of time. It investigates the question – “Are Hindu ideas obsolete? Or do they have contemporary relevance?”

Over 2 parts of 10 sessions each where each part spans a quarter, this course will cover a variety of areas of innovation, inventions, development and trade, and sustained contributions that characterized the Hindu civilization for millennia. These areas will include Metals, Textiles, Dyes, Spices, Diamonds, Navigation, Fireworks, Perfumes, and how these innovations impacted the world. During this course, students will acquire newfound confidence from the dawning of a recognition that the Hindu Civilization has been quite different from what our received knowledge has led us to believe and renew their trust in the Hindu worldview and way of life, that has been so sustainable and successful for so long.

Course Learning Objectives:

In this course, students will

  1. Discover the prosperity of the Hindu Civilization that lasted for millennia, till about a few hundred years ago.
  2. Uncover the advanced state of technology and industry practiced by the Hindus.
  3. Discover the Hindu ethos and perspective of practicing industry and trade in a sustainable manner.
  4. Examine the forces that can upset and destroy such millennia-long cultivated prosperity in a short time
  5. Gain insight into the secret of prosperity and balance that the Hindus possessed which enabled their civilizational advancement and affluence
  6. Develop the confidence to think laterally with regard to the challenges and problems facing humanity and propose paradigm-shifting approaches towards the future

Class Structure:  The course is designed as 2 parts –

Part A – The BIG 5

To gain an understanding of the 5 major contributions that were made by the Hindus to the world. How they impacted the world and the Hindu Civilization? What happened to them and what can we learn from them for today’s context?

Part B – The Game Changer

To gain an understanding of what was the advantage that the Hindus had cultivated, due to which they had been able to rule the tastes, possessions and obsessions of the world. How was this advantage snatched away and how does an understanding of the same bear relevance today?  

Each part will span 1 Quarter, with 1 online session per week. Each session will comprise of 90 minutes with live online lectures and interactions with the faculty and will include Quizzes and Assignments.

Each part is independent of the other and can be taken in any sequence.

Course Being Offered : Part A – The BIG 5

Faculty: Dr. D.K. Hari & Dr. Hema Hari

Required/Elective: Elective

Prerequisites: Admission to Program of Study

Area of Study: Hindu Studies Foundation

Program of Study: Community Education Program (CEP), Certificate Program in Hindu Studies (CPHS)

Quarter Offered: Fall 2021

1)USA Batch-

Start Date: October 9, 2021

End Date: December 19, 2021

Day: Every Saturday

USA Time: 11:00 AM EST – 12:30 PM EST / 8:30 pm IST – 10:00 pm IST (up to Nov 6) & 9:30 pm IST – 11:00 pm IST (from Nov 7)

2)Australia and New Zealand Batch  (ANZ)-

Start Date: October 9, 2021

End Date: December 19, 2021

Day: Every Saturday

AUSTRALIA Time :  6:00 PM AEST –  7:30 PM AEST/ 1:30 pm IST – 3:00 pm IST

 

Hindu Contributions to the world in the realm of matter

Course Content:

In contemporary times, following the European Colonization of India, it has become ‘received knowledge’ that the Hindus were and continue to be ritualistic, superstitious, poverty-ridden, timid, bare and barely noticeable as a ‘static’ people, whose history is nothing more than the history of successive waves of invaders and colonizers who made India their home for a time. This course looks beyond this myth set in motion by a 200-year colonial encounter, and examines the evidence for the sciences, technologies, inventions, industry, prosperity, and wealth that made India such a desirable civilization across time. It addresses the question, why did everyone, seemingly the world over, seek out the Hindu civilization, and for what?

This course can be taken as a continuing course in the series titled “Exploring Hinduism”, or as a stand-alone course. Both the parts can be taken sequentially in any order or as a stand-alone course. It can be enjoyed by teenagers in the age group 12-18, on their own or together with their parents and grandparents too.

“Exploring Hinduism” is a series of courses that facilitate a structured exploration of various facets of one of the world’s most ancient families of traditions and civilization.  This course moves past the modern myth that the Hindus were ‘other-worldly’ and were immersed in nothing more than the Vedas, Yoga, Spirituality, Meditation, Penance, and in seeking Liberation from birth and death. It uncovers a holistic view of the source of the sustained prosperity and wealth of the Hindus across vast stretches of time. It investigates the question – “Are Hindu ideas obsolete? Or do they have contemporary relevance?”

Over 2 parts of 10 sessions each where each part spans a quarter, this course will cover a variety of areas of innovation, inventions, development and trade, and sustained contributions that characterized the Hindu civilization for millennia. These areas will include Metals, Textiles, Dyes, Spices, Diamonds, Navigation, Fireworks, Perfumes, and how these innovations impacted the world. During this course, students will acquire newfound confidence from the dawning of a recognition that the Hindu Civilization has been quite different from what our received knowledge has led us to believe and renew their trust in the Hindu worldview and way of life, that has been so sustainable and successful for so long.

Course Learning Objectives:

In this course, students will

  1. Discover the prosperity of the Hindu Civilization that lasted for millennia, till about a few hundred years ago.
  2. Uncover the advanced state of technology and industry practiced by the Hindus.
  3. Discover the Hindu ethos and perspective of practicing industry and trade in a sustainable manner.
  4. Examine the forces that can upset and destroy such millennia-long cultivated prosperity in a short time
  5. Gain insight into the secret of prosperity and balance that the Hindus possessed which enabled their civilizational advancement and affluence
  6. Develop the confidence to think laterally with regard to the challenges and problems facing humanity and propose paradigm-shifting approaches towards the future

Class Structure:  The course is designed as 2 parts –

Part A – The BIG 5

To gain an understanding of the 5 major contributions that were made by the Hindus to the world. How they impacted the world and the Hindu Civilization? What happened to them and what can we learn from them for today’s context?

Part B – The Game Changer

To gain an understanding of what was the advantage that the Hindus had cultivated, due to which they had been able to rule the tastes, possessions and obsessions of the world. How was this advantage snatched away and how does an understanding of the same bear relevance today?  

Each part will span 1 Quarter, with 1 online session per week. Each session will comprise of 90 minutes with live online lectures and interactions with the faculty and will include Quizzes and Assignments.

Each part is independent of the other and can be taken in any sequence.

Course Being Offered: Part B – The Game Changer

Faculty: Dr. D.K. Hari & Dr. Hema Hari

Required/Elective: Elective

Prerequisites: Admission to Program of Study

Area of Study: Hindu Studies Foundation

Program of Study:  Certificate Program in Hindu Studies (CPHS)

Quarter Offered: Winter 2022

1)USA Batch-

Start Date: January 15, 2022

End Date: March 19, 2022

Day: Every Saturday

USA Time: 11:00 AM EST – 12:30 PM EST / 9:30 pm IST – 11:00 pm IST

2)Australia and New Zealand Batch (ANZ)-

Start Date: January 16, 2022

End Date: March 20, 2022

Day: Every Sunday

AUSTRALIA Time:  6:00 PM AEST – 7:30 PM AEST/ 1:30 pm IST – 3:00 pm IST/7:00 PM AEDT – 8:30 PM AEDT/ 9:00 AM CET – 10:30 AM CET 

 

Hindu Contributions to the World in the Realm of Mind – Towards Sciences and Arts

Course Description:

This course is part of “Hindu Contributions To The World” series which facilitates a structured exploration of various facets of one of the world’s most ancient families of traditions and civilization to move past the modern myth that the Hindus, were backward and primitive, throughout time, and might have remained so, but for western interventions.

The set of courses, “Hindu Contributions To The World In the Realm of Mind”, explores the contributions of the Hindus to the world in the realm of Mind, which has shaped the Self-understanding of humanity. It constitutes one part of two mutually independent, but naturally supplementing courses. 

The other set of courses, “Hindu Contributions To The World In the Realm of Matter” explores the Hindu contributions which have influenced Human progress in the material world, and the sciences. 

In contemporary times, following the European Colonization of India, it has become ‘received knowledge’ that the Hindus were and continue to be ritualistic, superstitious, poverty ridden, timid, bare, and barely noticeable as a ‘static’ people, whose history is nothing more than the history of successive waves of invaders and colonizers who made India their home for a time. 

This set of courses, looks beyond this myth set in motion by a 200-year long colonial encounter, and examines the evidence for the development of thought, philosophy, spirituality, yoga, meditation, mathematics, lifestyles, consciousness and mind, that made India such a desirable civilization across times. 

It addresses the question, why did everyone, seemingly the world over, seek out the Hindu civilization, and for what?   

This particular course can be taken as a course in the Certificate Program In Hindu Studies or as a stand-alone course. The different courses in the Hindu Contributions to The World series can be taken sequentially in any order or as stand-alone courses too. They can be enjoyed by teenagers in the age group 12-18, on their own or together with their parents and grandparents as well. 

Course Content:

This set of courses “Hindu Contributions to The World in the Realm of Mind” explores Hindu thought at its finest, and its contributions to the realm of consciousness, spirituality, mind sciences and the relation between the spiritual world and the material world. 

It uncovers the way Hindu thought traveled and diffused into other world civilizations and cultures, throughout history as it continues to do so today. 

It highlights the source of the sustained prosperity and wealth of the Hindus across vast stretches of time. 

It investigates the question – are Hindu ideas obsolete? Or do they have contemporary relevance? 

Over 2 parts of 10 sessions each where each part spans a quarter, this set of courses will cover a variety of areas of innovation, inventions, development ideas and thought, that characterized the Hindu civilization for millennia. 

These areas will include Health and Wellness, Ayurveda, Vaccines, ideas such as Yoga, Dharma, Karma, Dhyana, Ahimsa, Mathematics, Music, Epics, Fables and Stories, Arts, Education, Sports, Vegetarianism, Astronomy, Meridians, Time zones, Philosophy and Spirituality. 

These set of Courses will explore how Hindu thought impacted the world, and how it morphed and adapted to different cultures and environments

During this course, students will acquire a newfound confidence from the dawning of a recognition that the Hindu Civilization has been quite different from what our received knowledge has led us to believe. It will renew their trust in the Hindu worldview and way of life, that has been so sustainable and successful for so long.

Course Learning Objectives:

In this course students will

  1. Discover the cohesiveness with which mind and matter have been integrated in Hindu thought.
  2. Learn about how Hindu thought has diffused gently and quietly throughout time, to impact the world’s cultures and civilizations.
  3. Discover the Hindu paradigm of emphasizing both, the world of consciousness and the material world equally, for a healthy, holistic, and successful life, that led to affluence.
  4. Develop the confidence to think laterally with regard to the challenges and problems facing humanity and propose paradigm-shifting approaches towards the future.

Class Structure:

The course is designed as 2 parts –

Hindu Contributions To the World in the Realm of Mind – Towards Sciences and Arts

This part will focus on concepts and practices from the Hindu Civilization which went on to influence and revolutionize the development of world thought as well as practice in the fields of Sciences and Arts. 

Hindu Contributions to The World in the Realm of Mind – Towards Living and Lifestyle

In this part, focus will be on how the Hindus have laid stress on balance and have provided thought leadership to the world and steered it, especially in the areas of how to lead a balanced life. How was this undermined and how can the leadership status be regained?  

Each part will span 1 Quarter, with 1 live online teaching session per week. 

Each live teaching session will be of 100 minutes duration with multimedia lectures and interactions with the faculty. 

Each live online session needs to be followed up with roughly 100 minutes of Reading the Online material provided, viewing of short films and maintaining a Diary. 

Assessment will be done through periodic Quizzes and class attendance. 

Each course in this set as well as in the Hindu Contributions to the World series is independent of the other and can be taken in any sequence.

Area of Study: Hindu Studies Foundation

Required/ Elective: Elective

Prerequisites: Admission into program of study

Instructor: Dr. D.K. Hema Hari & Dr. D. K. Hari

Quarter Offered: Spring 2022

1)USA Batch-

Start Date: April 9, 2022

End Date: June 18, 2022

Day: Every Saturday

USA Time: 11:00 AM EST – 12:30 PM EST / 8:30 pm IST – 10:00 pm IST

2)Australia and New Zealand Batch (ANZ)-

Start Date: April 10, 2022

End Date: June 19, 2022

Day: Every Sunday

AUSTRALIA Time:  6:00 PM AEST – 7:30 PM AEST/ 1:30 pm IST – 3:00 pm IST