Applied Vedic Science – Basic (Ayurveda)

Applied Vedic Science – Basic Ayurveda

Course Content:

This course provides a survey of the science and practice of Ayurveda, through an overview of the key texts and contributions in the discipline. The concept of wellbeing, and not merely medication, that is central to Ayurveda is elucidated in the course.

In this course students will be able to:

  1. Understand the major contributors and their writings and commentaries that built up the applied science and knowledge system of Ayurveda.
  2. Assimilate the role and relevance of Ayurveda as a science of wellbeing.
  3. Recognize the different schools of Ayurveda based on their theories.

Area of Study: Sanskrit Studies

Required / Elective: Elective

Prerequisites:  Completion of 12 Credit-Hours of Course work in the MA in Sanskrit / Masters Certificate in Sanskrit

Faculty / Instructor: Dr. Gokula Krishna

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Quarter Offered: Fall Quarter

HUA

Applied Vedic Science – Basic (Jyotish)

Applied Vedic Science – Basic Jyotish

Course Content:

This course provides a survey of the science and practice of Jyotish, through an overview of the key texts and contributions in the discipline. A primer text in Sanskrit which discusses the categories of this science and how they are interpreted to provide insights related to their influences at different levels is studied in this course.

In this course Basic Jyotish students will be able to:

  1. Understand the scientific/ mathematic relevance of astronomy as essential for the study of astrology.
  2. Understand the major contributors and their contributions to scientific thought in the Indic knowledge system.
  3. Observe how the basic astrological elements have been derived and interpreted in the Jyotish-sastra.

Area of Study: Sanskrit Studies

Required / Elective: Elective

Prerequisites: Completion of 12 Credit-Hours of Course work in the MA in Sanskrit6 limbs / Masters’ Certificate in Sanskrit

Faculty / Instructor: Dr. Dayananda Sharma

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Quarter Offered:  Fall Quarter

HUA

Ayurveda – The Wisdom of Wellbeing

Ayurveda – The Wisdom of Wellbeing

Course Content:

In the course, the role of food and nutrition in Ayurveda alongside methods of food preparation and consumption will also be discussed. We will also study the protocols to keep the body in good health through daily and seasonal routines (Dinacarya & Rtucarya). Students will develop an understanding of the stages of manifestation of illness in the body and how Pancakarma treatments and Ayurveda’s therapeutic formulations address them to maintain homeostatic balance in the body.

Course Learning Objectives:

In this course students will be able to:

  1. Understand and apply the principles of Ayurveda to enhance their lifestyle.
  2. Learn how to identify imbalances in their body and utilize the power of Ayurveda to address mild imbalances.
  3. Use consciousness-based principles of Ayurveda to improve interpersonal relationships
  4. Integrate Ayurveda and Ayurvedic protocols to make lifestyle adjustments for the whole family

Class Structure

There will be a minimum of 1 contact hour with the faculty every week. The curriculum will include reading, reflection, observation, and interactive practices. The class time will include an additional 30 minutes that will provide an opportunity for Q&A and group discussion.

Required / Elective: Required

Area of Study: Text & Traditions

Prerequisites: Admission into a Program of Study

Faculty / Instructor: Ms. Luvena Krishnamurthy

Start Time: July 17, 2023

End Date: September 25, 2023

Day: Monday

Time: 09:00 pm EST – 10:30 pm EST

Holidays: Labor Day (September 4, 2023)

Quarter Offered: Spring 2023

Beginning Shuddh Hindi – Script & Sounds

Beginning Shuddh Hindi – Script & Sounds Learning Objectives:

  1. Master the “devanAgarii” / Hindi script
  2. Pronounce the Hindi letters correctly, by understanding the origin of each sound
  3. Build a vocabulary of at least 200 words in Hindi (nouns, pronouns, and verbs)
  4. Make simple sentences in all three persons

Course Contents:

  1. Vowels (“svar”) & Consonants (“vyanjan”)
  2. Conjoint letters (“bArah khaDii”)
  3. Compound consonants (“saMyuktAkShar”)
  4. Simple words in Hindi
  5. Simple sentences with 2 or 3 words
  6. Question words

Required / Elective: Required 

Prerequisites: Admission into CPSH 

Faculty / Instructor:  Chandrasekar Raghu, Dr. Shraddha Modi

Program of Study: Certificate Program in Shuddh Hindi (CPSH)

Start Date:- July 14, 2023

End Date:- September 22, 2023

Day:- Fridays

Time:- 8:00 pm EST – 9:30 pm EST

Quarter Offered: Summer 2023

Certificate in Hindu Civilizational Studies

Certificate program in Hindu Civilizational Studies

Certificate program in Hindu Civilizational Studies (C.H.C.S) is an in-depth exploration of the Hindu Civilization from a Hindu perspective. It provides the student with a grounded understanding of Hindu Dharma as one of the oldest, continuous, and still thriving cultures of the world. It unfolds the paradigm of Dharma, i.e., sustainability or natural order, through an exploration of its culture and knowledge traditions. This program enables the student to discover, reconnect and become profoundly established in the paradigm of Sanatana Dharma through a systematic study of the Hindu Civilization.

It comprises of 2 parts:

1. Exploring Hinduism 

A set of courses to gain an understanding of Sanatana Dharma and Hindu thought – the bedrock of the Hindu Civilization, by exploring the history, facets, and practices of this culture, which is based on the principles of Dharma at its core. What is Sanatana Dharma? What is Hinduism? When did Hinduism start? Who is a Hindu? What makes Hindus different? Does Hindu thought have relevance in today’s world? Answers to such questions can be found in this “Exploring Hinduism” set of courses.

2. Hindu Contributions To The World 

A set of courses to learn how the Hindu civilization and its knowledge systems had influenced world progress with contributions in the realm of both Matter and Mind. This series of courses looks beyond the myths set in motion by a few hundred years of colonial encounter and examines the evidence for the sciences, technologies, inventions, industry, prosperity, wealth and thought leadership that had made India a sought-after civilization across times. It is now accepted knowledge that India was at the top in world trade for around 2000 years with 1/3rd of world trade coming from India. But there is very little mention of how India accomplished this position.

What did it create? What did it trade in? This set of courses goes into the details of the individual components that made up this 33% of world trade and its impact on the world and in India. This subject matter stays unacknowledged and is rarely available for discussion. It also addresses the crucial question, “How could this civilization give all this and more – both to the East and the West?”.

It is a cyclic program of 8 quarters / courses, where participants can join during any quarter and get their Certification once they complete the 8 courses in any order and at their own pace, depending on their ability to join any quarter. This program is open to all – those with or without Indian or Hindu roots, wherever they may be in the world. It will help see the world from a Hindu, Bharatiya, Indic perspective and experience how different it is, from what we think we know.

Program Learning Outcomes: At the end of this program, students will be able to:

  1. Explain the Hindu Paradigm of Dharma
  2. Describe salient aspects of the Hindu Civilization
  3. Critique various misrepresentations of Hinduism
  4. Synthesize an expansive account of world history
  5. Establish an expanded sense of purpose and relevance

Required / Elective: Required

Prerequisites: Admission into a Certificate in Hindu Civilizational Studies

Faculty / InstructorDr. D. K. HariDr. D. K. Hema Hari,

Quarter Offered: Spring 2024

Certificate program in Shuddh Hindi – Beginner Phase

Certificate program in Shuddh Hindi – Beginner Phase

Certificate Program in Shuddh Hindi (CPSH)– Beginner Phase is the foundation set of 4 courses for students of all ages, from 9th Grade onward. It is the first of three successive phases – Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced, which together comprise the CPSH. There is no prerequisite for this program. The medium of instruction is English, and the course is easily accessible for a global audience. It is a 4 – Quarter, 44 – week detailed study that prepares beginner level students, i.e., those without any prior knowledge of Hindi or devanAgari, to achieve a level of comfort with the Hindi language that will enable them to pursue higher learning with ease.

The Beginner Phase of Certificate Program in Shuddh Hindi is aimed at high school students and adults with a passion to learn a new language, those who are keen to engage with the texts and literature of pristine Hindi and its numerous derivative knowledge systems. It is taught by dedicated HUA Faculty members, via a user-friendly Online Platform, featuring a learning model that uses live virtual classrooms.

Learning Objectives:  

In this course, students will be able to: 

  1. Master the “devanAgarii” / Hindi script
  2. Pronounce the Hindi letters correctly, by understanding the origin of each sound
  3. Make simple sentences in all three persons
  4. Learn how to make requests and instructional statements
  5. Learn how to ask questions
  6. Recite simple Hindi words and phrases through listening, with the correct pronunciation.
  7. Listen to and recite simple songs.
  8. Using case endings
  9. Using different tenses
  10. Comprehend and recite simple verses
  11. Write short essays and stories
  12. Build a vocabulary of at least 1,000 words in Hindi (nouns, pronouns, and verbs)
  13. Engage in beginner level conversations

 

Program Structure:   CPSH – Beginner Phase is structured in the form of 4 quarters (1 year) sequence, 1.5 Credit hours each. This will add up to 60 hours of instruction and 120 hours of self-study in total. Structured innovatively using the prescribed curriculum and textbooks, augmented with other appropriate course content.

At the end of the 4th quarter, students may enter the intermediate phase, which has 4 quarters i.e., 44 weeks.

Required / Elective: Required

Prerequisites: Admission into a Certificate Program in Shuddh Hindi – Beginner Phase

Faculty / InstructorShri. Chandrasekar RaghuDr. Shraddha Modi

Quarter Offered: Summer 2023

Graduate Academic Writing Seminar Intensive

Graduate Academic Seminar Writing Intensive

Program:  Community Education program

Required/ Elective: Required

Faculty: Dr. Joydeep Bagchee

Time: 11:00 am EST – 1:00 pm EST

Start Date: October 30, 2022

End Date: December 18, 2022

Day: Every Sunday

Quarter Offered: Fall 2022

Hindu Temples and Traditions

Hindu Temples and Traditions

Course content:

Our goals are:

  1. To provide an overview of the various temple architectural styles across India.
  2. To provide an introduction to the history of temple building, patronage across the ages
  3. To provide an introduction to sthala-puranas and related local traditions
  4. Study temple clusters and the sacred geography of India
  5. Introduce basic vocabulary related to temple culture
  6. Introduction to the influence of Hindu Temple culture on the far East.
  7. A perspective on the Temple culture in the modern Hindu diaspora. 

After completion of the course, the student will be able to:

  1. Discern the antiquity of Hindu temples and traditions
  2. Reflect on the significance of Hindu temples for Hindu life
  3. Acquire a simple vocabulary of terms related to Hindu temples
  4. Recognize basic elements of temple architecture
  5. Appreciate the Hindu calendar as it relates to temples
  6. Place the lives of Kings, Yogis and Musicians in the context of Hindu temple traditions
  7. Develop an appreciation for temple related literature 

Curriculum Overview:

This course will provide a cultural immersion into the world of Hindu Temples with a set of reading and guided research assignments. The overview course will perform the ambitious task of integrating various piceces of history related to temples covering the diverse sacred geography of India. It will strive to emphasize commonalities across diverse regions.

Course Description

Module 1 Overview of Hindu Temples Topics:

  1. A geographical overview of temples and traditions across India
  2. A historical overview of the temples of India
  3. Diaspora temples

Module 2 Hindu Temple Architecture and History Topics:

  1. The Nagara Style of Temples
  2. The Dravida Temple Architecture
  3. The Vesara style of temples
  4. Temples of the Western Ghats
  5. Evolution of Temple Architecture
  6. The Pallava, Chola, Pandya, Hoysala and Vijayanagar Contribution to temples
  7. The Kalinga, Rashtrakoota, Chandela contribution to temples
  8. The Bhakti movement in Tamilnadu
  9. The Bhakti movement of the 2nd millennium.

Module 3: Hindu Temple Traditions Topics:

  1. Temples and references in Puranas
  2. Sthala Puranas or Local Traditions
  3. Temple Clusters – Abodes of Shiva
  4. Temple Clusters – Abodes of Vishnu
  5. Temple Clusters – Shakti Pitham
  6. Temple Clusters – Other
  7. Festival Traditions – The Bhrahmotsavam
  8. Worship Traditions – Agamas
  9. Temples and Music
  10. Temples and Dance – The Devadasi Tradition
  11. Current State of Temple Worship

Area of Study: Texts and Traditions

Prerequisites: None

Faculty/InstructorDr. Kanniks Kannikeswaran

Start Date: October 11, 2022

End Date: December 20, 2022

Day: Every Tuesday

Time: 08:00 pm EST – 9:30 pm EST

Quarter Offered:  Fall 2022