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Quarters: Summer 2020

Antaranga Yoga

Learning Outcome:-

  1. Explore yoga as a holistic science beyond postures (asanas) or breathing techniques (pranayama).
  2. Develop greater insights into one’s own psyche and patterns of the mind (Antaranga Yoga) through an experiential engagement with Yoga Sutras.
  3. Develop an authentic understanding of the concepts in the Yoga Sutras based on the teachings of Yogacharya Sri T Krishnamacharya and learn to apply them in their daily lives to lead a life replete with RASA. 
  4. Contemplate upon Indian itihAsa-purANa tradition in an experiential manner as a mirror to understand themselves.
  5. Inquire into the foundations of Indian Psychology in the light of Yoga Sutras, Sankhya Philosophy and Bhagavad Gita.

This course is an invitation, to a student of yoga, for a deeper exploration of one’s own psyche and patterns of mind in the light of the ideas and propositions contained in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. The ultimate goal of all bahiranga yoga practices like Asana, prANAyAma, yama and niyama is to prepare the psyche so that it can engage in antaranga yoga. This is amply clear from the fact that only few sutras in Yoga Sutras mention about Asana, prANAyAma, yama and niyama as compared to the many that are devoted to the process of perception, how misperception happens, how duHkha is caused by an inability to use one’s inner faculties in a proper manner and how this can be worked with. It is only after a deep study of this process that we are introduced to the even deeper process leading to samyama (meditation). This course will help a student gain a firm understanding and clarity of the relationship between ashtAnga yoga and antaranga yoga. 

Our exploration of Yoga Sastra in this course is based on the teachings of Yogacharya T Krishnamacharya, the father of modern yoga, and his son Shri TKV Desikachar. A unique feature of this course is that we will explore self-reflective work through the itihAsa-purANa, the Mahabharata in particular. It is not commonly understood that the Mahabharata was written to make the subtle truths of Sankhya and Yoga Philosophy accessible to everybody.  We will explore antaranga yoga through the Mahabharata stories to understand one’s mind and its patterns better.

This is a 1-credit course that will have a total of 10 hours of instruction (contact hours) over ten weeks (1 hour per week). Students will have to devote 2 hours per week for self-study and assignments. Students will take an exam in the eleventh week.

Required/Elective: Required

Prerequisites: Admission to the program of study

Faculty/Instructor: Sri Raghu Ananthanarayanan

Quarter Offered: Summer  2020

Area of Study:- Yoga Studies

Start Date:- 8 July 2020

End Date:- 23 September 2020

Day:- Wednesday

Time:- 9:30pm-10:30pm EST

Aryanism and Indology

Students will gain a historical overview of German Indology from its origins to the present. They will read basic source texts for German attitudes towards ancient and modern India, especially the Vedic period, Brahmanism, and Hinduism. They will learn how German nationalism, theories of racial supremacy, the quest for Aryan identity, and Protestantism and Lutheran anti-Semitism shaped the discipline of Indology. German Indology’s role in fostering National Socialism and the treatment of Jewish Indologists will also be discussed. Students will also be expected to read and analyze excerpts from Rammohan Roy, Dayanand Saraswati, Tilak, and Ambedkar in light of their knowledge of Indology.

Areas of Study: History and Methods

Required/ Elective: Elective

Prerequisites: Admission into a Program of Study/ Must have completed Orientation to Hindu Studies or Concurrently enrolled in OTHS

Instructor: Dr. Joydeep Bagchee

Start Date: 12 July 2020

End Date: 20 September 2020

Day: Every Sunday

Time: 10 – 1 pm EST

Quarter: Summer 2020

Basic Sanskrit Vocabulary and Structure

Course Content: 

  1. Tenses: Present, past, and future; in both Parasmaipada and Atmanepada forms
  2. The Imperative mood, in both Parasmaipada and Atmanepada forms
  3. The third declension / Instrumental case
  4. Comparing things
  5. Cardinal and ordinal forms of numbers
  6. Synonyms and antonyms
  7. Past participles, gerunds, infinitives
  8. Prefixes, Interrogative words
  9. Simple sentences, stories, and conversations
  10. Pairing words to combine simple sentences
  11. Expanding the vocabulary through categories of words

Learning Objectives: 

In this course, students will be able to: 

  • Expand vocabulary and sentence structure;
  • Develop the ability to use moderately complex expressions;
  • Engage in simple reading and conversation; and
  • Combine words and phrases for short narratives.

Required / Elective: Required 

Area of Study: Sanskrit Studies

Program of Study:  Certificate Program in Sanskrit Proficiency (CP SP)

Prerequisites: Successful completion of SAN-1001 

Faculty / Instructor: Sri Chandrashekhar Raghu / Sri Srinath Chakravarthy 

Quarter Offered: Summer 2020

Start Date: 8 July 2020

End Date: 18 September 2020

Time: 9:00-10:30 pm EST

Day: Every Wednesday & Friday

Devanagari Script for Beginners in Sanskrit

Course Structure 

This course is structured in the form of one Quarter (10 weeks, 1.5 hours per week). Students will take a “Sanskrit Script Proficiency Test” at the end of the course during the 11th week. Structured innovatively using the curriculum and textbooks designed by Samskrita Bharati USA (SBusa.org), the course will be based upon material contained in the SB USA published books, “AYANAM”, “SAARINEE”, and “PRAPADYAA”, augmented with another appropriate course.

This course is structured to allow a beginner level student to start listening, writing, and reading the DevanAgari Script ) through a streamlined set of exercises.

Learning Objectives: In this course, students will be able to: 

  • Understand the origin of various sounds in Sanskrit.
  • Pronouncing and writing the Sanskrit alphabets that are single letters, both vowels, and consonants.
  • Pronouncing and writing the Sanskrit combination letters and using them in forming words.
  • Reciting simple Sanskrit verses with the correct pronunciation.
  • Reading and writing simple prose passages in DevanAgari and build basic vocabulary.
  • Completing simple exercises and gaining the right skills required for further studies in Sanskrit.

The course fee includes the cost of tuition, 3 textbooks and shipping & handling cost of the textbooks.

Required / Elective: Required 

Program of Study: Certificate Program in Sanskrit Proficiency (CP SP) 

Area of Study: Sanskrit Studies

Prerequisites: None

Faculty / Instructor: Sri Chandrashekhar Raghu 

Quarter Offered: Summer 2020

Start Date: July 7th, 2020

End Date: September 15th, 2020

Day: Every Tuesday

Time: 9:00-10:30pm EST

Exploring Hinduism for Teens and Parents

Course content: This course involves approximately 16 One-Hour sessions delivered in one quarter. These sessions will cover a variety of topics and themes, such as: 

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

Learning Objectives: 

In this course students will be able to: 

  1. Develop a deeper understanding of the 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 

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. 

Required/Elective: Elective

Prerequisites: None

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

Quarter Offered: Summer 2020

Area of Study: Hindu Studies Foundation

Start Date: 8 July 2020

End Date: 15 August 2020

Day: Every Monday, Wednesday, Saturday

Time: 9.30 pm – 10:30 pm – EST

Freedom and Reality: An Introduction to Advaita Vedanta

Learning Outcome:

  1. Effectively analyze the nature of the human problem and the scope of knowledge and action as means (sadhana) for solving it.
  2. Understand Advaita Vedanta’s epistemology and its relevance to the human problem.
  3. Gain clarity on the Advaita view of reality and non-duality.
  4. Learn the prerequisites for the knowledge of Advaita and the means to gain them.
  5. Recognize and analyze the differences between some modern and ancient interpretations of Advaita. and the traditional view of Sankara.

The vision of Advaita Vedanta is that one, non-dual consciousness is the content of you, the world, and the cause of the world. It is both immanent and transcendent and can be known by a human being who has equipped himself/herself with the necessary prerequisites.  This knowledge, contained in the Upanisads, releases the individual from the problem of human suffering. In this course we will explore the nature and substance of this liberating knowledge through key dialogues in some of the major Upanisads, using as a guide the commentary of Sankara, Advaita’s seminal exponent. We will also explore the qualifications required for this knowledge and the prescribed means for acquiring them. In conclusion, we will examine some competing views on Vedanta, including modern interpretations. The course is designed to introduce in a comprehensive but accessible way, the vision of Advaita Vedanta.

Required/Elective: Required

Prerequisites:  Concurrently enrolled in Orientation in Hindu Studies 

Faculty/Instructor: Swamini Agamananda Saraswati

Area of Study: Hindu Studies Foundation 

Start Date: 11 July 2020

End Date: 20 September 2020

Day: Every Saturday & Sunday

Time: 11:00 – 12:30 pm

Quarter Offered: Summer 2020

Hinduism & Peace

This course examines the elements of Hindu thought that deal with conflict resolution. Starting from the ancient period to the present, various Hindu scriptures and thinkers have pondered over conflicts at various levels and explored paths for peace. Starting from the Śānti Parva of Mahābhārata to the writings of the 20th-century Indian thinkers, various useful elements can be found in the Hindu thought reflecting on various conflicts in human society and their solutions.  The course will bring to the learners a broader understanding of the  Hindu thought and its problem-solving aspects, and their relevance for the contemporary world. Hindu thought is rich in providing various paths to realize peace. For instance, while for Kautilya, a strong state is a necessary pillar for peace, Swāmi Vivekānanda emphasized universal acceptance and toleration as two core elements for sustainable peace. The course while introducing students the core elements of the Hindu thought that focus on conflict and peace, explores their conflict resolution potentials. It also aims to encourage students to explore a complex and interesting subject in their own way while drawing on the Hindu scriptures and philosophers.

In this course the students will be able to:

  1. Gain a broader understanding of Hindu thought and its problem-solving aspects:
  2. View contemporary conflicts from a Hindu conflict resolution lens and explore the relevance of Hindu perspective for the contemporary world:
  3. Examine a contemporary conflict while drawing on the Hindu conflict resolution theories and practices.

Area of Study: Conflict and Peace Studies

Required/Elective: Elective

Prerequisites: Admission into a Program of Study/Must have completed Orientation to Hindu Studies or Concurrently enrolled in OTHS.

Instructor: Dr. Debidatta. A. Mahapatra

Start Date: 12 July 2020

End Date: 20 September  2020

Day: Every Saturday

Time:10:00 – 1:00 pm EST

Quarter: Summer 2020

Holistic Yoga – Concepts and Techniques

Course Description:

Developed by the ancient Hindu sages in the Indian subcontinent, yoga is a psycho-somatic discipline with its roots going back over 5,000 years. The word “yoga” means “union” and hints at the final goal of yoga practice–to be in union with one’s true nature. This goal, which leads one on the path of optimal health and human wellness, can be achieved by following the practices developed as a part of an integrated and holistic system of yoga. In this course, we will explore the concept of Pancha Kosha, the five sheaths of human personality as defined in yogic texts: Annamaya Kosha — the physical layer; Pranamaya Kosha — the vital layer; Manomaya Kosha — the emotional layer; Vijnanamaya Kosha — the intellectual layer; and finally the Anandamaya Kosha — the pure-consciousness layer of our existence. Furthermore, we will study Sage Patanjali’s eight limbs of yoga, popularly known as Ashtanga Yoga. These eight steps give a comprehensive and systematic approach to developing one’s mind. Ashtanga Yoga includes Yama (guidelines for ethical relationships), Niyama (guidelines for ethical personal living), Asana (postures for physical practice), Pranayama (controlled and deliberate breathing patterns), Pratyahara (withdrawal of the mind from distractions), Dharana (focus of the mind upon a goal), Dhyana (the expansion of the focused mind into everyday life), and Samadhi (Complete Absorption in Oneself). Yoga is not just a practice of asana and meditation on the mat. While such a practice constitutes the practice of Raja Yoga, the other three disciplines that we include are: Karma Yoga — the yoga of detached action; Bhakti Yoga — the yoga of love, acceptance, and devotion; and Jnana Yoga — the yoga of contemplation and reflection, completing the holistic practice of yoga. By combining all four streams of yoga — Raja yoga, Karma yoga, Bhakti yoga, and Jnana yoga — one is able to achieve a state of peace, creativity, and fulfilment in life. We will learn about each stream of yoga and delve deeply into Raja yoga, which focuses on disciplining the mind and body using yoga practices. This course contains guided physical yoga practices, lectures, discussions, and offline assignments.

Learning Outcome:

In this course students will be able to:

  • Learn basic yoga practices of breath-synchronized movements, asana, pranayama, and meditation.
  • Understand the scope and relevance of yoga philosophy and how to apply it to one’s daily life.
  • Apply yoga practices and concepts to manage their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.
  • Gain clarity on the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita in relation to practicing yoga.
  • Explore the eight limbs of Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga — yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and Samadhi.

Required/Elective: Required

Prerequisites: Admission to the program of study.

Faculty/Instructor: Anil Surpur Yogashree N.V. Raghuram, Ashwini Surpur, Vinutha Kornaya

Quarter Offered: Summer 2020

Area of Study:- Yoga Studies

Day:- Every Sunday

Start Date:-  July 12, 2020

End Date:- September 20, 2020

Time:- 7-9 pm EST

Orientation to Hindu Studies

An overview and insight into the design of the curriculum offered by the Hindu University of America. A survey of the central ideas of Hinduism – covering an Ontology of key Sanskrit terms and the principal ideas that are central to the cosmology, practice, and expressions of Sanatana Dharma. The course will include reflections and perspectives on these core concepts, using selected readings from source texts such as the Vedas, Upaniṣhads, Sutras, Itihaasa, Bhagavad-Gītā, Purāṇas and Dharma-Śhāstras. The Hindu world-view based on Dharma with its emphasis on duties and responsibilities and sustainability of life will be contrasted with contemporary ideologies and their focus on rights and privileges, competition and survival of the fittest. The distinction between a discourse of knowledge and a discourse of power will be drawn out. 

In this course students will be able to: 

  1. Explore various options and trajectories available within the Hindu Studies Program
  2. Distinguish the central ideas and concepts that constitute the Foundations of Hindu Dharma; Reflect on the Hindu Studies Foundations area
  3. Inquire into and evaluate different elective areas of study and Courses offered: Sanskrit Studies, Texts and Traditions, History and Method, Post-Colonial Hindu studies, and Conflict and Peace studies.
  4. Distinguish between pathways towards a deep study of Hindu thought, or towards deep engagement with western thought from a Hindu perspective
  5. Discover and Create customized pathways for engagement with the Hindu Studies curricula

Area of Study: Hindu Studies Foundations

Prerequisites: This course is a recommended prerequisite for all students who wish to enter into the Graduate program.

Faculty / Instructor:  Kalyan Viswanathan (along with others) 

Day:- Every Thursday

Start Date:- 9 July 2020

End Date:- 17 September 2020

Time:- 9:00 -10:00 pm EST

Quarter: Summer 2020

Research and Writing Preparatory Seminar

Learning Outcome

This course will address four main obstacles students face in writing papers: (1) finding a suitable topic for their paper, (2) developing that topic, (3) ensuring that the topic has a suitable scope for a paper, and (4) ensuring that sufficient literature exists on which to build their thesis. It will also teach them the essential skills for writing a persuasive and well-supported paper: (1) formulating the central inquiry of the paper, (2) developing arguments and supporting them with research, (3) structuring the paper and providing suitable headings and internal connections, (4) creating a bibliography, summarizing existing literature, and situating the paper’s thesis vis-à-vis existing scholarship.

Area of Study: Hindu Studies Foundations

Required / Elective: Required/ Must have completed or Concurrently enrolled into Orientation to Hindu Studies

Faculty: Dr. Joydeep Bagchee

Day: Every Thursday

Start Date: 9 July 2020

End Date: 17 September 2020

Time: 10:00 -01:00 pm EST

Quarter:  Summer 2020

Vyākaraṇa – I

Course content:

The course provides an overview of the structure, content, and methodology used in Aṣṭādhyāyī for describing a language. It also explores the computational model of the treatise and introduces the knowledge tradition of vyākaraṇa prior to and post Pāṇini. The course also introduces the alternate arrangement of Aṣṭādhyāyī in the treatise named Siddhānta-kaumudī that focuses on the conclusions of Pāṇini’s sūtras with an illustration of the sections related to the technical terms and rules of interpretation of the sutras.

In this course the students will be able to:

  1. Understand the architecture of Aṣṭādhyāyī as a treatise of language structure
  2. Learn how to interpret Ashtadhyayi text independently
  3. Comprehend the computational model of Sanskrit grammar as articulated by Aṣṭādhyāyī
  4. Appreciate the robustness and holistic excellence of the treatise
  5. Recognize the convergences and divergences between the Aṣṭādhyāyī and Siddhānta-kaumudī models and the rationale for such alternate models
  6. Understand the philosophy of language that provided the concept of apoddhāra based on which Pāṇini formulated his Aṣṭādhyāyī

Area of Study:- Sanskrit Studies

Required / Elective: Required

Prerequisites: Admission into the Masters’ Certificate or MA in Sanskrit Program

Faculty / Instructor:  Dr. Tilaka Rao

Quarter Offered:  Summer 2020

Yoga Lifestyle and Wellness

Learning Objective:

  • Learn in-depth, the yoga practices of breath-synchronized movements, asana, pranayama, and meditation.
  • Understand the yoga philosophy as described in the Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads, and Patanjali Yoga Sutras and how they apply to one’s daily life.
  • Apply yoga practices and concepts to manage their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.
  • Understand the eight limbs of Ashtanga Yoga — yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and Samadhi.

Developed by the ancient Hindu sages in the Indian subcontinent, yoga is a psycho-somatic discipline with its roots going back over 5,000 years. Yoga, as practiced by modern society, is a path to achieving optimal health and wellness. Integrated holistic systems of yoga bring forth positive health at physical, pranic, mental, emotional, and spiritual levels (pancha kosha). In this course, we will learn the practical techniques of asanas, pranayama, meditation, and relaxation along with the subtle nuances of these practices, their contraindications, benefits, and spiritual significance. We will also learn in-depth concepts of Ashtanga Yoga as described in Patanjali Yoga Sutras and the four streams of yoga as described in the Bhagavad Gita. The eight steps of Ashtanga Yoga give a comprehensive and systematic approach to developing one’s mind. Ashtanga Yoga includes Yama (guidelines for ethical relationships), Niyama (guidelines for ethical lifestyle habits and choices), Asana (postures for physical practice), Pranayama (controlled and deliberate breathing practices), Pratyahara (withdrawal of the mind from distractions), Dharana (focusing), Dhyana (meditation), and Samadhi (complete absorption). Apart from Ashtanga yoga as a practice of Raja Yoga, the other three disciplines that we include are Karma Yoga (the yoga of detached action), Bhakti Yoga, (the yoga of love, acceptance, and devotion), and Jnana Yoga (the yoga of contemplation and reflection). By combining all four streams of yoga — Raja yoga, Karma yoga, Bhakti yoga, and Jnana yoga — one is able to achieve a state of peace, creativity, and fulfillment in life. We will learn about each stream of yoga and delve deeply into Raja yoga, which focuses on disciplining the mind and body using yoga practices. This course contains hands-on learning of yoga practices and techniques, lectures, discussions, and offline assignments.

Required/Elective: Required

Prerequisites: Must have completed Holistic Yoga – Concepts and Techniques Course. Students with prior experience in yoga practice or teaching may also qualify. 

Area of Study: Yoga Studies

Faculty/Instructor: Anil Surpur, Ashwini Surpur, Shri N.V. Raghuram. 

Quarter Offered: Summer 2020

Start Date: 11 July 2020

End Date: 20 September 2020

Day: Every Saturday & Sunday

Time: 10:00 – 12:00 pm EST

Delivery Mode: Online

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