Over the millennium, the ancient seers, saints living across the river Sindhu made intuitive realisation of the eternal spiritual truth (satya). They visualised the core principles which governs the world causing material as well as spiritual progress of every living being known as dharma.

The core and eternal principles known as the Sanātana dharma, the mighty edifice of the Indian civilisation is manifested and transmitted both orally and textually within a variety of knowledge traditions and practices. The study of such rich oral as well as textual traditions and practices is the kernel of Hindu study. Different streams of the Hindu studies are like the branches of a single living tree of Indian culture, thought, ritual, and spirituality.

The course has been envisioned, designed and structured by the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor Prof. Sunaina Singh. It is uniquely designed to grasp the rich spiritual as well as intellectual system of the Hindus - a distinctively interdisciplinary system where the textual and the oral, the verbal and the visual, the scientific and the metaphysical, the transcendental and the functional are interlocked as parts of a whole. (Kapila Vatsyayana in Kalātattvakośa).

What is included in the Program?

The two-year full-time M.A. programme in Hindu Studies will:

• Attempt to retrieve the resource pool of knowledge on Hindu dharma and its spiritual traditions.
• Provide an overview of spiritual Hindu literatures and basic tenets therein.
• Introduce the major and minor texts along with select fundamental commentaries.
• Provide an opportunity to develop the specialization in any stream of Sanātana Hindu Studies.
• Foreground the relevance of the Sanātana Hindu Studies in the contemporary changing world order.

The Curriculum

Please note that this is a general outline, and specific courses may be adapted or modified based on the university's faculty, resources, and academic priorities.

First Year

Introduction to the Vedas: Ṛgveda, Yajurveda, Sāmaveda, and Atharvaveda

The Vedas are the primeval source of knowledge visualised by ṛṣis (seers). The hymns of the Vedas envelop multi-layered meaning, connotation, and concepts fundamental for Hindus intellectual trajectories. They are in fact the knowledge texts and source of philosophy, spiritual traditions, and culture of the Hindus. The course primarily aims to provide students a basic understanding of all the four Vedas, their internal structure, different recitation methods, and themes therein. The course also sweeps over a close reading of some of the important hymns like Nāsadīya (the hymn of creation) Hiraṇgarbha (the hymn of golden womb), Puruṣa (the hymn of primeval man) Asyavāmīya and Vāk (the hymn of divine speech).

Introduction to Major & Minor Upaniṣads

Upaniṣads are as a term given to a cluster of texts in which a disciple sits near a teacher to understand the hidden and mystic reality of the world. In this way, Upaniṣads are the knowledge of the absolute reality (brahma-vidyā) and epitome of Hindu spiritual tradition. They are the culmination of Hindu thought about the world and their creation. The course aims to provide students an overview of Upaniṣads, history, classification into major as well as minor, fundamental doctrines, and their significance

Introduction to Itihāsa texts: The Rāmāyaṇa & the Mahābhārata

Indic tradition perceives itihāsa as an event of earlier times, conjoined with a story with demonstration of the four puruṣārthas, dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa. In this framework, the Rāmāyaṇa and the Mahābhārata are classified as itihāsa grantha. This course intends to explore ‘what is itihāsa in the Indian context and in contrast to Modern History’. Every civilization develops its own pattern to carry forward its eternal values. India developed traditions of itihāsa, which were essentially a grand narrative and comprehensive plan for human life. The course primarily aims to understand and explain early Indian attitudes towards the past through studying some of the sections of the Rāmāyaṇa and the Mahābhārata.

Introduction to Purāṇa texts: Viṣṇu Purāṇa, and Agni Purāṇa

Traditionally, the Purāṇas along with Itihāsa are regarded as the explanatory literature of the Vedas. The real and hidden meaning of the Vedas should be explored through these two classes of literature – itihāsapurāṇābhyāṁ vedāṁ samupabṛṁhayet. With its distinctive narrative style of Pañcalakṣaṇas – sarga, pratisarga, vaṁśa, vaṁśānucarita, manvantara – Purāṇas communicates the same ontological and epistemological concerns as the Vedas and Upaniṣads provide. They are also relevant for the understanding of fundamental principles of the Hindu art. The course aims to provide an overview of Purāṇas, its history, essential characteristics, and their significance. The course also dwells upon close reading of some relevant sections of the Viṣṇu Purāṇa and the Agni Purāṇa.

Elective Courses (1)

 

Mastering Sanskrit Language, Level-1

To unfold the original texts of Hindu tradition, it is necessary to learn Sanskrit language. With this imperative, the course aims to offer students an interactive experience of learning the Sanskrit language through four stages, namely, listening, reading, speaking, and writing. The course also focuses on understanding the structure and grammar of Sanskrit.

Ethics in Hindu Philosophy: Puruṣārthas, Āśramas, Varṇas

Every Hindu philosopher primarily aims to explain the visible world and their connection to transcendental reality. Explaining the visible world, they also chart out the basics of human ethical values. Ethical values like ahiṁsā, dharma, satya, asteya, śauca, and indriya-nigraha are manifested through the framework of puruṣārtha, varṇāśrama. The ethical values make Hindu philosophy a synthesis of pluralistic society and fundamental reality of the cosmos. The course is an attempt to bring the ethical and humanistic elements expressed in Hindu Philosophies with emphasis on ethical values, the philosophical exposition of puruṣārtha and varṇāśrama system.

Seminar Course

The Seminar course is basically an interdisciplinary course designed for students to enrich their presentation and writing skills. Critical engagement with faculty, peers will help them to chart out topics for their research, and dissertation. One of the aims of this course is to aware them about the methodology of their select topics. It will help them in participating International, National Seminars, Conferences and Debates.

Fundamentals of Hindu Philosophy: Six Darśanas Sāṁkhya, Yoga, Nyāya, Vaiśeṣika, Mīmāṁsā & Vedānta

The course aims to familiarise students about the basic fundamentals of six Hindu philosophical traditions, namely, Sāṁkhya, Yoga, Nyāya, Vaiśeṣika, Mīmāṁsā & Vedānta. The course would provide the history of their development and introduce the foundational texts of each school with major philosophical principles, epistemology, metaphysics, and axiology.

The Bhagavadgītā: the concept of dharma, the path of Knowledge, devotion, and the idea of sthitaprajña

The text of Bhagavadgītā occupies the central place in Hindu culture. Hindu metaphysics, epistemology, ontology, ethics – all are interwoven in it. The purpose of Bhagavadgītā is to provide the meaning of dharma, to expound the path of jñāna (knowledge), karma (action) and bhakti (devotion). All the three paths should be 11 followed for the holistic development of a man. The idea of sthitaprajña is one of the central themes of Bhagavadgītā. A person whose knowledge is true, who performs action without desiring fruit, and who constantly meditates on God attains the state of sthitaprajña. The course aims a close reading of the text of the Bhagavadgītā and provide students the concept of dharma, the path of jñāna (knowledge), karma (action), bhakti (devotion), and the idea of sthitaprajña.

Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa

Indic tradition conceives Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki as an itihāsa grantha portraying the life of Rāma in seven kāṇḍas comprising 24000 verses. Hindu cultural history perceives Rāmāyaṇa, an ornate poem as the first kāvya (epic). It is also known as caturviṁśatisāhaśrī-Saṁhitā. Encapsulating the life of kings who led a spiritual life, the Ramayana becomes exemplification of puruṣārtha vidyās which stood for comprehensive plan of human life. The course aims to provide a close reading of the first kāṇḍas of the Rāmāyaṇa to introduce students about its history, development, and important themes.

Elective Courses (2)

Mastering Sanskrit Language, Level-2

The Yogasūtra of Patañjali: Theory and Practice

Yoga is one of ancient tradition of India and Patañjali (150 BC) codified it into 196 Yogasūtra classified in four sections namely, Sādhana Pāda, Samādhi Pāda, Vibhūti Pāda, and Kaivlaya Pāda. It is the authoritative text on Yoga doctrine and practice. The course offers a detailed study of Yogasūtra and the fundamental concepts, and how it has developed over the millennia

Studying the Nāṭyaśāstra of Bharatamuni

The Nāṭyaśāstra of Bharatamuni deals with the rules of performative arts of Hindus. In fact, it is the Ur-text of Hindu performative arts. The text of the Nāṭyaśāstra is codified between second century BC to second century AD. The text is divided into thirty-six chapters in a sequential order. Bharatamuni arranged the whole structure of the text from the point of view of artistic experience, the artistic content, the modes of expression through word, sound, gesture, dress, movement, and speech. 12 The course intends to provide an overview of the history and retrieval of Nāṭyaśāstra. It also sweeps over the important themes like meaning of nāṭya (drama), critic of anukaraṇa, concept of rasa, bhāva, abhinaya, vṛtti, and pravṛtti.

Seminar Course

The Seminar course is basically an interdisciplinary course designed for students to enrich their presentation and writing skills. Critical engagement with faculty, peers will help them to chart out topics for their research, and dissertation. One of the aims of this course is to aware them about the methodology of their select topics. It will help them in participating International, National Seminars, Conferences and Debates.

Second Year

Basic Tenets of Major Upaniṣads: Chāndogya Upaniṣad & Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad

Upaniṣads are as a term given to a cluster of texts in which a disciple sits near a teacher to understand the hidden and mystic reality of the world. In this way, Upaniṣads are the knowledge of the absolute reality (brahma-vidyā) and epitome of Hindu spiritual tradition. They are the culmination of Hindu thought about the world and their creation. The course aims to provide students some of the important sections of Chāndogya & Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad and the fundamental doctrines explained therein

Capsules of Knowledge: Sūtra, Vārtika & Bhāṣya (Commentaries)

Texts of Indian knowledge traditions are embedded in form of sutra, vārtika, and bhāṣya termed as capsules of knowledge. Each system of Indian knowledge has passed through these three stages of development. A seer (ṛṣi) gives utterance to his vision of reality, known as sūtra- the first stage. Then, the second stage of systematization of a stream or system is done in which the original sutras are defined and explained. A third stage of further elaboration comes in which implications, applications, removing ambiguities, and addition are done. The next stage in form of criticism of other views, reconstruction of own views is also visible. The course primarily intends to provide students an overview of the development of Indic knowledge systems through the capsules of knowledge, namely sūtra, vārtika & bhāṣya.

Elective Courses (3)

 

Philosophy of Language: Introduction to Patañjali’s Mahābhāṣya and Bhartṛhari Vākyapadīya

Patañjali’s Mahābhāṣya and Bhartṛhari Vākyapadīya are the epitomes of Hindu’s philosophy of language. Both texts are rudiments of the doctrine of śabda-brahman (Word as Supreme Reality). The Ṛgveda describes śabda as the active power of brahman. It is termed as Vāk or Prajāpati also. Foregrounding in earlier traditions, Patañjali and Bhartṛhari in their treatises philosophically explained that how śabda is central to all worldly activities and transcends the world. They expound śabda as brahman, nature of word-sentences, and the idea of integral nature of sentence. The course primary aims to do a close study of the issues described in the first āhnika (chapter) of Patañjali’s Mahābhāṣya and first Kāṇḍa of Bhartṛhari Vākyapadīya to aware students about the meaning of śāstra, the definition of śabda, methodology, and the purpose.

Study of Vedānta Philosophy with Śaṅkarācārya, Rāmānujacārya, Madhvācārya and Sadānanda

Upaniṣads are the culminating point of the Vedic literature and hence they are termed as Vedānta. Upaniṣads are basically a quest for ultimate truth. Attempts are made in Vedānta to express the nature of realty in intuitive and argumentative way. Earliest expositions of Vedānta are found in Brahmasūtra of Bādarāyaṇa and its commentary by Śaṅkarācārya with non-dualistic approach. Rāmānujācārya of 11th century in his Bodhāyana Vṛtti interpreted this with Viśiṣṭādvaita approach. In 13th century, another thinker Madhvācārya further interpreted it with a different approach. The Vedāntasāra of Sadānanda is one of the foundational texts to understand Vedānta philosophy. Sadānanda was one of the ten disciples of Śaṅkarācārya’s school. The course intends to provide a basic understanding of Vedānta philosophy by reading some of the sections from commentaries of Śaṅkarācārya, Rāmānujācārya, Madhvācārya (on Brahmasūtra) and Vedāntasāra

Poets & Philosophers of highest awakening

Hindu life, thought, and culture have been imbedded in the epics, dramas, philosophy, devotional poetry, and folk tales. The Upaniṣads (crux of the Vedas), great poets like Vālmīki, Vyāsa, Kālidāsa, Māgha, Bhāravi, Śrī Harṣa, Bhāsa, Śūdraka & Viśākhadatta, & philosophers like Gautama, Kaṇāda, Kapila, Patañjali, Jaminī, Bādarāyṇa, and many more inspired the life of Hindus and their value system. The course aims to study some of the portions of the texts of selected poets and philosophers of highest awakening

Select Major Thinkers of Ancient India: Brahmagupta, Āryabhaṭṭa, Varāhamihira Bhāskara, Bāṇabhaṭṭa

The course intends to provide an overview of history of Indian knowledge traditions and its unique characteristics by selecting some major thinkers of ancient India like Āryabhaṭṭa, Varāhamihira, Brahmagupta, Bhāskaracārya, and Bāṇabhaṭṭa. Āryabhaṭṭa, Varāhamihira, Brahmagupta, and Bhāskaracārya are the illustrious acaryas of Indaian Mathematics and Astronomical Sciences. The course also aims to follow a close study of some of the important sections of their respective texts.

Elective Courses (1)

 

Nāgārjuna and the concept of Śūnya

Nāgārjuna (2nd century AD), in his magnum opus Mūlamādhyamika Kārika shows that all things of empirical reality are mere conceptual constructs (prajñaptimātra), and hence, lacking the true existence. The empirical reality is in fact a concealment reality (saṁvṛti-satya) on the ground that they conceal the true reality (pāramārthika-satya). The course aims to deliberate on Nāgārjuna Mūlamādhyamika Kārika to study the arguments of his denial of empirical reality and to understand the fundamentals of concept of śūnyata.

Study of Smṛti texts: The Yājñavalkya Smṛti

The entire intellectual trajectories of the Hindus can be classified in two divisions, śruti and smṛti. The literal meaning of smṛti is memory or recollection of what was earlier cognized. Smṛtis works are the recorded recollections of śruti (Vedas) preserved the tradition without any change, while smṛtis preserved a socially constructed tradition that was ever responsive to the demands of time and space. Smṛtis are the source of Hindu dharma, their material, moral and spiritual edification. Manu, Atri, Viṣṇu, Hārīta, 14 Yājñavalkya, Uaśanas, Aṅgiras, Yama, Āpastamba, saṁvarta, Kātyāyana, Bṛhaspati, Parāśara, vyāsa, Likhita, dakṣa, Gautama, Śātātapa and Vaśiṣṭha have codified the smṛtis. Among them Yājñavalkya Smṛti is significant and authoritative. It has three sections on ācāra, vyavahāra, and prāyaścita. The course aims to close study of some of sections of the Yājñavalkya Smṛti and also undertake a comparative study with other important smṛtis.

Poets & Philosophers of highest awakening

 

Dissertation

In the final semester of the programme, students shall write the dissertation that will be an original piece of research. The dissertation will be a specialised study of the courses studied. Students will select a theme of their academic interest in consultation with supervisor/s. In the dissertation, students shall demonstrate their capacity to carry out independent research based on the primary and secondary sources. It is expected that the dissertation will have academic rigour and originality so that it can potentially be published in a peer-reviewed research journal. In view of these considerations, the maximum word limit of the dissertation will be 10,000 to 12,000, including notes (but excluding bibliography).