MA in Hindu Studies (Sanātana Dharma)
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.
जगतःस्थितिकारणंप्राणिनांसाक्षात्अभ्युदयनिःश्रेयसहेतुर्यः स धर्मः ।
– (Śaṅkarācārya in his commentary on the Bhagavadgītā)
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)
Courses
- Introduction to the Vedas: Ṛgveda, Yajurveda, Sāmaveda, and Atharvaveda
- Introduction to Major & Minor Upaniṣads
- Introduction to Itihāsa texts: The Rāmāyaṇa & the Mahābhārata
- Introduction to Purāṇa texts: Viṣṇu Purāṇa, and Agni Purāṇa
- Ethics in Hindu Philosophy
- Fundamentals of Hindu Philosophy
- The Bhagavadgītā and understanding of the ‘Self’
- Puruṣārthas: Goals of Human Life
- The Yogasūtra of Patañjali: Theory and Practice
- Studying the Nāṭyaśāstra of Bharatamuni (first chapter)
- Basic Tenets of Major Upaniṣads: Chāndogya Upaniṣad & Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad
- Ancient Knowledge Tradition
- Philosophy of Language: Introduction to Mahābhāṣya and Vākyapadīyam
- Study of Pañcatantra
- Poets & Philosophers of highest awakening
- Capsules of Knowledge: Sūtra, Vārtika & Bhāṣya (Commentaries)
- Study of Smṛti texts: The Yājñavalkya Smṛti
- The Arthaśāstra of Kauṭilya
- Study of Vedanta Philosophy with Śaṅkarācārya, Rāmānujacārya, Madhvācārya and Sadānanda
- Mastering Sanskrit Language
- Seminar Course
- Dissertation
Mandate
The two-year MA in Hindu Studies (Sanātana Dharma) 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 Hindu Studies.
- Foreground the relevance of the Hindu Studies in the contemporary changing world order.
Outcome of the Programme
A student with a MA in Hindu Studies (Sanātana Dharma) shall – Develop a good understanding of foundational principles underlying Hindu spiritual traditions and culture.
Course Curriculum
- 10 Core courses equivalent to 30 credits (3 X 10)
- 7 Electives equivalent to 21 credits (3 X 7)
- 4 Reading Seminar courses equivalent to 4 credits (1 X 4)
- Dissertation equivalent to 9 credits
Total: 64 credits
Semester – I (Foundational Courses): 16 credits
4 Core Courses:(3 Credits Each)
Core Courses:
- Introduction to the Vedas: Ṛgveda, Yajurveda, Sāmaveda, and Atharvaveda
- Introduction to Major & Minor Upaniṣads
- Introduction to Itihāsa: The Rāmāyaṇa & the Mahābhārata
- Introduction to Purāṇa texts: Viṣṇu Purāṇa, Agni Purāṇa & Bhāgavata-purāṇa
1 Elective Course (3 Credits Each) (Students may choose one of the following
- Sanskrit Language-1 (compulsory)
- Ethics in Hindu Philosophy: Puruṣārthas, Varṇas and Āśramas
- Tenets of Indian Philosophy: Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism
- SHS/SLLH/SMS/SEES (Courses from other schools in the cafeteria model)
- Critical Thinking (Extra Credit Course)
Seminar-I (1 Credit)
Semester – II (Bridge Courses): 16 credits
3 Core Courses: (3 Credits Each)
- Fundamentals of Hindu Philosophy: Six Darśanas Sāṁkhya, Yoga, Nyāya, Vaiśeṣika, Mīmāṁsā & Vedānta
- The Bhagavadgītā: the concept of Dharma, the path of Knowledge, devotion, and the idea of sthitaprajña
- Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa: Textual and Thematic Study
2 Elective Courses: (3 Credits Each) (Students may choose two of the following)
- Mastering Sanskrit Language (Level 2)
- The Yogasūtra of Patañjali: Theory and Practice
- Studying the Nāṭyaśāstra of Bharata: The Indian Tradition of Performing Arts
1 Seminar (1 Credit)
Semester – III (Advanced Courses): 16 credits
2 Core Courses: (3 Credits Each)
Core Courses
- Tenets of Major Upaniṣads: Chāndogya Upaniṣad & Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad
- Sources of Indian Knowledge Tradition: Sūtra, Vārtika & Bhāṣya (Commentaries)
3 Elective Courses (3 Credits each) (Students may choose three of the following
- Mastering Sanskrit Language (Level 2)
- Study of Vedānta: Śaṅkarācārya, Rāmānujacārya, Madhvācārya
- Study of Pañcatantra: Capsules of Life Lessons
- Indian Aesthetics- Rasa Theory
- Indian Philosophy of Language: Introduction to Patañjali’s Mahābhāṣya and Bhartṛhari’s Vākyapadīya
- Hindu Cosmology and Astronomy
- SHS/SLLH/SMS/SEES (Courses from other schools in the cafeteria model)
- Critical Thinking (Extra Credit Course)
1 Seminar (1 Credit)
Semester – IV (Specialised Courses): 16 credits
1 Core Course (3 Credits)
Core Course
- Introduction to Dharmaśāstra: Selected portions from Gautama, Manu and Yājñavalkya
1 Elective Courses (3 Credits) (Students may choose one of the following
- Select Major Thinkers of Ancient India: Brahmagupta, Āryabhaṭṭa, Varāhamihira Bhāskara, Bāṇabhaṭṭa and Abhinavagupta
- Nāgārjuna and the concept of Śūnyatā
- The Arthaśāstra of Kauṭilya
- Sanskrit Language- 4
- SHS/SLLH/SMS/SEES (Courses from other schools in the cafeteria model)
1 Seminar (1 Credit)
1 Dissertation (9 Credits)