Dr. Pranshu Samdarshi

Dr. Pranshu Samdarshiis an Assistant Professor at the School of Historical Studies and the School of Buddhist Studies, Philosophy &Comparative Religions. Nalanda University.His research concerns the history and literature of Tantra traditions in Southern Asia and Tibet. He obtained PhD in History. from University of Delhi, for his doctoral thesis exploring the dynamic relationship between sacred feminine imagery and Buddhist Tantra practice. He holds MA and MPhildegrees in Buddhist Studies and a Diploma in Pali from University of Delhi. He has also received teachings on Buddhist philosophical texts from traditional Buddhist masters for over a decade and half.

Dr. Samdarshi’s research interest includes historiographical issues of Buddhism, Madhyamika tradition, visualization-based meditation practices in Buddhism and Kashmir Shaivism. Within these generaldomains, much of his research concerns the esoteric (Tantric) Buddhism of India, Nepal and Tibet.At Nalanda University, he offers courses on Comparative Religions, Madhyamaka Philosophy. Introduction to Indian Philosophy,Nalanda Tradition and The Concept of Tantric Buddhist Deities.

Dr. Samdarshi has authored two monographs and several research papers, articles, book chapters, and reviews for journals and magazines from publications such as Routledge, Cambridge University Press, The Hindu Group, Publication Division of India, and Delhi University Journal. He has been awarded Senior and Junior Research Fellowships by the UniversityGrants Commission. India. He also represented India in the Young Author Conference of the Sanghai Cooperation Organization.

He has served as an Assistant Professor at the International Center for Spiritual Studies, Amrita University, Bengaluru canmpus for two years. He has contributed modules for the courses on Buddhism and History on the SWAYAM platform of UGC. He has been invited to design and teach courses at Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Gangtok, Central Institute of Himalayan Culture Studies. Arunachal Pradesh and Indira Gandhi National Centre for Art, Delhi.