SCHOLARSHIP WITH TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCES
For the last five years, INDICA has been hosting pioneering conferences across diverse themes, serving as catalysts for scholarly exchange and exploration. With these conferences, we have also added transformative Yatras that seamlessly blend scholarship with experiential learning.
These Yatras mark a paradigm shift in our approach to knowledge and tradition. By harmonizing rigorous academic inquiry with profound personal experiences, they redefine how we engage with India’s intellectual legacy.
The themes of our 24 conferences reflect the vastness and richness of Indian philosophical traditions, examined through both ancient wisdom and modern perspectives, covering a wide spectrum, from Yoga and Art to Environmentalism, Law and Justice, Shaivism, Vaishnavism, and beyond. This year we have held five conferences, in sacred lands such as Srirangam, Bhuvaneshwar, Ujjain, Bhadrachalam and Jodhpur.
In our quest for knowledge and understanding, we delve into the timeless wisdom of Sanatana Dharma, seeking insights that can provide solutions to contemporary challenges.
A Year of Immersive Engagement
INDICA held five in person conferences along with Yatras enabling scholars have anubhava of our lived traditions.
The conference on Vaishnavism provided scholars with a platform to explore its influence on Indian culture. Held in Srirangam, known for its Sri Ranganathaswamy temple, the event focused on scriptures, philosophy, art, architecture, and rituals. Participants immersed themselves in Vaishnavism’s rich heritage, enhancing their understanding of this ancient tradition.
The Conference on Tantra and Tantric Traditions was accompanied by a pilgrimage to Tantra-related sites near Bhubaneswar. Held at Jagadguru Kripalu University in Dammapada, Cuttack, the event discussed Tantra’s significance to Indic Knowledge Systems (IKS). Dr. Nagaraj Paturi, Director of IKS Indica, notes how Tantra has strayed from its original roots as a spiritual tradition, becoming associated with mystical practices. This perception, he argues, obscures its significance within the Indic Knowledge Systems framework, limiting its exploration through reasoned analysis.
INDICA organized a conference on Bharat’s ancient and time-tested pedagogy, which has contributed to her rich educational heritage between October 27 to 29, 2023, in the historic city of Ujjain. Smt. Sahana Singh, an expert on Ancient Indian Education, underscores its significance, stating that education was deemed the primary duty of every individual. The ultimate aim was to elevate understanding to higher consciousness.
The conference on Bhakti, curated by Dr. Nagaraj Paturi and Dr. Sushumna Kannan, focused on mapping Bhakti from an Indic perspective. It took place from February 12 to 14 and included a Thirtha Yatra experience organized by Shri Srinivas Udumudi. While oxymoronic principles may be frowned upon in Western philosophical traditions, they are celebrated in Indian philosophical discourse. Several papers examined the nature of a devotional relationship grounded in absolute identity, shedding light on the paradoxical yet profound coexistence of Bhakti and non-dualism.
The INDICA conference on Jain traditions was held on March 2-3 at Chandraprabha Dhyana Nilayam in the beautiful city of Jodhpur. The conference explored how Jain philosophy shares ontological, epistemological, and eschatological concepts with Vedic traditions, indicating cultural harmony. These parallels, alongside Jainism’s distinctive features, demonstrate a profound connection in familial, religious, and ritual contexts, including temple practices and iconography.
Watch the all conferences on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/indicacademy
A big thank you to our esteemed curators and all the participants.
