We are pleased to share that we completed our 7th IKS Meta-Retreat “Shakti: The Power of Indic Feminine” with Sh. Sumedha Verma Ojha, Member – Academic Council, INDICA as the Lead Faculty at Bilvam Foundation, Tiruvannamalai from 22-Aug to 25 Aug 2024.
Bharat is Shakti. From ancient times to our freedom movement our ancestors, seers, luminaries have viewed Bharat as the Mother Shakti. Shiva-Shakti as Ardhanareeshwara has always been the defining principle of Sanatana Dharma. From ancient times to modern times, the Tatva of Shakti has guided us through our glory and fall alike. Every rejuvenation is with the guidance and power of Shakti – The Indic Feminine.
Bharat has strongly perceived that the time for rejuvenation, reimagination and renaissance has come again. It is time for us to invoke Shakti. While the Western Feminism continues to be the dominant hegemon, the voice of Indic women in the Shakti paradigm is on a definite progress. It is necessary, therefore, to take stock of the efforts to give ourselves voice and agency and face the hegemon.
We must go back to the roots of our ideas of Shakti, parse the Vedic corpus, Itihasa and Puranas as also folk stories and daily practices, critique the hegemon and lay out the pathway of Shakti to our future generations. We need a blueprint for the future; from a medley of brilliant minds working in this area who can bring their energies together to move forward with formulating the modern conceptualisation of Shakti.
This Meta-Retreat was organised in this context. This MetaRetreat sought to understand the true Bharata Shakti and what is the Tapasyaa we must perform to let it flow its grace upon us and shape a new Ardhanareeshwara civilization.
A brief summary of the MetaRetreat discussion.
- Shakti and Ardhanareeshwara Tattva: Participants delved into the philosophical and symbolic significance of Shakti and Ardhanareeshwara, discussing the complementary roles of Shiva and Shakti and how these concepts can be applied in modern contexts. The Vedic roots of the concept of Shakti and the place of the Devi Suktam and the Sri Suktam as well as the Devi Mahatmya in conceptualising the feminine were discussed.
- Revitalising Indic Feminine Devatas: The retreat called for the revival of feminine Devatas and their cosmic significance, highlighting the need to reconnect seemingly mundane aspects of life with their comic counterparts.
- Reevaluating Rituals and Misconceptions: Participants discussed the significance of Vedic rituals, particularly in Shaakta Dharma, and addressed misconceptions arising from Eurocentric Indology, such as the misinterpretation of Kanyaadaan and the Saptapadi mantras.
- Role of Women in Itihasa and Purana: The sessions explored the articulation of Stree Dharma and Purusha Dharma in Itihasa-Purana, emphasising the portrayal of women as dynamic, learned, and with agency within the framework of Dharma.
- Western Influence and Identity Crisis: The retreat highlighted the challenges posed by Westernization and identity crises among women, with discussions on the relevance of ancient texts like Arthashastra and Dharmashastras in addressing these issues.
- Critique of Feminism: Feminism was critiqued as an alien ideology rooted in Western oppression, with discussions on the need for indigenous frameworks that address the unique challenges faced by Indian women, without relying on Western paradigms. The retreat emphasised understanding the roots and conflicts related to feminism, dealing with distortions, and addressing young women’s concerns about Sanatana Dharma and traditional relationships.
- Education and Literature Platforms: The need for a Gurukul-based publication platform was discussed, focusing on revolutionising Indian languages and literature while challenging existing peer-review systems and promoting Sanskritisation.
- Strategic Planning and Community Building: The retreat emphasised the importance of strategic planning, including building bridges within institutions, developing small teams, and preempting situations where women might rely on feminism out of desperation.
- Final Reflections and Future Projects: The final sessions highlighted the transformative impact of the retreat, with commitments to further research, faculty development, and the production of works that critique Western feminism through the Shakti framework. The discussions also outlined steps for healing and rebuilding the ideal of Hindu man-woman relations in the modern age.
The Meta Retreat generated several Group Project ideas from which one will be shortlisted for further evolution in the coming ways along with a Vision Paper that creates a conversation with the larger Sanatana fraternity. Some of the group projects proposed were
- Articulation of the Ardhanareeshwara Tattwa
- Series of Academic articles on Women in the Itihasa-Purana
- Re-articulation of Purusha Dharma
The MetaRetreat was blessed with a Cohort of scholars, thinkers and practitioners who understood Shakti Tattva.
- Sumedha Verma Ojha, Member – Academic Council, INDICA
- Prof. Sarada Thallam, Department of English, Sri Venkateswara University
- Dr. T Ganesan, Head – Centre for Shaiva Studies, Pondicherry
- Dr. Rama Haritha Pusarla, Editor – MyIndMakers
- Sagorika Sinha, Author, Journalist, International Relations Expert
- Nivedita Tiwari, Director – Visual Content
- Dr. Nidhi Shendurnikar, Scholar, Academic, Independent Consultant
- Tanya Fransz, Independent Consultant
- Sahishnu Bhattacharya, Faculty Member, Dr. Ambedkar University, Delhi
- Ankita Daima, Scholar, Nalanda University
- Shivakumar GV, Director – IKS Changemakers, INDICA
IKS Meta-Retreats are immersive intellectual explorations spanning 2-3 days, led by an Acharya in the ambience of a Gurukula and conducted with an attitude of Shraddha. Acharya, is the subject matter expert (SME), seeking to explore a specific topic, discipline, or domain along with a cohort. 9-12 participants who possess shradda and the right experience in the chosen theme form the cohort. This cohort then comes together with an upanishadic attitude of learning through immersion at a location that echoes the ambience of a Gurukula.
