News

Aarhus-OCHS Workshop

8 March 2018

A participation-by-invitation workshop was organised by Dr Marianne Fibiger, Aarhus University, in collaboration with Dr Bjarne Wernicke-Olesen, OCHS, aimed at networking, funding applications and to facilitate an in-depth discussion amongst scholars. The workshop was funded by the South Asian Religion research unit (SAR) at Aarhus University, Denmark.

The workshop addressed new research and insights into the relationship, overlap, and interplay between ritual performance and the uses of texts and body within South Asian religions historicallly and presently, in South Asia and beyond.

The

Friends Event: Paths to Liberation in the Bhagavad-gita

Leicester Friends Event
Saturday, 3 March 2018 - 6:30pm to 9:00pm

A talk by Dr Nick Sutton of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies

In this talk we will explore the view that the Bhagavad-gita advocates a number of different paths to liberation from rebirth, including karma-yoga, raja-yoga, jnana-yoga, bhakti-yoga, and dhyana-yoga. We will then focus primarily on knowledge and devotion, looking at how the Gita explains these two paths and how it tends to draw them together. The question will be raised as to whether Krishna has a preference for one path over the others or whether he regards them simply as different roads leading to the same goal.

"Speaking of Bhakti" Day School: London 20 January

3 January 2018

Saturday 20 January

The Rembrandt Hotel
11 Thurloe Pl London, SW7 2RS

Bhakti – the heart-felt expression of love for a deity – is a rich and important aspect of Hindu tradition.

In this day school we journey through bhakti, how it is expressed, and to whom (or what). We find an array of bhakti forms, yet they all contribute to the rich tapestry of temple worship, sacred literature, spiritual practice, song, poetry, art and dance.

This day school introduces you to key theological ideas underpinning the practice of bhakti and charts the journey of its expressions through the ages.

Click here for

Don’t Mind! The Concept of Mind in Hinduism

Birmingham Friends Event
Saturday, 27 January 2018 - 7:00pm to 9:00pm

A talk by Dr Ramesh Pattni of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies

Is mind matter? Is it other than matter? Never mind, doesn’t matter! In this talk we engage your mind and explore the concept of mind in Hindu systems of philosophy, in particular Yoga and Advaita Vedanta which have different conceptions of mind, how it is constituted and how it works. Find out about the sophisticated models of the mind which existed long before modern psychology came into being.

Friends Event: Don’t Mind! The Concept of Mind in Hinduism

Leicester Friends Event
Saturday, 3 February 2018 - 6:30pm to 9:00pm

A talk by Dr Ramesh Pattni of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies

Is mind matter? Is it other than matter? Never mind, doesn’t matter! In this talk we engage your mind and explore the concept of mind in Hindu systems of philosophy, in particular Yoga and Advaita Vedanta which have different conceptions of mind, how it is constituted and how it works. Find out about the sophisticated models of the mind which existed long before modern psychology came into being.

Friends event: Speaking of Bhakti

Leicester Friends Event
Saturday, 2 December 2017 - 6:30pm to 9:00pm
A talk by Shaunaka Rishi Das of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies
 
​We take a look at ideas of love and devotion to ​God, Gods, and Goddesses using the lens of traditional Indian poetry and scripture.

ZUG 'Faith in Finance' Conference

10 November 2017
Our OCHS Director, Shaunaka Rishi Das, recently attended a unique three-day meeting, accompanied by Gopal Patel, the Director of The Bhumi Project and our intern for this term, Miss Vishakha Sharma, a student at Aarhus University in Denmark.  This gathering of faith leaders and fund management experts from around the world, took place from 30th October to the 1st of November at Zug, Switzerland.
 
The OCHS had a major role to play in planning the meeting.

Friends event: Reading the Bhagavad Gita and the New Testament

Leicester Friends Event
Saturday, 4 November 2017 - 6:30pm to 9:00pm

A talk by Tom Wilson of the St Philip’s Centre and Dr Rembert Lutjeharms of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies 

Devotional reading is an important part of how many Hindus and Christians live out their faith on a day-to-day basis. But what can we learn from reading each other’s sacred texts? In this interactive and engaging session, Shaunaka Rishi Das of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies and Tom Wilson from the St Philip’s Centre will read texts from the Bhagavad Gita and the New Testament together, and discuss what they’re learning.

Introduction to Sanskrit: London 28 October

18 September 2017

Saturday 28 October

The Rembrandt Hotel
11 Thurloe Pl London, SW7 2RS

This day school is intended to give students a taste of Sanskrit – “the language of the Gods”.

We will look at Sanskrit’s role in Indian history, science, religion, and culture. We will take an introductory look at its grammar and we will explore the reasons for its enduring allure.

We then move on to the value of Sanskrit and the concepts it defines to students of Hinduism with a survey of the alphabet. We will practice some sounds and Vedic chants.

More information and enrolments are available at 

The Bhāgavata Purāṇa Conference

10 September 2017

The Bhāgavata Purāṇa conference was held in January 2017 in Chennai, India.  Kenneth Valpey and Ravi Gupta were instrumental in organising this three-day event, which was hosted by University of Madras (courtesy of Prof. M. Mishra, a former Shivdasani Fellow of the Centre) and the C.P. Ramaswami Aiyar Foundation (courtesy of Dr. Nanditha Krishna).

Some twenty-five scholars gave presentations, including scholars from India and USA, as well as one scholar each from Australia and Japan.

Friends event: Tasmai Shri Gurave Namaha - the idea of the Guru in Hinduism

Birmingham Friends Event
Saturday, 18 November 2017 - 7:00pm to 9:00pm

A talk by Tushar Shah of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies

Hinduism pays great reverence to gurus as spiritual instructors, guardians, role-models, counsellors, mediators, and even embodiments of the divine. In this talk, we will explore how the notion of the guru has developed throughout history. Then, by looking at various case studies, we will discuss what role modern gurus play today in the development of Hinduism as well in people’s lives.

Friends event: Exploring Diwali

Leicester Friends Event
Saturday, 7 October 2017 - 6:30pm to 9:00pm

A talk by Shaunaka Rishi Das and Dr Nick Sutton of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies

As we prepare for the celebration of Diwali, sending messages, planning meals, buying jewellery, hoping for jewellery - and all the arrangements that have to be made for friends and family - it will be equally good to prepare our thoughts. What is Diwali about? What are the stories of Diwali, from Gujarat, to Chennai? And why is it such a popular festival, even among non-Hindus? This evening we will prepare our minds for Diwali. Bring your story and bring a friend.