Veda Theory Masterclass – 2

The course content is based on 10+ years of intensive personal research as well as long term study with the late Prof. R.L. Kashyap, founder of SAKSHI, an institute dedicated to the revival of Vedic knowledge. He received the Padmaśrī award from the President of India for his contribution to Literature & Education. Prof. Kashyap also taught me how to approach commentaries and how to be discerning with translations.

The uniqueness of this course is that I am a chanting practitioner. This is central to my life and teachings. All theory I study or teach, emerges from my practice of chanting the Veda, of which I have studied a very wide range of texts from my Guru, Sri. M.S. Sreenivasan. I am grateful for continuing study in the Guru-Śiṣya parampara (1-2-1 mentoring) with full understanding of the source and arrangement Vedic texts. The living tradition is informed by texts outside the Veda, but within the Indian Knowledge Systems framework, which will be covered in this course.

Course objectives:

At the end of this course, the student will:

1. Revise the arrangement of Indic Knowledge Systems with the perspective of understanding how the living tradition is informed by various texts.
2. A special overview of the important works of Swami Dayananda Saraswati (Arya Samaj) on how to approach translations.
3. Revision of arrangement and nomenclature of Veda texts and influence of Brāhmaṇā period of Vedic texts.
4. Explore deities from Veda & Purāṇa-s.
5. Explore further the Ṛṣi-s of Veda and also Purāṇa-s
6. Understand the role of Vedic accents (svara) in the Veda.
7. Get an insight into the error correcting techniques built into recitation methods of Veda mantra-s.
8. Overview of the Dharma Śāstra-s & Purāṇa-s texts.
9. Life and works of Ādi Śaṅkarācārya.

Course fee:

€549 from 02 March onwards

Pay in 3 instalments:

€209 x 3 payments from 02 March onwards

There are no scholarships available for this course. However, you can pay in three easy instalments. Once you make the first instalment, the other two instalments are required as well (if you withdraw from course, the remaining payments still need to be honoured). Scroll below for payment link.

Dates and curriculum: Sat/Sun (4-5.15pm)

Class 01: May 04 : Revision of IKS & table of differences between Veda & texts of later period.
Class 02: May 05: Veda arrangement and nomenclature overview with special focus on influence of literature of Brāhmaṇā period on the living tradition.
Class 03: May 11: Deities of Veda & Purāṇa - Mitra, Varuṇa, Aryama, Bhaga, Savitṛ, Uṣas
Class 04: May 12: Deities of Veda & Purāṇa - Aśvin-s, Ṛbhu-s, 
Class 05: May 25: Deities of Veda & Purāṇa - Rivers, Sacred trees & birds, Hanuman
Class 06: May 26: Deities of Veda & Purāṇa - Popular deities from Purāṇa-s
Class 07: June 01: Ṛṣi-s of Veda and later texts - a comparison
Class 08: June 02: Role of accents (svara) in the Veda.
Class 09: June 22: Error correcting techniques built into recitation methods.
Class 10: June 23: Overview of Dharma Śāstra texts
Class 11: June 29: Overview of Purāṇa-s and popular stotrams (hymns) of this period.
Class 12: June 30: Life and works of Ādi Sańkarācārya & course wrap up.

Course Level: Intermediate to Advanced

This course is for:

• Those who have completed the Veda Studies Masterclass - 1. If you have NOT studied the first part, contact Edgar at [email protected] to see if this is still possible. All 16 classes from part-1 should be studied before 04 May.
• Those who wish to understand how texts that follow the Veda of later periods influence the living traditions.
• Students who wish to continue the theoretical exploration of Veda in the larger context.

This course is NOT for:

• Students who have NOT studied the Veda Theory Masterclass - 1.
• Those looking for an academic level course. This course will not resolve any historical debates on dates, theories (AIT –  āryan invasion theory for example), or other academic level debates and historical dates. I am not an academician or a historian, and my focus and perspective is entirely practitioner oriented, while also informed by the works of (mainly) Indian scholars and practising South Indian pundits.

Included in this course:

• 12 Live classes taught with all Sanskrit words displayed on screen in English transliteration.
• Recordings of all classes organised in a self-paced course.
• Optional quiz & certificate – you can take the quiz anytime, certificate is issued on passing the quiz – There is no instructor interaction with the quiz.
• If you join LIVE, you will be able to ask questions and there will be Q&A at the end of each class to address some questions. Answering doubts and queries via email will not be possible through this course duration. You may send your questions, and what is possible to be addressed in the LIVE classes will be considered.