Courses

Yoga and Tantra

YOGA AND TANTRA – The Mind Meeting the Body in Transformation

A semester-long certificate course offering fresh insights based on latest research findings

Ambitious in scope and interdisciplinary, the Yoga and Tantra (Y&T) semester-long certificate course offers a critical inquiry into the field of yoga and tantra. A unique introductory programme, emphasizing current research and publishing in the field, Y&T brings renowned national and international scholars leading innovative research projects to deliver lectures and public seminars that trace the historical development of yoga and tantra.

It aims to locate historical antecedents to modern-day practice, exploring the relation between yoga and tantra and offers a broad understanding of the development of yogic and agamic/tantric traditions in the Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain worldviews as well as syncretic interactions with Islam and vernacular bhakti traditions, including the sufis and the nath yogis.

Y&T is sensitive to the increasing popularity of yoga today, its globalised and modernized practices, and seeks to place these contemporary trends in rigorous historical context, from the premodern to the modern periods. The programme uses both academic and praxis-based approaches, presenting views from Sanskrit studies and philology, philosophy, literature, aesthetics, art history, religion, and anthropology.

Lecture Schedule

WEEK 1

Tuesday, August 16, 2022
Course Orientation | Introduction to the Course Structure
Introduction to Yoga and Tantra | History – Foundations – Approach
Course Director: Ms. Gazala Singh

Wednesday, August 17, 2022
Yoga and the Luminous – I: Situating Samkhya and Yoga in the Indian Tradition
The 25 Principles of Samkhya-Yoga and the category of citta
Chapters 1 and 2 of the Yogasutras of Patanjali
Prof. Christopher Chapple

Thursday, August 18, 2022
Yoga and the Luminous – 2: Understanding Power and Freedom
Chapters 3 and 4 of the Yogasutras of Patanjali with special reference to samadhi
Prof. Christopher Chapple

WEEK 2

Tuesday, August 23, 2022
The Soul-Body Relationship in Jainism – I
Embodied Ethics and Freedom in Jaina Faith and Practice
Prof. Christopher Chapple

Thursday, August 25, 2022
The Soul-Body Relationship in Jainism– II
Yoga and Tantra| Jains in History
Prof. Christopher Chapple

WEEK 3

Tuesday, August 30, 2022
An Overview of Buddhist Meditation in the Early Tradition | Samatha and Vipassana
Dependent Origination
Dr. Supriya Rai

Thursday, September 1, 2022
Overview of Abhidharma | Theravada and Sarvastivada
Understanding the categories of Citta, Cetasika, Rupa, Nibbana
Dhamma Theory
Dr. Supriya Rai

WEEK 4

Tuesday, September 6, 2022
The Path of the Bodhisattva | Understanding the Importance of Bodhicitta
Introduction to Madhyamaka I: Two truths
Dr. Supriya Rai

Thursday, September 8, 2022
Introduction to Madhyamaka II: Shunyata
Yogacara | Eight Consciousnesses
Dr. Supriya Rai

WEEK 5

Tuesday, September 13, 2022
The Beginnings of Hatha Yoga | Amritasiddhi and its South Indian Buddhist Origins
Dr. Jim Mallinson

Thursday, September 15, 2022
The Development of Classical Hatha Yoga as taught in the Hathapradipika
Dr. Jim Mallinson

WEEK 6

Tuesday, September 20, 2022
The History of Rajayoga
Dr. Jason Birch

Wednesday, September 21, 2022
Texts and Visual Evidence for Haṭhayoga and Postural Practice in the Early Modern Period
Dr. Jason Birch

Thursday, September 22, 2022: 5.30 -7 PM IST
Hatha Yoga on the Cusp of Modernity: Research findings from ‘The Hatha Yoga Project’ The Postural Practice of the Hathabhyasapaddati
Dr. Jason Birch and Jacqueline Hargreaves

WEEK 7

FREE PUBLIC SEMINAR: 6.30 - 8.30 PM IST

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

New Research on Physical Yoga | Findings from the ERC-funded Hatha Yoga project (2015-2020)
With individual presentations and Q&A to follow
Dr. Jim Mallinson (lead investigator), Dr. Jason Birch and Jacqueline Hargreaves (participating members)

Thursday, September 29, 2022: 5.30 – 7 PM IST
Class participants meet in break-out rooms | Discuss/ ask questions/ share individual practice
Course Director: Ms. Gazala Singh

WEEK 8

PUBLIC SEMINAR: SHAKTA TANTRA AND THE GREAT GODDESS IN EARLY MEDIEVAL INDIA

With Dr. Shaman Hatley

Tuesday, October 4, 2022
The Bhairavatantras and Tantric Goddess Cults

Thursday, October 6, 2022
The Yogic Body

Friday, October 7, 2022

Shakta Art, Ritual, and Material Culture

WEEK 9

Thursday, October 13, 2022
A Historical Overview of the Nath Sampradaya | Drawing on Textual, Ethnographic and Art Historical Sources
Dr. Jim Mallinson

WEEK 10

PUBLIC SEMINAR: YOGA AND AYURVEDA IN ANCIENT INDIA

With Prof. Philipp Maas

Tuesday, October 18, 2022
Yoga in the Early Ayurveda of the Carakasamhita

Thursday, October 20, 2022
Ayurveda and Medical Knowledge in Pre-modern Yoga

Week 11: There will be no lectures in the week of Diwali

WEEK 12
Tuesday, November 1, 2022
19^th and 20^th- Century Scholarship on Yoga and Tantra
Course Director: Ms. Gazala Singh

Thursday, November 3, 2022
Modern Yoga and Therapy
Course Director: Ms. Gazala Singh

WEEK 13

Tuesday, November 8, 2022
The Psychosomatics of Illness and Healing: Yoga Therapeutics in the Tradition of Late Sri T. Krishnamacharya, ‘The Father of Modern Yoga’ and T.K.V. Desikachar
Co-Founder Yoga Vahini: Ms. Saraswathi Vasudevan

Thursday, November 10, 2022: Praxis and Course Wrap-Up
Praxis: 5.30 – 7 pm
BHAKTIKAAL: Walking the Word, Singing the Path
Poet-Filmmaker: Ms. Rajula Shah

Course Wrap-up | Class participants meet in break-out rooms: 7 - 8 pm
Course Director: Ms. Gazala Singh

Classes mainly on Tuesdays and Thursdays

Timing: 5.30 – 8 PM

Eligibility: Graduation Degree

Admission Requirements:

A digital copy each of your last degreecertificate,
A passport-sized photograph
Short bio (100 words)

Students are expected to make a sincere attempt to attend all classes. To obtain an Y&T Certificate, students must have at least 75% attendance at online classes.

Please read the Terms and Conditions carefully before registering.

Duration

16 Aug - 10 Nov, 2022

Fees

Rs. 30,000

(PG Certificate)