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“Is Hindu Culture Relevant?” Leicester Friends Talk | 17th May with Shaunaka Rishi Das | FREE event

“Is Hindu Culture Relevant?” Leicester Friends Talk | 17th May with Shaunaka Rishi Das | FREE event

Is Hindu Culture Relevant?

Special talk by Shaunaka Rishi Das

Dear Friends,

Leicester Friends of OCHS are delighted to invite you to the relaunch of our regular talks. After a pause, we are returning with a fresh schedule and a new venue in support of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies.

New Venue: Glenfield Memorial Hall, 5 Stamford St, Glenfield, Leicester LE3 8DL
Date: Saturday 17th May 2025
Time: 5pm
Guest Speaker: Shaunaka Rishi Das, Director of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies (OCHS), 
Talk Title: Is Hindu Culture Relevant?

This event marks a new chapter for our local community, and we would be honoured by your presence. Join us for an evening of engaging discussion, reconnecting with familiar faces, and welcoming new friends.

Light refreshments will be served. Free event, all are welcome – please feel free to bring friends and family!

Warm regards,
Leicester Friends of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies

Any questions, please write to: lf@ochs.org.uk

 

Please support the work of the OCHS through https://ko-fi.com/ochsoxford

Donate for Free on Amazon

Set up your Amazon account so that it directly donates free to OCHS every time you make a purchase, Amazon will donate a small per cent to a charity of your choice, on Amazon Smile select OCHS as your chosen charity and you will be supporting the Centre for free

https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ch/1074458-0

Oxford Student Theology Society Talks for Trinity Term 2025

Oxford Student Theology Society Talks for Trinity Term 2025

Please join the Oxford Student Theology Society for the first of three talks in Trinity Term 2025!

Wednesday 14th May (3rd week), 5pm
What is theology? Christian Theology and the Community of the Church
by Prof. Johannes Zachhuber, Trinity College Oxford
Location: Christ Church, Lecture Room 1

Wednesday 21 May, 5pm
Interpretative Community and Philosophical Hermeneutics
by Prof. Hindy Najman
Location: MacGregor Room, Oriel College
Wednesday 11 June, 5pm
The Comparative Imperative: Why We Need Comparative Religion
by Prof. Gavin Flood
Location: MacGregor Room, Oriel College

The talks will last about 30 minutes to be followed by Q&A and refreshments.

Next Gita Study Group on 29th April

Next Gita Study Group on 29th April

Gita Study Group

Verses to honour Pope Francis

As we approach a new term, and as Spring is being seen a felt around us, I am reminded that Krishna says that he is the flower baring spring. This makes the joy of seeing a bluebell’s bud open, or noticing the scent of Verbena a meditation on the Supreme. Each wonderful thing being a spark of his splendour. Lovely thoughts.

However, the verses I thought we could begin the term considering are from the second chapter of the Gita. I choose them in honour and celebration of the life of the late Pope Francis. He was a sincere and humble man of God, and I think we can see his dedication to a spiritual life reflected in how he restrained and retrained himself, as these verses suggest for us all. They also graphically illustrate how easily we fall short of our ideals, further illustrating the committent of Pope Francis.

Chapter 2, verses 59-63

Verse 59
Though the embodied soul may be restricted from sense enjoyment, the taste for sense objects remains. But, ceasing such engagements by experiencing a higher taste, he is fixed in consciousness.

Verse 60
The senses are so strong and impetuous, O Arjuna, that they forcibly carry away the mind even of a man of discrimination who is endeavouring to control them.

Verse 61
One who restrains his senses, keeping them under full control, and fixes his consciousness upon Me, is known as a man of steady intelligence.

Verse 62
While contemplating the objects of the senses, a person develops attachment for them, and from such attachment lust develops, and from lust anger arises.

Verse 63
From anger, complete delusion arises, and from delusion bewilderment of memory. When memory is bewildered, intelligence is lost, and when intelligence is lost one falls down again into the material pool.

Our next Bhagavad-gita Study Group meets on Tuesday, 29th of April, 5-6pm. We will host hybrid sessions, both in person, at the OCHS, 13-15 Magdalen Street, OX1 3AE, and also online at:

Email secretary@ochs.org.uk to get on the Gita Study Group mailing list and receive a Zoom link.

I look forward to seeing you.

Warm regards,
Shaunaka

 

Sanskrit Kickstarter

Sanskrit Kickstarter

A Sanskrit Kickstarter: 15–16 March

Embark on a transformative journey into the heart of Sanskrit – the language of the Gods.

This immersive online weekend school welcomes all levels, from absolute beginners to seasoned practitioners.

Delve into the rich, meditative depths of this ancient language, the cornerstone of Indian history, science, religion, and culture. Explore the elegant Devanāgarī script, learn authentic pronunciation, and unlock the layers of meaning and grammar that make Sanskrit so captivating.

Sessions

History of Sanskrit
Tutor: Dr Rembert Lutjeharms

An Early Morning Hymn to Śiva
Tutor: Prof. Gavin Flood

Speaking Sanskrit
Tutor: Dr Premraj Neupane

Found in Translation
Tutor: Dr Zoë Slatoff

Sunday Morning Mantra
Tutor: Gaiea Sanskrit

A Mantra to Śiva
Tutor: Prof. Gavin Flood

Sound, Silence, and Script: The Sacred Syllable OM in Early India
Tutor: Prof. Finn Moore Gerety

The Forest in the Trees
Tutor: Dr Zoë Slatoff

Complimentary Zoom Sessions

As an extra thank you, enrolment in the Sanskrit Kickstarter gives you free access to next term’s (May–June) five campus-wide Zoom Sessions on a variety of related topics.

Online via Zoom

Saturday 15–Sunday 16 March 2025
11.00am–5.30pm with breaks between each session.

(Recordings will be made available for any sessions you may miss)

Enrolment Fee: £345

When the ‘esoteric’ strikes back: Revising the field of tantric studies

When the ‘esoteric’ strikes back: Revising the field of tantric studies

The Intersection of Hinduism and Contemporary Society project

Presenting our next online guest lecture in the Invited Speaker Series

When the ‘esoteric’ strikes back: Revising the field of tantric studies

Friday, 29th November 2024, 6pm UTC/GMT
By Dr. Monika Hirmer (Friedrich-Alexander Universität, Erlangen–Nürnberg, Germany)

Registration

Please register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ochs-ihcs-invited-lecture-series-monika-hirmer-tickets-1086879308269?aff=oddtdtcreator

We will send you a zoom link two days before the event.

Abstract

South Asian tantric traditions have fascinated Western scholars ever since the first colonial encounters, when the term ‘Tantrism’ was coined to indicate a set of practices deemed irrational and morally deprived, as opposed to the supposedly rational and morally superior religious practices of the West. This Orientalist view has nowadays been superseded by more nuanced perspectives, which acknowledge the complexity of South Asian tantric traditions, and emphasise, as some of their primary features, the presence of a guru, the importance of rituals and yantras, and pervasive correspondences between the micro- and macrocosmic realms. Acknowledging the inherent fluidity of tantric practices has paved the way for the most recent scholarly developments in the field, which explore the thus-far understudied interactions between pan-Indian and folk traditions, and mainstream and unconventional ritual practices in South Asia.

While tantric scholarship has advanced significantly, the fact that its focus is mostly limited to South Asia excludes some of the most prominent cross-cultural interactions, namely those engendered by the diffusion of tantric practices in the West. In fact, tantra in the West remains largely ignored by eminent scholars in the field of tantric studies, and is instead explored under different rubrics, such as ‘new religious movements’, ‘esoteric traditions’ and ‘Neotantra’, giving rise to a schism between tantric traditions in South Asia and tantric traditions in the West. Without denying the distinctiveness of tantra in the West and its problematic appropriation strategies, I argue that, as long as the field of tantric studies fails to incorporate Western tantric traditions, it recreates the same colonial dichotomies and violent hierarchies that were advanced by Orientalist scholars—only that, this time around, the ‘Other’ is the West, in opposition to a more authentic and, therefore, superior South Asia.

Indic Manuscript Database Launch

Indic Manuscript Database Launch

OCHS INDIC MANUSCRIPT DATABASE LAUNCH

Venue: Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies Online,
13–15 Magdalen Street, OX1 3AE, Oxford.
– All are welcome!

10.50-11.00 Tea/coffee
11.00-11.05 Welcome: Professor Gavin Flood, Dean of Hindu Studies

11.05-11.20 Introduction: Dr Bjarne Wernicke-Olesen
11.20-12.00 OCHS Indic Manuscript Database Launch: Dr Ulrik Lyngs

12.00-12.15 Break

12.15-12.30 Gauḍīya Patrikā: A Digital Archive of Bengali Vaiṣṇava Periodicals: Dr Lucian Wong
12.30-13.00 Creating AI models for Handwriting and Text Recognition in South Asian Manuscripts (Digital Scholarship Development Grant): Tom Derrick

13.00-14.00 Lunch

14.00-15.00 Technical deep dive for developers: Understanding & extending our Database & Web Apps: Dr Ulrik Lyngs

Sign up by email to secretary@ochs.org.uk
You can also join the event via Zoom. 

Join our team! Postdoc in Jain Studies

Join our team! Postdoc in Jain Studies

Bhagawan Sumatinath Jain Postdoctoral Study

The Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies (OCHS) is pleased to announce that we are accepting applications for the Bhagawan Sumatinath Jain Postdoctoral Study fellowship. Deadline for applications is 18 November 2024.

The role is 0.75 FTE on a fixed-term contract lasting three years with a part-time annual salary of £28,000.

As part of your application, please provide a copy of your current CV, a covering letter (max 1 page), an outline describing your proposed research plan (max 3 pages), and 2 references with email contact information. The ideal candidate will hold a PhD (or be close to completing a PhD) in a relevant field.

Responsibilities of the role:
– Carry out a research project in the field of Jain Studies
– Organise a research symposium (in-person or online)
– Engage and network with leading Jain Studies scholars based in the UK and other European countries
– Publish (or at least submit for publication) two journal articles
– Work on making the PhD thesis ready for publication
– Develop an online course for the OCHS Continuing Education Department

Please note that this is an in-person role and the candidate is expected to be in Oxford during term time.

 
Apply for this position by email to Shawna at secretary@ochs.org.uk
 
About the OCHS 

The Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies (OCHS) is the global leader in Hindu Studies. We are committed to the academic study of Hindu cultures and traditions in all periods and parts of the world. As an academic institution, the OCHS is not affiliated with any religious or political group and welcomes staff, students, and visitors of all backgrounds. Our unique scholarly environment opens the way to ground-breaking research in interdisciplinary fields of study.

Teaching Hindu Studies and Indian Languages are core activities at the Centre. We collaborate closely with the University of Oxford; our Fellows tutor, teach and supervise students of the University. Our mission is to contribute to a more holistic global discourse and educate students to become first-class scholars and future leaders in fields including education, philosophy, religion, ecology, literature, and politics.

Building upon the academic status of the Centre we have been able to provide Continuing Education consisting of online courses and weekend schools. We currently have 40 courses available and more than 11,000 enrolments, making Hindu Studies accessible to a global audience. We enjoy meaningful engagement with many levels of society, not least with local Hindu communities, which sets us apart and models a holistic approach. It is within this comprehensive, cultural awareness that we are able to provide chaplaincy services and support Hindu art, literature, and culture.

Dharmaśāstra and Hindu Law with Prof. Patrick Olivelle

Dharmaśāstra and Hindu Law with Prof. Patrick Olivelle

MASTERCLASS 2024

Dharmaśāstra and Hindu Law with Prof. Patrick Olivellev

26 May–23 June 2024

You may recall last year we held a very successful masterclass with Prof. Gavin Flood on Tantra. The combination of a hugely important and popular topic with a globally-leading scholar proved irresistible!

So after long and careful planning, we are delighted to offer this year’s Masterclass: Dharmaśāstra and Hindu Law presented by Prof. Patrick Olivelle. See below for more information on Prof. Olivelle’s many qualifications.

In this series, we will ask:

Was there a dharma before the Dharmaśāstras?
What is law?
How do we resolve disputes?
How do we live a good life?
How do we sustain order?

Each Masterclass is followed by a Q&A in which we discuss:

History of dharma and Dharmaśāstra,
How traditional scholars of India have understood dharma over the past millenia,
What happens when the Dharmaśāstra hits the ground? How is it applied in different ages and scenarios?
How society is affected by Dharmaśāstra and how societies are formed around Dharmaśāstra.

You will receive:

Five live Zoom sessions including time for Q&A
Recordings of sessions
Completion Certificate (if completing optional essay) or Participation Certificate
Access to student forum
Specially selected readings

If you’d like to learn more about this special not-to-be-repeated Masterclass, click here or drop me a line.

Your Tutor

Patrick Olivelle is Professor of Sanskrit and Indian Religions at the University of Texas at Austin. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies.

His current research focuses on the ancient Indian legal tradition of Dharmaśāstra. He has edited and translated the four early Dharmasūtras and prepared a critical edition of the Law Code of Manu (Mānava Dharmaśāstra).

Among his many other works is an award-winning translation of the early Upaniṣads. Prof. Olivelle has won several prestigious fellowships, including Guggenheim, NEH, and ACLS. He was elected Vice President of the American Oriental Society in 2004 and President in 2005.

Lecture List Trinity Term 2024

Lecture List Trinity Term 2024

Trinity Term 2024

I am delighted to share with you the exciting lineup of lectures and conferences scheduled at the OCHS for Trinity Term. This term promises to be enriching with four conferences and the presence of seven distinguished visiting fellows from India, Japan, the USA, Brazil, Canada, and Slovenia.

We are honoured to welcome Dr S. Bhuvaneshwari as the Shivdasani Visiting Fellow and Prof. Glen A. Hayes as the J. P. and Beena Khaitan Visiting Fellow. Additionally, I am pleased to announce the inauguration of the Behl Visiting Fellowship, which will be graced by Dr Abhishek Bose. We also extend our warmest welcome to Prof. Kiyokazu Okita, Prof. Mandakranta Bose, Dr Nina Petek, and Dr Ricardo Silvestre. 

Each of our visiting fellows will deliver a lecture during the term, and you can find detailed information in the lecture list below. These lectures will be held in the OCHS Library and are open to the public, offering a wonderful opportunity for intellectual engagement and exchange.

Our conferences this term will explore a diverse array of topics, providing a platform for scholarly discourse and exploration. 

  • The God and Consciousness in Indian Traditions, a three-day conference funded by the John Templeton Foundation. 
  • Boundaries, Liminality, and Heterodoxy in Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism, a conference which is part of our Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism research programme.
  • The Sanskrit Traditions Symposium is celebrating its 40th anniversary and will take place at Trinity College, Oxford.
  • Text and Ritual in Śākta Traditions, an online conference that is part of the Śākta Traditions research programme. 

The best part? Our conferences are free to attend and open to the public. We will share detailed information about the programme and how to sign up for each event in separate emails.

I look forward to another enriching term and the vibrant academic community here at OCHS.

Yours sincerely,
Tanja
OCHS Development Officer