PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, April 26: The Sanskrit Department of Sona Devi University, Ghatsila, organized a one-day online lecture series focusing on the theme “Indian Knowledge Tradition and Supreme Life Values Embedded in the Vedas.”
Dr. Shailesh Kumar Mishra served as the keynote speaker, sharing his insights on the topic. He highlighted that ancient India attracted students from across the world to its universities, not merely for acquiring knowledge but for mastering the art of living.
He emphasized that the ultimate goal of life, according to the Indian tradition, is the attainment of bliss. He stated that life originates from bliss and ultimately merges into it.
Explaining the purpose of education in Indian tradition, Dr. Mishra noted that knowledge is not confined to degrees but lies in the preservation of life values.
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Sanskrit’s Contributions to Language, Health, and Life Sciences
He praised Sanskrit for safeguarding India’s vast and ancient knowledge tradition, especially through the Vedas, which were preserved via oral tradition in Sanskrit for thousands of years.
Dr. Mishra also explained the concept of “Guru Rin” (debt to the teacher), where one repays by educating the next generation.
He discussed the importance of Sanskrit in linguistic research and referenced scholars like Panini, Patanjali, Charaka, and Sushruta to illustrate India’s contributions.
He elaborated on the foundational “Muladhara Chakra,” the stages of speech, and how ancient sages linked language science with Vedantic thought.
Touching on sleep science, Dr. Mishra drew connections between ancient and modern studies, citing the Sushruta Samhita, and explained how sleep states relate to the three gunas—Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas.
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Cultural and Philosophical Legacy of Sanskrit Literature
He asserted that without Sanskrit, Indian history would be incomplete, citing examples from Kalhana’s Rajatarangini to Banabhatta’s works.
Dr. Mishra emphasized the importance of life management as taught by the Bhagavad Gita, and the richness of Sanskrit literature, referencing Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Natya Shastra.
He spoke on the necessity of maintaining balance in diet, sleep, and celibacy to ensure good health, as per ancient wisdom.
He concluded by stressing the need to re-examine human values in today’s time, highlighting the principles of truth and non-violence as central to the Vedas.
The session was followed by a vote of thanks from Dr. Gulab Singh Azad, the registrar of the University, who praised the importance of Sanskrit and expressed the desire for more such enlightening sessions.
The program began with a Vedic invocation and was led by Dr. Saikat Chakraborty, head of the Sanskrit Department, and Dr. Sangeeta Chaudhary, head of the Music Department, who performed a classical invocation.
Dr. Kanchan Sinha, Head of the History Department, delivered the welcome address, and Kumari Nikita, assistant professor in the Sanskrit Department, conducted the event.
