This course is designed for students who are interested in getting a glimpse of the vast treasure inherent in our Vedas through the lived experience of Saints across India. This glimpse will be enabled through a study of the Mandukya Upanishad that comes at the end of the Atharva veda. The course will also enable an introduction to Dhrupad music (Dhrupad is the most ancient form of Hindustani Classical Music). The course is available as a instructor-led course.
Course Format
- This series consists of 4 courses (MU 201 to 204). This course will provide:
- An introduction to Mandukya Upanishad (MU 201).
- An in-depth understanding of the Shlokas in Sanskrit through the poetry of Saints (Sant Vani) across India (MU 202 to MU 204).
- The student will be able to explain word for word meaning of the Shlokas and Sant Vanis in this course
- It will enable the learning of the rendition of these 12 Shlokas and the accompanying Sant Vani in Dhrupad music set to 16 different Ragas, composed by the Gundecha brothers.
- Each course (MU 201 to MU 204) will be 12 weeks long. The entire series will be 48 weeks long.
Objectives
- To understand the concept of the Mandukya Upanishad at an introductory level.
- To appreciate the poetry of a few Saints and how they connect to the Mandukya Shlokas
- To understand what Dhrupad music is and how it is the source of other genres of Hindustani Classical music.
- To appreciate the rendition of Shlokas and Sant Vani in Dhrupad music.
- Student should have interest and curiosity about the Vedas and Upanishads.
- Student should be at least 12 years of age.
- Some exposure to Sanskrit and some exposure to Classical music. Example: Students in SMA who have completed HV 106 or CV 106
Overview of the Shlokas and Sant Vanis
- Introduction to Vedas, Upanishads and Sant Vanis
- Story about 3 states of Consciousness in Lal Ded’s poetry
- Story of Lal Ded and her relevance to the contemporary women
- The importance of the Shanti Mantra
- Om as a primordial sound
- Reflection of Shloka 1 in a verse by Sant Raidas
- Bhakthi movement and the Sant Vani of Raidas
- Overview of Shlokas 2 to 5 which outline the 3 states of consciousness
- Overview of Shlokas 6 to 8 which outline the 4th state and Om
- Introduction to Shlokas 9,10, 11 which link the syllables A, U, M of Om to the states of consciousness
- Overview of Shloka 1 which describes Om
- Overview of Shloka 2, 3
- Overview of Shloka 4,5
- Overview of Shloka 6,7
- Shloka 7 in detail
- Overview of Shloka 8,9,10
- Overview of Shloka 11,12