AKTU Human Values in Vedic Darshan (Sankhya, Yoga and Vedanta) (MNHV802) Syllabus PDF – B.Tech Minor Degree in Universal Human Values

YOGA AND VEDANTA)

Course Objectives

• To help students understand the basic principles of the Vedic Darśana covering Nyāya- Vaiśeṣika, Sāṃkhya-Yoga, and Mīmāṃsā-Vedanta Darśana and Upaniṣads
• To help students understand the existential realities including the human existence through Vedic Darśana
• To help them to see the participation of human beings in the nature/ existential realities (i.e. human values) and therefore the human conduct through each one of them
• To help students apply this understanding to make their living better at different levels- individual, family, society and nature
• To facilitate the students in applying this understanding in their profession and lead an ethical life The Vedic Darśanas form a major part of the philosophy of Indian tradition. This course outlines basic concepts and principles of these philosophies and provides scope for further reading, so as to gain clarity about the human being, the existence and human participation i.e. human values expressing itself in human conduct.

Unit 1: Introduction to Vedic Darśana (2 lectures)

Need to study Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika, Sāṃkhya-Yoga, Mīmāṃsā-Vedanta Darśana and Upaniṣads; the origin of these philosophies, their basic principles and scope for further reading.

Unit 2:NyāyaDarśana (7 lectures)

Introduction to NyāyaDarśana, 16 padārthas (pramāṇa, prameya, saṃśaya, prayojana, dṛṣṭānta, siddhānta, avayava, tarka, nirṇaya, vāda, jalpa, vitaṇḍā, hetuābhāsa, chala, jāti, nigrahasthāna) paṃcāvayavaprakriyā (pratijñā, hetu, udāharaṇna, upanaya, nigamana)

Unit 3: VaiśeṣikaDarśana (7 lectures)

karma phala; mindful dāna; śucitā-aśucitā; reasons of rāga-dveśa, avidyā, sukha- Introduction to VaiśeṣikaDarśana, definition of Dharma, abhyudaya, niḥśreyasa; 6 padārthas (dravya, guṇa, karma, sāmānya, viśeśa, samvāya) – their definition, characteristics and relationship; nitya-anitya; cause-effect relationships; dṛṣṭa- adṛṣṭaduḥkha, etc. and how to get rid of them

Unit 4:YogaDarśana (8 lectures)

Yoga Darśana- the steps of Aṣṭāṃga yoga (yama, niyama, āsana, prāṇāyāma, pratyāhāra, dhāraṇā, dhyāna and samādhi) and the challenges in following them, afflictions (kleṣa)-avidyā, asmitā, rāga, dveṣa, abhiniveṣa, different types of vṛttis (pramāṇa, viparyaya, vikalpa, nidrā, smṛti), the process of nirodha of vṛttis; maitri, karuṇā, muditā, upekṣā; description of yama, niyama, āsana and praṇayaama; kriyāyoga –tapa, svādhyāya and īśvara-praṇidhāna; different steps of samādhi, different types of saṃyama, vivekakhyāti, prajñā

Unit 5: SāṃkhyaDarśana (6 lectures)

SāṃkhyaDarśana- Puruṣārtha, the nature of Puruṣa and Prakṛti, 24 elements of Prakṛti,bondage and salvation (liberation), the principle of satkāryavāda, triguṇātmakaprakṛti

Unit 6: Upaniṣad and Vedanta Darśana (8 lectures)

Introduction to Upaniṣad and Vedanta Darśana; Īśopaniṣad – Idea of renouncement, Karma Yoga, balance of Vidyā-Avidyā and Prakṛti-Vikṛti; Tattirīyopaniṣad – Different names of the God and their meaning, parting message of Guru to the graduating student (Śikṣāvallī), Nature of Brahma and Prakṛti, Methods of Upāsanā; Nature of Ātmā, Description of existence, principle of karma-phala, description of paṃcakośa, nature of mukti, process and way to achieve it, antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi, different nature of paramātmā/brahma, Īśvara, Four qualifications (Sādhana-catuṣṭaya)

Unit 7: Purpose and Program for a Human Being based on the Vedic Darśanas (4

lectures) The purpose and program of a human being living on the basis of the Vedic Darśana, clarity and practice of human values and human conduct, the natural outcome of such a program on society, nature and tradition. Vedic system of living in a society - PaṃcaMahāyajṇa, Varṇa System, Āśrama System, 16 Saṃskāras, etc.

Reference Books

1.Acharya UdayveerShastri, SankhyaDarshanam (VidyodayaBhashyam), GovindramHasanand 2.Acharya RajveerShastri, PatanjalYogDarśanaBhashyam, ArshaSahityaPrachar Trust 3.Acharya UdayveerShastri, Brahma Sutra (Vedanta Darshanam), GovindramHasanand 4.Krishna, I. (2010) The SāṃkhyaKarika, BharatiyaVidyaPrakashan, 4th edition 5.Madhavacharya, Sarva-DarshanaSamgraha, ChaukhambhaVidyabhavan, Varanasi. 6.Muller, F.M. (1928) The Six Systems of Indian Philosophy, London: Longmans Green and Co.

Publication. 7.Maharaj O. PatanjalYogpradeep, Geeta press Gorakhpur 8.Vachaspati M. Sankhyatatvakaumudi, MotilalBanarasi Das Publication. 9.Shreemad Bhagwat Geeta 10.Shankaracharya, VivekChoodamani 11.Rajyoga, Swami Shivananda 12.The Nyāya Sutras of Gotama, Sinha, N. (Ed.). MotilalBanarsidass Publ. (1990). 13.PanditMadanmohanVidyasagar. SanskarSamuchaya, VijaykumarGovindramHasanand. 1998 14.Vedic Vision: Ancient Insights Into Modern Life, SatyavrataSiddhantalankar, Vijay KrishnLakhanpal, 1999 15.Sanskar Chandrika (Hindi), Dayananda Saraswati, and SatyavrataSiddhantalankar. Vijay KrishnLakhanpal, (1990). 16.THE TAITTIRIYA Upanishad, Achari, Sri Rama Ramanuja. (2013). 17.Vedic religion: The Taittiriya-Upanishad with the commentaries of SankaracharyaSuresvaracharya and Sayana (Vidyarana). Sastri, A. Mahadeva. (2016). 18.TaittiriyopanishadSankaraBhashyaWith Hindi Translation Gita Press 1936. 19.Gautama's Nyāyasūtras: With Vātsyāyana-Bhāṣya. Jha, Ganganatha, ed. Oriental Book Agency, 1939. 20.NyayaDarshnam, Acharya UdayveerShastri, VijaykumarGovindramHasanand (2018) 21.VaisheeshikaDarshanam, Acharya UdayveerShastri, VijaykumarGovindramHasanand(2017) 22.Chattejee, S.G. and Datta, D.M. (1960) An Introduction to Indian Philosophy, Calcutta: University of Calcutta Press. 23.A Foundation Course in Human Values and Profession Ethics (Text Book and Teachers’ Manual), R. R. Gaur, R. Asthana, G. P. Bagaria (2019 Second Revised Edition), Excel Books, New Delhi [ISBN 978-93-87034-47-1].

Mode of Evaluation:

Based on participation of student in classroom discussions/Self-assessment/Peer assessment/Assignments/ Seminar/Continuous Assessment Test/Semester End Exam Socially relevant project/Group Activities/Assignments may be given importance in this course

Course Outcomes

On completion of this course, the students will be able to 1.Analyze the basic concepts of the Vedic Darśana - Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika, Sāṃkhya- Yoga, Mīmāṃsā-Vedanta Darśana and Upaniṣads 2.Analyze the human being, the needs and activities of human beings through VedicDarśana. 3.Explain the whole existence through Vedic Darśana 4.Formulate the role of human being in the entire existence, thus getting clarity about values at all levels of living and human conduct based on Vedic Darśana 5.Model the foundation of human society and human tradition based on VedicDarśana *******