A 12-week Online Course on Symbolism in Sanatana Dharma was organised by the BhāratShakti team starting from 1st June to 17th August, 2024. The course was facilitated by Narendra Murty, Research Associate and Dr. Beloo Mehra, Director, BhāratShakti.
Online classes were held every Saturday from 9:00 AM to 10.30 AM. A total of 25 participants registered for the course. On each day of the class, introduction and the initial presentation were made in the first 35-40 minutes and thereafter the remaining time was devoted to answering questions from the participants through lively interactions.
Each session was concluded with a devotional musical rendering by Shanta Rajan, one of the participants who is also an accomplished singer. Following topics were covered in the course:
- The Language of Symbolism
- Nataraja – The Cosmic Dancer
- Vishnu – The Seshasayi
- The Significance of Pilgrimage
- Symbolism in the Ramayana
- The Inner Meaning of Samudra Manthan
- The Human Chariot in the Kathopanishad
- Om in the Mandukya Upanishad
- Sri Aurobindo’s Interpretation of the Rig Veda
- Ila, Saraswati and Sarama
- Agni – The Lord of the Sacrifice
- Recapitulation, Discussion and Feedback
Through this rich diversity of topics, the course touched upon several aspects related to symbolism from the Puranas, Upanishads and the Rig Veda. The course content and pedagogical approach were highly appreciated by the participants. Their lively participation during the interaction and the commitment and tenacity shown by them for 12 weeks was inspiring and also encouraging to the facilitators.
In the feedback received, all the participants expressed their desire to attend more such courses in future. Here are a few comments of the participants about the course:
“The simplicity and avoidance of heavy philosophy were much appreciated. The course was designed keeping in mind that most of the participants are ignorant, yet curious about the Sanatana Dharma. The fact that even the simple rituals and symbols depicted in our ancestral scripts are representations of deeper and everlasting truths was most intriguing.”
“I loved the inner meaning that exists behind the symbols”.
“Please conduct more sessions which can connect both spiritual knowledge and Indian history.”
“I highly appreciated the vast knowledge of Beloo ji and Murty ji and imparting them in a simple and beautiful way so that we can understand it. All the discussions were very enriching for me.”
In view of this positive and encouraging feedback, it shall be our endeavour to develop and design at least one such course every year.
