The Vedas are Shruti – ‘that which was heardʼ by the Ṛiṣhis in deep meditations. The Mother is Shakti – the Divine Consciousness that descended to transform earth and body.
Living Veda Conference 2026 brings these two together at Puducherry, the land where The Mother lived for 50 years and worked with Sri Aurobindo on the “Supramental Transformation.”
The Veda, being the oldest revelation of humanity, is much more than just a historical text or a set of ritual hymns. Sri Aurobindo regarded the Veda not just as a religious document but as a deep record of spiritual experiences and a symbolic revelation of consciousness evolution. His interpretation reveals the Vedic vision of Truth-Consciousness (Sat-Chit-Ānanda) and presents a spirituality that is life-affirming, transformative, and evolutionary rather than world-denying.
One important yet often overlooked aspect of the Vedic revelation is its strong affirmation of the Divine Feminine. Long before modern discussions on feminism, gender equality, and women's empowerment, the Vedic Ṛshis perceived reality as infused and supported by a conscious feminine power - Chit-Shakti, the dynamic force through which the Divine expresses, governs, and transforms the universe.
This vision is powerfully expressed in the famous ‘Devī Suktaʼ (Rig Veda 10.125), where the Goddess speaks as the universal and cosmic Self. She states, “aham rudrebhir vasubhiḥ charāmi… ˮ—“ I move with the Rudras and the Vasus; I uphold all the gods and all beings.ˮ In this remarkable hymn, the Goddess reveals herself as the source of wisdom, power, creativity, sovereignty, and spiritual realization.
The Vedic revelation showcases this Divine Feminine through a diverse array of goddesses and symbolic powers. Vāk symbolizes the Divine Word; Sarasvatī represents inspiration, wisdom, intuition, and illumination; Aditi is the Infinite Mother; Uṣhas is the Goddess of Dawn; Iḷā signifies revelation and intuitive truth coming into human awareness, while Bhāratī or Mahī embodies the vastness of consciousness that broadens the human mind towards universality. Collectively, these and many other Vedic goddesses illustrate a deep spiritual psychology where feminine powers are crucial in supporting and promoting both cosmic and human evolution.
Sri Aurobindo's interpretation provides a new perspective on these deities. He viewed the Vedic goddesses not just as mythological figures or representations of natural forces but as living powers of consciousness that are active within both the cosmos and humanity.
According to Sri Aurobindo, the Divine Mother expresses herself through four powers: Maheshwarī (wisdom), Mahākālī (strength), Mahālakṣhmī (harmony), and Mahāsarasvatī (perfection in work). Their significance in the Vedic context lies in conveying divine consciousness through knowledge, power, beauty, and skill, guiding human evolution towards spiritual realization and comprehensive transformation.
In this evolutionary context, Shakti plays a key role. Sri Aurobindo's Integral Yoga teaches that transformation isn't just about human desire and effort. It also needs the Divine Mother's presence and action, the ultimate Conscious Force that gradually changes the mind, life, and body. The Vedic goddesses can be seen as manifestations and powers of this transformative Shakti, preparing humanity for a greater spiritual future and a more aware way of living.
Sri Aurobindo's ideas were expanded by notable Vedic scholars and spiritual thinkers like Sri T.V. Kapāli Sāstry, Sri A. B. Purāṇi, Sri M. P. Pandit, and Dr. R. L. Kashyap. Their research showed that the Veda holds a deep science of consciousness that applies not only to religious practices but also to psychology, human growth, education, culture, and collective evolution. Their work continues to motivate modern efforts to uncover the deeper meaning and application of Vedic wisdom.
This conference aims to reaffirm the Veda as a vital source of transformative knowledge that can lead humanity toward a better evolutionary future. Special focus will be on the importance of Shakti and Divine Feminism in Vedic teachings and their relevance for today's spiritual, social, cultural, and civilizational renewal.
Motivated by Sri Aurobindo's comprehensive vision, the conference aims to support a new wave of intellectual, cultural, and spiritual revival that reestablishes the Veda as a vital force for the future.
By highlighting the transformative energy of Shakti, the insights of the Vedic goddesses, and humanity's evolutionary path, it aims to show that the Living Veda is not just a remnant of history but a beacon for building a more aware, harmonious, sustainable, and divinely inspired future.
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Call for Papers
We invite scholars, practitioners, teachers, and seekers to present papers on how Vedic Shŗuti and The Motherʼs Shakti meet in theory and lived practice.
Suggested Topics:
• Divine Feminism and Shakti in the Vedas
• Vedic Goddesses: Sarasvatī, Aditi, Vāk, Uṣha, Iḷā, Bhāratī, and others
• Sri Aurobindoʼs ‘The Secret of the Vedaʼ and Modern Vedic Interpretation
• Integral Transformation and Conscious Evolution
• The Divine Mother in Vedic and Integral Yoga Traditions
• Symbolism, Mantra, and the Inner Meaning of Vedic Revelation
• Vedic Perspectives on Gender, Leadership, and Society
• Application of Vedic Wisdom in Education, Culture, and Social Development
• Vedic Agni and The Motherʼs ‘Psychic Fireʼ
• Ṛta and Aditi: Cosmic Order and Motherhood in Vedas
• Puducherry as Modern Naimiṣhāraṇya: Building a Living Veda Community
• Veda and Enhancing Human Potentialities
Submission Guidelines:
• Abstracts (250-300 words): July 31, 2026
• Selection and other key details will be communicated through email
• Full papers (for selected abstracts): August 30, 2026
• Papers must be in 3000 - 4000 words in original, unpublished, and not under review elsewhere.
• In-person presentation 25 minutes + Interaction 10 minutes
• Papers and presentation must be experiential + textual mix, not pure theory.
• Submissions should be in English/Samskruta and aligned with the conference theme.
Benefits of Participation:
Present research to a diverse audience of scholars and practitioners. Selected papers will be published in conference proceedings/journals Networking opportunities with leading experts in Vedic studies.
Patrons:
Dr. Ajit Sabnis
Chairman, Sri Aurobindo Society State
Committee, Karnataka
Prof. Raghunath V Jahagirdar
Managing Trustee, Sri Aurobindo Kapali Sastry
Institute of Vedic Culture, Bengaluru
Prof. Makarand R Paranjape
Director of Education, AHCP LLC, USA
Convenors:
Dr. Kishor Kumar Tripathy
Member Secretary, AuroBharati,
Sri Aurobindo Society, Puducherry
Sri Bindumadhava V Jahagirdar
Secretary, Sri Aurobindo Kapāli Sāstry
Institute of Vedic Culture, Bengaluru
Conference Offices:
Sri Aurobindo Society, Puducherry
No.11, Saint Martin Street,
Puducherry – 605 001, PY, India
Sri Aurobindo Kapāli Sāstry
Institute of Vedic Culture (SAKSHI Trust)
#19 ‘Atharvaʼ, 1st Cross, Siddappa Layout,
Gubbalala, Bengaluru - 560061, KA, India
Website: www.livingveda.events
Email: [email protected]
Contact Number:+91-9650 820 241
