Next round starts September 13th, 2010.
12 Mondays 6:30 to 9pm
Tuition:
Tuition is $400
+HST ($13.33 per contact hour).
Click here to register online.
Visions and Revision of the Feminine
Divine
An exploration of the Ten Mahāvidyās in the
context of
India’s Goddess Traditions
Click
here for the mind-blowing syllabus!
 This
introductory seminar explores the beautiful
paradox that is India’s feminine divine. Goddess
veneration is one of Hinduism’s most ancient
hallmarks, prevailing to this day in myth,
ritual, and philosophy. We commence with the
historical origins of goddess worship in India
(Indus Valley Civilization, 2600-1900 BCE)
before proceedingto the various dimensions of
the Goddess in order to set the stage for our
encounter with the Ten Mahāvidyās.
We will interweave the overarching themes (e.g.Goddess
as Power, as Mother, as Wrath, as Abundance,
etc.) in our examination of each deity. All
Classes will be animated by mythology and live
Sanskrit chanting of related texts. Our
twelve-week journey culminates in a final
meditation on the Goddess, as we contemplate how
the principle of feminine divinity may be
integrated into our own consciousnesses.
COURSE INSTRUCTOR:
 Raj
Balkaran has completed a BA in Comparative
Religion and an MA in Hindu Studiesat the
University of Toronto. He has also been studying
through a living oral tradition at the feet of a
spiritual master for several years in
conjunction with developing his own practice as
an avid chanter. In this engaging course, Raj
dovetails knowledge and experience, offering
both intellectual and spiritual insight into
India’s feminine divine.
Click
here for the mind-blowing syllabus!
(note: all readings except for the required
texts will be supplied in PDF form in the course
packet.)
|
