Learning and Teaching in Ancient India
Introduction
Welcome to *Illuminating Education: Research, Awareness, and Meditation in the Classroom*! Your host, Dhwani Shah, is honored to present this episode of the podcast series from Bharatversity in collaboration with Osho Fragrance, featuring a beacon of Indian Knowledge Systems and Sanskrit studies: Prof. Gauri Mahulikar.
A distinguished academic, Prof. Mahulikar currently serves as the *Academic Director at the Chinmaya International Foundation*, following an impactful tenure as Officiating Vice Chancellor and Dean of Faculty at Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth. Her stellar career includes decades of teaching at the University of Mumbai and profound scholarship, marked by a Ph.D. on ‘Vedic Elements in Puranic Mantras and Rituals,’ and prestigious accolades like the *Adya Sri Sankara Puraskara*.
As a leading authority on *Vedic Studies, Vedanta, and IKS*. Her twelve books and over a hundred and fifty articles bridge ancient wisdom with contemporary education. She has been an invited expert at global forums, including the World Sanskrit Conference, and lectured at esteemed international institutions such as *Harvard, Stanford, and Columbia*.
Today, Prof. Mahulikar will enlighten us on a topic foundational to our series: *Learning and Teaching in Ancient India*. Prepare to delve into the time-tested educational philosophies, methodologies, and teacher-disciple traditions that shaped our civilizational thought. Please join me in giving a warm welcome to the highly respected Prof. Gauri Mahulikar.
Topic Covered:
- What were the core aims of learning in ancient India?
- How did the *Guru-Shishya Parampara* function as a teaching methodology?
- Could you briefly explain the role of IKS (Indian Knowledge Systems) in shaping civilizational thought?
- What is one key takeaway modern education can adopt from *Vedic* or *Vedanta* teaching philosophies?
- What does your research on *Vedic Elements in Puranic Mantras* reveal about the continuity of ancient traditions?
