The Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute

The youtube live of the special lecture "Ancient Meteorology Based on Ancient Literature" by Dr. Raghav Gaikaiwari will begin at 4 PM today on the following link

वेध पर्जन्यमानाचा आधार प्राचीन वाङ्मयाचा (वराहमिहिर आणि अन्य प्राचीन ग्रंथकारांनी घेतलेल्या पर्जन्यमानाच्या अदमासाचा पडताळा घेणारे, तसेच आपल्या परिसरा....

🗓️ Mark Your Calendars!

Join us for an insightful lecture on "Ancient Meteorology Based on the Ancient Indian Literature" by Dr. Raghav Gaikaiwari, Chairman and Managing Director of Hitech Biosciences India Ltd., Pune.

🗣️ Speaker: Dr. Raghav Gaikaiwari
📅 Date: Friday, 31st May 2024
🕕 Time: 4:00 PM
📍 Venue: Bhandarkar Institute's Shri Navalmal Firodia Auditorium, Pune

Don't miss this unique opportunity to delve into ancient interpretations of the monsoon season by Varahamihira and other scholars!

🔴 Link for the Live Lecture: https://youtube.com/live/vAU0kNdVjls?feature=share

1300 years ago, kings of Kashmir changed the world order.

The Karkotaka dynasty of Kashmir upended the world order 1300 years ago and emerged as a principal player on the Silk Routes.

The period between the 7th and 9th centuries was a tumultuous era, marked by a great power game between Kashmir, China, the Islamic Caliphate, and Tibet, each vying for dominance and influence.

This video takes us through this glorious epoch of Kashmir and the legacies of King Chandrapida and King Lalitaditya

1300 years ago, Kashmir's Kings Changed the World In this captivating video, we explore the epochal battle for control over the Silk Routes from the 7th to the 9th century, with a special focus on the pivota...

On this occasion of International Museum Day on 18th May 2024 , we celebrate the precious work of museums in preserving our rich cultural heritage and inspiring future generations.

We proudly announce our OFFLINE Post Graduate Diploma in Preventive Conservation in collaboration with Indira Gandhi National Centre of Arts (IGNCA) New Delhi, Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India and Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Pune

As International Council of Museums, Paris, headquartered at France, has announced 2024 as a year of education and research, we take pride in being instrumental in this journey of preserving our rich
cultural heritage by means of conservation education.

For further updates., Stay Tuned with Us…Please visit our website www.bori.ac.in/offlinecourses or email [email protected]

Namaste, we are pleased to introduce an introductory course on Sharada Script.

Sharada is one of the most significant scripts of Ancient India and was widely used in Kashmir.

Many precious treatises such as the Rigveda and Mahabharata were written in the Sharada Script.

This course aims to transmit the preliminary proficiency of the script.

The participants will also get to visit the BORI manuscript department.

Looking forward to your enthusiastic response.

Registration link: https://imjo.in/wNdRRc

Parsis has been a mysterious community for many. We are acquainted with a lot of family names Tata, Godrej, Wadia, Jeejeebhoy, Poonawalla, Mistry, Nariman and many more.

We have also come across the famous personalities Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, Dadabhai Naoroji, Homi Bhabha and more. The history, religion and philosophy of this community is interesting to see as they have a close link with Vedic Culture.

To know about the Parsi Community and understand their religion, Zoroastrianism, please join us for a two-day certificate course at Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Pune.

Registration link - https://imjo.in/du9S3Q

We cordially invite all of you to a distinguished lecture by Dr. Rajendra Joshi on "Akhbarat-e darbar-e mualla" (Court news-letters of Aurangzeb).

Venue: Navalmal Firodia Auditorium (BORI)
Date: February 26, 2024
Time: 6:00 PM

Admission is complimentary on a first-come, first-served basis.

The lecture will not be streamed live on any digital platform.

The second lecture of the 5th Edition of the Labhsetwar Public Lecture Series will take place tomorrow (January, 04) at 6 PM.

In this lecture, Dr. Shreenand Bapat (Registrar & Curator, Bhandarkar Institute) will deliver a lecture on Battles and Armies in the Mahabharata.

The lecture is open for all and will not be streamed live on any platform.

We are elated to announce the 5th Edition of the Labhsetwar Public Lecture Series.

This year, in the first lecture, Dr. Gauri Moghe (Executive Editor of Cultural Index of Mahabharata) will deliver a lecture on Ashwathama.

The first lecture will take place on 26th December at the Bhandarkar Institute at 6 PM.

The lecture is open for all, and will not be streamed live on any platform.

Launching: "Ayurveda - The Science of Healthy Life" - https://bharatvidya.in/p/ayurveda-the-science-of-a-healthy-life

This comprehensive course aims to distill the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda for the needs of daily life in the 21st century.

The course is a resource for those seeking to gain a functional understanding of Ayurveda, offering in-depth insights into holistic health practices, preventive healthcare, and therapeutic strategies rooted in time-tested wisdom.

It is designed to empower learners with knowledge on how to harmonize their lifestyle with natural laws, optimize their health, and prevent illness through a balanced approach to diet, behavior, and mind-body wellness.

In this course, we Learn about the Tridoshas—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha—and their crucial role in maintaining health. We explore the seven body tissues, waste products, and the body's vital points. We gain insights into the digestive process, metabolic essence, and the mind's impact on health. We understand individual constitutions (Prakriti) and how daily and seasonal routines influence our well-being. We cover dietary guidelines, food incompatibilities, and principles of disease resistance. The course also includes practical aspects like clinical examination, treatment methods, and detoxification techniques.

Did you know that the intertwined history of the Silk Routes, India's frontiers, international trade, and enduring power struggles go back thousands of years?

We are glad to announce that our new course "Silk Route and Frontiers of India - A Historical Account" will be launched on bharatvidya.in on September 11, 2023.

This course will take us through the ancient history of the Silk Route trade, how it shaped the world, how India's border regions were integral to these passages of prosperity, and the challenges of India in the 21st century.

This course is designed by Mr. Sanjay Sonawani

Silk Route & The Frontiers of India #teaser Did you know that the intertwined history of the Silk Routes, India's frontiers, international trade, and enduring power struggles go back thousands of years...

The idea of Dharma has been a topic of hot debate in recent days. There is a lot of misconception and misinformation on the topic. We launched "A Beginner's Guide to Dharmashastra" on bharatvidya to provide authentic and academic insights on the topic.

The complete first lecture of the course is available for free on YouTube. Do watch and share.

Decoding Dharma: A Journey into Philosophy, Ethics and the Way of Life Embark on a transformative journey into the world of Dharma. Presented by the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, this video serves as your gateway intro...

The Art of War Management: A Glimpse into Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's Strategies

War management is an intricate mix of strategy, foresight, and the understanding of both one's own strengths and the enemy's weaknesses.

As we delve into the 35-year career of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, we can discern his mastery over these elements.

Shivaji Maharaj's career, in terms of war management, can be divided into three distinct stages.

The first stage, spanning from 1645 to 1658, was marked by defensive campaigns. This was a period of learning and consolidation. Before the death of Afzal Khan, Shivaji Maharaj was methodically capturing essential forts around his Jaagir, including those on the coastline. This period saw him building a navy, a move that was both defensive and strategic. Vanquishing Afzal Khan was a turning point, which boosted his confidence and set him on an unstoppable path.

The subsequent decade, from 1659 to 1670, was a mix of defensive and offensive strategies. While the period between 1659-1665 saw Shivaji Maharaj taking an offensive stance, the years 1666-1670 were marked by a defensive approach. This blend of strategies was crucial in navigating the complex political landscape of the time.

The final decade, from 1670 to 1680, was characterized by an all-out offensive strategy. During this period, the Marathas were invincible, defeating all, including the British. This aggressive approach was evident when Shivaji Maharaj swiftly recaptured 23 forts that had been ceded to Mirza Raja Jaisingh in the Treaty of Purandar.

Geography played a pivotal role in shaping Shivaji Maharaj's war strategies. Capitalizing on the topography of India, especially the challenges posed by the Deccan region with its rivers, mountains, and forts, was crucial. The Deccan terrain made traditional warfare elements like artillery and elephants less effective. Instead, a swift cavalry was needed. Recognizing this, Shivaji Maharaj tailored his strategies accordingly, always choosing his battlefields, whether in his own region or enemy territory.

The balance between cavalry and infantry was essential. The Ain-I-Akbari lists various breeds of horses, indicating the importance of maintaining a robust cavalry. But war management wasn't just about the might of the army; it required significant funds. Shivaji Maharaj understood the importance of a well-funded army and ensured that his cavalry and infantry worked in tandem.

Forts were the backbone of Maratha strength. They served as defensive strongholds, control points, and strategic assets. Shivaji Maharaj's genius lay in how he used these forts in various situations. Whether it was choosing Jawali as the battlefield when Afzal Khan attacked or using the fort at Panhala to halt Siddi Jauhar's advance, forts played a crucial role in his strategies.

Understanding the enemy was as crucial as knowing one's strengths. The Chinese strategist Sun Tzu emphasized the importance of knowing both oneself and the enemy. Shivaji Maharaj exemplified this principle. He knew when to engage when to retreat, and when to strike. His strategies, whether defensive or offensive, were rooted in these principles.

To summarise, Shivaji Maharaj's war management was a blend of strategic foresight, an understanding of geography, and an innate ability to gauge both his and his enemy's strengths and weaknesses. His legacy serves as a testament to the art of war management.

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This write-up draws insights from a lecture in the course "The Leadership and Governance of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj", designed and delivered by Dr. Kedar Phalke. -

छत्रपती शिवाजी महाराजांची राजनीती (Governance & Leadership of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj) A Marathi Course with English Subtitles

Yesterday was the World Sanskrit Day. We are proud to share the release of a free online course on Sanskrit on the occasion. The course contains 120 thirty-minute videos to learn basic Sanskrit.

This course is offered free due to the magnificent financial support by Raj Kothari in honour of his late uncle, Vasant Kothari. We thank the Vasant Kothari Foundation for their support.

This course can be accessed on our online learning platform bharatvidya.in.

New Online Course - Select Sukta-s of the Veda-s
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The four Vedas - Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, and Atharvaveda - contain numerous hymns known as 'Suktas' that offer praises to various Vedic deities. These hymns serve as a rich source for ideas of worship. They were also utilized during the performance of yajnas.

Designed and delivered by Dr. Mugdha Gadgil, this course aims to delve into select Suktas or hymns from three of the Vedas, namely the Ṛgveda, the Yajurveda, and the Atharvaveda. It provides an exploration of Suktas dedicated to prominent Vedic deities.

The study of Veda-vidya serves as an introduction to the world of the Vedic epoch, and the exploration of select Suktas in this course represents a continuation of the quest for ancient knowledge.

Select Sukta-s of the Veda-s An Exposition of 11 Sukta-s

We are glad to announce an offline certification course in conservation of the family heritage - JATAN.

The course will be held at the Bhandrakar Oriental Research Institute on September 11th and 12th. Limited to 30 students, so seize the opportunity and enroll now!

Registration link: https://imojo.in/cEknz2

18 Rules of Compassionate Leadership: Lessons from the ancient Indian philosophy of Rajadharma

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The philosophy of Rajadharma is part of the broader framework of the Dharmashastra. It delves deeply into the best practices a King should adhere to. Essentially, it is a broad and timeless treatise on the art of leadership and governance.

Here we will see 18 principles prescribed for compassionate leadership.

1. Secure wealth, but let compassion be your guide. Pursue wealth without cruelty.
2. Speak with kindness and grace but stand strong. Kindness should be driven by understanding and empathy, not pity.
3. Courage is essential, but it's not about showing off. Be brave but do not brag.
4. Generosity is a virtue. But be discerning; give, but not to the undeserving.
5. Love deeply, but without being stubborn.
6. Stand firm in the face of challenges but let your heart guide your actions. Be fearless without being heartless.
7. Arrogance? Leave it at the door. Embrace hospitality and respect those who earn it.
8. Offer reassurance, but always stand by your word. No false promises.
9. Kindness is key but be kind without being sarcastic.
10. Conquer if you must, but don’t relish in the enemy's defeat. Don’t harbor regrets for destroying the enemy either.
11. Achieve great things, but never at the expense of others. Pursue success with empathy.
12. Be wary of allying with the wicked. Trust is earned, not given.
13. Protect secrets, value trust, and avoid sowing discord among friends.
14. Praise others, and stay humble. Remember, it's not about self-praise.
15. Treat your people's wealth with care.
16. Stay pure in intentions. Don’t be led by Hatred, do not lead with hatred.
17. Justice requires thoroughness. Never punish without knowing the whole story.
18. Be Gentle in approach, and firm in decisions, especially when faced with harmful intent.

These 18 rules are just a sample. Rajadharma prescribes 36 rules for compassionate leadership alone.

The fact that it is one part of the Dharmashastra shows the complexity of the Dharma philosophy.

This write-up is an excerpt from Dr. Pradeep Apte's lecture on Rajadharma in "Beginner's Guide to Dharmashastra", our online course hosted at bharatvidya.in

"A Beginner's Guide to Dharmashastra" - New Course on Bharatvidya.in

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There is a lot of curiosity and confusion about what is the concept of Dharma. Dharma goes much beyond a simple marker of identity. Therefore, inspired by the monumental work of Dr. P. V. Kane, we have launched a completely online course on the Dharmashastra - "A Beginner's Guide to Dharmashastra".

Designed by Dr. Gauri Moghe, this series of 25 sessions includes contributions and lectures of scholars such as Dr. Pradip Apte, Dr. Jyotsna Khare, Dr. Mugdha Gadgil, Dr. Gauri Moghe, Mr. Pranav Gokhale and Mr. Rajas Vaishampayan.

The course is self-paced and on-demand. It has an MCQ-based quiz, and participants gain a certificate of completion at the end.

Visit the link below for more information and registration.

Beginner's Guide to Hindu Dharmashastra

Over the last few years, we have published many courses and YouTube Series.

We have compiled a curated 100-hour collection based on these resources. From Veda-s to Archaeology, this collection covers a vast array of topics. Do check out and share.

A Content Library for 2023 on India’s Ancient history, Culture, Science, and Philosophy A Curated Collection by the Bhandarkar Institute

Namaste everyone. Because of technical difficulties, we could not post anything for the past couple of months. But we are back now.

"Remembering Dr. Rabindranath Tagore: His Contributions to Literature, Art, and Education"

100 years ago on 23rd September 1922 , Dr. Rabindranath Tagore visited Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute.

We tried to capture (unsuccessfully, we must say) the Mahabharata's take on Daiva, Purushakara, and Dharma in a Venn Diagram.

“The interplay of destiny and human will, and the guiding force of Dharma in the epic tale of the Mahabharata. It helps us discover the power of Purushakara that is human effort, as we learn to navigate the complexities of life with determination, conviction, and a deep understanding of our own actions and choices."

Buddha Purnima is an auspicious occasion that commemorates Gautama Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and attainment of Nirvana. It is a great time to think on the Buddha's teachings and how they still apply to our lives today as we observe this day.

Explore the fundamental ideas of Buddhist philosophy as well as other Darshanas found in Indian philosophies.
Visit BharatVidya.com to join in the Bharatiy Darshanshastra program and commence your journey to enlightenment.

Let's recognise the value of entrepreneurship and hard work today on International Labour Day. It is said, "Wealth resides in enterprise." Thus, let's keep working hard and aiming for success. You become a hero through your acts and attributes, always keep that in mind. Let's pay respect to the industrious people who have made contributions to the workforce and who still motivate and inspire others in our communities. Greetings on International Labour Day!

महाराष्ट्र... राकट देश, कणखर देश...
दगडाधोंड्यांचा, गडकिल्ल्यांचा, कैलास लेण्याचा प्रदेश...
इथे अनेक संतविभूती दिसल्या, अनेक परंपरा रुजल्या,
अनेक संशोधने झाली, नव्या सुधारणांचा पाया रचला...
अशा या राज्याच्या नावलौकिकात भर घालणाऱ्या, प्राच्यविद्या संशोधनातील भारतातील अग्रगण्य संस्थांपैकी एक अशा भांडारकर प्राच्यविद्या संशोधन मंदिराच्या वतीने महाराष्ट्र दिनाच्या हार्दिक शुभेच्छा!
'भारत विद्या' या संस्थेच्या ई-लर्निंग प्लॅटफॉर्म वरील विविध कोर्सेस व संशोधन संस्थेच्या इतर विविध उपक्रमांविषयी माहिती मिळविण्यासाठी आमच्या वेबसाईटला अवश्य भेट द्या!

#महाराष्ट्र #महाराष्ट्रदिन #महाराष्ट्रची_परंपरा #संत #भूमी #किल्ले #गडकिल्ले #परंपरा #परंपरा_महाराष्ट्राची #संशोधन #मंदिर #राज्य #शुभेच्छा

On this auspicious day of Akshay Tritiya, we are happy to launch a short course on the Upanishads -

"Glimpses of Upanishads", a concise initiation into the Upanishadic philosophy.

Through 7 videos, it covers themes such as linguistic features of the Upanishads, a Summary of the 10 Major Upanishads, Key concepts such as Jiva, Jagat, and Brahman. and philosophical discourses.
This module is otherwise a part of the "Veda Vidya" course, but as an individual module it is aimed at those who are only looking for a resource on the Upanishads.

It is our great pleasure to represent the screening of a feature-length documentary on Guru Roshan Datye's research on the history of Kathak, namely 'Kathak Adi-Kathak.' This will be held on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. in Shri Navalmal Firodia Auditorium at Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute.
Please contact Nupur - 7775800098 and Reva - 9096277734 to confirm your seats.

The Incredible Journey of the Indian Tectonic Plate and its Impact on Our World - Discover how the Indian tectonic plate defined the geography and biodiversity of our world