Comprehensive Report on Day-long symposium on ‘Śāṅkara-Anudhyānam’ – 03 May 2025

Day-long Symposium
‘Śāṅkara-Anudhyānam’
(Contemplation on Śaṅkara—his philosophy and works)

Organised by

Department of Sanskrit and Philosophy
Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute (RKMVERI)

in collaboration with

Asiatic Society, Kolkata

Venue: Abhedananda Convention Centre, Belur Math
Date: 03 May 2025 (Saturday) — 10.00 AM to 5.00 PM

Comprehensive Report

Theme and Objective of the Seminar

Sri Shankaracharya’s Advaita Vedanta has dominated the Vedanta tradition for centuries, so much so, the word Vedanta has come to be used and understood as Advaita Vedanta only. On the occasion of sacred Śaṅkara Jayantī, a day-long symposium was organized by the Department of Sanskrit and Philosophy, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute (RKMVERI), in collaboration with Asiatic Society, Kolkata, on 3 May 2025 (Saturday).

An attempt has been to capture and portray the multifaceted personality of Śrī Śaṅkara Bhagavatpāda through hymns, his commentaries (bhāṣyas) on the prasthāna-traya (which are his magnum opus) and manana-vicāra (contemplation-deliberation) of the Vedānta vākyas (pithy sentences) from the prasthāna-traya by our scholars. The deliberations and interactions were all fully in Sanskrit.

Prasthāna-traya-sambandha-bhāṣya-pārāyaṇa:

The program started with Vedic invocation by the students of the Department of Sanskrit and Philosophy, RKMVERI in the august presence of revered Swami Bhajanananda Ji (Vice-president, Ramakrishna Math and Mission), respected Swami Atmapriyananda Ji (Pro-chancellor, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute) and other respected monks and dignitaries.

After respected Swami Atmapriyananda Ji garlanded revered Swami Bhajanananda Ji, respected Swami Shivapurnananda Ji, assisted by Sri Karunamay Das, presented Toṭakāṣṭakam. Dr. Rakesh Das, (head of the department of Sanskrit and Philosophy and coordinator of the symposium) presented the rationale and objective of the program and objective of the symposium while welcoming the assembly.

Then the assembly chanted the sambandha-bhāṣya (written by Śaṅkara-bhagavatpāda) of the prasthāna-traya (Upaniṣad, Śrīmadbhagavad-gītā and Brahmasūtra). The chanting was led by respected Swami Atmapriyananda Ji, respected Swami Japasiddhananda Ji (co-ordinator, Department of Sanskrit and Philosophy) and other teachers and researchers of the Department of Sanskrit and Philosophy.

The bhāṣya-pārāyaṇam resolved in the post-lunch session. After the pārāyaṇam was over, the second part of the symposium started with chanting of Parabrahma-prātaḥ-smaraṇa-stotram by respected Swami Sarvabhadrananda Ji.

Sri K Sudarshan research scholar in the Department of Sanskrit and Philosophy presented a unique and interesting event. He trained the ChatGPT AI in such a way that ChatGPT was able to answer basic questions on Advaita Vedānta. Questions were also invited from the audience.

After this excellent presentation, respected Swami Shivapurnananda Ji chanted Annapūrṇāṣṭakam. Then the teachers and the research scholars presented vākyārtha-vicāra of three sentences selected from the prasthāna-traya. The sentences are: ‘abhayaṃ vai brahma’ (Bṛhadaranyaka Upaniṣad 4.4.25), Ajñānenāvṛtaṃ jñānam —(Śrīmad-Bhagavad-Gītā 5.15), Ānandamyo’bhyāsāt (Brahma-sūtra 1.1.12).

After respected Swami Atmapriyananda Ji described the rationale of choosing the sentences, Sri Shubhadeep Das (research scholar in the Department of Sanskrit and Philosophy) summarised Śaṅkarācārya’s commentary on the Śruti Abhayam vai brahma. He also described how Swami Vivekananda described the importance of thispowerful message in the present world.

Sri Gaurav Sharma (research scholar in the Department of Sanskrit and Philosophy) gave a lucid explanation of the sentence Ajñānenāvṛtaṃ jñānaṃ from the perspective of Śaṅkarācārya’s commentary. This verse is known to be a vyāsakūṭa (verse with riddle inside the Mahābhārata) inside the Gītā. The speaker discussed how the all-pervading caitanya– with some special attributes– could kill the ignorance that covers the knowledge/caitanya.

Dr. Shantanau Ayachit (assistant professor, Department of Sanskrit and Philosophy) illustrated the essence of the Ānandamaya-adhikaraṇa of the Brahmasūtra. He summarised the discussion on the suffix mayaṭ in the word Ānandamaya and what this word means.

After respected Swami Sarvabhadrananda Ji presented the Śivapañcākṣara-stotram, revered Swami Bhajanananda Ji, who delivered the valedictory address of the symposium, said that such a symposium would elevate the life of the general
public. The central theme of his speech was he multifaceted genius of Śaṅkarācārya. He threw adequate light on Śaṅkara’s philosophy and its importance in day-to-day life.

Respected Swami Japasiddhananda Ji delivered the vote-of-thanks. The seminar ended with the chanting of Nirvāṇaṣaṭkam, by respected Swami Sarvabhadrananda Ji, followed by Pūrṇamadaḥ and Jay chanting to Thakur, Maa, Swamiji, and Śaṅkarācārya.

Dr. Rakesh Das was the anchor.