The two-day seminar on ‘Bhakti Schools of Vedānta’ was organized by the Department of Sanskrit and Philosophy, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute (RKMVERI), at the Abhedananda Convention Centre, Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math, on 18 and 19 April 2025 (Friday and Saturday). The seminar focused on six Bhakti schools of Vedānta—Viśiṣṭādvaita (Rāmānuja), Dvaita (Madhva), Dvaitādvaita (Nimbārka), Śuddhādvaita (Vallabha), Acintyabhedābheda (Sri Chaitanya), and Śāktādvaita (Sri Hāritāyana).
The seminar commenced with an Invocation by students of the Sanskrit Department. This was followed by the Address of Welcome by Swami Atmapriyananda, Pro-Chancellor and Secretary, RKMVERI, and an introduction to the theme of the seminar by Dr Rakesh Das, Head, Department of Sanskrit and Philosophy.
The Benedictory Address was delivered by Most Revered Swami Gautamananda Ji Maharaj, President, Ramakrishna Math and Mission. The Keynote Address was delivered by Revered Swami Bhajanananda Ji Maharaj, Vice-President, Ramakrishna Math and Mission.
Day 1:
First Session (Viśiṣṭādvaita and Dvaitādvaita)
- Dvaitādvaita (Nimbārka):
- Respected Swami Brindavan Bihari Das Ji Maharaj, Head, Kathia Baba Ashram, Sukhchar and Varanasi, at West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh respectively
- Dr. Shantanu Ayachit, Asst. Professor, Department of Sanskrit and Philosophy, RKMVERI
- Viśiṣṭādvaita (Rāmānuja):
- Dr. M.S. Srikanth, Asst. Professor, Department of Visistadvaitadvaita Vedanta, Sri Ahobila Mutt Adarsh Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya, Madhurantakam
Second Session (Dvaita and Śuddhādvaita)
- Dvaita (Madhva):
- Prof. Veeranaranaya Pandurangi, Director, Sri Purnaprajna Samshodhana Mandira, Bengaluru & Former Dean, Faculty of Darshana, Karnataka Sanskrit University
- Śuddhādvaita (Vallabha):
- Sm. Maitri Goswami, Co-founder, Vallabhacharya Vidyapeetha and Visiting Faculty, Department of Philosophy, University of Mumbai
B.B. Dutta (Swami Vidyaranya) Memorial Lecture
- Prof. Veeranaranaya Pandurangi, author of a commentary (Viṣṇvarcana-bhāṣya) based on Bhakti Schools
- Topic: A spiritual interpretation of the concept ‘Ahalyāyai Jāraḥ’
Day 2:
Third Session (Acintyabhedābheda and Śāktādvaita)
- Acintyabhedābheda (Sri Chaitanya):
- Dr. Tridib Roy Mondal, Head, Department of Sanskrit, Diamond Harbour Women’s University
- Śāktādvaita (Sri Hāritāyana):
- Dr. Rakesh Das, Head, Department of Sanskrit and Philosophy, RKMVERI
- Vedanta Samanvaya Siddhanta of Sri Ramakrishna:
- Swami Japasiddhananda, Asst. Professor and former Head, Dept. of Sanskrit and Philosophy, RKMVERI
(Based on his own spiritual experience of Bhavamukha and the philosophy of Vijñāna — Harmony or Synthesis of all the various points of view in Vedanta)
- Swami Japasiddhananda, Asst. Professor and former Head, Dept. of Sanskrit and Philosophy, RKMVERI
Fourth Session: Panel discussion
By the research scholars of the Sanskrit Dept. of RKMVERI on the six schools discussed so far (Viśiṣṭādvaita, Dvaita, Dvaitādvaita, Śuddhādvaita, Acintyabhedābheda, Śāktādvaita)
- Panelists:
- Sri Rajesh Adhikary
- Sri Buddhadev Das
- Sri Subhadeep Das
- Sri Tirthankar Dey
- Sri Gaurav Sharma
- Sri Provat Mondal
- Moderator: Dr. Rakesh Das
Fifth Session (Gītāvadhānam)
- Prof. Anakannagari Sacchidananda Murthy, Professor, Dept. of Education, National Sanskrit University, Tirupati
(a unique and fascinating art of portraying and depicting the Bhagavad-Gita verses)
Sixth Session (Question-Answer Session)
Interaction with audience by all the Resource Persons, the experts in the six schools of Vedanta discussed in this seminar
- Moderators:
- Swami Japasiddhananda (in English/Sanskrit)
- Dr. Rakesh Das (in Bengali/Sanskrit)
Valedictory Session
Vote of Thanks: Swami Sarvottamananda, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, RKMVERI
Summary of the two-day seminar proceedings (in Bengali): Dr. Rakesh Das
Valedictory Address: Revered Swami Suvirananda Ji Maharaj, General Secretary, Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math & Chancellor, RKMVERI
