The 27th International Congress of Vedanta, inaugurated by Vice-President Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar on January 3, 2025, at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, was a significant event focusing on the relevance of Vedanta in contemporary times. Shri Dhankhar’s speech highlighted India’s rich cultural heritage and the unparalleled wisdom of its ancient civilization.
Key Points from the Address:
- Contemporary Relevance of Vedanta:
- Shri Dhankhar emphasized that the world is grappling with pressing challenges, including climate change, resource depletion, and digital misinformation.
- He proposed that solutions require a blend of technological innovation and ethical wisdom, which can be drawn from Vedantic philosophy.
- The Role of Expression and Dialogue:
- The Vice-President underscored the importance of free expression and constructive dialogue.
- He criticized the erosion of these principles, especially in democratic institutions, and advocated for restoring their sanctity through meaningful debate and deliberation.
Vedantic Wisdom:
- The roots of the Vedanta philosophy are in the Upanishads, which are the concluding portions of the Vedas. The philosophical system of Utttara Mimāṁsā is otherwise called Vedānta.
- The three core concepts of Vedanta were outlined:
- Brahman/Ishvara: The ultimate reality.
- Atman: Individual souls.
- Prakriti: The physical world.
- The interconnectedness of these elements is explored through various schools of Vedantic thought, each rooted in the Upanishads.
- The three core concepts of Vedanta were outlined:
Vedantic Schools:
- Advaita Vedanta (Non-dualism):
- Founded by Ādi Śaṅkara, it emphasizes the oneness of Atman (soul) and Brahman (ultimate reality).
- Liberation is achieved through realization of this unity.
- Viśiṣṭādvaita Vedanta (Qualified Monism):
- Propounded by Rāmānuja, it recognizes a relationship between the individual soul and Brahman, emphasizing devotion (bhakti) as a path to liberation.
- Souls remain distinct from the Supreme while confined to the physical body.
- Dvaita Vedanta (Dualism):
- Established by Mādhva, it asserts the distinctiveness of the soul and Brahman.
- Liberation is attainable through devotion and divine grace.
(Sources: PIB, NCERT)
