JU Organises Lecture on Philosophy of Adi Shankaracharya

JAMMU, AUGUST 20: The Department of Philosophy, University of Jammu, organised a special lecture on “Philosophy of Shankaracharya and His Contribution to Indian Culture” to mark Indian Philosopher’s Day. The programme was sponsored by the Indian Council of Philosophical Research (ICPR).

Prof. Suman Jamwal, Head, Department of History and Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, delivered the lecture. She traced the historical journey of Adi Shankaracharya and highlighted the intellectual and cultural milieu in which his philosophy emerged and developed. She elaborated on his significant role in shaping the philosophical landscape of India, particularly through his interpretation and propagation of Advaita Vedanta (non-dualism).

Prof. Jamwal also highlighted Shankaracharya’s wide-ranging contribution to Indian culture through philosophy, literature, art and religious traditions. She explained how his philosophical ideas transcended academic debate and became deeply embedded in India’s cultural consciousness. His extensive corpus of commentaries and philosophical and devotional works, she noted, played a vital role in preserving, interpreting and transmitting the intellectual heritage of the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita and Brahma Sutras.

She further highlighted how Shankaracharya’s philosophical vision found expression in diverse artistic, literary and cultural traditions, contributing to the development of India’s religious and intellectual heritage. His synthesis of philosophical inquiry, spiritual practice and cultural expression, she observed, created a lasting intellectual legacy that continues to influence Indian thought.

Prof. (Retd.) S. P. Pandey, Department of Philosophy and Religion, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, was the Chief Guest. In his address, Prof. Pandey emphasised the continuing relevance and significance of the philosophy of Adi Shankaracharya. He particularly highlighted the harmonious relationship among Shruti, Yukti and Anubhava in Shankaracharya’s philosophical method and explained how these three dimensions are integrated in the realisation of his conception of reality.

Earlier, Prof. Jasbir Singh, Head, Department of Philosophy, welcomed the guests and participants and presented a token of respect to the Chief Guest and the speaker.

The programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Dr. Panu Sharma, while the proceedings were conducted by Dr. Ruby Bharti. Dr. Ajai Kumar Mishra coordinated the programme.

The programme was attended by Dr. Madhulika Singh, Dr. Anjum Ara, Dr. Hina S. Abrol, Dr. Suman Verma, Dr. Vijay Laxmi Rai, Dr. Rishikesh Chauhan, other faculty members, research scholars and students of the Departments of Philosophy and History.

The lecture provided an opportunity to reflect on Shankaracharya’s philosophy in its wider historical and cultural context and underscored its continuing relevance to the study of Indian philosophy, literature, art and cultural heritage.