The Discover India Podcast by Professor Pankaj Jain: Bhārat Darśan

Prof Pankaj Jain
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Bhārat Darśan: The Discover India Podcast is about Indian Culture, Indian classical music, Sustainability, Hindu/Buddhist/Jain Studies, Film Studies, and Diaspora Studies. Episodes also include presentations at various conferences and webinars. Dr. Pankaj Jain is the Director of The India Centre and the Head of the Department of Humanities and Language at FLAME University. #India #Indology #IndianClassicalMusic #IndianCulture #IndianTraditions #India #Hinduism #Jainism #Buddhism #Dharma #Jainology #ReligionAndEcology #FilmStudies #Bollywood #IndianDiaspora #Dharmic #ManojGovindraj

  1. 2d ago

    Can AI create Consciousness? Indian Philosophy explains!

    As AI companies race toward Artificial General Intelligence (AI), many assume consciousness will eventually emerge from computation. But Indian philosophical traditions — Vedanta, Samkhya, and Jain thought — challenge this assumption at its foundation.Is consciousness an output of complexity? Or is it ontologically primary? Dr. Pankaj Jain offers a Dharmic intervention into the AI debate.#AI #AIConsciousness #HardProblem #IndianPhilosophy #Vedanta #Jainism #Dharma #ArtificialIntelligence

    1 min

  2. 5d ago

    Why does the Ashoka Chakra in the Indian flag have 24 spokes?

    The official Flag Code of India does not explain the number. It only says the Ashoka Chakra symbolizes Dharma and movement. But the number 24 is deeply significant in Jain Dharma, where 24 Tirthankaras guide humanity on the path of ahimsa and liberation.Could the 24 spokes symbolically reflect these 24 enlightened teachers?#AshokaChakra #IndianFlag #Tirthankaras #JainDharma #Mahavira #Rishabhanatha #Ahimsa #Dharma #IndianHistory #DiscoverIndia #IndicCivilization #Jainism #24Tirthankara

    1 min

  3. May 21

    Mahāvīra & Gandhi | Nonviolence from Ancient India to the Modern World | Episode 12

    Mahāvīra Biography Series | Dr. Pankaj Jain The Mahāvīra Biography Series explores the life, philosophy, and civilizational impact of Bhagavān Mahāvīra, the 24th Tīrthaṅkara of the Jain tradition and one of the greatest spiritual revolutionaries of India. Through research-grounded storytelling and global intellectual analysis, this documentary series situates Mahāvīra within the broader framework of Dharma — a living civilizational ethos shaping ethics, nonviolence, and social transformation across centuries. In Episode 12, we explore:• The transmission of Ahimsa from Mahāvīra to Mahatma Gandhi• The reinterpretation of nonviolence in modern political movements• Connections with global thinkers such as Tolstoy and civil rights leaders• Jain principles in contemporary activism and ethical discourse• The continuing relevance of Dharma in shaping a more just and peaceful worldThis episode reveals how Mahāvīra’s teachings did not remain confined to ancient India but traveled across time to influence some of the most powerful movements for justice and freedom. Through Gandhi and beyond, Ahimsa became not only a spiritual discipline but also a transformative force in global history. By examining these connections, Episode 12 highlights the enduring power of Dharma as a bridge between personal ethics and collective change. About the Presenter: Dr. Pankaj Jain is Director of The India Center and Professor & Head of Humanities & Languages at FLAME University. Author of Jainism: From Bhagwan Mahavira to Mahatma Gandhi (2025), he is a Fulbright-Nehru Fellow and internationally recognized scholar of Dharma traditions, sustainability, and Indian intellectual history. Subscribe to complete the Mahāvīra Biography Series and explore how ancient wisdom continues to inspire modern movements for peace, justice, and sustainability. #MahaviraAndGandhi #Ahimsa #Gandhi #Nonviolence #Jainisminfluence #Tolstoynonviolence#Civilrightsnonviolence#Indianphilosophy

    5 min
  4. Hindu Theology and Biology: The Bhāgavata Purāṇa and Contemporary Theory

    May 20

    Hindu Theology and Biology: The Bhāgavata Purāṇa and Contemporary Theory

    This webinar examines the relationship between Hindu thought and modern science through the lenses of history, integration, and innovation. Rather than asking whether a classical Hindu text can be reconciled with modern biology in a literal or reductionist sense, the book investigates how a sophisticated theological tradition can engage in constructive dialogue with contemporary scientific thought while preserving its intellectual integrity. By focusing on the Bhāgavata Purāṇa and its interpretive tradition, the study argues that Hindu theology possesses conceptual resources capable of engaging modern scientific discourse at the levels of metaphysics, epistemology, and philosophical anthropology.This lecture isolates the teleological structure of knowledge as the decisive point of contact. It contrasts the operative ends of modern scientific inquiry—explanation, prediction, and technical control—with the Bhāgavata’s soteriological orientation, in which knowledge functions as a transformative discipline ordered toward the reconfiguration of perception and the cultivation of devotion. On this account, epistemology is inseparable from formation: knowing is not merely representational but participatory. Reframing the science–religion interface in terms of ends rather than competing truth-claims, the argument advances a model of integration in which divergent yet potentially complementary purposes coordinate distinct epistemic practices.Jonathan B. Edelmann, Ph.D., is currently a Fellow of the International Society for Science and Religion (ISSR) and the owner and manager of Scholar Path Consulting, LLC. Edelmann has a BA in Philosophy from the University of California at Santa Barbara, an MA (MSt) and a PhD (DPhil) from the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, was a Luce Fellow in the American Academy of Religion, and has taught Sanskrit, Indian Philosophy, Science and Religion as an Assistant and Associate Professor.Edelmann’s first book, Hindu Theology and Biology, published by Oxford University Press, won awards from the John Templeton Foundation and the Dharma Academy of North America, and was nominated for the Hindu-Christian Studies Award. He has published in leading academic journals in his areas of specialization, such as the Journal of Vaishnava Studies, Journal of Religious Ethics, Journal of Hindu Studies, Journal of Dharma Studies, Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Journal of the American Oriental Society, Zygon, and others. He has published chapters with Columbia, Brill, Oxford, and other leading academic presses.Edelmann has served as steering committee Chair and Editor for leading academic societies and journals, advised student university groups, and served as MA/PhD advisor.

    39 min

  5. May 19

    Why Does the Priest Cover His Hand in Shiva Puja? The Deeper Dharma Meaning

    Why do priests sometimes cover their hands while offering bilva leaves to Shiva? This video explains the deeper Dharma meaning behind this Agamic ritual practice — humility, ego-transcendence, purity, and sacred distance. Discover how Sanatana Dharma encodes philosophy into temple worship. #Shiva #SanatanaDharma #TempleRituals #Agama #BilvaLeaves #DharmaPhilosophy #HinduWisdom #IndianTraditions

    1 min

  6. May 13

    Discover Dhruva Chatterjee — the brilliant screenwriter behind Hindi classics like Woh Kaun Thi.

    Discover Dhruva Chatterjee — the brilliant screenwriter behind Hindi classics like Woh Kaun Thi, Bees Saal Baad, Kanoon, and Gumnaam—the Bengal-born storyteller who turned suspense into poetry.#DhruvaChatterjee #WohKaunThi #Gumnaam #ClassicBollywood #BollywoodWriters #HindiCinema #FilmHistory #DiscoverIndia

    1 min

  7. May 10

    Mahāvīra in Dialogue | Jain Dharma, Buddhism & Vedic Traditions

    The Mahāvīra Biography Series explores the life, philosophy, and civilizational impact of Bhagavān Mahāvīra, the 24th Tīrthaṅkara of the Jain tradition and one of the greatest spiritual revolutionaries of India. Through research-grounded storytelling and comparative analysis, this documentary series situates Mahāvīra within the broader framework of Dharma — a dynamic intellectual landscape shaped by dialogue, debate, and diverse traditions across ancient India. In Episode 11, we explore Mahāvīra’s contemporaries, including the Buddha and other śramaṇa thinkers; key similarities and differences between Jain Dharma and Buddhism; engagements with Vedic traditions and ritual culture; concepts of karma, soul, and liberation across traditions; and intellectual debates in 6th-century BCE India. This episode reveals how Mahāvīra’s teachings emerged not in isolation, but through a vibrant culture of philosophical exchange. By placing Jain Dharma in dialogue with other traditions of India, Episode 11 highlights both its distinctive contributions and its shared civilizational foundations. Through comparative insight, this episode deepens our understanding of Dharma as a plural and evolving intellectual tradition — one that thrives on diversity, debate, and mutual influence. About the Presenter: Dr. Pankaj Jain is Director of The India Center and Professor & Head of Humanities & Languages at FLAME University. Author of Jainism: From Bhagwan Mahavira to Mahatma Gandhi (2025), he is a Fulbright-Nehru Fellow and internationally recognized scholar of Dharma traditions, sustainability, and Indian intellectual history. Subscribe to continue the Mahāvīra Biography Series as we explore deeper philosophical dialogues and global resonances of Jain Dharma. #MahaviraandBuddha#JainismBuddhism#VedicShramana#Indianphilosophycomparison#AncientIndiadebates#JainDharmaphilosophy#Buddhismcomparison#KarmaandsoulinIndia#Dharmictraditions#Indianintellectualhistory

    5 min

  8. May 8

    Jainism Today | Diaspora, Global Influence & the Future of Dharma

    The Mahāvīra Biography Series explores the life, philosophy, and civilizational impact of Bhagavān Mahāvīra, the 24th Tīrthaṅkara of the Jain tradition and one of the greatest spiritual revolutionaries of India. Through research-grounded storytelling and contemporary analysis, this documentary series situates Mahāvīra within the broader framework of Dharma — a living civilizational ethos shaping ethics, sustainability, and global thought in the modern world. In Episode 10, we explore:• The global spread of Jain communities beyond India• Jain diaspora in North America, Europe, and East Africa• The role of Jain values in sustainability, ecology, and ethical living• Jain institutions, temples, and organizations in the contemporary world• The future of Jain Dharma in a globalized and digital ageThis episode reveals how Mahāvīra’s teachings continue to resonate far beyond their ancient origins. In an age of climate crisis, violence, and overconsumption, Jain principles such as Ahimsa and Aparigraha offer powerful frameworks for rethinking how we live, consume, and relate to all forms of life. By examining the global journey of Jain Dharma, Episode 10 highlights its relevance not only as a religious tradition but as a universal ethical vision for the future. About the Presenter: Dr. Pankaj Jain is Director of The India Center and Professor & Head of Humanities & Languages at FLAME University. Author of Jainism: From Bhagwan Mahāvīra to Mahatma Gandhi (2025), he is a Fulbright-Nehru Fellow and internationally recognized scholar of Dharma traditions, sustainability, and Indian intellectual history. Subscribe to complete the Mahāvīra Biography Series and explore how ancient wisdom continues to shape a sustainable and ethical global future. #Jainismtoday#Jaindiaspora#JainisminAmerica#Jainismglobal#Ahimsasustainability#Aparigraha#JainDharmafuture#Indianphilosophy#Jaincommunityworldwide#Dharmaandecology

    5 min
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Bhārat Darśan: The Discover India Podcast is about Indian Culture, Indian classical music, Sustainability, Hindu/Buddhist/Jain Studies, Film Studies, and Diaspora Studies. Episodes also include presentations at various conferences and webinars. Dr. Pankaj Jain is the Director of The India Centre and the Head of the Department of Humanities and Language at FLAME University. #India #Indology #IndianClassicalMusic #IndianCulture #IndianTraditions #India #Hinduism #Jainism #Buddhism #Dharma #Jainology #ReligionAndEcology #FilmStudies #Bollywood #IndianDiaspora #Dharmic #ManojGovindraj

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