Samkhya, Vedanta and Mahabharata: A Conversation with Dr. T.S. Rukmani

Join Mukunda as he speaks with Dr. T.S. Rukmani. Dr. T.S. Rukmani was a Professor and Chair of Hindu Studies at Concordia University, Montreal, Canada. She had the distinction of being the first Chair of Hindu Studies and Indian Philosophy at the University of Durban-Westville, South Africa. She had a distinguished academic career at the University of Delhi, where her last assignment was Principal, Miranda House. She is the author of many books which also includes the Yogavarttika of Vijnanabhiksu. She has innumerable papers to her credit and publishes regularly in academic journals both in India and abroad.. In this episode, we discuss a host of topics including:

00:01:20 Introduction to Dr. TS Rukmani and her professional journey including her time studying with Prof. BK Matilal

00:13:00 Dr. Rukmani’s study of YogaVarthika by Vijnanabhikshu, a commentary on Vyasa and Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras using the Samkhya Darshana

00:19:15 Discussion on Purusha and Prakriti in Samkhya and Vijnanabhikshu’s commentary in contradistinction with Advaita Vedanta

00:29:20 Discussion of Vijnanabhikshu’s commentary on Brahma Sutras

00:32:30 Vijnanabhikshu’s view on Prakriti vis-à-vis the three main Vedanta schools Advaita, Visisthadvaita and Dvaita

00:42:30 Women and the Mahabharata

00:49.00 Discussion Yudhisthira, Rama, Ashoka and the idea of moral rulers

00:57::45 Discussion on the impact of Colonialism on Indic frameworks, scholarships, and worldviews

01:02:30 Hinduism and Buddhism interaction

01:04:40 Discussion of Karma, Free Will, and Moksha

01:12:10 Last Thoughts and Conclusion

You can find Dr. T.S. Rukmani at:

https://dkprintworld.com/author-book/t-s-rukmani/

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About Author

Mukunda

Mukunda Raghavan: Mukunda is a jack of all trades but master of none. His educational background is a mix of political science, criminology, psychological and philosophy. He received his Juris Doctorate in Law from Boston University and was simultaneously working on his Masters in Philosophy focusing on continental philosophy (not completed). He has practiced as a prosecutor in New York City, General Counsel and Operating Officer of a healthcare company in Southern California, Head of Business and Operations for a legal tech company in India and is now in Strategy and Development. Much like his career, Mukunda’s intellectual interests and knowledge is varied, he is interested in Indian and Western philosophy, world mythology, Quantum Physics, Consciousness Studies, Psychology and variety of other fields.

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