Understanding Devi: The Great Indian Goddess

Course Code AVID 008

Course Content AVID

THE SCHOOL
OF CONTINUOUS
LEARNING
Have you meditated on and wondered who is Devi - The Great Indian Goddess

The Great Goddess, who is Prakriti, Shakti and Maya, who is motherhood and eroticism, battle queen and wife, golden
and also black, benevolent yet dangerous, creator and annihilator, Shakti of Siva?

The Great Goddess who is Vac and Apah, sublime and shwet, who carries the Veena, a book and rosary beads, Shakti of
Brahma?

The Great Goddess who is Pruthvi and Sri, who is lotus eyed, flanked by water sprinkling elephants, the symbol of wealth
and power yet seated as an obedient wife pressing her husband's feet, Shakti of Vishnu?

Avid's 4-days course on 'Understanding Devi: The Great Indian Goddess', traces the evolution of the Goddesses from
Vedic times and attempts to unravel the concept of feminism in Indian ethos through a study of the Iconic Devi. It helps
comprehend Mahadevi in Her various forms of Sri Lakshmi, Saraswati, Parvati, Durga, Kali, Saptmatrukas, Dash
Mahavidyas, Yakshinis and the numerous Gram Devis. The subliming epithet Devi Mahatmya, a culmination of
MahaDurga, MahaLakshmi and MahaSarawati shows that power, wealth and intelligence when combined can overcome
the biggest demonic energies. The only way to conclude this course would be an absolute submission to this
phenomenon through an overview of poojas and yagnas usually performed, including chanting and explanation of select
Devi Mantras.
Day 1: Day 2:
l Basic Genetics of Hinduism, Overview of l Tracing the concept of Goddess-Sapt Matrukas, Dash
Scripture, Vedas, Puranas Mahavidyas, Yakshini, Mother Goddess & Village
Concept of Prakriti, Maya & Shakti, Importance Goddesses
of Goddess of Rig Veda & Puranas History , Emergence, Iconography and Metaphysical
Day 3: importance of Sri Lakshmi & Saraswati
l History , Emergence, Iconography and Day 4:
Metaphysical importance and transformation l Pooja Vidhi - Various Poojas, Yagnas, Shakti peeth
of Parvati into Durga and Kali forms. and Devi Yantra
The Treatise & Metaphysical aspects of Devi l Stotras Mahishasurmardani , Ashtalakshmi, and
Mahatmya lalitapanchratnam - chanted and explained.

Know your faculty

Dr Gauri Mahulikar, the Director of this course has published three books and fifty five articles on
various subjects, apart from presenting papers at National and International conferences. After
obtaining a doctorate in Vedic Elements in Puranik Mantras and Rituals, she has dedicated
herself to the teaching of Sanskrit, mainly at the post graduate level. She is presently the Head of
the Sanskrit Department at the University of Mumbai and on board of ORF group.

Dr Srider Iyer, the anchor faculty for the course, obtained his PhD in Sanskrit from University of
Mumbai, where he is now a visiting Faculty in Dept of Philosophy. Apart from teaching Sanskrit to
secondary school students, he is actively involved with several projects including the study of
Gram Devis-Devatas in Mumbai.

Ms. Asawari Bapat has been teaching at the University of Mumbai in dept. of Sankrit for past
seven years to Diploma and MA students. Her fields of interest include Kautiliya Arthasastra,
Rajniti, she is also working on the project of cataloging manuscript of Asiatic society. Apart
from winning awards for research papers at National level she has also presented papers in
International conferences. Her articles have also been published in leading newspaper.

www.avidedu.in
 Understanding Devi: The Great Indian Goddess

Where ? When ?
Nalanda Knowledge Centre, Mon 31st to Thur 3rd June 2010
Vadinar.

Timing:
3.00 to 5.00 pm

How much does it cost ?

Course Fee: COMPLIMENTARY

How to Register ?
Send your nomination to Ms. Madhu Mishra: Madhu.Mishra@essar.com / +91 9925240189

The Course Coordinator:

AVID 008
Essar Foundation,
11 K.K. Marg, Mahalaxmi, Mumbai 400 034.
Tel: +91 22 66601100
Bindu Jivrajani : +91 9909908454 / Bindu.Jivrajani@essar.com
Brajesh Singh : + 91 9925206229 / Brajesh.Singh@essar.com
Pooja Shah : + 91 9930136161 / Pooja.Shah@avidedu.in

About AVID
Understanding the present day need for 'a passion to learn' while addressing the limitation of available time,
AVID - The School of Continuous Learning conducts short term courses ranging from 1 day workshops to 2 week
sessions.

This novel offering, comprising of both contemporary and classic content is enabled with modern tools and
focuses on a variety of subjects. Spanning across Culture, Heritage, Technology and Arts, these comprehensive
courses are designed to impart knowledge by experts from India and abroad.

Reflecting our global heritage and blending it with the Indian environment, these programs incorporate the
essential learning elements which may not be easily available to audience in India. The venues, so chosen, are
equipped to compliment and facilitate learning in entirety.

AVID, an initiative of Essar Foundation, aims to connect all knowledge seekers to these accessible, capsuled,
novel and limitless learning opportunities. AVID - The School of Continuous Learning, has touched the lives of
around 500 learners from diverse walks of life, through the seven courses it has conducted.

To know more about AVID, please log onto www.avidedu.in and to receive updates, email: avid@avidedu.in

About Essar Foundation

The Essar Foundation spearheads all Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) related activities of the Essar Group
namely in Education, Entrepreneurship and Environment. The Foundation, through its outreach program
Education & Welfare, acts as a catalyst to provide education and currently runs schools in Hazira, Jamnagar and
Lonavala.

Www.avidedu.in
 Understanding Devi: The Great Indian Goddess
Course Code AVID 008

AVID
Registration Form THE SCHOOL
OF CONTINUOUS
LEARNING
About AVID
Understanding the present day need for 'a passion to learn' while addressing the limitation of available
time, AVID - The School of Continuous Learning introduces short term courses ranging from 1 day
workshops to 2 week sessions.

This novel offering, comprising of both contemporary and classic content is enabled with modern tools
and focuses on a variety of subjects. Spanning across Culture, Heritage, Technology and Arts, these
comprehensive courses are designed to impart knowledge by experts from India and abroad.

Reflecting our global heritage and blending it with the Indian environment, these programs incorporate
the essential learning elements which may not be easily available to audience in India. The venues, so
chosen, are equipped to complement and facilitate learning in entirety.

AVID, an initiative of Essar Foundation, aims to connect all knowledge seekers to these accessible,
capsuled, novel and limitless learning opportunities. Avid - The School of Continuous Learning, has
touched the lives of around 500 learners from diverse walks of life through the seven courses it has
conducted.

To know more about AVID, please log onto www.avidedu.in and to receive updates, email:
avid@avidedu.in

Course: Understanding Devi: The Great Indian Goddess

Time : 3.00 - 5.00 pm

Please fill in the attached form and send it at the below mentioned address
Madhu.Mishra@essar.com / +91 9925240189
or Register online at www.avidedu.in
On dispatch of the form, please SMS your name & course code to +91 9930136161

AVID
Essar House 11 K. K. Marg, Mahalaxmi, Mumbai 400 034 Tel: +91 22 66601100
* Course Fee: COMPLIMENTARY