Culture & Heritage SOMAYA TRUST

Somaiya Sanskritivihar

The cultural institutions of the Somaiya Trust make up the Somaiya Sanskritivihar.All of them are described in brief, while the K.J. Somaiya Bharatiya Sanskriti Peetham is described extensively.
Somaiya Sanskritivihar was set up to promote the rich cultural heritage of India, primarily through the Sanskrit language.

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Indological Research Institute

Established in 1990, the Indological Research Institute does basic research in different aspects and subjects of Indology. The Institute has already undertaken the following projects:
  • Adhyatmika Interpretation of the ''Rigveda'' on the lines of Shri Aurobindo's thought
  • Re-interpretation of the Dharmashastras vis-a-vis actual social history.
  • Exhaustive study of Flora (Botany) in the Puranas. The Institute has been represented the activities of other institutions, in the same field, namely:

    i. Vishva Sanskrit Sammelan, Ujjain, May 1992

    ii. Institute for Oriental Study, Thane, April 1994

    iii. All India Oriental Conference, Tohtak, Dec 1994

    iv. Department of Philosophy, University of Bombay, Dec 1994 and Mar 1995

    v. Institute for the Study of Ancient Civilizations, Madras, Aug 1995








    K.J. Somaiya Yoga Academy

    K.J. Somaiya Yoga Academy was inaugurated by His Holiness Swamy Tadrupanandaji on 30th April 1993.

    The Academy has Yoga Courses which include Long Term course such as Diploma in Yoga Education (one year course) and short term courses of one week, two weeks and one month duration.

    Besides general Yoga Courses on Asana, Pryanyama and Meditation, special courses are designed for :

    • Students:

    1. Development of memory and concentration

    2. Improvement of eyesight

    3. Personality development

    • Teachers:

    1. Yoga Instructors Course

    2. Yoga Therapy Instructors Course

    • Patients: Yoga Therapy course for different Psychosomatic diseases such as Hypertension, Asthma, Diabetes, etc.
    • Executives: Stress Management through Yoga

    During the past three years, the Academy has conducted 7 long term yoga courses for teachers of D.Ed. college, B.Ed college, and Sanskriti Peetham. These courses consists of theory, practicals, and practice teaching sessions. In all over 200 teachers have been trained so far.








    K.J. Somaiya Center of Buddhist Studies

    The K J Somaiya Centre of Buddhist Studies was started by the Somaiya Trust with the aim of highlighting Buddhism's close affinity with other streams of Indian culture, both Vedic and post Vedic. On December 6, 1993, the Centre was inaugurated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

    A number of international seminars on Buddhism are conducted by the Centre. It has to its credit the publication of the proceedings of "The International Seminar on Buddhism in India and abroad : An integrating influence in Vedic and post Vedic Perspective" and "Traditional cultural link between India and Japan (during 8th and 9th centuries A.D.)". Regular monthly lectures are arranged on Buddhism, which are delivered by eminent scholars and exponents of Oriental Philosophy. All this makes the K.J. Somaiya Centre of Buddhist Studies an emerging International Centre of Buddhist and Vedic studies. The on going research projects are "Esoteric (Japanese) Buddhism with Indian perspective" and "Lokaprajnapti - A Critical Exegesis."

    The centre admits a number of foreign students, mostly Japanese, who are interested in pursuing research on Buddhist studies. These students also take up a three month condensed course on Indian Culture from the K.J. Somaiya Bharatiya Sanskriti Peetham.

    The centre has taken up three activities viz. Post graduate Diploma course in "Buddhism - A Universal Perspective", "Japanese Language Programme", and "French Language Programme".

    Books on Buddhism

    COURSES

    M.A. by Research - Recognized by University of Mumbai.
     In the branch of Ancient Indian Culture (History & Archaeology), Philosophy and Sanskrit.

    • Graduate from any Discipline.

    Ph.D. - Recognized by University of Mumbai.
     In the branch of Ancient Indian Culture (History & Archaeology), Philosophy and Sanskrit.

    • Post-Graduate from any Discipline.

    Diploma in Buddhist Studies - Every Saturday.

    • 10 months course - June to March.
    • Eligibility : Std. XII Pass.
    • Fee includes Course Material.
    • Training for Vipassana meditation at Igatpuri.
    • Study tour to Buddhist Sites in Maharashtra.

    Diploma in Pali - Every Saturday.

    • 10 months course - June to March.
    • Eligibility : Std. XII Pass.
    • Fee includes Course Material.
    • Training for Vipassana meditation at Igatpuri.
    • Study tour to Buddhist Sites in Maharashtra.

    Post Graduate Diploma in Buddhist Studies - Every Saturday.

    • 2 years course - June to March.
    • Eligibility : Std. XII Pass.
    • Fee includes Course Material.
    • Training for Vipassana meditation at Igatpuri.
    • Study tour to Buddhist Sites in Maharashtra.

    Post Graduate Diploma in Pali - Every Saturday.

    • 2 years course - Commences from June.
    • Eligibility : Graduation in any discipline.
    • Fee includes Course Material.
    • Training for Vipassana meditation at Igatpuri.
    • Study tour to Buddhist Sites in Maharashtra.

    Diploma Course on Manuscriptology - Every Saturday.

    • 10 months course - June to March.
    • Eligibility : XII Pass & also for the Students of Library Sciences.
    • Fee includes Study Material.
    • Visit to renowned Manuscript Libraries in Maharashtra.

    Japanese Language Course - Recognized by Japan Foundation, Japan
     New Batch commences from the month of January each year

    • Basic I (4th Level) - Twice a week.
    • Basic II (3rd Level) - Twice a week.
    • Intermediate course (2nd Level) -Twice a week.
    • II Level - Twice a week.

    French Language
     Level - I
    Level - II

    • Twice a week.
    • 3 months course, and in the 4th month to appear for Exams at Alliance Française de Bombay.

    Spanish Language
     Level - I
    Level - II

    • 8 months course.
    • Twice a week.

    A Course in Chinese Language will be started shortly

    CONTACT
    Dr. (Mrs.) K Sankarnarayan
    Director
    K. J. Somaiya Centre of Buddhist Studies
    II Floor, Management Building ( S.I.M.S.R)
    Somaiya Campus
    Vidyavihar, Mumbai 400 077.
    Phone: (91-22) 25094338 / 25103537 / 25094939
    Fax: (91-22) 25094338
    Website: www.somaiya.edu
    Email: buddhist@vsnl.net







    Surabharati (Center for the development of Sanskrit language)

    Surabharati was established in 1967 by the Somaiya Trust for the promotion and propagation of Sanskrit. Its main activities are Kendras and Abhyasikas.

    The Surabharati Kendra serves as a platform for beginners to learn to speak Sanskrit. It regularly conducts competitions and monthly meetings (every second Saturday of the month) in Sanskrit. The Kendra has produced a number of extempore speakers in Sanskrit.

    The Surabharati Abhyasikas, through their various centres (62 in number), organize free Sanskrit classes and coach students to appear for Sanskrit language examinations held by various recognised institutions. So far about 65,000 students have been benefited by such classes in the last fifteen years.

    Along with the Somaiya Trust, Surabharati has organised:

    • Sanskrit Shikshan Parishad (1970), Sanskrit Pathashala Sammelan (1974), Sanskrit Teachers/Professors Sammelan (1976), Greater Bombay Sanskrit Sammelan (1978), Sanskrit Classical Languages Conference (1985), Sanskrit-Merit Students Felicitation Function (1988), Sanskrit Shibir (1994).
    • Several Sanskrit 10 day conversation classes and training camps for teachers of the Bombay Municipal Corporation.

    A particularly outstanding achievement of Surabharati has been its efforts in the learning of the Sanskrit Subhashitas by 750,000 students in municipal schools throughout the Indian state of Maharashtra.