Unit information: Yoga and Devotion: Hindu Paths of Practice in 2010/11

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Unit name Yoga and Devotion: Hindu Paths of Practice
Unit code THRS20030
Credit points 20
Level of study I/5
Teaching block(s) Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director Emeritus Professor. Gethin
Open unit status Not open
Pre-requisites

None
Co-requisites

None
School/department Department of Religion and Theology
Faculty Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

The unit focuses on three main topics: Hindu devotionalism (bhakti) as exemplified by devotion to Krsna in the Bhagavata Purana, the theory and practice of yoga as expounded in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras and the principles of the practice of Hindu Tantra.

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the unit students will be expected to have:

  • an understanding of the nature of Hindu yoga, devotionalism and tantra;
  • a sense of how the ideas and practices associated with Hindu yoga, devotionalism and tantra interconnect and inform the dynamic of Hinduism more generally;
  • direct experience of some primary Hindu textual materials in translation.

Teaching Information

A one-hour lecture given by the unit tutor followed by a one-hour seminar discussion of primary sources in smaller seminar groups with individual seminar presentation by students.

Assessment Information

Summative:

The unit will be assessed by one summative exam (3 hours).

Formative:

Formative assessment of 1500 words or equivalent (e.g. a class text or an assessed presentation).

Reading and References

  • Bryant, Edwin F., Krishna: the beautiful legend of God (London: Penguin, 2003)
  • Feuerstein, G., The Philosophy of Classical Yoga (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1980).
  • Gupta S. et al., Hindu Tantra (Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1980).
  • Larson, G. J., and R. S. Bhattacharya (eds.), SCkhya: A Dualist Tradition in Indian Philosophy (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1987).
  • Miller, B. S., G+tagovinda of Jayadeva: Love Song of the Dark Lord, (Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1984)
  • White, D. G., Kiss of the Yogini (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003).

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