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

Unit name	Yoga and Devotion: Hindu Paths of Practice
Unit code	THRS30108
Credit points	20
Level of study	H/6
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

This unit focuses on three of the principal paths of Hindu religious practice: yoga, bhakti and tantra. We begin by looking at the theory and practice of yoga, the quintessential renouncer's practice, as found in the classic exposition of Patanjali's Yoga-sktras. We then turn to Hindu devotionalism (bhakti) as exemplified by the trope of the cowgirls and R
dh
's love for Krishna in the Bh
gavata Pur
Ga and G+tagovinda (also taking a brief look in this context at Indian painting and music). Finally we consider the history and development of the transgressive practices associated with Hindu Tantra.

Aims:

• to develop further an understanding of some of specific ideas and practices of Hinduism;

• to develop an understanding of how these ideas and practices interconnect and inform the dynamic of Hinduism more generally ;

• to introduce students to the study of some primary Hindu textual material in translation.

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.

And additionally (specific to Level H) to:

• Incorporate a consistently strong grasp of detail with respect to content

• Argue effectively and at length (including an ability to cope with complexities and to describe and deploy these effectively)

• Display to a high level skills in selecting, applying, interpreting and organising information, including evidence of a high level of bibliographical control

• Describe, evaluate and challenge current scholarly thinking

• Discriminate between different kinds of information, processes, interpretations

• Take a critical stance towards scholarly processes involved in arriving at historical knowledge and/or relevant secondary literature

• Engage with relevant theoretical, philosophical or social constructs for understanding relevant works or traditions

• Demonstrate an understanding of concepts and an ability to conceptualise

• Situate material within relevant contexts (invoking interdisciplinary contexts where appropriate)

• Apply strategies laterally (perhaps leading to innovative results).

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 essay (3000 words).

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.), S
  Ckhya: 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).