Early Times Report KATRA, July 22: The second day of the four-day National Seminar on "Shakti Mimansa (51 Shakti Peethas: Spiritual Pillars of Indian Heritage)", jointly organized by the Central Sanskrit University, Shri Maharaja Ranbir Singh Campus, Jammu, and the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Katra, was marked by intensive academic discussions and scholarly presentations. The day witnessed five well-structured technical sessions, bringing together eminent scholars, researchers, temple representatives, and practitioners from across the country to deliberate upon the spiritual, philosophical, cultural, historical, and civilizational dimensions of the Shakti Peethas. The academic proceedings commenced with the First Technical Session (10:00 AM-11:20 AM), chaired by distinguished coordinators, wherein Vikas Kumar Banepalli, T. Thushiyathan, Agastya Dwivedi, and Pt. Satpal Sharma presented their research papers. The session was conducted by Dr. Praveen Kumar Sharma, with Dr. Ripunjay Tiwari serving as Co-host. The Second Technical Session (11:30 AM-1:00 PM) featured thought-provoking presentations by Dr. Shivprasad Tantry, Raghavendra Tantry, Oni Deshmukh, and Shweta Sharma. The session was efficiently coordinated by Ashutosh Kala, assisted by Dr. Mrityunjay Tiwari, fostering meaningful academic dialogue among participants. Following the lunch break, the Third Technical Session (2:00 PM-3:20 PM) included scholarly presentations by Prof. E. N. Ishwaran, Shankaran O. N., Lakshmi Narayan, and Vardhman Maharaj. The session was conducted by Rahul Mishra, with Dr. Bhaskar Chatterjee assisting him in the proceedings. The Fourth Technical Session (3:20 PM-4:40 PM) focused on diverse perspectives related to Shakti traditions. Research papers were presented by Srinivasan Potti, Dr. Harish P. M., Dr. Dhanya, and Dharshiv, a representative of Tulja Bhavani Mandir. The proceedings were conducted by Dr. Praveen Mani Tripathi, assisted by Dr. Anay Mani Tripathi. The day's academic activities concluded with the Fifth Technical Session (5:00 PM-6:30 PM), featuring presentations by Ashish Kumar Samant, Vishnukant Mudiya, and Sunit Pathak. The session was hosted by Dr. Ripunjay Tiwari, with Dr. Anay Mani Tripathi as Co-host. Throughout the day, the seminar served as a vibrant platform for scholarly exchange on the theological significance, historical evolution, architectural heritage, ritual traditions, pilgrimage culture, and contemporary relevance of the 51 Shakti Peethas. Participants actively engaged in discussions, reflecting the seminar's commitment to promoting interdisciplinary research and preserving India's rich spiritual and cultural heritage. |