Faces of Power
An Indian Goddess Odyssey
What do Indian Goddesses represent?
How can they aid in your personal journey?
Indian Goddesses are associated with the ancient Sanskrit word for “power” (Śakti). Each Goddess personifies a specific energy which seekers can invoke for their personal development.
This series explores key personifications of Power from ancient India’s Goddess traditions.
It interweaves religious, philosophical, and narrative strands to elucidate these key Indian Goddesses as archetypal faces of power.
You will come to know their rich symbolisms with an eye to the role they might play in your own life journey.
You will learn about each Goddess’...
- Narratives
- Iconography
- Significations
- Archetypal energy
- Utility in your life
No previous knowledge or training is required to benefit from this series provided you are interested in the topic.
Classes Include
- Academic lecture
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Live storytelling
- Sanskrit verses
-
Life wisdom
-
Esoteric insight
***This course counts as 12 hours of Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Credit***
Lakshmi
Face of Prosperity
Born from the Cosmic Churning in search for the Elixir of Immortality, Lakshmi represents Abundance, Prosperity, and Domestic Bliss.
Durga
Face of Sovereignty
Queen of Kings and Protectress Extraordinaire, Durga represents Empowerment, Protection, Motherhood, and Sovereignty.
Kali
Face of Transformation
Born of Durgā's wrath to destroy powerful demons, Kali represents Destruction and Necessary Transformation.
Saraswati
Face of Artistry
The Consort of the Creator, She is the power of creativity. Elusive, subtle, refined, She is the Power of Expression and Artistry.
Course Instructor
Dr. Raj Balkaran is an expert in Indian traditions. Skilled at applying ancient Indian teachings to modern life, he dovetails academic training, live storytelling, and life wisdom to nourish his students’ hearts and minds alike.
He is also an avid spiritual practitioner and initiate into ancient Indian wisdom practices, which he has been engaged in for nearly two decades.
He has extensive experience teaching academics, continuing studies learners, and practitioners alike, and is a seasoned online educator who serves on the Course Development Board at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies.
See https://rajbalkaran.com for more information.
Student Feedback
"I have studied “Faces of Power: Indian Goddess Odyssey” and “The Hindu Tapestry: Threads of Indian Tradition” with Dr Balkaran. I enjoyed the way these online courses combined scholarship and storytelling with Dr Balkaran’s own wise interpretations of the texts he covered. The classes always allowed plenty of time and space for questions and class discussion. As someone with no background in Hindu Studies / Indian Philosophy I really appreciate the accessible way Dr Balkaran teaches and the pointers he offers to the esoteric wisdom that is hidden within the ancient teachings."
- Deborah Drake (UK)
"If you are interested in Indian mythology and wisdom I highly recommend the School of Indian Wisdom courses by Dr Raj Balkaran. The Faces of Power: An Indian Goddess Odyssey, was a fascinating and consciousness-expanding journey into the myths of the Goddesses Lakshmi, Durgā and Kali. Dr Raj unpacks the central questions and motifs of the myths, through storytelling, his extensive personal practice, and scholarly analysis. Honestly Dr Raj’s teachings kind of blew my mind. He does that. He’s actually very good at it. You think he’s just telling you stories, which he does, and then BOOM! mind blown. He brings the stories alive - making them relevant to our lives. It’s truly a unique and illuminating approach to the texts. Whether you’re a yoga teacher wishing to understand the context of the practice or someone just wanting to unravel the vast mythology of the Hindu tradition, this is the definitely the school for you."
- Christina Davidson
Yoga teacher (Melbourne, Australia)
