Amritanath Bhattacharya
Courses & Masterclasses
2 courses offeredComprehensive understanding of foundational IKS frameworks
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles (PIJCACE)
2 articlesNithin Sridhar’s Chatuh Shloki Manusmrti: Tradition, Authority, and the Fourfold Framework
This review essay examines Chatuh Shloki Manusmriti: An English Commentary by Nithin Sridhar, situating the work within the broader intellectual framework of the Indian śāstric tradition. The study analyses the author’s decision to interpret the philosophical architecture of the Manusaṃhitā through the first four verses of the opening chapter, read in light of the classical hermeneutic structure of anubandha catuṣṭaya. By foregrounding questions of adhikārī (qualified reader), prayojana (purpose), and viṣaya (subject matter), the essay argues that Sridhar’s work attempts to reintroduce contemporary readers—particularly those outside traditional modes of learning—to the conceptual world of Dharmaśāstra. The review further examines the methodological implications of employing the bhāṣya tradition as a modern interpretive tool and reflects on the distinction between śruti and smṛti, authorship, and authority within the Indian knowledge system. While acknowledging the book’s pedagogical strengths and its contribution to renewed discussions on the Manusmṛti, the essay also highlights certain translation and interpretive issues, suggesting that the text is best understood within the framework of śāstra pramāṇa rather than as an independent epistemic authority.
Truth, Beauty, and the Aesthetic Quest: Arjun Bharadwaj’s Exploration of Homer through Indian Thought
This review examines Arjun Bharadwaj's Indian Perspective of Truth and Beauty in Homer's Epics, a comparative literary study that applies Indian aesthetic philosophy to Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. Bharadwaj employs millennia-old Indian aesthetic theories from scholars like Ānandavardhana and Abhinavagupta to explore universal principles of truth and beauty in Western epic literature. Rather than examining Greek influence on Indian civilization—the dominant scholarly discourse—this work reverses the trajectory by using Indian frameworks such as puruṣārthas (life goals) and rasa (aesthetic emotions) to analyze Greek epics. The author's methodology includes comparative analysis of the Rāmāyaṇa, Mahābhārata, Iliad, and Odyssey, examining their spatial-temporal constructs, character ethics, and divine-human relationships. Bharadwaj also analyzes Homer's use of arthālaṅkāras (figures of sense) through Indian poetic theory. The review suggests that Bharadwaj approaches Homer not merely as a scholar but as a poet seeking to discover the eternal aesthetic essence that transcends civilizational boundaries, creating a dialogue between Vālmīki, Vyāsa, and Homer across millennia.
Poorvam Ideas Discourses, Essays & Dialogues
1 publicationDīkṣā
Dīkṣā, however, is not merely the transmission of knowledge. Its true purpose lies in the simultaneous attainment of pure knowledge and the dissolution of karmic tendencies. Through the grace of the Sadguru, the veil of ignorance is lifted, allowing the self to recognise its own Śiva-nature. Thus dīkṣā becomes the gateway through which the ātman’s innate divine knowledge unfolds.
Intellectual Statement & Research Focus
Amritanath Bhattacharya is a scholar, author, and cultural theorist working at the intersection of classical Indian aesthetics (Rasa & Dhvani theories), Sanskrit hermeneutics, and modern digital humanities. He serves as the Editor-in-Chief of Poorvam International Journal of Creative Arts and Cultural Expressions (PIJCACE) and is the founding director of the Poorvam Foundation research ecosystem.
Current Academic Appointment
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ActiveEditor-in-Chief & FounderCentre for Comparative Arts & Aesthetics, Editor-in-Chief, PIJCACE