Vide item No 518R One year Post Graduate Diploma Course in Mysticism_1 Syllabus Mumbai University

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Copy to : -
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for information.

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AC – 17/05/2022
Item No. – 5.18 (R)





UNIVERSITY OF MUMBAI






Revised Syllabus for One Year Post -graduate
Diploma Course in Mysticism

(With effect from the academic year 2022 -23)

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UNIVERSITY OF MUMBAI

Syllabus for Approval
Signature of BOS Chairperson :
Signature of Dean:
Sr.
No. Heading Particulars
1 Title of the Course One Year Post -graduate
Diploma Course in Mysticism

2 Eligibility for
Admission Bachelor’s Degree in Any Faculty
3 Passing Marks Minimum 40% individual Passing
4 Ordinances /
Regulations ( if any) As per university rules
5 No. of Years /
Semesters One Year
6 Level P.G. / U.G./ Diploma / Certificate
7 Pattern Yearly / Semester
8 Status New / Revised
9 To be implemented
from Academic Year From Academic Year 2022 -23

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Syllabus for the One Year Post -graduate Diploma Course in Mysticism
1) Eligibility: A candidate to be eligible for the Post graduate Diploma Course
in Mysticism should be a graduate from any faculty from an institution which
is recognized by the UGC or equivalent.
2) Every student admitted to the course for the Post graduate Diploma in
Mysticism shall first register himself as such with the University
3) Duration: 3 hrs a week (once a week, I Academic year, Approx 90 hrs)
4) Fees: Rs. 3,000/ - per student (for the whole/entire course) + examination fees
as per University Rule
5) Passi ng: Minimum 40% individual Passing
Bertrand Russell, a philosopher who cannot be suspected of sentimentality, or of
soft-headedness, or of a bias in favour of mysticism, wrote in a famous essay as
follows: The greatest men who have been philosophers have felt the need both of
science and of mysticism (Russell: 1921). The union of Mystic and the man of
Science inspires whatever is best in a human being. Greatest of poets saints like
Dnyaneshvar, Mirabai, Kabir and p oet laureates like Rabindranath Tagore, saintly
thinkers like Sri Aurobindo, Gurudev Ranade have been Mystics.
These Mystic personalities have undoubtedly derived their inspiration from the
Upanisads , Vedanta and Agamic traditions composed or encoded in Sanskrit. The
metaphysical speculations regarding God, Atman and Brahman, Maya, embodied
Soul i.e. the Jivataman have been thoroughly discussed in the Sanskrit sources,
which have inspired the thoug ht-processes of many a Mystic.
Apart from Sanskritic Indian traditions, mysticism has been a mode of practice in
different cultures. The beatified saints in Christianity, the Sufi saints of Islam, Zen
Buddhist tradition have embedded mysticism in th eir practices. Apart from this , a
variety of meditative techniques used for self -realisation have firm roots in
Mysticism. One of the greatest role played by Mysticism is that, it has provided a
Spiritual Background to the Renaissance and Reformist movements d uring the
British Rule.
This course in Mysticism throws light on Mystics as well as Mysticism theories of
India and also of different cultures. The Diploma course offered by the Department
of Sanskrit, University of Mumbai is one of its kind in India .

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Syllabus Details :
One Year Post -graduate Diploma Course in Mysticism
Paper I : Essentials of Mysticism
Topics:
1) Understanding Mysticism: Marks 25
a. Its definition and characteristic s,
b. Principles of Mysticism,
c. Scope of Mysticism,
d. Mysticism and Language,
e. Symbolism in Mysticism
f. Mysticism and Religious Experience,
g. Nature -Mysticism,
h. Soul Mysticism and Intuitive Mysticism;
i. Extrovertive Mysticism and Introvertive Mysticism

2) Sanskrit, Pali and Prakrit texts and Mysticism: Marks 25
a. Vedic ritual and Spiritual literature s
b. Special stress on
i. Upanishads;
ii. Bhagavadgita,
iii. Yogavasishta,
iv. Stotra and
v. Other Bhakti literature
vi. Jainism
vii. Buddhism
3) Sufism: and Islam Marks 25
a. Personal Interpretation of Divine,
b. Concept of fana, (notion of oneself in the Divinity)
c. dhikr (Remembrance of God)
d. Different stages to achieve Mystical state
4) Objective Reference and Mysticism: Marks 25
a. Trans -subjectivity,
b. Feeling of Objectivity,

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c. Universal Self and Vacuum - Plenum ,
d. Status of Universal Self,
Self-Realization

Paper II: Multi -dimensional World and Mysticism
Topics:
1) Mysticism in the West: Marks 25
a. Mysticism in Greek thought –
b. Metaphysical speculation;
c. Logical differentiation of Mystical experiences,
d. Christian Mysticism Mystics like following will be covered ;
i. St Teresa,
ii. Thomas Acquinas
iii. St John of the Cross
iv. Chiara Lubich

2) Mysticism and Psychology: Marks 25
a. Neurological Research
b. Morality
c. Visions and Voices,
d. Raptures,
e. Trances and
f. Hyper -emotionalism

3) Mysticism and Saint Literature: Marks 25
a. Compositions of Saint poets
i. Varkari Saints,
ii. Alvars,
iii. Meerabai and Kabir
iv. Mysticism in Gaudiya tradition

4) Mysticism in Arts and Modern Indian Mystics Marks 25
I) Mysticism in Arts

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a. Sculpture
b. Painting
c. Dance and Music
II )Modern Indian Mystics:
d. Ramakrishna Paramahansa,
e. Sri Aurobindo,
f. Gurudev Ranade
Paper -pattern
A. Paper I (Marks 100 Duration3 hrs)
(Out of six questions any four are to be attempted)
1. General Question on the Understanding of Mysticism ---- Marks 25
2. General Question on Sanskrit Texts and My sticism ---- Marks 25
3. General Question on Sufism ----- Marks 25
4. General Question on Objective reference and Mysticism --- Marks 25
5. Critical notes on any two out of four topics prescribed for Paper I --- Marks
25
6. Critical notes on any two out of four topics prescribed for Paper I ----Marks
25
B. Paper II (Marks 100 Duration 3 hours)
(Out of six questions, any four are to be attempted)
1. General question on Mysticism in the West ---- Marks 25
2. General question on Mys ticism and Psychology --- Marks 25
3. General Question on Mysticism and Saint Literature ---- Marks 25
4. General Question on Mysticism and Arts and Modern Indian Mystics ----
Marks 25
5. Critical notes on any two out of four topics prescribed for Paper II --- Marks
25
6. Critical notes on any two out of four topics presc ribed for Paper II ----Marks
25
Dissertation : Marks 50

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Bibliography:
1. Mainkar, T. G., Mysticism in the Rigveda, Popular Book Depot, Mumbai,
1961
2. Ranade R. D., Constructive Survey of Upanishadic Philosophy,
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mumbai, 1986
3. Kulkarni, B. R., Critical and Constructive Aspects of Prof. R. D.
Ranade’s Philosophy, Academy of Comparative Philosophy and
Religion, Belgaum, 1974
4. Ranade, R . D., Mysticism in Maharashtra, MLBD, 1988 (1933)
5. Alper., P. Harvey, Understanding Mantras, Delhi, 1991
6. Osborne, Arthur, The collected works of Ramana Maharshi, Sri
Ramanashram, Tiruvannamalai, 1979
7. Dasgupta, S. N., Hindu Mysticism, MLBD, Delhi, 1987
8. Johns ton E. H., The Saundarananda of Asvaghosa, MLBD, 1975
9. Chari, S.M.S., Philosophy and Theistic Mysticism of the Alvars, MLBD,
Delhi, 1997
10. Gonda J., Visnuism and Saivism: A Comparison, MLBD, Delhi, 1970
11. Stace, W. T., Mysticism and Philosophy, Macmillan and C o Ltd.,
London, 1961
12. Katz Steven, T., Mysticism and Religious traditions, OUP, New York,
1983
13. Singh, Mohan, Mysticism, Philosophy and Religion, AIOC, Ahmedabad,
1953
14. Inge, W. R., Christian Mysticism, London, 1899
15. William James, The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in
Human Nature, New York, 2002
16. Underhill, Evelyn, Mysticism: A Study in the Nature and Development of
Man, Metheun and Co, UK, 1945
17. Staal, Fritz, Exploring Mysticism: A Methodological Essay, MLBD,
Delhi, 2013