JAMMU, Jul 23: The third day of the four-day National Seminar on “Shakti Mimansa (51 Shakti Peethas: Spiritual Pillars of Indian Heritage)”, jointly organised by the Central Sanskrit University, Shri Maharaja Ranbir Singh Campus, Jammu, and the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, featured extensive academic deliberations on the spiritual, historical and cultural significance of the 51 Shakti Peethas.
Held at the Lecture Theatre in Katra, the seminar witnessed five academic sessions throughout the day, with scholars from across India and Sri Lanka presenting research papers on various aspects of Shakti worship, the evolution of Shakti Peethas and their enduring role in India’s civilisational heritage.
The first session, coordinated by Dr. Badrivishal Pandey, featured presentations by Himmat Lal Dave, Shaileshbhai Joshi, Sandeep Haldar and N. Thivakaran from Sri Lanka. The second session included papers by Saurabh Saraswat, V.D. Bhatt, Avanindra Sharma and Dr. Gaurav Mani Tripathi, who highlighted the philosophical, literary and socio-cultural dimensions of the Shakti tradition.
In the afternoon sessions, speakers including Kaushik Modi, representing Surakhanda Devi Shakti Peeth, Labhesh Munishwar, Manoj Munishwar, Aparajit Sharma, Rajkumar, Mukesh Prasad Singh and Narendranath Thakur discussed regional traditions, rituals, preservation of sacred heritage and the contemporary relevance of Shakti Peethas.
The concluding session featured presentations by a representative of Chandrabhaga Shakti Peeth and Pritam Das, who spoke on pilgrimage traditions and the contribution of Shakti worship to India’s cultural identity.
The seminar continues to provide a vibrant platform for academicians, researchers, saints and heritage experts to promote interdisciplinary research and preserve India’s rich spiritual and cultural heritage through scholarly dialogue.