International Centre for the Study of Murukan-Skanda
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First Murukan Conference main venue, Institute of Asian Studies, Chennai
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Conference delegates included the Vice-President of Mauritius and Sri Lankan Minister Thondaiman (centre) among others.
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Sri Lankan scholar delegates at the First Murukan Conference
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VIPs at the Third Murukan Conference included Bala Yogi Swamiji (left) and Thambiran Swamigal (right).
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Third Murukan Conference Special Coordinator Patrick Harrigan addressing the inaugural ceremony in Tamil.
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In late 1998, hundreds of scholars and devotees of the pan-Indian god Murukan or Skanda
convened in Chennai to exchange findings about the complex god and
his cult from earliest times down to the present. The First International Conference Seminar on
Skanda-Murukan was remarkable both for the sheer size of the
conference and for the broad range of research topics and expertise
of scholars and devotees. At the conclusion of the Conference,
participants voted overwhelmingly to create a formal institution to
promote the study of Murukan or Skanda worldwide. The
International Centre for the Study of Murukan-Skanda was born.
Since late Vedic times in the Sanskrit tradition and possibly far earlier among the
proto-Dravidian and tribal peoples of the South, the vigorous and
complex deity Skanda or Murukan has exerted a powerful
influence upon Indian literature and religious thought. Even today,
his cult continues to command the allegiance of millions in South
India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and wherever there are expatriate Tamil
communities.
Conference participants unanimously
recognized the need for greater dialogue among scholars of
Skanda-Murukan and the community of informed devotees. An
international association or center that brings scholars and learned
Murukan bhaktas together could achieve wonders in promoting
Kaumara studies worldwide. Affiliated scholars including
informed bhaktas from across South India, Sri Lanka, and worldwide
may collaborate in research projects and participate in seminars in
an environment conducive to vigorous intellectual exchange.
For scholars and devotee alike, the founding of the International
Centre for the Study of Murukan-Skanda as the first and only
international body of its kind in the worldrepresents a watershed in
Kaumara studies. For this reason alone, the First International
Conference Seminar on Skanda-Murukan will long be remembered as a
watershed in the study of one of the world's great religious and
literary traditions.
ICSMS Activities
Scope of the Centre's Activities
The International Centre for the Study of Murukan-Skanda undertakes activities concerning the cult of Skanda-Murukan from
earliest times down to the present as considered from such disciplinary perspectives as:
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• History |
• Art History |
• Literature |
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• Religion |
• Mythology |
• Folklore |
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• Philosophy |
• Anthropology |
• Sociology |
ICSMS activities include:
- Organisation of the First International Conference Seminar
on Skanda-Murukan in Chennai in December 1998;
- Organisation of the Second International Conference Seminar
on Murukan-Skanda in Mauritius in April 2001;
- Organisation of the Third International Conference
on Arulmigu Murukan in Kuala Lumpur in November 2003;
- Creation of a web site for Kaumāra studies;
- Editing and publication of research articles written for the
International Murukan Conference Series.
Forthcoming ICSMS projects include:
- Organisation of national and international conferences;
- Electronic conferences via e-mail and Internet;
- Publication of an ICSMS newsletter;
- Compilation of an encyclopedia of Kaumāram;
- Lecture tours of learned scholars and devotees;
- On-line directory of Murukan temples worldwide;
- Endowment of university chairs and fellowships;
- Co-production of television documentaries;
- Translation of Kaumāra texts from Tamil, Sanskrit, Sinhala, etc.
including original palmleaf manuscripts;
- Restoration of ancient Murukan temples;
- Establishing microfilm, video, photographic and digital archives
of the cult of Kaumāra; and
- Dialogue with scholars and representatives of other
faiths.
Multimedia projects include the production of video
documentaries, CD-ROMs and digital resource areas on the Internet.
The Centre also sponsors artistic performances like Murukan
Tiruvilaiyatal and Valli Tirumanam in the Bhārata Natyam
genre and Tiruppukazh recitals in India and abroad.
The Centre's Website is updated regularly to keep up with
developments, such as:
- on-line edition of the Centre's newsletter;
- forthcoming seminars and conferences;
- directory of scholars and their research interests;
- hyper-links to related WWW digital resources; and
- video documentaries and other multimedia projects.
ICSMS Objectives
The objectives of the International Centre for the Study
of Murukan-Skanda are:
- (i) To study the diverse aspects of the cult of Murukan
or Skanda or Subrahmanya as he is variously known
throughout the Indian subcontinent and overseas among expatriate
Indian communities from ancient times down to the present using
appropriate methodologies and technologies, with particular
attention paid to exploring the differences and similarities found
among diverse literary, oral and performative traditions;
- (ii) To undertake activities in support of the above
objectives by organizing periodic conferences and seminars;
- (iii) To encourage translation work of Kaumāra
literary works between source languages including Tamil,
Sanskrit, Sinhala, English and other languages as well as critical
appraisal of the works of leading authorities;
- (iv) To utilize technological advances such as in
information technology to expedite research, scholarly dialogue and
electronic publication of that research using the available printed
and electronic media;
- (v) To promote Kaumāra Studies in academic
settings around the world by supporting the creation of chairs,
fellowships and scholarships to be awarded to outstanding and
dedicated scholars;
- (vi) To appoint commissions which will study matters
relating to the fulfilling of the above objects.
- (vii) To do such other lawful things as are conducive to
the attainment of the above objects.
- (viii) To promote interaction with scholars and
practitioners of other religious and spiritual traditions in the
Indian subcontinent and all over the world;
How you can support Centre activities
The International Centre for the Study of Murukan-Skanda is
incorporated as a non-profit limited liability company under Section
25 of the Indian Companies Registration Act. As a non-profit company
it is empowered to accept tax-exempt donations and to raise funds
for projects by offering shares in the Centre for purchase by
investors.
The success of the International Centre for the Study of
Murukan-Skanda depends upon generous financial support from a
variety of sources including share purchases and outright donations.
If you would like to contribute to the success of the International
Centre for the Study of Murukan-Skanda, or if you know of an
individual, company, or agency that might, please consider
purchasing shares in the Centre and its wide range of activities.
November 2003 Murukan Conference Newsletter special issue