Sat Nam Dear Ones,
I am happy to announce the first conference of its kind, “The Music and Poetics of Devotion in the Jain and Sikh Traditions” February 26-27th, 2016 at Loyola Marymount University. Since my professorship is unique, sponsored by the Uberoi Foundation and the generous individuals from the Sikh and Jain communities, we thought it appropriate to hold an annual conference which brings these minority traditions together in hopes of sparking productive interfaith dialogue and scholarly engagement.
In addition to the expert scholars from around the world who will be presenting their most recent scholarship in this field, we will also have two musical concerts with master musicians including Bhai Baldeep Singh and Dr. Francesca Cassio, to give participants not only an intellectual understanding, but also an experience of the lived devotional practices of these traditions. (Please see below the flyer as well as a preliminary schedule.)
Please note that this event is free and open to the public, however parking is free on Saturday but costs $10/day on Friday.
I have set up an RSVP Form at https://nirinjan.wufoo.com/forms/z5bve4n1hyp8zl/ to get a general count as food will be served during this conference.
Many Thanks,
Nirinjan Khalsa, Ph.D.
Clinical Professor of Jain and Sikh Studies
Department of Theological Studies
Loyola Marymount University
University Hall, Suite 3700
One LMU Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90045-2659
Phone (310) 258-8621
(310) 258-8621 FREE | fax: (310) 338-1947
Nirinjan.khalsa@lmu.edu
LOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY’S THEOLOGICAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT & THE UBEROI FOUNDATION PRESENT
The Music and Poetics of Devotion in the Jain and Sikh Traditions
with support from the Sikh & Jain communities of Southern California
The devotional music of Jain stavan and Sikh kirtan will be explored in this two-day conference. The event includes two concerts, bringing these distinctive musical styles into dialogue through direct experience. Many similarities can be found between these musico-poetic traditions including historic and geographical links to the 15th-17th c. Indian Bhakti milieu. The conference will discuss primary compositions that serve central functions in daily practice in both traditions. These pieces were written in the pada poetic form, in local dialects, utilizing alliteration and rhyme along with rasa to convey the emotive mood of the poetry. Commonly sung either solo or in community in the genre of folk music, modern as well as traditional styles will be discussed. Both traditions offer the practitioner a meditative experience, leading the mind toward an elevated state of consciousness.
