[Studentfolk] Visiting Scholar Lectures on Ethnography and Fieldwork

[Moriarty, Megan]

Dear Folklore Community,

I believe these two upcoming lectures will be of interest to folklorists: Dr. Meera Kachroo is a visiting scholar with the Center for the Study of Religion this semester, and she will talk about her ethnography and fieldwork with the First Nations citizens of Canada, and reflect on her study of the rituals of the Śrīvidyā tradition in south India.
Dr. Kachroo will be on the OSU campus from September 16-20. In her role as visiting scholar, she will offer two lectures (see below), visit classes, meet with graduate students and participate in other center initiatives, including CSR's monthly reading group and biweekly writing group.
Both lectures are free and open to the public. Find more information on our website.<https://religion.osu.edu/events>
Yoga Knowledge in Translation: Reflections on First Nations Yoga Intervention

Tuesday, September 17

7:30-9 pm

Y<https://ywbyoga.com/>oga-Well-Being<https://ywbyoga.com/>, 296 W. 4th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43201

As a member of a biomedical research team, Meera presents her reflections on yoga as a biomedical intervention at two First Nations reserves in Treaty 6 territory, Canada. The project navigates intercultural transfer, collaborative and community-engaged research, and Indigenized research practices. In this talk, we will explore congruence between yoga’s integrative approach and the Medicine Wheel model of Indigenous well-being, while sharing challenges and lessons in the processes of Indigenous health research.
Event notes: please bring socks, as shoes and bare feet are not allowed in the studio.
Accessibility note: the event space is not wheelchair accessible. If you are unable to navigate stairs, please contact MacKenzie DiMarco: dimarco.33 at osu.edu<mailto:dimarco.33 at osu.edu> to develop an accessibility plan.


Publicity, Secrecy and Esotericism in the Contemporary Tantric Maṇḍalī

Wednesday, September 18

4-5:30 pm

198 Hagerty Hall


Throughout its history, the rituals of the Śrīvidyā tradition have been called rahasya (“secret”) and its teachings a gupta vidyā (“hidden knowledge”). In striking contrast to these intimations of secrecy, its insignia and mantras are now widely publicized and promoted across south India. Based on four years of fieldwork among tantric societies of south India, Dr. Kachroo has observed that specific (and usually implicit) negotiations have determined the social and intellectual boundaries of these contemporary tantric societies, under the influence of influential gurus who have controlled access to texts and ritual initiations. The twinned practices of privacy and publication—a kind of brokerage and exchange of information across social boundaries—enacts a process of public esotericism.


Meera Jo Kachroo<https://stmcollege.ca/contacts/meera-kachroo.php> <https://stmcollege.ca/contacts/meera-kachroo.php> (PhD, McGill University) is a Post-Doctoral Fellow affiliated with the Canadian Centre for Rural and Agricultural Health and the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology in the College of Medicine, and is an Adjunct Professor in the department of Religion and Culture at St Thomas More College at the University of Saskatchewan. Meera’s research interests include esotericism, meditation and yoga, interculturality and Indigenous ceremony and spirituality.
The Humanities Institute and its related centers host a wide range of events, from intense discussions of works in progress to cutting-edge presentations from world-known scholars, artists, activists and everything in between.
We value in-person engagement at our events as we strive to amplify the energy in the room. To submit an accommodation request, please send your request to MacKenzie DiMarco: dimarco.33 at osu.edu<mailto:dimarco.33 at osu.edu>
Screen reader note: There are two PDFs attached to this email. All of the information on the PDFs can be accessed here.<https://religion.osu.edu/events/publicity-secrecy-and-esotericism-contemporary-tantric-mandali> <https://religion.osu.edu/events/publicity-secrecy-and-esotericism-contemporary-tantric-mandali>



Megan Moriarty

Communications Specialist


The Ohio State University

Humanities Institute

456 Hagerty Hall, 1775 College Road, Columbus, OH 43210


614-247-1650

moriarty.8 at osu.edu<mailto:moriarty.8 at osu.edu> / osu.edu<http://www.osu.edu>


Pronouns: she/her/hers

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