Vedic Threads | Self paced
Śakti & Śri Vidya
This session explores śakti as the dynamic life force underlying all existence and śrī vidyā as a path to realizing and harmonizing that energy within. Dr. Rishi Manivannan explains how śakti operates through the body, mind, and consciousness, linking it with concepts like agni, ojas, and the cycles of the moon. The practice of śrī vidyā is presented as both external ritual and inner transformation, where devotion, discipline, and awareness help balance and channel energy. The session emphasizes understanding one’s capacity, cultivating inner fire responsibly, and integrating duality into unity, leading toward deeper self-awareness and spiritual alignment.
Guest Instructor
Dr. Rishi Manivannan
Dr. Rishi Manivannan is an Ayurveda and Siddha practitioner rooted in a traditional vishavaidya lineage, with extensive training in both classical and esoteric Indian knowledge systems. Educated in Ayurveda (BAMS) and Chinese medicine (MD), he further studied under Siddha Yogi K.P. Arjunan in a gurukula setting, mastering disciplines such as Śaiva Tantra, Vāsi Yoga, Nāḍī Vidyā, Jyotiṣa, and Vāstu. Mentored by Padmashri P.R. Krishnakumar, he was initiated into Śrī Vidyā Tantra and the Aṣṭavaidya tradition. He now works toward establishing the “Garden of Peace,” integrating education, healing, and sustainability, while contributing to research bridging traditional medicine with modern science.
Śakti & Śri Vidya
with Dr. Rishi Manivannan
Topics Covered:
- Introduction to śakti as the dynamic life force and śrī vidyā as a path of its realization
- Understanding the relationship between śakti (energy) and śrī (refined, auspicious expression of that energy)
- The body as a living field where śakti moves, manifests, and is worshipped
- Exploration of inner and outer worship—rituals as well as internal cultivation
- The concept of 16 kalās and 16 āvaraṇas as layers of consciousness to be refined or transcended
- Relationship between śakti and agni (fire)—both as transformative and potentially overwhelming forces
- Importance of balancing intensity (tapas) with cooling, sustaining practices
- Insight into Ardhanārīśvara and the unity of Śiva–Śakti
- Emphasis on self-awareness of capacity in spiritual practice to avoid imbalance or burnout
Learning Objectives:
- Define śrī vidyā and understand its place within spiritual and Ayurvedic frameworks
- Recognize key aspects of śakti and its expression in the body, mind, and practice
- Understand the different meanings of kalā across Ayurveda, arts, and śrī vidyā
Reflections & Integration
Topics Covered:
- Exploration of iḍā and piṅgala nāḍīs and differing interpretations across traditions
- Understanding how duality (male–female, sun–moon, expansion–contraction) is expressed in various knowledge systems
- Inquiry into reconciling contradictions between Ayurveda, Siddha, and other traditions
- The relationship between śakti and the language of duality
- Reflection on how prāṇa and śakti are experienced in the body and mind
- Insight into alignment (sura) vs. misalignment (asura) with the natural flow of life force
- Continued exploration of kalā and subtle energetic frameworks
- Emphasis on the role of a guru in navigating deeper engagement with śakti
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the fundamental dual forces that underlie nature and their expressions
- Compare how different traditions interpret energetic polarity and duality
- Reflect on one’s own experience of prāṇa and śakti in body and awareness
About Vedic Threads
Every Indian wisdom tradition carries within it a vast web of ideas, stories, and living knowledge. Vedic Threads is an invitation to explore that web — one theme at a time, in the company of lifelong practitioners and sincere seekers from around the world. Join hosts Drs. Ramkumar and Claudia Welch and Navneet Raman, and our distinguished guest instructors, for conversations that deepen your understanding of Ayurveda, yoga, and the traditions they emerge from.
