South India

India, home of one of the oldest continual living civilizations, has some of the oldest spiritual traditions in the world that are still practiced today. We will explore many of them during this culturally rich learning experience. India is a vast land of diversity. There are over 200 languages and almost every world religion including Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Islam, Christianity and Judaism are practiced here. India’s physical environment is also diverse with barren desserts, Himalayan mountains, jungles and tropical beaches. Each region is like a different country with different languages, food, customs, religions and environments.

Our exciting program takes place in South India the heartland of Dravidian culture. South India is bastion of conservative Hinduism and has some of India’s largest and finest temples. To truly understand India one has to learn about its spiritual traditions. Study Hindu, Jain and Buddhist philosophy, art, architecture, and culture. Each day your classroom will be a different ancient temple or monastery. You will learn and practice Hindu, Jain and Buddhist yoga and meditation. Your instructors each day will be prominent Hindu, Jain and Buddhist scholars and practitioners. You will have the rare opportunity to actually meet Brahman priests in their colorful temples who will take you deep into their world of Hinduism, a tradition that goes back more than 3,000 years. You will be immersed in India’s fascinating culture — urban and rural — during this wonderful hands-on learning experience. A trip to India is a life-changing experience and we invite you to join us to study in one of the world’s most remarkable cultures.

Program Description

Wisdom Study Abroad offers a winter break program to India each year. Our South India program takes place in Bangalore, Chennai, Kancheepuram, Mahabalipuram, Kumbakonam and Tanjore. The focal point of this program is the spiritual traditions of South India — Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. Each day the classroom will be a different temple, shrine, monastery, museum and artist studio. We will study Karma, rebirth and moksa — liberation — the pillars of Indian thought, in great detail during this program. Students will learn and practice yoga and meditation during this program. South India is home to many of India’s most famous museums. During this program we will study Indian sacred art at the renowned Bronze Museum in Chennai and the Royal Palace Museum in Tanjore that houses masterpieces from the Chola dynasty. Students will also study Indian sacred art and learn the lost wax process of bronze casting at a sculpture foundry. This ancient tradition of creating sacred art has been kept alive for centuries and South India is famous for it.

This is a sample program description. When students enroll in the program they will receive a detailed syllabus and course description for each course.