Academy_Outline1.pdf

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Mayapura Academy

The Development of a Diploma in Arcana

Mayapur Academy is a joint educational initiative of the Mayapur DeityDepartment and ISKCON Deity Worship Ministry with the aim of trainingbrahmanas that are capable of fulfilling the needs of ISKCON communities.

The Mayapur Academy, commencing late 2007, will offeran outstanding range of innovative courses for devoteesinterested in developing their skills and ability as pujarisand brahmanas. These courses will present a relevant andchallenging response to current demands of deity worshipand brahminical services in ISKCON. They will be offeredby some of the finest and most active educationalists intheir fields in ISKCON. Underpinning the academic struc-ture is a developing base of support; including training fa-cilities and input from senior ISKCON members.

Needs Statement

Since founding ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada trained devotees inthe practices of deity worship. At the New York storefront tem-ple, devotees daily saw Srila Prabhupada worship pictures ofthe Panca-tattva and his spiritual master. He encouraged eve-ryone to bring flowers or fruit for the deities and thus intro-duced devotees to deity worship. It was his desire to havehundreds of Radha-Krishna temples all over the world with high

standards of worship following the principles given by the Gos-wamis of Vrindavan.

This course is an academic, practical and integrated approach to deity worshipand brahminical development. It offers comprehensive training in the knowledgeand skills of deity worship and aims to assist devotees in developing the qualitiesof a brahmana. Such development will empower devotees to become leaders ofthe Vaisnava community.

This course will help to develop and maintain worship standards as desired by Sri-la Prabhupada. In achieving this aim devotees will be guided in the developing

the qualities of a vaisnava. Not only will this assist the development and mainten-ance of deity worship but will contribute to the healthy functioning of ISKCON so-ciety. A society without brahmanas is a society without a head.

Course Units

Festivals

Tulasi

Samskaras

Deity Dressing

Standard Temple Worship

Advanced Deity Worship

Brahminical Culture & Ethics

Cooking for the Deities

Salagrama Worship

Practicum

Plus Elective Options

You just worshipRadha-Madhava nicely,and everything willcome by Their mercy.

You don't have toworry about money.

-- Srila Prabhupada

These courses willpresent a relevantand challenging re-sponse to currentdemands of deityworship and brah-minical services inISKCON.


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Course Aims and Learning Outcomes

Course Aims:

To equip devotees with the knowledge, skills and values associated with being atemple pujari and brahmana in an ISKCON community.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course devotees will be able to:

demonstrate an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the philosophyand practices of ISKCON deity worship and perform any aspect of deityworship in an ISKCON temple

demonstrate the internal qualities and external practices of a brahmanacapable of servicing a vaisnava community

cultivate members of the congregation through servicing with varioussamskaras, counselling, etc.

demonstrate the ability to act as an educator capable of imparting brah-minical knowledge, skills and values to other members of the society (in-cluding giving a sastra class)

demonstrate proficiency in cooking for the deities

identify and examine a range of organisational approaches and structuresto managing a deity department including organising rosters, deity festiv-als, etc.

identify the nuances and importance of cultivating and worshiping Tulasidevi

demonstrate the ability to proficiently dress deities

demonstrate in-depth knowledge and understanding of the philosophy andof Salagrama worship and demonstrate ability to worship the Salagrama

Units at a Glance

Standard Temple Worship (Core Unit)Temple worship Level 1 Introduction (11 classes)

This unit is an introduction to the basic knowledge, skills and values ofTemple worship

Temple worship Level 2 (20 classes)

This unit develops further the knowledge, skills and values of temple wor-ship and gives devotees practical experience in the various procedures ofdaily worship.

31 Classes, 12 credit poin ts


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Brahminical Culture and Ethics - Unit 1 (Core Unit)

In this unit devotees will develop values and knowledge required to lead /guide a spiritual society. Devotees will learn the role of a brahmana in giv-ing guidance and direction to various social and managerial structures ac-

cording guru, sadhu and scripture. This will include elementary teachertraining and giving sastra class.

(28 classes), 12 credit points

Samskaras (Core Unit)

In this unit devotees will develop skills and knowledge required to performmajor samskaras. Devotees will learn the function of samskaras and howto set up and perform a fire yajna.


Festivals

Devotees will learn the function of festivals, the meaning of the differentfestivals, and how to observe various festivals.


Tulasi

Devotees will learn to appreciate the identity of Tulasi and will also developknowledge and skills for caring for, and worshiping Tulasi.


Cooking for the deities

Devotees will learn the process of cooking within ISKCON and how to de-velop and refine their cooking skills.


Deity Dressing

Devotees will learn how to dress deities. Skills included will be color match-ing, how to select appropriate jewelry, wrap a turban, hang cloth and gar-lands etc.



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Practicum (Core Unit)

This unit will involve students being placed in appropriate Temple settingsand functioning in a professional manner for a three day period. This willbe done under the tutorage of experts in specific fields. Students will be

assessed by keeping a professional journal and the observation records ofthe tutor.

(5 days), 10 credit points

Year Two Subjects

Advanced Temple Worship

Salagrama Worship

Brahminical Development 2Teacher training 1

Proposed Elective Units: (for future courses)

Clothes and jewelry design and creation

Introduction to Vedic Astrology

Introduction to Vastu

Introduction to SanskritWorshiping Prabhupada (Murti & Instruction)

Teacher Training 2

Vaisnava Songs and Bhajanas

Poetry of the Vaisnava traditions

Civic training in ISKCON

Vaisnava Drama

Introduction to Ayurveda

Vedic mathematics

Academy_Outline1.pdf

Documents

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