The IKS Centre at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (Amrita University) is inspired by the vision of the interconnectedness and interdisciplinary approach of Indian Knowledge Systems. The project envisages interdisciplinary research within the domain of Indian Knowledge Systems (Āyurveda, Darśanas and Vyākaraṇa) as well as with relevant modern scientific disciplines (Health Sciences, Medical Research, Textual Criticism). It focuses on nurturing the ecosystem of an interdisciplinary approach to knowledge creation that is characteristic of traditional learning in the academic environment of a modern University. This project will enable the dissemination of the rich scientific heritage of India as a health-conscious culture by systematisation and exposition of health-related knowledge in non-Ayurvedic Sanskrit literature. This project will help to preserve traditional knowledge in authentic form by bringing out a critical edition of selected portions of Aṣṭādhyāyi. Critical edition of monumental works like Aṣṭādhyāyi is essential to promote serious scholarly research. This work can also serve as an impetus for other scholars in India to work on critical editions of Sanskrit texts and fill the much-needed gap in nurturing original Indian contributions to textual criticism of classical Indian literature. To develop IKS in a manner that is relevant for contemporary society, we need a research methodology that includes modern research methods but is also adapted to the epistemological and ontological framework of IKS. This project will formulate a research methodology derived from Nyāya, Vaiśeṣika, and Sāṅkhya Darśanas that is integrated with modern scientific research methodologies and applicable to IKS like Āyurveda. The Amrita IKS centre engages in Research, Training, and Public outreach through the various activities envisaged in the project. This project is funded by IKS Division, Ministry of Education, Government of India and is jointly implemented by Amrita School of Ayurveda and Amrita School of Spiritual and Cultural Studies.
