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Anand Venkatraman

2 papers in the library · 14 citations · publishing 2019-2025

Papers

Tantra and Modern Neurosciences: Is there any Correlation?

Neurology India January 1, 2019 Anand Venkatraman, Rajarshi Nandy, Shyam Sudarshan Rao et al. 14 citations

Tantric meditation techniques from Indian philosophy and ritual can produce lasting changes in practitioners' nervous systems. This paper offers neuroscientists a framework for interpreting Tantra by linking concepts like the subtle body, nadis, and mantras with neuroscientific findings. The authors propose that sustained internal attention allowed Tantric practitioners to perceive subtle shifts in awareness typically below conscious threshold. Tantric descriptions are detailed and empirical but focus on subjective, individual experiences rather than group-level analyses. Systematic study of Tantric texts could bridge first-person and third-person approaches to the nervous system, potentially advancing cognitive enhancement and treatment of neurological diseases.

A qualia-centric approach to Ayurveda and Hindu knowledge systems can address modern science's blind spot.

Indian journal of medical ethics January 1, 2025 Anand Venkatraman

Ayurveda and Hindu knowledge systems should be understood through their own qualia-centric framework rather than through materialist assumptions borrowed from modern medicine. The author argues that applying the wrong metaphysical lens creates intractable debates about the validity of these systems, just as judging non-Western music by Western tonal standards would be inappropriate. However, all healthcare providers, including those practicing Ayurveda, must still meet universal benchmarks for quality, reliability, and efficacy.