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Honouring outstanding excellence in Indian Classical Dance - Maharishi University of Enlightenment and Maharishi University of World Peace recognize Dr Kumari Urvashi Shrivastava
by Global Good News staff writer

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13 September 2007

Maharishi University of Enlightenment and Maharishi University of World Peace recently offered a special tribute to Dr Kumari Urvashi Shrivastava, the founder of Urvashi Kala Sristhi—the conferring of honorary doctoral degrees in recognition of her accomplishments in the field of Indian Classical Dance.

Described as a natural and complete technology for enlivening the relationship between transcendental self-referral being and its expression in the physiology, Indian Classical Dance has been referred to as a 'Vedic performance which maintains orderly growth and balance of the whole physiology'.

From its central campus in Maharishi Vedic City Iowa, USA, the Maharishi University of Enlightenment (MUE) Trustees, President, and Faculty were joined via video conference by their Dean of Faculty and other distinguished members in MERU, Holland, for the awarding of these degrees.

As explained by the President at the beginning of the ceremony, MUE was established in January 1998, and is the first university in the world fully authorized by the government to offer the mothers of society bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in Maharishi Vedic Science, the Science of Consciousness. The University was licensed in 2001 by the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina, USA, to offer degrees in Maharishi Vedic Science. In April 2007, MUE became a government university itself, when it was authorized by the City Council of Maharishi Vedic City, Iowa, USA, to grant these degrees as a city university of Maharishi Vedic City.

An excerpt from the text of the diploma awarded to Urvashi Shrivastava reads, 'Maharishi University of Enlightenment hereby confers the Doctor of Humane Letters Degree and the Doctor of Science Degree Honoris Causa on Urvashi Shrivastava. These degrees are being presented to you for giving expression to Brahma Vidya [the knowledge of Brahm, Totality] in the physiological movements of dance. This demonstrates Brahma Vidya on the physiological level and finally concludes—Jivo Brahmaiva naparah: the individual is essentially cosmic. And the Karma [action] of the individual is the expression of freedom in enlightenment—Moksha.

'For this it is the pleasure of Maharishi University of Enlightenment to recognize Urvashi as the teacher of Brahma Vidya which is the real, healthy, happy, state of life. . . . For your extraordinary achievements in elevating Indian Classical Dance to its supreme status, Maharishi University of Enlightenment honours you today with the Doctor of Humane Letters and the Doctor of Science Degree, Honoris Causa.'

Following warm applause and blowing of conches, the ceremony continued with the awarding of an honorary doctoral degree from Maharishi University of World Peace. The text of the diploma read, 'Maharishi University of World Peace is proud of the achievements of Kumari Urvashi in the field of Indian Classical Dance—Bharatnatyam, Kathak, and Odissi. She has excelled in Indian Classical Dance and has woven dance into the threads of the Brahma Sutras and has fulfilled this highest purpose of enlightenment.

'The influence of deep relaxation that dance produces on the finest cellular level of the physiology eliminates any stress or strain in a very natural way. This puts Kumari Urvashi on the level of awakening through the Art of Dance, making dance the practical science of Brahma Vidya.

'It is evident that Kumari Urvashi's classical dance is the most ancient physical approach to opening the channels of Brahma Vidya. The highest level of awakening through the art of dance, becomes the practical science of Brahma Vidya, which translates Karma in the light of Gyan, Yoga, and Bhakti [pure knowledge, Unity, and devotion].

'Kumari Urvashi has been invited to be the Head of the Department of Classical Dance at Maharishi Medical College. The Dance Therapy of Kumari Urvashi has proven to be the practical demonstration of the essential features of the research of Maharaja Nader Raam, Professor Tony Nader, MD, PhD; that consciousness is the basis of physiology.

'For all these beautiful achievements, Maharishi University of World Peace takes special delight in awarding Kumari Urvashi this doctoral degree in both fields of Science and Arts. Jai Guru Dev. Awarded on this 4th day of September 2007, MERU, Holland.'

Dr Shrivastava expressed the great honor she felt in receiving these degrees, saying that she intended to probe more deeply into the therapeutic application of Vedic Dance for improving health. She described Vedic Dance as ancient Indian Classical Dance whose roots are in the Natya Shastra of Bharat Muni of India.

The ceremony concluded with the playing of a video-taped performance of Vedic Dance by Dr Shrivastava.

Copyright © 2007 Global Good News (sm) Service

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For information about Maharishi's seven-point programme to create a healthy, happy, prosperous society, and a peaceful world, please visit: Global Financial Capital of New York.

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