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ShareMumbai: Several Indian rituals have found a place in the prayers and the overall set up of the 100-year-old Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth (JDV), better known as Papal Seminary on
Pune-Ahmednagar Road.
The institution mainly trains Catholic priests and religious leaders. It has two faculties of philosophy and theology (religion), conferring bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees. JDV was started as the Papal Seminary in 1893 in Kandy (Sri Lanka), and later transferred to Pune in 1955 and given an Indian name, Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth (The Light of Wisdom University). The government issued a special first day cover and commemorative stamp to mark the centenary.
The institute is a centre for study of various branches of Christian philosophy and theology, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Jainism, Islam and Sikhism.
"Since we train the students in so many religions we made it a point to adopt the good teachings in these religions. The theme of our centenary year celebration was Sarva Jiva Sukham -- Sarva Dharma Sakhyam (the happiness of all living being and friendships among all religions). We have depicted this theme in the form of a mandala. The mandala illustrates symbols of various religions," said Father Noel, SJ, who is the professor of Indian philosophy and religions.
JDV is the only national institute of ecclesiastical studies for diocesan priests in India. Besides Indian students, youths from many other countries are studying here.
