In this episode of the Engaged Jain Studies Podcast, Christopher Jain Miller, PhD interviews Professor Venu Mehta, PhD from Claremont School of Theology (CST). Dr. Mehta discusses her background as a Jain from Gujarat, where she earned her first PhD in literature and humanities before completing a second PhD at the University of Florida.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

• Academic Journey: Insights into Professor Mehta's academic path and her dual expertise in literature and Jain studies.
• Research on Padmavati: An exploration of her exciting research on the Jain goddess Padmavati.
• Teaching and Impact: A look into the courses she teaches in the MA - Engaged Jain Studies program, the transformative experiences of her students, and her perspective on what "engaged" Jainism means.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES & LINKS

• About Venu Mehta | Claremont School of Theology
• Master of Arts - Engaged Jain Studies | Now accepting applications for Spring 2025! Scholarships available.
• Arihanta Institute | Ancient Wisdom, Modern Living

Gain a valuable perspective from a rising scholar in Engaged Jain Studies, an emerging sub-discipline developed through collaboration between CST and Arihanta Institute.

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ABOUT OUR PODCAST GUEST

Venu Mehta, PhD, Professor at Claremont School of Theology

Venu Mehta is a scholar of Jainism. Her present research focuses on the devotional practices, literature, and iconography of the Jaina Goddess Padmāvatī, with special attention to vernacular and regional forms of devotion and goddesses in Jainism. Her areas of scholarship in Jain Studies include Jain religious diaspora and sectarian negotiations in the USA, Jainism and ecology, Jain bhakti literature and practices in Gujarat, Jaina theory of Anekāntavāda, and Jaina notion of forgiveness.

Her academic background, including research and training in education and literature, led to her first Ph.D. in multiculturalism and literature education. In her first Ph.D. project, she focused on developing theory, methods, and in-class materials to orient learners towards multiculturalism using literature at the higher secondary level.

ABOUT OUR PODCAST HOST

Christopher Miller, PhD, Professor at Arihanta Institute

Christopher Jain Miller is the co-founder, Vice President of Academic Affairs, and Professor of Jain and Yoga Studies at Arihanta Institute. He completed his PhD in the study of Religion at the University of California, Davis and is also a Visiting Researcher at the University of Zürich's Asien-Orient-Institut and Visiting Professor at Claremont School of Theology where he co-developed and co-runs a remotely available Masters Degree Program focusing on Engaged Jain Studies. His current research focuses on Engaged Jainism and Modern Yoga, and he is the author of a number of articles and book chapters concerned with Jainism and the practice of modern yoga. Christopher is the author of Embodying Transnational Yoga: Eating, Singing, and Breathing in Transformation (Routledge 2024), as well as co-editor of the volumes Engaged Jainism: Critical and Constructive Approaches to the Study of Jain Social Engagement (SUNY 2025) and Beacons of Dharma: Spiritual Exemplars for the Modern Age (Lexington 2020).