We are honoured to share a significant milestone for Nirmal Jyotish, as Professor Vishnu Kumar Nirmal presents at the Oxford Symposium, University of Oxford, UK — to be held on 8–10 December 2025 at the University of Oxford, UK. This global gathering will bring together scholars, researchers, and practitioners to examine the intersections of literature, science, and culture, reaffirming the role of ancient knowledge systems in contemporary academic discourse.

The Legacy of the Oxford Symposium

The Oxford Symposium carries a distinguished reputation as one of the most respected international forums for scholarly exchange. Rooted in the intellectual traditions of Oxford, it has consistently provided a stage where literature and culture are examined alongside philosophy, law, medicine, and the sciences. Over the years, it has become a hallmark of academic recognition, where presenting a paper is regarded as both an honour and an opportunity to contribute to ongoing global dialogue. To be part of this legacy is a significant achievement for Nirmal Jyotish, affirming its standing within both Indic studies and interdisciplinary research.

Reframing Myth as Science

The paper to be presented, “Myth and Science Reimagined: Re-establishing Jyotish in Contemporary Discourse”, will be authored and delivered by Professor Vishnu Kumar Nirmal, an eminent scholar of Jyotish and Vedāṅga studies, together with Dr. Neha Sharma, research scientist and co-author.

For centuries, Jyotish and astrology more broadly have been dismissed in many circles as myth or superstition. Yet, closer examination reveals that many of the principles embedded in Jyotish resonate strongly with modern scientific understanding. Cyclic time, planetary influence, resonance, and cosmic order — once explained in symbolic language — are increasingly recognised by physics, cosmology, and psychology. Relativity confirms the non-linearity of time, field theory describes invisible forces shaping reality, and psychology affirms archetypal patterns long described by Jyotish.

This study demonstrates that what was once labelled “myth” is now supported by scientific inquiry. It reframes Jyotish not as fatalistic astrology but as a science of light, built upon observation, mathematics, and applied reasoning.

Scholarly Collaboration and Support

This achievement reflects the combined effort of tradition and modern inquiry. Professor Nirmal brings erudition and textual authority from the Vedāṅga heritage, while Dr. Sharma contributes an applied scientific lens that situates Jyotish within contemporary frameworks of research. Together, their co-authored study represents a balanced and rigorous approach.

The project has been developed under the guidance of the Global Centre for Indic Studies, which fosters scholarship that bridges Indic traditions with global academic dialogue. It has also been made possible through the Pandit Brij Vallabh Ji Bhatra Publication Grant, whose support ensures the preservation, publication, and dissemination of Indic knowledge systems at the highest academic levels.

Relevance and Impact

The recognition of Nirmal Jyotish at the Oxford Symposium is more than an academic honour — it signals a new chapter for Jyotish on the global stage. By engaging with world experts in literature, philosophy, physics, and psychology, Jyotish is being re-established as a field of vision, mathematics, and cosmic truth, rather than superstition.

The impact of this recognition extends beyond a single presentation. It demonstrates how ancient Indic disciplines can stand within global scholarship as frameworks of knowledge, capable of dialogue with modern science. It opens pathways for interdisciplinary research, inspires collaborative projects, and strengthens the relevance of Jyotish in addressing questions of life, order, and meaning in today’s world.

As Nirmal Jyotish prepares for this important presentation in December 2025, it carries forward the legacy of Vedāṅga wisdom while affirming its place in contemporary inquiry. This achievement is not only a recognition of the past but also a step toward shaping the future — where myth and science meet, and where timeless wisdom illuminates the unfolding journey of life.