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March 10, 2026
Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj Inaugurates Centre for Advanced Research on Spirituality, Science, and Society at IIT Madras
New interdisciplinary center explores the intersection of meditation, science, and human consciousness
Ribbon cutting ceremony for the new centre
March 10, 2026
Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj Inaugurates Centre for Advanced Research on Spirituality, Science, and Society at IIT Madras
New interdisciplinary center explores the intersection of meditation, science, and human consciousness
A Historic Milestone for Future Generations
The inauguration of the Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj Centre for Advanced Research on Spirituality, Science and Society at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) marks a historic step toward bringing together two great fields of human exploration: scientific discovery and the inner science of spiritual exploration.
In a landmark moment, Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj, internationally respected spiritual leader and head of Science of Spirituality, inaugurated the Centre, opening a new academic space dedicated to exploring the relationship between meditation, human consciousness, and the future of science and technology.
As technological innovation accelerates across the world, the Centre reflects a growing recognition that scientific progress must be guided by ethical insight, compassion, and a deeper understanding of the human spirit.
Inaugural plaque unveiling of the new centre
One of the World’s Leading Institutions of Science and Innovation
Founded in 1959, IIT Madras stands among India’s most prestigious institutions of scientific and technological education and innovation. Widely regarded as the nation’s leading deep-tech innovation hub, the institute houses India’s first university-based research park and is home to more than 200 startups and research centers.
Within this globally respected institution, the newly established Centre creates a pioneering platform where scholars and researchers can explore the relationship between science, spirituality, and human consciousness.
Among major engineering institutions worldwide, it represents a forward-looking initiative that recognizes that the technologies shaping the future must be guided not only by innovation and intelligence, but also by wisdom, ethics, and inner awareness.
Delivering keynote address “Engineering Your Inner Peace” at IIT Madras
A Meaningful Return to His Alma Mater
For Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj, the occasion also marked a deeply personal homecoming. He earned his Bachelor of Technology in Electrical Engineering from IIT Madras in 1967 and has often reflected on how his years at the institute fostered the disciplined and analytical mindset that later helped him present spirituality as a practical and experiential science accessible to the modern world.
Over the decades, the spiritual Master has maintained a close connection with his alma mater, supporting students through scholarship endowments and initiatives that encourage the pursuit of knowledge and inquiry.
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A Symbolic Welcome to the Campus
Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj and his wife, Mata Rita Ji, were warmly received at the IIT Madras campus by Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, and his wife, Mrs. Renuka Kamakoti. As part of the visit, the spiritual Master planted a Saraca Ashoka sapling near the Central Lecture Theatre Block, symbolizing peace, growth, and the nurturing of knowledge and values.
Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj, Mata Rita Ji, Prof. V. Kamakoti and Mrs. Renuka Kamakoti
Inauguration of the Research Centre
Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj inaugurated the Centre in the presence of Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, along with faculty members, researchers, and students. The ceremony included the unveiling of a commemorative plaque dedicating the Centre as a new academic space for interdisciplinary exploration.
Prof. Kamakoti welcomed the establishment of the Centre, noting its importance in expanding dialogue between science, spirituality, and human values within the institute’s academic ecosystem. The spiritual Master was honored with a traditional ang-vastram and a commemorative memento from IIT Madras.
A Space for Research and Reflection
The Centre has been designed as a unique environment where scientific inquiry and spiritual exploration meet. Equipped with a sound-insulated meditation room, a research facility, and a dedicated library, the Centre will support courses on meditation and research programs examining the scientific and social dimensions of meditation. Through workshops, conferences, and collaborative research initiatives, scholars and students will explore how meditation, ethics, and inner awareness can contribute to advances in science, technology, and society.
During the visit, Sant Rajinder Singh Ji toured the Centre’s library and research facilities and left a message in the visitors’ book expressing appreciation for the institute’s initiative to create a space dedicated to the study of meditation and human consciousness.
Addressing the students, and faculty of IIT Madras
Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj and Prof V. Kamakoti, Director IIT Madras
Meditation Session with Students and Scholars
Following the inauguration, the spiritual Master addressed students, faculty, and researchers gathered in the meditation room. Speaking about the importance of inner reflection, he emphasized that silence and meditation allow individuals to connect with the deeper source of knowledge and discover the true purpose of life.
He noted that the newly established Centre would encourage students and researchers to explore the inner dimensions of life and cultivate qualities such as peace, compassion, and harmony.
Then, the spiritual Master guided those present in a brief meditation session, inviting them to experience what he described as “a higher science – the inner experiment through which the soul discovers the Light of God.”
Students and PhD scholars later had the opportunity to meet the spiritual Master personally and interact with him.
A Vision for the Future of Science and Humanity
With the inauguration of the Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj Centre for Advanced Research on Spirituality, Science and Society, IIT Madras has taken a pioneering step in expanding the frontiers of inquiry.
The Centre represents a new academic space where scholars and researchers can explore the relationship between scientific discovery and the study of consciousness. Here, future generations of engineers and thinkers will be encouraged not only to design the technologies that shape our world, but also to cultivate the inner clarity and moral insight needed to guide those technologies toward the welfare of humanity.
Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj being felicitated by Prof. V. Kamakoti
Students, faculty, and guests listening to Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj at IIT Madras
About Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj
Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj is an internationally renowned spiritual Master, bestselling author, and meditation teacher who teaches meditation as a practical path to self-realization, inner peace, and harmonious living. Through decades of global outreach, he has inspired millions to explore spirituality as a lived experience rooted in love, compassion, unity, and service.
About Science of Spirituality
Science of Spirituality is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming lives through meditation. The organization offers free programs worldwide that teach a simple method of meditation to help individuals experience inner peace, clarity, and spiritual growth while leading balanced lives.
