IKS Internship
In collaboration with the IKS Division, Ministry of Education, Govt. of India.
Internship Opportunity
Hindu Models of Temple Management
₹10,000 / month
Monthly fellowship
5 Months
Oct 2026 – Feb 2027
12 Positions
Open seats
Applications are now closed. We received over 150 registrations and have closed the application window ahead of the original deadline of 30 September 2026.
About the Project
Our temples have been the heartbeat of Indian civilization for millennia serving as spiritual, cultural, socio-economic, social welfare, and paralegal institutions. These sacred spaces embody centuries of indigenous management wisdom, meticulously crafted by devoted communities.
Yet the vital contributions of Hindu temples to our socio-economic fabric often go unnoticed. They have long generated employment, supported local artisans, stimulated trade, and provided food, shelter, education, and healthcare to those in need.
Today, this indigenous self-governance is under threat from top-down administration policies devoid of cultural sensitivity and local context.
Bodha’s research project documents these living traditions rigorously, building the evidentiary foundation for alternative models of temple governance that are conducive to Hindu culture. Interns will be embedded in one of four regional clusters, conducting structured field research under the direct mentorship of Bodha’s research leadership.
Temple as Institution
Spiritual and religious centre
A site of darshana, and a matha where sadhus and rishis gather.
Centre of learning and the arts
Where acharyas taught and music, dance, and craft were cultivated and sustained.
Socio-economic engine
Generating employment, sustaining artisans, and stimulating local trade.
Social welfare institution
Hospitals, hostels, food distribution, education, and old-age homes.
Paralegal institution
Dispute resolution and community governance rooted in dharmic frameworks.
What You Will Do
Step 1
Literature review
Survey existing scholarship, government records, and trust documentation on your cluster’s temple governance traditions.
Step 2
Primary interviews
Conduct structured interviews with temple administrators, trustees, priests, and community stakeholders - then transcribe, annotate, and code the material.
Step 3
Case study documentation
Draft a structured case study on your cluster’s indigenous temple governance model.
Step 4
Consolidated research contribution
Your cluster’s case study feeds into Bodha’s cross-regional research record on Hindu Models of Temple Management - a substantive, publishable contribution to IKS scholarship.
Fellowship and Recognition
Monthly Fellowship
₹10,000 / month
Duration
5 months
Certification
IKS Division
Who Can Apply
Academic background
UG or PG students from any recognised university. Students of gurukulas and pathshalas are equally eligible. Independent scholars and recently graduated students (within 2 years of completing a degree) may also apply.
Age
Between 16 and 30 years, as per IKS Division programme norms.
Subject interest
Interest in Indian Knowledge Systems, history, culture studies, anthropology, sociology, or related fields.
Location
Preference will be given to applicants based in or near their preferred cluster region. Remote applicants are welcome but must be available for at least one field visit.
Mentorship
All interns are guided directly by Bodha’s research leadership throughout the programme.
Dr. Pankaj Saxena
Principal Investigator · Founder, Bodha
Pankaj is an author on Hindu temples, arts, literature, history and culture. His writing explains the beauty of Sanātana Dharma through stories about traditions, communities and culture. He has a deep interest in cultural anthropology, evolutionary biology and ecology, and has visited more than 1600 Hindu temples. He is the author of Svayambodha and Shatrubodha.
Akshay Kumar Jha
Mentor & Project Manager · Co-Founder, Bodha
Akshay is a researcher of Hindu institutions and philosophy, with a current focus on Hindu temple management. His interests lie in Hindu knowledge tradition, ethnographic approaches to temple management, and the intersection of tradition with contemporary society.
Thematic Area
This internship is offered under Theme 2 - Historical and Civilizational Sciences (इतिहास एवं सभ्यता विभाग), IKS Division, Ministry of Education, Govt. of India.
Apply
Applications are now closed. We received over 150 registrations and have closed the application window ahead of the original deadline of 30 September 2026. Write to us at contact@svayambodha.in for any enquiry.
In collaboration with the IKS Division, Ministry of Education, Government of India.
This internship is part of Bodha's ongoing research project on Hindu Models of Temple Management →