Bettina B Umer

Bettina Sharada Bäumer, born in Austria in 1940, is a distinguished scholar of religion with a deep focus on Indian philosophical traditions. After completing her education in Europe, where she earned a Ph.D. in Philosophy from LMU Munich with a thesis on the concept of Lila in Hinduism, she moved to India. She has resided there for over four decades, becoming an Indian citizen in 2011 and adopting the name Sharada. Bäumer is recognized as a foremost expounder of Kashmir Shaivism and has been a significant figure in interreligious dialogue. Her academic career includes professorships at the University of Vienna and extensive post-doctoral research and fieldwork in India, particularly at Banaras Hindu University. She has also held fellowships at prestigious institutions like Harvard University and the Indian Institute of Advanced Study. Her contributions have been acknowledged with significant honors, including the Austrian Decoration for Science and Art and India's Padma Shri award.

Bettina Bäumer is particularly renowned for her scholarly work on Kashmir Shaivism, a significant school of Hindu philosophy. She has been described as one of its foremost interpreters, with a particular interest in the commentaries of Abhinavagupta. Bäumer's work aims to clarify common misconceptions surrounding Tantra, which forms the core of Kashmir Shaivism. She emphasizes that Tantra is often misunderstood as mere black magic or witchcraft, when in reality it is a rich and complex tradition deeply connected to practical life and the understanding of cosmic energies. Her research and publications seek to present these concepts in a scholarly manner, making them accessible while maintaining academic rigor. She advocates for a deeper, less speculative engagement with Hindu philosophy, highlighting its vast knowledge and traditional depth.

Bäumer's academic journey has spanned both European and Indian institutions, fostering a rich cross-cultural perspective. After her initial doctoral studies in Europe, she dedicated over forty years to living and researching in India, becoming an integral part of its intellectual landscape. Her academic appointments include professorships at the University of Vienna and extensive research at Banaras Hindu University. She has also been a visiting professor at several European universities and a fellow at institutions like Harvard University. Beyond her academic roles, Bäumer has actively participated in interreligious dialogue, advocating for respectful engagement with different religious traditions. She stresses the importance of understanding other religions without merely extracting elements for one's own use, underscoring a commitment to genuine theological and philosophical exchange.

“getting to know another religion does not permit using it as a quarry to be mined”

“There is a lot of misrepresentation and misunderstanding about tantra, which forms the core of Kashmir Shaivism and has been generally misunderstood as black magic or witchcraft. Tantra is fascinating and is very rich and beautiful and related to practical life. It speaks about cosmic energies.”

“The book Abhinavagupta's Hermeneutics of the Absolute: Annutraprakriya, an interpretation of his Paratrisika Vivarana aims to present tantra and its interpretation in a scholarly way. I would appeal to youngsters to not see Hindu philosophy with dry speculation as it is very rich in knowledge and a great repository of traditions”