This book brings together pioneering research and perspectives at the crossroads of consciousness studies, cognitive science, traditional Indian knowledge systems, and modern neuroscience. The chapters encompass a diverse range of themes--from theoretical explorations of consciousness, time perception, and higher-order cognition to empirical studies on meditation, mental health, and machine learning-based neurodiagnostics. Grounded in classical Indian frameworks such as Sāṅkhya, Yoga, Ayurveda, and Jain philosophy, the book examines concepts like non-attachment, empathy, mind-body integration, and the void (paazh) as philosophical foundations for cognitive and emotional health. It further bridges ancient contemplative practices with contemporary technologies, presenting studies on EEG, VR-assisted meditation, neural coupling, and AI-enabled mental workload classification. Highlights include innovative assessments of Rajyoga and Vipassana, the development of psychometric scales, the role of diet and nasal breathing in cognitive health, and quantum-informed decision models. With contributions from philosophy, neuroscience, psychology, AI, and education, the book offers a unique synthesis of tradition and technology. It is a valuable resource for scholars, clinicians, and practitioners interested in the evolving dialogue between Indian contemplative traditions and cutting-edge cognitive science.
Prof. Laxmidhar Behera is Director of IIT Mandi and Senior Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at IIT Kanpur. He earned his B.Sc. (Engg) and M.Sc. (Engg) from NIT Rourkela and completed his Ph.D. from IIT Delhi in 1996. With postdoctoral research at the German National Research Centre for Information Technology, he has over 28 years of experience in teaching and research. His expertise spans intelligent systems, control, vision-based robotics, warehouse automation, brain-computer interfaces, drone technology, and consciousness studies. He has led projects worth over ₹25 crores and collaborated with TCS, Renault Nissan, and BEL. Prof. Behera has supervised 31 Ph.D. students, 70+ master's theses, authored three textbooks, and published over 380 papers. His book Intelligent Control of Robotic Systems won the Best Engineering Book Award (2020-21). He has collaborated with ETH Zurich, University of Texas San Antonio, and others.
Dr. Anirban Bandyopadhyay is a Principal Research Scientist at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Tsukuba, Japan. He did Ph.D. in IACS, Kolkata, 2005. 2005-2008 ICYS research fellow at ICYS, NIMS, Japan. In 2008, joined NIMS, built organic jelly based artificial brain, quantum computer, molecular motor based drugs, invented Dodecanogram for deep consciousness measurement, built Polyatomic time crystal based Quantum cryptographic language, written a book "Nanobrain: The making of an artificial brain from a time crystal", 2020. 2013-2014 visiting professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA. Hitachi Science and Technology award 2010, Inamori Foundation award 2011-2012, Kurata Foundation Award, and Sewa Society International member, Japan. Published 197 papers, 42 patents, 43 products invented, 14 inventions commercialized, edited 27 books.
