iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

How do queer rights and linguistic rights converge in Nepal? Dr. Jessica Vantine Birkenholtz (Penn State) on the language activism of Nepal's Queer Youth Group. 📅 Thu, 15 Oct 2026, 5:30 pm CEST 📍 ISTB, Vienna & online 🌐 Zoom: univienna.zoom.us/j/6451085917... stb.univie.ac.at/news-events/...

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Dr. Alaka Atreya Chudal (ISTB, University of Vienna) moderated the panel “Narratives Under the Weight of Power” at this year’s “Middle Ground: Nepal Literature Festival”, hosted by Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin. Photo: © Ajit Baral and Manjushree Thapa www.hkw.de/en/programme...

Four panellists sit on a stage around a low table at the Middle Ground: Nepal Literature Festival in Berlin. A large screen behind them shows the panel title “Narratives Under the Weight of Power” with the names Gopilal Acharya, Uzma Falak and Nayan Raj Pandey, moderated by Alaka Chudal.

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Interview – emerging scholar and practitioner: Monika Sailer on the non-monastic "white saṅgha" (gos dkar lcang lo'i sde) of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. Buddhismus in Österreich, issue 3/2026, pp. 8–15 (in German). © Photo: Monika Sailer

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

The Faculty of Philological and Cultural Studies at the University of Vienna invites applications for a Tenure-Track Professorship in Buddhist Studies. Application deadline: 09/15/2026 For details, please go to: jobs.univie.ac.at/job/Tenure-T...

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Dividing OM, Shaping Mantra Systems 08.07.2026 4-6p.m. (CEST) Keynote lecture | Finnian Gerety | University of Oxford stb.univie.ac.at/news-events/... Join us on site (seminar room 1, ISTB (University Campus, Spitalgasse 2, Hof 2.7, 1090 Vienna) or online: univienna.zoom.us/j/6849747856...

stb.univie.ac.at

Dividing OM, Shaping Mantra Systems

Keynote lecture | Finnian Gerety | University of Oxford

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

ISTB is hiring: We are looking for a Coordinator of Digital Research Infrastructures in Pre-modern South Asian Studies. Please note that the deadline for applications has been extended to July 27th. jobs.univie.ac.at/job/Koordina... Please share or forward to anyone who might be interested.

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Trees of Knowledge: Katharina Sabernig will present her ‘crowd-knitting’ initiative to visualise the trees from the Bshad-rgyud. 📅 June 30 2026, 2:30–3:30 pm CEST Join here: univienna.zoom.us/j/6919885074... Meeting ID 691 9885 0742, Code 565791 www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZ16... Foto: Mili Badic

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

ISTB is hiring: We are looking for an Organizational Assistant in Tibetan and Buddhist Studies and for a Coordinator of Digital Research Infrastructures in Pre-modern South Asian Studies. For details (in German) go to: jobs.univie.ac.at/job/Organisa... jobs.univie.ac.at/job/Koordina...

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Thursday, June 25th at 5:30 p.m.: Public CIRDIS lecture “The Kathmandu Valley, Nepal and the Eastern Himalayas. Ethnogenesis and Ethnolinguistic Prehistory“ by George van Driem (Universität Bern). Details stb.univie.ac.at/news-events/... Join us on site or online univienna.zoom.us/j/6718933376...

stb.univie.ac.at

The Kathmandu Valley, Nepal and the Eastern Himalayas. Ethnogenesis and Ethnolinguistic Prehistory

CIRDIS lecture | George van Driem | Institut für Sprachwissenschaft, Universität Bern

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Join us today at 17:30 for the following guest lecture: “Vajrayāna Inner Alchemy and the Emergence of Haṭhayoga in Tibet” Giacomella Orofino Seminar Room 1 of the ISTB To join online click here: univienna.zoom.us/j/6230408858... stb.univie.ac.at/news-events/...

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Guest lecture by Prof. Jim Rheingans in Hamburg: June 10th at 4 p.m. "A Non-sectarian Scholar of Central and Southern Tibet: Dagpo Tashi Namgyal’s (1399–1458) Education and Impact" Write us a message to receive the zoom link and join online! www.kc-tbts.uni-hamburg.de/events/2026-...

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Am 11. Juni um 17:30 findet im Seminarraum 1 unseres Instituts folgender Gastvortrag statt: “Zwischen Abgrenzung und Integration. Buddhismus in Nepal im Austausch mit anderen Traditionen“ Alexander von Rospatt stb.univie.ac.at/en/news-even...

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Save Austria’s universities. #UnisRetten Let us stand up and stand together against the planned budget cuts. Meeting point: May 27 at 1 pm in front of the Main Building of the University of Vienna (Universitätsring 1, 1010 Vienna). Closing rally in front of the Federal Chancellery.

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Starting today: The conference "Buddhism and Medicine: People, Paradigms and Perspectives", hosted by the Centre for Buddhist Studies, University of Bristol, is hybrid, free, and open to the public (registration required): buddhiststudies.blogs.bristol.ac.uk?page_id=435

buddhiststudies.blogs.bristol.ac.uk

Buddhism and Medicine Conference – Centre for Buddhist Studies Bristol

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Guest lecture by Ulrike Roesler: "The “Sixteen Spheres of the Kadampa”: A Unique Adaptation of the sādhana Format” 28.05.2026 17:30 Join us at 5:30 p.m. either on site in the Seminarroom 1 of the ISTB, or join us online via zoom. More information here: stb.univie.ac.at/news-events/...

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

New out: "Exploring Himalayan Cultural and Textual Heritage: The Legacy and Impact of René Nebesky-Wojkowitz" (eds. Uwe Niebuhr, Martin Gaenszle, Markus Viehbeck, Verena Widorn), based on a FWF funded project of CIRDIS, University of Vienna. verlag.oeaw.ac.at/produkt/expl... cirdis.univie.ac.at

verlag.oeaw.ac.at

Exploring Himalayan Cultural and Textual Heritage. The Legacy and Impact of René Nebesky-Wojkowitz | 978-3-7001-8528-4 | Verlag der ÖAW

Bestellen sie jetzt Exploring Himalayan Cultural and Textual Heritage in unserem Verlagswebshop.

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Sign up for the EurAsia Summer Academy taking place from September 14th to September 26th at the Chhahari Retreat in Budhanilakantha, Kathmandu. Applications are open until June 5th, 2026. Applications and queries should be sent to: pongsit.pangsrivongse@univie.ac.at

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

At nearly 4,300m above the Tarap Valley, Lower Dolpo, Mekhyim Monastery preserves an important collection of canonical Tibetan manuscripts that have now been fully digitized and will be accessible via the rKTs archive: tmpv.univie.ac.at/mekhyim-lowe... Photo: Wrapping up manuscripts (c) M. Viehbeck

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Join us online on May 8th at 5pm for the 17th SDN Annual Lecture: “Early Jesuit Use of Hindu Scripture: The Case of Marathi” by Pär Eliasson (University of Stavanger). Register here for online participation: univienna.zoom.us/meeting/regi... More information: stb.univie.ac.at/news-events/...

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

An engaging glimpse into the world of mantras is what visitors found at the ISTB hands-on station of the University of Vienna’s “Long Night of Research” ( www.univie.ac.at/en/research/...). Photo university building ©Johannes Hloch, group picture ©Markus Korenjak, all other photos ©Kanika Pruthi

Members of the mantrams team in conversation with visitors

The university building is illuminated as the night draws in

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

exhibition: Dhun / Dhūnī – The Fires of the Name 📌 30 April, 2026 | 6 pm onwards 📍 Department of South Asian, Tibetan and Buddhist Studies. Spitalgasse 2, Courtyard 2, Entrance 2.7

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Online book launch, April 29th: “Crafting Potency: Sowa Rigpa Artisanship across the Himalayas” by Barbara Gerke, Jan M.A. van der Valk, Tawni L. Tidwell, and Calum Blaikie, based on the FWF-funded project "Potent Substances in Sowa Rigpa and Buddhist Ritual" (2018-2024) at the University of Vienna.

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

Are you a student of the ISTB? Do you want to look behind the scenes of our library and get support in researching for your courses? Join us on Monday, April 27th at 4pm in front of our library (Entrances 2.1). We look forward to seeing you there!

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

Visit our interactive station at “Lange Nacht der Forschung “ on April 24th in Vienna: langenachtderforschung.at/station/5659 Participants are invited to engage with mantras from different regions and cultural contexts through listening, observing, writing, and hands-on engagement. See you there!

langenachtderforschung.at

Was sind Mantras, was bewirken sie – und wie können wir sie erleben? - #LNF26 Lange Nacht der Forschung

An dieser Mitmachstation lernen Besucherinnen und Besucher Mantras als Klang, Schrift und visuelle Form kennen. Durch Hören, Sehen, Schreiben und eigenes Ausprobieren erfahren sie, wie Mantras in reli...

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

🔥Dhun / Dhūnī – The Fires of the Name 📌 30 April, 2026 | 6 pm onwards 📍 Department of South Asian, Tibetan and Buddhist Studies Spitalgasse 2, Courtyard 2, Entrance 2.7

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

We warmly invite you to participate in this year’s Summer School on the Cultural and Intellectual History of Asia. Registration is now open and you can sign up until May 15th. Further information on our website: stb.univie.ac.at/news-events/... We are looking forward to seeing you there!

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Join us on April 16th at 5 p.m. for a guest lecture by Em. Univ.-Prof. Dr. Deborah Klimburg-Salter titled “"Durga in Afghanistan". More details on our website: stb.univie.ac.at/news-events/... Join us on site or online via zoom: univienna.zoom.us/j/6145349315...

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

We congratulate Nina Mirnig for being elected as a member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW). Her recognition as a corresponding member is part of a broader recognition of eight University of Vienna scholars joining the Austrian Academy of Sciences this year. (c) Gebhard Sengmüller (c) ÖAW

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

A wonderful Stammtisch evening to remember! Students and lecturers came together at Café Votiv to chat, share ideas, and simply enjoy each other’s company. Thank you to everyone who joined!

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Open access article: "Divinized protection: a set of unique, inscribed shields from Malla, Nepal" by Pongsit Pangsrivongse (@ISTB, Vienna) doi.org/10.1017/S004... ©Photo: Shield depicting Gaṇeśa Nepal; 1588/1589, cotton thread on cane; diameter approx. 65 cm. Patan Museum, Patan, Nepal.

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Join us this Thursday, on March 19th at 3:30pm (CET), for a project presentation and discussion with Katharina Sabernig titled: “Trees of Knowledge: Artistic Visualisation of the Explanatory Tantra”. Participate online: univienna.zoom.us/s/6403102191... ID 640 3102 1911, Code 765836

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

On March 12th at 10 a.m. (HST) Dr. Christopher Jones (ISTB) will offer a lecture at the University of Hawaii, as part of the Numata Conference "Intrinsic Perfection. Buddha Nature: Its Discovery in the Sinosphere and Its Universal Appeal". perfectionuhm2026.sched.com/speaker/chri...

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

It is with great pleasure that we announce the publication of ISTB lecturer Dr. Gabriele Coura’s monograph “dPal-spungs Monastery from the 18th to the Early 20th Century”, available via lit-verlag.de/isbn/978-3-6.... © Photo: View of Palpung Monastery, creativecommons.org/licenses/by-...

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

CIRDIS (Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Documentation of Inner and South Asian Cultural History, cirdis.univie.ac.at) fosters documentation and archiving, fieldwork-based primary and translational research and international exchange. Dr. Prem Poddar attended today's meeting as a guest.

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

MANTRAMS Fieldnotes is a series of posts that capture snippets from research trips undertaken by our team members. PHU: THE BREATHER OF MOTHER TARA by Carola Lorea

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

Join us tomorrow at 17:30pm for a lecture by Prem Poddar titled: “China in India. From Shangri-La to Kalimpong”. More information on our website: stb.univie.ac.at/news-events/...

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

MANTRAMS Fieldnotes is a series of posts that capture snippets from research trips undertaken by our team members.

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

We are hiring! Come join our staff as a university assistant predoctoral. You can apply March 10th via the career website of the University of Vienna: jobs.univie.ac.at/job/Universi... Further information on the Doctoral Recruitment Call 2026 here: careers.univie.ac.at/en/praedoc/p...

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

Happy Losar to all who celebrate! ལོ་གསར་ལ་བཀྲིས་བདེ་ལེགས་ཞུ། Today is the first day of the Tibetan New Year of the Fire Horse. @istb-univienna.bsky.social extends fond New Year greetings to all of you. May the fire horse bring joy, courage, health and prosperity. 🖼️ Unknown artist, Wikimedia Commons

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

Participate in a guided tour and get to know our department! On April 16th, we offer a guided tour of our department in collaboration with “uniorientiert”. More information will follow shortly: studieren.univie.ac.at/studienangeb....

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

Open access: "Crafting Potency: Sowa Rigpa Artisanship across the Himalayas" by Barbara Gerke, Jan van der Valk, Tawni Tidwell, and Calum Blaikie (FWF project ”Potent Substances in Sowa Rigpa and Buddhist Rituals” @ISTB) hasp.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/catalog/book... 📸: J. van der Valk (CC-BY-SA 4.0).

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

Have you written a doctoral thesis in Indology in the last two years? Now is your chance to apply for the Roland-Atefie-Preis of the ÖAW! Hand in your doctoral thesis by March 2026 and win a prize of 4.000€. More information here: stipendien.oeaw.ac.at/.../hum.../r...

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

We congratulate Dr. Alaka Chudal on her lecture titled “Interpersonal Networks and the Making of Regional Buddhist Histories: India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka in the 20th Century.” The lecture took place on January 18 in Colombo. (c)hirunews

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

Tomorrow Alban von Stockhausen will give a CIDRIS lecture about the transformation process of the "Heidelberger Völkerkundemuseum". 22.01.2026 17:30 Institute of South Asian, Tibetan and Buddhist Studies University Campus Spitalgasse 2, Entrance 2.7 1090 Vienna univienna.zoom.us/j/6817073509...

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

Tomorrow, January 21 at 4pm (CET), Dr. Drölma Chökyi Jusa (ISTB) will be offering a public lecture on „Letters, Gifts, and Authority: Material Exchange in Tibetan Correspondence (11th–15th Century)“ at the University of Hamburg: For details, please go to www.kc-tbts.uni-hamburg.de/events/2026-...?

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

Join us this Friday, January 16th at 3 p.m. for the public talk “From Memorial Steles to Stūpa Galleries. Commemorating the Dead in the Early Deccan” by Prof. Vincent Tournier (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München). stb.univie.ac.at/news-events/...

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

Out now: The first scholarly English translation of the “The Swasthani Vrata Katha” from the original Nepali by Dr. Alaka Chudal (ISTB) and Dr. Jessica Birkenholtz (Pennsylvania State University). Open Access academic.oup.com/book/61743 (print due Feb. 26) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-...

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

Many thanks to Jason Birch for his insightful presentation on 'Intertextuality in Medieval Sanskrit, Persian and Hindi Yoga and Svarodaya Works'. A true highlight to end the calendar year before Yuletide.

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ISTB University of Vienna, Austria @istb-univienna.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

Tomorrow, at 17:30 p.m Jason Birch will give a lecture in the Seminar room 1 of the Institute of South Asian, Tibetan and Buddhist Studies (University Campus, Spitalgasse 2, Entrance 2.7). More info here: stb.univie.ac.at/.../did-sufi...

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