Dr. V. Francis Vineeth CMI

Call Number : PER-09

Dr. Francis Vineeth, CMI
Professor of Indian philosophy, an intellectual leader who tried to build bridges between India and Christianity, founder of Vidyavanam Ashram in Bengaluru, lyricist
(1935-2021)
Name Francis Vineeth Vadakethala (1935-2021)
Designation / Status Member of C.M.I. Congregation , Research Scholar
Ordained on 17 May 1960
Native Parish St. Mary’s Forane Parish , Kandasamkadavu , Archdiocese of Thrissur
Profile Professor of Indian philosophy, an intellectual leader who tried to build bridges between India and Christianity, Lyricist
Institutions and Distinguished Services
  • Founder of Vidyavanam Ashram in Bengaluru
  • President, Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram, Bangalore
  • Vice-President of Dharmaram Pontifical Institute, Bangalore
  • Dean, Faculty of Philosophy, Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram, Bangalore
  • Professor of Philosophy and Theology, Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram, Bangalore, India
  • Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Dharma
Higher Education
  • Licentiate and Ph.D. in Philosophy: Gregorian University, Rome - 1965
  • Ph.D. in Theology: Oxford University, UK - 1975
  • Research Studies at the University of Munich (Deutsche Akademische Austauschdienst) -1978
Related Web Link Vineethcmi.in
Note on Kristum kanyāsutam vande By Joseph J. Palackal CMI

Note on Kristum kanyāsutam vande By Joseph J. Palackal CMI

Go to Notes Page

 Dr. Francis Vadakkethala, CMI was an intellectual giant who chose the name Vineeth, which in Sanskrit means humble. The name defined his self-understanding that matched with his public persona. Fr. Vineeth drew inspiration equally from the Bible and the Bhagavat Gita. He had an unusual intellectual acumen to explain Semitic thoughts in Sanskrit terms. The best example is the lyrics that he wrote for the LP record, Christian Bhajans, Jyothi Jyothi. The lyrics are a simple exegesis to the prologue in St. John’s gospel. Toward the latter part of his academic life, Dr. Vineeth broke away from the status quo and started an Ashram movement at Vidyavanam Ashram at Bennarghatta in the outskirts of Bengaluru. Fr. Vineeth was comfortable with bridging India and Christianity. I. C. Chacko’s Kristu Sahasra Namam was his favorite poem. Fr. Vineeth appreciated Chacko’s poetic genius to compress layers of ideas in a few Sanksrit slokas. It was Fr. Vineeth’s interest that led to the commercial release of Kristu Sahasra Namam in the musical setting of his student, Dr. Anto Amarnad, in 1985 and a rerelease of the same in a CD format in 2014. Christian Musicological Society is honored to pay prayerful homage to Dr.Vineeth.

Joseph J. Palackal CMI
New York
1 June 2021

Directory of Christian Songs - Videos
DCS-268 Homage to a Guru -Dr. Francis Vineeth Vadakkethala, CMI.
DCS-016 Jyothi Jyothi - ജ്യോതി ജ്യോതി - famous BHAJAN. Deccan Records. 1979
DCS-027 : KRISTUM KANYASUTAM WANDE - Bow to thee,Christ Son of the Virgin - from Kristhusahasranamam