PODCAST · history
Myths & Samsara
by DM De Alwis
Time, a serpent, endlessly sheds its skin. On Myths & Samsara, we trace the scales left behind—myths, stories, and forgotten echoes of Sri Lanka and the Indian subcontinent. Samsara is more than a cycle—it is a vast and unyielding landscape where gods wage wars across kalpas, mortals are reborn as monsters, and the same soul drifts through ages, wearing a hundred faces. Through the lens of Buddhist cosmology, we explore ancient tales to set the stage for historical fiction—citing old magic, reborn in new worlds. What you’ll find here: Deep dives into Buddhist cosmology, samsara, and the six realms of existence Myths and folklore from the Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka, retold with reverence and imagination World-building insights drawn from centuries of spiritual and cultural lore A glimpse into a fantasy saga spanning ten thousand years, where the dead do not rest and time itself is a labyrinth <
Episodes
-
010 - How Buddhist Cosmology Inspired the Pawn of Samsara Duology
After a hiatus to publish The Pawn of Samsara duology, D.M. De Alwis returns to the mic to pull back the curtain on the cosmology of his fictional universe. How does Buddhist philosophy shape a fantasy world? In this episode, we explore the "One Rule" that governs every being in this...
-
009 | Witchcraft or Religion?
Misconceptions about Demons & Witchcraft in Sri Lanka | An Explainer Sri Lanka is strange. For one, three persistent sub-religions are practiced by most Sri Lankans, although they may not be aware of it. These are Demonism, Capuism, and Grahaism. Anthropologists have widely documented all three....
-
008 | The Demons of Disease | Illness, myths, and the Spirit World
This episode focuses on Maha Kola Sanni Yaksha, often described as the chief of the eighteen disease demons in Sri Lankan folklore. Drawing on an 1866 journal entry from the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, we explore accounts of his origin and how he and his Yaksha retinue came to be...
-
007 | The Hat Seller | The Thoppi Karaya
What do you do when half a dozen monkeys steal all of the hats you sell? Here is the story of the hat seller. This is a Sri Lankan story often told to young children at bedtime. The moral of the story is to keep your cool and observe the situation before taking the time to outsmart your…
more -
006 | The Consecrating of Vijaya | Reading of Chapter VII of the Mahavamsa
This episode is a reading of The Consecrating of Vijaya from Chapter VI of the Mahavamsa, the second-earliest chronicle of Sri Lanka. This version talks about how his people wished him to declare himself King. He rejects his then-wife in favour of a royal wife from the subcontinent. The first...
-
005 | The Coming of Vijaya | Reading of Chapter VI of the Mahavamsa
This episode is a reading of The Coming of Vijaya from Chapter VI of the Mahavamsa, the second-earliest chronicle of Sri Lanka. This is the second version of the story of Prince Vijaya—his banishment and journey from the Indian subcontinent and his arrival to the Island of Lanka. The first…
more -
004 | A Conversation on Masks, Playing God, and Striving for Enlightenment
What’s with the masks? In this episode, we talk about their deeper meaning—how they’re used across cultures to signal fear, power, and identity, and how that symbolism carries into the story. In the world of the book, masks aren’t just props. They mark social roles, spiritual status, and lineage,...
-
003 | Nara Simha | A Conversation on Higher Order Beings
This episode isn’t about religion. It’s about how stories are shaped by culture, how people interpret them, and how those interpretations keep evolving. How does storytelling explore questions about belief, memory, and moral complexity without fixating on an answer? Drawing from Buddhist…
more -
002 | Vijaya's Story | Reading of Book IX of the Dipavamsa
This episode is a reading of Vijaya's Story from Book IX of the Dipavamsa, the earliest chronicle of Sri Lanka. It tells the story of Prince Vijaya—his banishment and journey from the Indian subcontinent and his arrival to the Island of Lanka. This reading is from the text found here: An Ancient...
-
001 | Audience & Animals? | Writing Fantasy Through Buddhist Cosmology
Welcome to Episode 1 of Myths & Samsara! In this episode, Eunah asks DM about the audience and the age group she writes for. The conversation shifts to how she writes animal characters and their place in a hierarchy shaped by Buddhist Cosmology. We explore this for human-animal relationships &...
-
000 | Introduction to Myths & Samsara
An introduction to Myths and Samsara.
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
Time, a serpent, endlessly sheds its skin.
On Myths & Samsara, we trace the scales left behind—myths, stories, and forgotten echoes of Sri Lanka and the Indian subcontinent.
Samsara is more than a cycle—it is a vast and unyielding landscape where gods wage wars across kalpas, mortals are reborn as monsters, and the same soul drifts through ages, wearing a hundred faces.
Through the lens of Buddhist cosmology, we explore ancient tales to set the stage for historical fiction—citing old magic, reborn in new worlds.
What you’ll find here:
Deep dives into Buddhist cosmology, samsara, and the six realms of existence
Myths and folklore from the Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka, retold with reverence and imagination
World-building insights drawn from centuries of spiritual and cultural lore
A glimpse into a fantasy saga spanning ten thousand years, where the dead do not rest and time itself is a labyrinth <
HOSTED BY
DM De Alwis
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Myths & Samsara have?
Myths & Samsara currently has 11 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Myths & Samsara about?
Time, a serpent, endlessly sheds its skin. On Myths & Samsara, we trace the scales left behind—myths, stories, and forgotten echoes of Sri Lanka and the Indian subcontinent. Samsara is more than a cycle—it is a vast and unyielding landscape where gods wage wars across kalpas, mortals are reborn as...
How often does Myths & Samsara release new episodes?
Myths & Samsara has 11 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Myths & Samsara?
You can listen to Myths & Samsara on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Myths & Samsara?
Myths & Samsara is created and hosted by DM De Alwis.
URL copied to clipboard!