The Indian Wisdom Podcast
by Dr. Raj Balkaran
Authentic ancient Indian wisdom teachings artfully applied to modern Western life. Grounded in scholarship and infused with live storytelling, this content is informative, entertaining, inspiring. Hosted by Dr. Raj Balkaran, a Sanskrit scholar, storyteller and online educator. In addition to academic training, he was lineally trained by Mantriji, our sangha's parama-guru. He teaches at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies and at The Indian Wisdom School where he applies ancient Indian wisdom to modern Western life. He is also the author of "The Stories Behind the Poses: The Indian Mythology that Inspired 50 Yoga Postures." Instagram: @IndianWisdomSchoolYouTube: https://youtube.com/@IndianWisdomPodcastPodcast: https://indianwisdompodcast.comCourses: https://indianwisdomschool.comPersonal Website: https://rajbalkaran.com
Episodes
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Ep 61 - Learning Vedic Chanting: A Conversation with Shantala Sriramaiah Pt. 2
Shantala Sriramaiah is the founder of Veda Studies and a Veda recitation teacher in the Mysore lineage, trained under Sri M.S. Sreenivasan and mentored by the Challakere Brothers. Born in Bangalore into a family of chanting — her mother taught for over thirty years — Shantala now leads a global...
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Ep 60 - Learning Vedic Chanting: A Conversation with Shantala Sriramaiah
Dr. Raj speaks with Vedic chanting teacher Shantala Sriramaiah about life at the intersection of ancient lineage and modern online learning. In addition to Shantala’s journey, we discuss her platform Veda Studies and her newly published teaching resources. Here are some links to learn more about...
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Ep 59 - Learning Ancient Languages: A Conversation with Antonia Ruppel
Sanskritist and seasoned teacher Dr. Antonia Ruppel shares her views on the merits and pitfalls of academic enterprise, the brave new world of self-employed scholarship and the teaching of ancient languages. Here are some links to learn more about Antonia’s work: https://www.antoniaruppel.com...
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Ep 58 - Life Learning with Wendy Doniger
Wendy Doniger’s An American Girl in India: Letters and Recollections, 1963–64 (2022) is a memoir-style collection of letters and reflections from her first trip to India as a young scholar. It offers a rare glimpse into the formative experiences that shaped her future career in Indology. The...
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Ep 57 - New Devī Māhātmya Sanskrit Course
Meet Anya Golovkova who is soon teaching an online 9-week Sanskrit Devī Māhātmya reading course at Yogic Studies – starts May 5! SKT 206 | Reading the Devīmāhātmya: https://www.yogicstudies.com/skt-206 The Indian Wisdom Podcast is hosted by Dr. Raj Balkaran, a Sanskrit scholar, seasoned…
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Ep 56 - Dr. Raj Interviewed on Yoga, Tantra & Indian Spirituality
Have a listen to this longform podcast episode where Dr. Raj is interviewed on connections across mythology, yoga postures, tantra, powers, consciousness – and more! The interviewer is Raghav Sharma from Discovery of an Author Podcast, who took a keen interest in Dr. Raj’s new book “The Stories...
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Ep 55 - Neither Night Nor Day: The Power of Paradox
What time is it when it is neither night not day? What space is neither indoors nor outdoors? Why would we even want to entertain such considerations? Hear the story of how Viṣṇu outsmarted a demon leveraging the power of paradox. The Indian Wisdom Podcast is hosted by Dr. Raj Balkaran, a…
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Ep 54 - Viṣṇu's Yogic Sleep
Why does Viṣṇu slumber at the end of the age? Is ‘being asleep’ not the opposite of being awakened, i.e., consciousness? Or does this sleep represent a different state of consciousness altogether? Listen in as Dr. Raj addresses these questions and more. The Indian Wisdom Podcast is hosted by Dr....
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Ep 53 - Anniversary Episode: Dr. Raj’s “Living in Alignment” Interview with Amy Landry
Today marks the one-year anniversary of The Indian Wisdom Podcast! As such we’re sharing a fascinating recent interview Dr. Raj gave on the Living in Alignment podcast with Amy Landry. The interview features elements of his life path, the pedagogical power of story, the creation of The Stories...
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Ep 52 - Sarasvatī and Subtle Sound
Why does Sarasvatī represent eloquence, artistry and sound itself? And what does she have to do with Vedic revelation? Learn about the interplay between Creator and Creativity (Brahmā and Sarasvatī) and what this has to do with divine revelation. The Indian Wisdom Podcast is hosted by Dr. Raj...
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Ep 51 - Who's Your Gādhī? Swapping Sages and Kings
Gādhī wants to become a Daddy and requests that his son-in-law Sage Ṛcīka to prepare a porridge for his wife to conceive a royal son. The sage prepares two brews: a royal brew for his mother-in-law and a sage sauce for his own wife (Gādhī’s daughter). But the two brews get switched! This results…
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EP 50 - Śvetaketu’s Education: What Can’t Be Learnt at School
The great sage Uddālaka sends his son Śvetaketu away for a proper education spanning 12 years from the ages of 12 to 24. Yet upon return, though learned, Śvetaketu still hasn’t learned the most important spiritual teachings. Listen in as Uddālaka schools his son. The Indian Wisdom Podcast is…
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Ep 49 - Viṣṇu's Fish Incarnation: The Power of Protection
Manu agrees to protect a tiny fish – why? This fish grows to mammoth proportions and reveals himself to be Viṣṇu himself. What does this tale teach about the function of protection? The Indian Wisdom Podcast is hosted by Dr. Raj Balkaran, a Sanskrit scholar, seasoned storyteller and spiritual...
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Ep 48 Viṣṇu’s Kuṇḍalinī Couch Time
Why does Viṣṇu recline upon a serpent couch between cycles of creation? What does this represent? Learn the symbology of the serpent couch and its connection to ‘serpent power’. The Indian Wisdom Podcast is hosted by Dr. Raj Balkaran, a Sanskrit scholar, seasoned storyteller and spiritual lineage...
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Ep 47 The Two-Headed Eagle
Hear of how both Śiva and Viṣṇu incarnate as beasts and forget their divinity in this tale about the interplay between preservation and destruction. The answer of which of the two is more powerful might most fruitfully be answered by the two-headed eagle capable of multiple perspectives. The…
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Ep 46 Sage Durvāsas: Blessings, Curses and Comfort within Discomfort
Why is Durvāsas always throwing curses? Hear of three mythic moments where he issues curses and blessings alike as instruments if destiny. Learn to find the comfort within discomfort. The Indian Wisdom Podcast is hosted by Dr. Raj Balkaran, a Sanskrit scholar, seasoned storyteller and spiritual...
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Ep 45 The Sage with Eight Bends: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice
Why do people discriminate against the disabled, or in general? Hear the tale of the sage who through physically debilitated ran laps around the luminaries of his day in terms of his spiritual attainment. Hear too of mutual learning and healing between father and son. The Indian Wisdom Podcast is...
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Ep 44 The Three Strides: Pride Before the Fall
What is the difference between healthy pride and toxic pride? How do we navigate the two? Hear the tale of how Viṣṇu’s dwarf incarnation humbles the demon Bali. The Indian Wisdom Podcast is hosted by Dr. Raj Balkaran, a Sanskrit scholar, seasoned storyteller and spiritual lineage holder. He…
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Ep 43 Yoga Teacher Training 2.0: An Interview with Jen Goetchius
Dr. Raj interviews Jen Goetchius about her rich yoga teacher training manual and programme in the Cleveland, Ohio area. They discuss and the need and applicability of Indian wisdom in the modern Western world. Resources mentioned in the episode: Hanuman Chalisa pocketbook -...
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Ep 42 Meeting Tumultuous Times: Wisdom for the Present Moment
Profound and practical wisdom from ancient India, China, and the Modern West alike, on meeting tumultuous times. The Indian Wisdom Podcast is hosted by Dr. Raj Balkaran, a Sanskrit scholar, seasoned storyteller and spiritual lineage holder. He teaches at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies and at...
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Ep 41 Decoding Diwali: Lakṣmī, Abundance Incarnate
What is the spiritual significance of Diwali, the Indic festival of lights? Learn about the inner light through Dr. Raj’s decoding of Lakṣmī, and the various blessings she bestows. Learn all about Diwali in this 90 minute workshop: https://www.indianwisdomschool.com/diwali-workshop The Indian...
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Ep 40 Mental Health Aware Yoga: A Conversation with Dr. Lauren Tober
Join Dr. Raj in conversation with Dr. Lauren Tober, Clinical Psychologist, Life Coach and Yoga Teacher, about her new book, "Mental Health Aware Yoga: A Guide for Yoga Teachers." In her book and our conversation, Dr. Tober discusses the foundations of yoga psychology, therapeutic skills, the…
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Ep 39 Goddess Glories in Ukrainian: An Interview with Alisa Lozhkina
Fascinating and far-reaching conversation with art historian and illustrator Alisa Lozhkina on her new translation of the Devī Māhātmya into Ukrainian – a global first. Hosted by Dr. Raj Balkaran, a Sanskrit scholar, seasoned storyteller and spiritual lineage holder. He teaches at the Oxford…
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Ep 38 Saving the Earth
Why did the ancients revere nature? Who did Western traditions demonize that very nature veneration as ‘pagan’? Hear an ancient Indian tale which parallels our modern ecological crisis, and insights on the path forward. Hosted by Dr. Raj Balkaran, a Sanskrit scholar, seasoned storyteller and...
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Ep 37 Śiva's Cosmic Dance of Bliss
Why does Shiva dance destruction at the end of the age? Why does he do so in a state of bliss? Learn about the cyclical vision of the universe transformed by the union of Śiva and Śakti, the divine Tāṇḍava dance, and Naṭarāja form of Śiva. Hosted by Dr. Raj Balkaran, a Sanskrit scholar, seasoned...
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Ep 36 Śiva’s Blue Throat: Neutralizing Life’s Poisons
Why does Śiva have a blue throat? It’s because of the venom which emerged from churning the cosmic ocean, venom which he neither spit out nor swallowed. What did he do with it, and what can this teach us about handling life’s toxicity? Hosted by Dr. Raj Balkaran, a Sanskrit scholar, seasoned...
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Ep 35 Dog Dharma: Canine Symbology in Indic Thought
Why is a dog the vehicle of Bhairava, Śiva’s embodied wrath? Why does Yudhiṣṭhira insist on a dog accompanying him to heaven? Invoking ferocity and friendship alike, learn the wide range of canine associations in Indic thought. Part of these stories are embodied in the yoga poses ūrdhva mukha...
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Ep 34 An Interview with Dr. Christopher Jain Miller
Join me for a candid interview with Dr. Christopher Jain Miller, VP of Academic Affairs and Professor of Jain and Yoga Studies at Arihanta Institute, about studying and teaching religion, Jain values, spiritual seeking, daily practice – and more!
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Ep 33 Gālava’s Gift: An Ode to the Mighty Mādhavī
Because of stubbornness, Gālava is tasked with the impossible: procuring 800 white horses each with a single black ear as a gift to his guru Viśvāmitra. Hear how the impossible is made possible by the formidable Mādhavī and her self-directed dalliances with 3 royal figures. Hosted by Dr. Raj...
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Ep 32 Arjuna's Aim: Meeting your Mark in the Mahābhārata and Beyond
Listen in as Dr. Raj sets the stage for the epic conversation between the master marksman Arjuna and his divine charioteer Kṛṣṇa comprising the Bhagavad Gītā. Learn what this teaches your about ‘meeting your mark’ in your own life. Hosted by Dr. Raj Balkaran, a Sanskrit scholar, seasoned...
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Ep 31 The Teacher’s Tests: Dhaumya and his Disciples
Why do traditional Indian teachers test their students? Is this about power, or something else? What is gained by jumping through such hoops? Hear the tale of Dhaumya and the tests he issues to three of his disciples. Hosted by Dr. Raj Balkaran, a Sanskrit scholar, seasoned storyteller and...
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Ep 30 Bhairava: Śiva’s Righteous Wrath
Can wrath be righteous? Can decapitation be divine? Hear the tale of when Śiva decapitates the Creator himself in order to teach him an important lesson. Hosted by Dr. Raj Balkaran, a Sanskrit scholar, seasoned storyteller and spiritual lineage holder. He teaches at the Oxford Centre for Hindu...
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Ep 29 Harnessing Śiva’s Sacred Seed: The Extraordinary Birth of Skanda
This episode unpacks the rich symbology in the gods causing Śiva to spill his sacred seed in order to father Kārttikeya, General of the Celestial Army. What can we learn about sacred masculine, sacred feminine and their divine union? This story is embodied in the yoga posture skandāsana, war god...
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Ep 28 Divine Decapitation
Gaṇeśa receives his elephant head as a replacement for his original, decapitated head at the hands of Śiva. What insights about the spiritual quest can we glean from this prima facia gruesome tale? Hosted by Dr. Raj Balkaran, a Sanskrit scholar, seasoned storyteller and spiritual lineage holder.…
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Ep 27 The Power of Play
Play is no mundane thing. It elicits joy (ānanda), which, according to the ancients is part and parcel of the divine presence. Indeed, all the world is even understood as the play of the divine (līlā). Hear what happens when Yaśoda looks into baby Kṛṣṇa’s mouth! The Indian Wisdom Podcast is...
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Ep 26 Guru’s Grace: The Wisdom of Sharing Wisdom
We have a special episode for you this week in celebration for the upcoming holiday associated with Sunday's full moon, Gur Pūrṇimā. Learn the story of a sage who mastered Vedic texts but needed to learn something much more important for his training to be complete: the power of sharing what he...
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Ep 25 Indra’s Thunderbolt: Wielding the Secret Fire
Hear the tale of how Indra, King of Gods, defeats the serpent demon Vṛtra with the help of the great Sage Dadīchi, and his energized bones! This story is embodied in the yoga posture Vajrāsana (thunderbolt pose). The Indian Wisdom Podcast is released weekly and covers traditional Indian wisdom...
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Ep 24 The Sovereign and the Sage: Balancing Social and Spiritual Selves
Hear of the epic feud between Vasiṣṭha, best of sages, and king Viśvāmitra over the wish-fulfilling cow, and learn what it teaches about integrate social and spiritual selves. The Indian Wisdom Podcast is released weekly and covers traditional Indian wisdom through storytelling, Hindu mythology,...
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Ep 23 Hanumān and the Sun: Where Monkey Mind meets Spiritual Seeking
When young, Hanumān mistakes the rising Sun for a ripe mango, and flies to heaven to devour it. He later realizes that this hunger was actually a thirst for spiritual knowledge and seeks out the Sun for spiritual instruction. What does this story teach about the spiritual quest? This story is...
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Ep 22 Hanumān’s Feminine Power
Why is Hanumān so powerful? Why is he ever chaste and without consort? Hear the wisdom he learned from his mother about the power of the feminine force. The Indian Wisdom Podcast is released weekly and covers traditional Indian wisdom through storytelling, Hindu mythology, jyotiṣa (vedic...
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Ep 21 Sītā’s Separation: Reflections from the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa
Why does Rāma abandon Sītā after fighter so hard to win her back? What role does separation play in the Rāmāyaṇa? What can it teach you about how to deal with separation in your own life? The Indian Wisdom Podcast is released weekly and covers traditional Indian wisdom through storytelling, Hindu...
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Ep 20 The Wisdom of Creative Inspiration: The Primordial Poet and Sanskrit’s “First Verse”
Hear the tale of the great sage Vālmīki and the painful process whereby he births Sanskrit verse, with which he composes the story of Rāma. The Indian Wisdom Podcast is released weekly and covers traditional Indian wisdom through storytelling, Hindu mythology, jyotiṣa (vedic astrology), yoga,...
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Ep 19 The Three Wishes
What is the best thing to wish for? What would you wish for if you had three wishes? Hear of the strife and wisdom which entails when Shiva grants a man a wish fulfilling mantra that gives him three wishes… In this episode, Dr. Raj discusses the power and illusions of desire. Do your desires have...
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Ep 18 The Stories Behind the Poses: Which Warrior for Warrior Pose?
Why are yoga poses named about mythic characters? In this episode, Dr. Raj discusses the relationship between mythic stories and yoga poses. He also talks about the backstory of his book “The Stories Behind the Poses" and tells the story behind Vīrabhadrāsana, Warrior pose. The Indian Wisdom...
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Ep 17 Is Reality More than the Material? An Interview with Modern Philosopher Bernardo Kastrup
This week we're sharing an exciting crosspost and conversation with Bernardo Kastrup, PhD from the New Books Network: New Books in Indian Religions podcast. At the vanguard of the modern renaissance of metaphysical idealism, Bernardo presents cogent argumentation that reality is essentially…
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Ep 16 Mārkaṇḍeya’s Metamorphosis: The Story of Staying Forever Young
Hear Dr. Raj tell the story of Sage Mārkaṇḍeya, the boon that brought him into the world, and the boon that grants him immortal life, forever young, ever sixteen. How do we know when we are making the right decision, and are we truly able to know the consequences of our actions? This story is…
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Ep 15 The Triumph of the Goddess
Tales of Durga from the Devī Māhātmya (The Greatness of the Goddess) continued: the creation of Kālī, the Seven Mothers, and the Goddess’ ultimate triumph over demonic foe. What would the world look like if we took seriously the idea of an indwelling feminine power pervading the earth, its...
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Ep 14 The Birth of Kālī
Continuing our look into the "Glory of the Goddess," the story of the Devī Māhātmya, this episode features the birth of terrifying Kālī from the indignant wrath of the Goddess. Kālī is a response to demonic attempts to objectify, commodify, and possess the Goddess. She emerges when the demons…
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Ep 13 Sanskrit Study: A Candid Conversation with Antonia Ruppel
In this episode, Dr. Raj hosts a candid conversation with renowned Sanskritist and online teacher Antonia Ruppel on her love of the language, teaching philosophy, views on academia, and exciting online programming. She’ll be teaching an upcoming course at The Indian Wisdom School on how to pick…
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Ep 12 Power's Purpose
Profound insights on the principle of power, personified in Indian myth by the Great Goddess Durgā, specifically from the story of the Devī Māhātmya. Hear of how the gods of heaven collectively summon Her to restore their power after the shapeshifting buffalo demons usurps the throne of heaven....
About this show
Authentic ancient Indian wisdom teachings artfully applied to modern Western life. Grounded in scholarship and infused with live storytelling, this content is informative, entertaining, inspiring. Hosted by Dr. Raj Balkaran, a Sanskrit scholar, storyteller and online educator. In addition to academic training, he was lineally trained by Mantriji, our sangha's parama-guru. He teaches at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies and at The Indian Wisdom School where he applies ancient Indian wisdom to modern Western life. He is also the author of "The Stories Behind the Poses: The Indian Mythology that Inspired 50 Yoga Postures." Instagram: @IndianWisdomSchoolYouTube: https://youtube.com/@IndianWisdomPodcastPodcast: https://indianwisdompodcast.comCourses: https://indianwisdomschool.comPersonal Website: https://rajbalkaran.com
Hosted by
Dr. Raj Balkaran
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