Vicāram || Ancient Hindu Philosophy & Storytelling

What does ancient Hinduism teach us about love- the higher kind that is not mere lust, attraction, and attachment/ego? This episode is a retelling of the classic tale of Prahlad- the wise prince who held insurmountable love for Consciousness and the sacred. Born to a demonic ruler who was known for his arrogance and hedonism, the prince stayed true to his beliefs, despite the cruelty and disapproval of his father and everyone around him. (Kindly note that this version is as per Bibek Debroy's accredited transliteration of the Vishnu Purana. As with all our episodes, this ep has been scripted to respect and retain the original essence of the primary source. The story has been told in honour of Advaita Vedanta- the philosophical branch within Hinduism that states Consciousness/Spirit is the absolute reality.) 

The Hindu book named the "Chandogya Upanishad" (dating to around 8th-7th BCE) reveals to us the story of Satyakama- the young son of a poor maidservant- who goes in search of "Consciousness". If there really was such a thing as an all-pervading Spirit in our universe, where might one find it? Through his tale, we come to learn that perhaps Consciousness cannot be found in one place or thing solely- but rather, in all things and beings, as we are all of that one, same essence [Spirit-Consciousness].

Through the timeless tale of "Druva" - an ancient story of an Indian prince who felt unloved and unwanted by the world, we learn of what Universal Consciousness is, why it matters, how we are all one and a part of it, and what happens when we come to love that one, primordial consciousness that all-pervades our universe.

Who are we, and where do we come from? The ancient books in Hinduism known as the "Upanishads" (dating to around 800–300 BCE) have a reknown explanation for us. They speak of how we've been here before... and how we'll come here again. How we've lived, died, and been reborn countless times, trapped in an endless cycle of reincarnation (called "Saṃsāra", in Sanskrit). But is there no way out of this hamster wheel? How do we live well, in the time that we're given? What does it mean to be born human, and where do we lie in this grander, cosmic framework?