All Episodes
Episodes
Ep 35 Dog Dharma: Canine Symbology in Indic Thought
Why is a dog the vehicle of Bhairava, Åivaās embodied wrath? Why does Yudhiį¹£į¹hira insist on a dog accompanying him to heaven? Invoking ferocity and friendship alike, learn the wide range of canine associations in...
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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...
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Ep 33 GÄlavaās Gift: An Ode to the Mighty MÄdhavÄ«
Because of stubbornness, GÄlava is tasked with the impossible: procuring 800 white horses each with a single black ear as a gift to his guru ViÅvÄmitra.Ā Hear how the impossible is made possible by the formidable...
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Ep 32 Arjuna's Aim: Meeting your Mark in the MahÄbhÄrata and Beyond
Listen in as Dr. Raj sets the stage for the epic conversation between the master marksman Arjuna and his divine charioteer Kį¹į¹£į¹a comprising the Bhagavad GÄ«tÄ. Learn what this teaches your about āmeeting your markā in...
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Ep 31 The Teacherās Tests: Dhaumya and his Disciples
Why do traditional Indian teachers test their students?Ā 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...
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Ep 30 Bhairava: Åivaās Righteous Wrath
Can wrath be righteous? Can decapitation be divine? Hear the tale of when Åiva decapitates the Creator himself in order to teach him an important lesson.
Hosted by Dr. Raj Balkaran, a Sanskrit scholar, seasoned...
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Ep 29 Harnessing Åivaās Sacred Seed: The Extraordinary Birth of Skanda
This episode unpacks the rich symbology in the gods causing Åiva to spill his sacred seed in order to father KÄrttikeya, General of the Celestial Army.Ā What can we learn about sacred masculine, sacred feminine and...
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Ep 28 Divine Decapitation
Gaį¹eÅa receives his elephant head as a replacement for his original, decapitated head at the hands of Åiva. What insights about the spiritual quest can we glean from this prima facia gruesome tale?
Hosted by Dr. Raj...
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Ep 27 The Power of Play
Play is no mundane thing. It elicits joy (Änanda), 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 (lÄ«lÄ).Ā Hear what...
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Ep 26 Guruās 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 PÅ«rį¹imÄ. Learn the story of a sage who mastered Vedic texts but needed to learn something...
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Ep 25 Indraās Thunderbolt: Wielding the Secret Fire
Hear the tale of how Indra, King of Gods, defeats the serpent demon Vį¹tra with the help of the great Sage DadÄ«chi, and his energized bones! This story is embodied in the yoga posture VajrÄsana (thunderbolt pose).
The...
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Ep 24 The Sovereign and the Sage: Balancing Social and Spiritual Selves
Hear of the epic feud between Vasiį¹£į¹ha, best of sages, and king ViÅvÄmitra over the wish-fulfilling cow, and learn what it teaches about integrate social and spiritual selves.
The Indian Wisdom Podcast is released...
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