The Indian Wisdom Podcast

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 …

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…

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 …

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 th…

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 …

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 …

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 onli…

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 summo…

This episode explores the profound interplay between shadow and light, particularly in vogue during eclipses. Hear the tale of the demon Rāhu who snuck into the celestial assembly donning the garb of…

Why is the moon so captivating? What does it represent in Indic thought? What’s the difference between full and new moon? Hear the tale of the Moon god’s marriage to 27 wives and the wisdom of his wa…

In this episode, Dr. Raj tells the tale of the majestic Kālī looming over the inert corpse-like body of Śiva in order to illumine the wisdom of witnessing. He dives into how this story is embodied in…

How do you remain grounded in these tumultuous times? In this episode, Dr. Raj reflects on the power of breath and on the wisdom of trees, ever upright, abiding in the plane between heaven and earth.…

This episode dives into the rich mythology of the great god Śiva, lord of yoga, emblematic of spiritual striving. Dr. Raj tells the tale of the descent of the Ganges from celestial sphere to become a…

In this episode, Dr. Raj discusses the interplay between masculine and feminine principles. After deconstructing the masculine ethos of the Garden of Eden story, Dr. Raj inverts that rather than bein…

Is your life a result of nurture or nature? Destiny or free will? Listen in as Dr. Raj broaches the mysteries of life through the lens of karmic theory, sharing the tale of the great sage Matsyendra …

Above and beyond our specific beliefs, this episode unpacks the power of belief itself, especially belief in our self. It draws on the tale of Hanumān and his monumental flying leap over the sea from…

How do we engage the world without become enmeshed within it? The Bhagadvad Gītā says this has very little to do with what we do, and everything to do with the spirit in which we do it. And so, this …

In this episode, Dr. Raj discusses the world-affirming aspect of Indian wisdom teachings. He discusses the extent to which these teachings, though originating in ascetic contexts, are geared towards …

In this episode, Dr. Raj introduces the podcast and gives a little background on his academic and spiritual journeys. He also tells the story of Gaṇeśa and Kārttikeya, brothers and sons of the god Śi…