Namaskar India - Tales from Indian History and Mythology

If Kashi was destroyed so many times, why did it never disappear?This episode explores the deeper idea behind Varanasi’s survival — from sacred geography and ritual memory to the concept of an “invisi...

Kashi is called eternal — but its history tells a different story.From ancient urban roots to the repeated destruction and rebuilding of the Vishveshvara temple and the emergence of Gyanvapi, this epi...

Kashi is known as the city of Lord Shiva — but is it complete without Shakti? In this episode, we explore the feminine divine presence that animates Varanasi through three sacred forms: Vishalakshi, t...

What is Dev Deepavali, and why is it called the Diwali of the Gods? In this episode, we explore the ancient myth of Tripurasura, the cosmic destruction by Lord Shiva as Tripurantaka, and the symbolism...

What happens after death in Kashi? In this episode, we explore the Hindu concept of moksha, the justice of Kalabhairava, the ritual of Pind Daan, and the belief that Lord Shiva grants final liberation...

Discover why death loses its terror in Kashi, where the final journey follows the sacred order of five elements. Join us as we unravel one of Kashi's deepest mysteries - its unique relationship wi...

Journey along the sacred riverfront of Varanasi as we walk from Assi to Adi Keshava Ghat at dawn. Discover how 84 ghats form Vishnu's cosmic body, and experience how each step reveals stories of gods,...

Discover why the mighty Ganges suddenly changes course in Varanasi, flowing northward in a rare phenomenon known as Uttar Vahini Ganga. From its divine descent from heaven to the mesmerizing evening a...

Discover how Kashi (Varanasi) is governed by divine powers, with Shiva manifesting through the Jyotirlinga and Kaal Bhairav serving as the city's celestial guardian. Contact, follow and support my...

Discover why Kashi (modern-day Varanasi) is considered more than just one of the world's oldest living cities. Ancient Indian scriptures describe it as a cosmic instrument, a bridge between earthly an...

Discover the powerful story of Shiva and Sati, the divine love saga that shaped Hindu goddess worship and sacred geography. From Adi Shakti's incarnation as Sati to the creation of Shakti Peeths a...

Experience the profound wisdom of Devi Mahatmyam, the foundational text of Shakta tradition. Journey through three cosmic battles symbolizing humanity's path from ignorance to enlightenment. This ...

Discover Mahakali, the powerful Hindu goddess who embodies time and transformation. Learn how her fierce imagery carries deep spiritual meaning, from scientific parallels to ancient wisdom about creat...

Discover the captivating story of Surya, the Hindu Sun God—a celestial body, a powerful deity, and a symbol of life's cycle. From mythology and rituals to breathtaking temples, let's explore S...

This episode dives deep into the profound wisdom of the Gayatri Mantra—its origins in Rig Veda (3.62.10), its divine philosophy, and its spiritual symbolism. Discover the meaning of key elements like ...

We will explore how Hindu temple architecture embodies the concept of kaalchakra—the infinite cycle of time. Discover how these sacred spaces act as cosmic maps, harmonizing geometry, rituals, and cel...

A personal reflection on the Hindu concept of Kaal Chakra and its profound connection to stardust—the essence of our being. Discover how the James Webb Space Telescope reveals the universe’s grand rec...

Explore the captivating Chidambaram Nataraja Temple, home to Lord Shiva's cosmic dance, the "Anand Tandav." Let's delve into its spiritual symbolism, and its role as the Pancha Bhoot...

Kashi, the city of light, stands as a testament to creation, destruction, and ultimately, redemption. This ancient city, bathed in the sacred waters of the Ganges, has a story as old as time itself, i...

This episode delves into the profound concept of time and death in Hindu philosophy, embodied by Lord Shiva as Mahakaal. Set against the backdrop of the holy Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain (India), th...

Uncover how the 'five limbs' of Panchang - Tithi, Yoga, Karana, Nakshatra and Var - shape daily life and auspicious events through celestial observations. Learn how the Hindu calendar harmonio...

This episode uncovers the captivating world of tithis, the lunar days that form the core of the Hindu calendar. We delve into their calculation based on the moon's celestial dance and explore the ...

This episode explores the nakshatras, the fundamental concept of the Vedic astrological system. Nakshatras refer to the division of the sky into 27 equal segments, each named after a prominent star. A...

In this episode, we will discuss the difference between sidereal and tropical zodiac systems used in Indian and Western astrology respectively. The sidereal zodiac is based on stars and the tropical z...

In this episode, we explore the concept of the zodiac and its origins. We delve into the relationship between the Sun, Moon, and planets and how their movements in the sky have been used for centuries...

In this episode, we unravel the mystery of Rahu and Ketu, often referred to as shadow planets in Hindu astrology. We delve into their origin story, and how their dharma has been to seek revenge agains...

The episode narrates the story of Samudra Manthan, where gods and demons churned the ocean for the elixir of immortality. We will delve deeper into the story and discuss its significance in Hindu myth...

In this episode, we explore the roots of astrology and how it is based on the position of celestial bodies with respect to stars. However, scientific evidence suggests that the gravitational forces ex...

The Navagrahas possess distinctive and profound iconography and symbolism that hold significant insights. Let's explore and understand their meaning to obtain a profound and deeper understanding o...

In this episode, we examine the traditional arrangements of the Navagrahas in Hindu temples and the astrological significance of each planet's placement. We also delve into the symbolic and astrol...

In this episode, we delve into the importance and mystery surrounding Navgrahas in Hinduism, detailing their influence on various aspects of human life. Using the Navgraha Stotram, we explore the phil...

This episode explores the significance of each day of the week in Hinduism and the associated deities and rituals. From worshiping the Sun on Sundays for health and wisdom to seeking the blessings of ...

This episode explores the origin of the seven-day week from an astronomical, historical, and cultural perspective. We discuss how Hindu astronomers identified grahas and how the Brihat Parasara Hora S...

Join us in this episode as we explore the fascinating world of ancient Indian astronomy and astrology. We discuss the relationship between these two fields and how they evolved from naturalistic obser...

In this episode, we explore the cyclical nature of time in Hindu mythology and its unique differences from other religions. We delve into various time units described in ancient Indian texts, from mic...

In this episode, we delve into the symbolism of Nataraja, the cosmic dancer, and explore the profound understanding of the universe that it embodies. We explore the five aspects of Nataraja's form...

We all know that India gained its independence on August 15th, 1947, but did you know that according to the Indian National Calendar, India gained independence on Sravana 28th, 1869? In this episode, ...

This podcast episode discusses the history and significance of dating systems, specifically BC & AD vs BCE & CE. It explores the origins of BC and AD, the meaning of BCE and CE, and the debate...

We like our ideas of God. We can parse them, explain them, and make our own decisions based on them. In fact, our idea of God is all we really have at all. Since all we really have is our idea of God,...

Purusha suktam is hymn 10.90 of the Rigveda, dedicated to the Purusha, the "Cosmic Being" or “The Supreme God”. It describes the spiritual oneness of the universe. It depicts the nature of P...

The Rigveda used the epithet Viswakarma to refer to a supreme god. In the Rigvedic hymns 10.81 & 10.82 Vishwakarma Sukta, he is described as all-seeing, with eyes, faces, arms, and feet on all fou...

Hiranyagarbha, the source of all that is manifest and unmanifest; said to be the god of gods and that which connects all things, creates all things and where all things return. It is mentioned in Hira...

The Nāsadīya Sūkta after the incipit ná ásat, or "not the non-existent", is known as the Hymn of Creation. It is a collection of 7 Shlokas from the 129th Hymn of the Rig Veda's 10th Mand...

The Vedas are the religious texts which inform the religion of Hinduism. The term veda means “knowledge” in that they are thought to contain the fundamental knowledge relating to the underlying cause ...

“The Blind Men and the Elephant” is an Indian parable that has been adapted by many religions and published in a variety of adult and children's stories. It's about a group of blind men who tr...

Seema Anand is a storyteller and mythologist based in London who specializes in women's narratives. She is also the award-winning author of "The Arts of Seduction". She employs stories f...

Seema Anand is a storyteller and mythologist based in London who specializes in women's narratives. She is also the award-winning author of "The Arts of Seduction". She employs stories f...

Seema Anand is a storyteller and mythologist based in London who specializes in women's narratives. She is also the award-winning author of "The Arts of Seduction". She employs stories f...

The Indian mythological fiction genre appears to be vibrant, with an increasing number of authors regularly churning out novels that frequently figure on the bestseller lists. Amongst them is Anand Ne...

The Indian mythological fiction genre appears to be vibrant, with an increasing number of authors regularly churning out novels that frequently figure on the bestseller lists. Amongst them is Anand Ne...