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The Indian Wisdom Podcast

Dr. Raj Balkaran
Shiva
Vishnu
Hinduism
Mahabharata
Bhagavad Gita
Witnessing
Yoga Asanas
Indra
Yoga Sutras
Awareness
Devi Mahatmya
Parvati
Hiranyakashipu
Hanumān
Tantra
Vedic Knowledge
Sanskrit
Yoga
Rig Veda
Desire

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 ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes61Founded2 years ago
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Society & CulturePhilosophySpiritualityReligion & Spirituality

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Artwork for The Indian Wisdom Podcast

Latest Episodes

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 ov... more

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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 reso... more

YouTube

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 A... more

YouTube

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... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Shantala Sriramaiah
Teacher and founder of the Vedic Studies platform
Vedic Studies
Episode: Ep 60 - Learning Vedic Chanting: A Conversation with Shantala Sriramaiah
Dr. Wendy Doniger
Murchia Eliade Distinguished Service Professor Emerita of the History of Religions, University of Chicago
University of Chicago
Episode: Ep 58 - Life Learning with Wendy Doniger
Dr. Anya Golovkova
Academic with a passion for the Devi Mahatmyam
Episode: Ep 57 - New Devī Māhātmya Sanskrit Course
Amy Landry
Host of the Living in Alignment podcast
Living in Alignment Podcast
Episode: Ep 53 - Anniversary Episode: Dr. Raj’s “Living in Alignment” Interview with Amy Landry
Jen Goetchius
A seasoned yogini and author of a comprehensive yoga teacher training manual.
Ashtanga Hub
Episode: Ep 43 Yoga Teacher Training 2.0: An Interview with Jen Goetchius
Dr. Lauren Tober
Clinical psychologist and senior yoga teacher
Episode: Ep 40 Mental Health Aware Yoga: A Conversation with Dr. Lauren Tober
Dr. Alisa Lozhkina
Art historian and curator, known for her translation of Devī Māhātmya into Ukrainian.
Episode: Ep 39 Goddess Glories in Ukrainian: An Interview with Alisa Lozhkina
Dr. Christopher Jain Miller
Vice President of Academic Affairs and Professor of Jain and Yoga Studies at Arihanta Institute, avid online educator and scholar practitioner.
Arihanta Institute
Episode: Ep 34 An Interview with Dr. Christopher Jain Miller
Dr. Bernardo Kastrup
Executive Director of Essentia Foundation, philosopher, and author
Essentia Foundation
Episode: Ep 17 Is Reality More than the Material? An Interview with Modern Philosopher Bernardo Kastrup

Host

Dr. Raj Balkaran
Host and educator specializing in ancient Indian wisdom, Sanskrit studies, and the application of these teachings to modern living. He is also a storyteller with a deep understanding of Hindu philosophy.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 22 ratings
  • Just what I was looking for…

    The Indian Wisdom Podcast is just what I was looking for. Ancient wisdom that helps for daily life.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ancient wisdom for today
    United States2 years ago
  • Eye opening, masterful, wise —- and entertaining!

    All these words describe Dr Balkaran and the debut of this podcast. He opens up the wisdom world of ancient India for listeners with a magical mix of deep understanding, masterful storytelling, and gentle humor. Even if you’ve heard this story of Ganesha 100 times, you’ve never heard it quite like this, and it’s likely that the story will resonate for you in a new and marvelous way.

    If you normally take in podcasts while doing this or that, be warned: you may need to stop what you’re doing to t... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    purplekazoo216
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many appreciate the depth and richness of the discussions, seeing them as transformative for personal growth.
Listeners commend the ability to convey ancient wisdom in an engaging and relatable manner, highlighting the storytelling aspect as a key strength.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep 61 - Learning Vedic Chanting: A Conversation with Shantala Sriramaiah Pt. 2
Q: What is the role of a guru in this tradition, and how does your approach respect the lineage while adapting to online learning?
The guru embodies the tradition and guides the student through rigorous, text-based transmission. Online formats and self-paced resources enable broader access while maintaining the core method of adhyayanam, with careful alignment to the sutras and phonetics.
Ep 61 - Learning Vedic Chanting: A Conversation with Shantala Sriramaiah Pt. 2
Q: You mentioned that Gayatri Japa can be performed by anyone. How does that reinterpret initiation and access to practice?
Initiation (Upanayana) is traditional and gendered, but the Gayatri practice itself is open source and accessible to anyone with shraddha. This expands participation while preserving reverence for lineage; the practice can be integrated into daily life without ceremonial initiation.
Ep 61 - Learning Vedic Chanting: A Conversation with Shantala Sriramaiah Pt. 2
Q: Can you explain what Adhyayanam means in your teaching, and how it differs from typical classroom instruction?
Adhyayanam is a deeply embodied, one-on-one transmission where a teacher guides exact pronunciation and alignment with the sutras. It's not about quantity of text; it's about precision, ritual alignment, and long-term retention, supported by recordings for autonomous practice between live sessions.
Ep 59 - Learning Ancient Languages: A Conversation with Antonia Ruppel
Q: Tell me about the course you're offering that links Ancient Greek for Sanskritists, and how existing knowledge of Sanskrit or Latin benefits learners in this program.
The course structure leverages prior experience with inflected languages like Sanskrit and Latin to teach Greek grammar in a short time, with a plan to read original Greek texts and provide a guided reader that consolidates references and grammar in one place for easier study.
Ep 59 - Learning Ancient Languages: A Conversation with Antonia Ruppel
Q: Why did you opt to publish with Amazon for your German Sanskrit textbook, and what was that experience like?
Antonia explains that she chose self-publishing to keep costs low, ensure quick updates, and retain control over content and formatting, making the work accessible for students and flexible to revise as needed.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Indian Wisdom Podcast

What is The Indian Wisdom Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Content centers on ancient Indian wisdom, integrating teachings from Hindu philosophy and mythology into contemporary life. A range of topics, like the significance of yoga, storytelling from Sanskrit texts, and the rich narratives about deities, provide insights into spiritual growth and self-realization. The host brings a unique blend of academic rigor and storytelling flair, often emphasizing the relevance of these ancient teachings in today's context.

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Which podcasts are similar to The Indian Wisdom Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Indian Wisdom Podcast:

1. Om Som Yoga + Ayurveda Podcast
2. Yogaland Podcast
3. J. Brown Yoga Talks
4. On Being with Krista Tippett
5. This American Life

How many episodes of The Indian Wisdom Podcast are there?

The Indian Wisdom Podcast launched 2 years ago and published 61 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Indian Wisdom Podcast?

Recent guests on The Indian Wisdom Podcast include:

1. Shantala Sriramaiah
2. Dr. Wendy Doniger
3. Dr. Anya Golovkova
4. Amy Landry
5. Jen Goetchius
6. Dr. Lauren Tober
7. Dr. Alisa Lozhkina
8. Dr. Christopher Jain Miller

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