Podcast: Regular Episodes

Hinduism, Jainism and Academia: Conversation with Prof. Lavanya Vemsani

Estimated read time 2 min read

Join Mukunda as he speaks to Professor Lavanya Vemsani, Professor of Religious Studies and History at Shawnee State University in Ohio. She holds 2 Phd.s, one in History and the other in Religious Studies. She is also the Editor in Chief of the American Journal of Indic Studies. She has written extensively on comparative iconology, history, legends, and ideas between Hindu and Jaina thought, especially related to Krishna and Balarama in Jaina and Hindu thought. In this episode, we discuss a host of topics including:
0:01:30 Introduction to Prof. Vemsani and her background
0:05:40 Deep History and Continuity of Indian archeological sites and temple locations
0:16:00 Krishna and Balarama in the Hindu and Jaina contexts
0:18:20 Analysis of Balarama in Jaina traditions (Explanation of the Vasudeva, Baladeva, and Prati Vasudeva in Jaina Cosmology)
0:25:30 Historic Relationship and Interaction between Hindus and Jains
0:28:15 Return to Discussion on Balarama in Hindu vs. Jaina traditions
0:34:00 Narasimha and his connection sacred geography and cosmology, the Lord of the Middle
0:43:00 Integration and Pluralism of Hinduism and the practices
0:45:45 Academia, Colonialism and Hindu Studies: Built-in Western Bias and Lens
1:03:15 Aryan Invasion/Migration Theory and how it impacts everything about Indian studies, politics, and culture
1:05:05 Caste and how it is different from Varna and how it changed over time in Hindu society prior to British and even prior to 10th century
1:08:20 The flaws and discussion of the Aryan Invasion/Migration Theory (Genetic, Linguistic and Material Archeological issues)
1:31:35 How to approach providing controversial topics in school and education
1:35:30 Prof. Vemsani’s upcoming work and preliminary discussion of Heroines of the Mahabharata

Hinduism, Feminism and Society: Conversation with Neha Srivastava, Founder/President of Shaktitva

Estimated read time 2 min read

Join Mukunda as he speaks to Neha Srivastava, Founder and President of Shaktitva Foundation. Neha and Shaktitva are focused on feminism, feminity, women’s issues, advocacy, and Hindu issues. In this episode, we discuss a host of topics including:
0:01:20 Introduction to Neha and her background
0:04:20 Overview of the Sabarimalai Issue
0:12:40 Women and Sabarimalai
0:18:00 Formation of Shaktitva
0:24:45 Discussion on the Nature of Hindu Temples and Government Control
0:32:20 Discussion on Shakti, Rama and understanding texts
0:37:00 Discussion of Shakti, Femininity and Gender
0:43:20 Samkhya Philosophy, Shakta Tradition and thinking on Gender
0:47:15 Hindu Understanding of Feminism
0:54:30 Attacks on Hindu Subaltern Practices and Traditions
1:18:00 History of Feminism and Difference between Western and Indian feminism
1:30:14 Village Women and Financial Literacy
1:41:40 Issues in Indian Non-Profit Law and Hinduism
1:49:20 Modern vs Traditional responses to Woman’s Health Issues specifically Menstruation
1:58:40 Dalit Scholars and Hindutva, the lack of free speech platforms
2:01:45 Concluding Thoughts and Upcoming Projects

Caste, Dalits and Hindu Society: Conversation with Prof. Guru Prakash

Estimated read time 2 min read

Join Mukunda as he speaks to Prof. Guru Prakash, Professor of Law at Patna University in Bihar. Prof. Prakash is a Dalit scholar and activist, who writes, studies and speaks on Dalit Issues in India and Hindu society. In this episode, we discuss a host of topics (listed broadly with approximate timestamps):
1 min 20 seconds: Introduction and Background of Professor Guru Prakash
6 min 55 seconds: Civil Rights of African Americans and the comparison with Dalit movement in India
10 min: Diversity within the Dalit Jati or Community
16 min 40 sec: Complexity in Understanding Caste
23 min 20 sec: Interaction and Issues between Jati or Castes vis-à-vis Education and Careers
31 min 14 min: Differences between Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Castes and Scheduled Tribes
39 min: Hinduism, Hindutva, Ambedkar and Dalits
51 min 50 sec: The problem with the Dalit-Muslim-Marxist alliance
1 hour 7 min: Addressing the Dalit Cause in Society
1 hour 16 min 50 sec: Christian Missionary Activity Impact on Dalit communities
1 Hour 21 min: Closing Thoughts

Hinduism and Society: Conversation with Indu Viswanathan and Parth Parihar

Estimated read time 2 min read

Join Mukunda as he speaks to Indu Viswanathan and Parth Parihar. Both Parth and Indu are Phd. candidates, Indu in Education at Teachers College and Parth in Economics at Princeton. Indu and Parth are involved deeply in engaging with Hindu traditions/ideas with the modern world. In this episode, we discuss far-reaching and diverse topics including what it means to be a Hindu in the West, the colonialism of the mind vs indigenous knowledge, Racism versus Caste, Abrahamic world view vs. Dharma worldview, Karma and Agency, Hindu representation in the Media and Education, Hinduism on College Campuses, Caste System, The Idea of Decoloniality, Dharma for the 21st Century and a wealth of other topics. It is a dynamic and great conversation with two fantastic thinkers and human beings.

Conversation with Brahmachari Vrajavihari Sharan, Director for Hindu Life at Georgetown University

Estimated read time 1 min read

Join Mukunda as he speaks to Brahmachari Vrajavihari Sharan, Director for Hindu Life at Georgetown University and Adjunct Professor of Theology and Linguistics. In this episode, we talk about the West Indian Hindu experience, Nimbarkacharya (a philosopher, Vedantin and Guru of the Kumara Sampradaya) and his philosophy, the nature of Radha and Krishna, Varna, Jati and Caste in the ascetic life, Dharma, the experience of Hinduism in the diaspora and other topics. Join us for another dive into the ocean that is Hindu Thought.

You can find Brahmachari Vrajavihari Sharan at:
https://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/people/vrajvihari-sharan
Twitter: @brvsharan

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Polytheism: A discussion with Dr. Edward Butler

Estimated read time 1 min read

Join Mukunda as he speaks to Dr. Edward Butler, Phd. Dr. Butler specializes in ancient Greco-Roman philosophy particularly Platonism and Neo-Platonism along with expertise in Polytheistic thought and philosophy. We speak at length about polytheism and monotheism, the theory of Henadology, Proclus, Hindu Thought, and other forms of polytheism and a host of other topics.

You can find Dr. Edward Butler at:
https://henadology.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @epbutler
Purchase his books at:
https://www.lulu.com/search/?adult_audience_rating=00&contributor=Edward+Butler

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Conversation with Prof. Stephen Phillips

Estimated read time 1 min read

Join Mukunda as he speaks to Professor Stephen Phillips of the University of Texas at Austin. Professor Phillips is an academic in Philosophy with a wide area of expertise in the Indian/Hindu Philosophical systems particularly Nyaya, Vedanta, and Yoga. In this dialogue, we discuss Prof. Phillips journey into Hindu thought, his experiences living in India, learning Sanskrit, studying Indian Philosophy directly from indigenous experts, the concept of Pramanas, the idea of soul-making, Yoga and other topics. It was an honor and pleasure to be able to have this conversation.

You can find Prof. Stephen Phillips at https://liberalarts.utexas.edu/philosophy/faculty/shp9
and you can buy his books at: https://www.amazon.com/Stephen-H.-Phillips/e/B001JRYN56/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

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Sikhism: Conversation with Jodh Singh on the History, Ideas, and Practices of Sikhi Dharm

Estimated read time 1 min read

Join Mukunda as he talks to Jodh Singh (Twitter@jungnihang) about Sikhism. We go through a detailed history of 10 Gurus, the socio-political environment in that period, the practices of the Sikhi Dharm and other topics. If you want to learn and understand Sikhism, this is the podcast episode for you.

Conversation and Interview with Gopi Shankar Madurai, Founder of Srishti Madurai and LGBTQIA Hindu Activist

Join Mukunda as he talks to Gopi Shankar Madurai, Founder of Srishti Madurai and an LGBTQIA Hindu Activist. They discuss biological sex, gender identity, sexual […]

A Conversation with Prof. Nicholas Sutton

Estimated read time 1 min read

Join Mukunda as he talks to Prof. Nicholas Sutton, Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies. They discuss Prof. Sutton’s journey into Hindu thought and his life of studying Dharma, Philosophy, Bhagavad Gita, Mahabharata and other texts/traditions. They delve into morality and ethics, the idea of Dharma, deontological morality, virtue ethics, diversity in Hindu thought, the conundrum of God in the world vis-a-vis Krishna and numerous other ideas.

You can check out Prof. Sutton’s lectures and talks at: https://www.youtube.com/user/HinduStudies
and you can get his books at:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=nicholas+sutton&i=stripbooks&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

https://ochs.org.uk/people/dr-nicholas-sutton

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Meru Manthan Series: Judaism and Hinduism A Discussion with Rabbi Alan Brill

Estimated read time 2 min read

We are launching a new series called Meru Manthan: The Churning of Ideas, where we engage with thinkers, ideas and viewpoints from all traditions and […]

After Midnight Musing with Raghu: Music, Sports, and Mahabharata

Estimated read time 1 min read

Raghu Kumar,  a successful entrepeneur and founder of Upstox and Rain Hedge Fund, and I decided to record a podcast at 1 am in the morning in his son’s play room sitting on baby stools, sometimes random decisions produce really interesting conversations.  This is one of those conversations, we discuss Carnatic Music, Sports and Mahabharata plus a bunch of other tangents.  It’s a fun and engaging conversations even at 1 am.  Join us!

Episode 3: Framework for Understanding Indic Reality

Estimated read time 1 min read

Welcome to Episode 3, The Framework for Understanding the Indic Reality, History, and Ideas.  We delve into the Indian Ideas of Understanding History and Tradition […]

Episode 2: Impetus – The Value of Indic Culture

Estimated read time 1 min read

Welcome to Episode 2!  Join me and Racchit as we discuss what is driving us to take up this endeavor of discussing, promoting and preserving Indic Culture and Thought.  We weave around from topic to topic and have a very broad discussion, some funny, some serious and mostly entertaining, we hope.  We hope you enjoy this episode and please leave your comments, thoughts, criticisms, and suggestions.  

Meru Podcast Episode 1: Let’s Get This Show on the Road

Estimated read time 1 min read

First Episode and the beginning of a journey into questioning and understanding the Indic consciousness and worldviews. Get ready for some philosophy, mythology, history, culture and good old fashion knowledge and fun. Join us on the Meru Podcast!