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, intertwined with the divine narratives of Shiva Purana. From Lord Brahma and Vishnu's delusion to Kaal Bhairav's wrathful origin, Kashi has witnessed a play of cosmic forces that ultimately underscored Shiva's supremacy as the lord of creation, destruction, and liberation. The city houses the famed Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga, a beacon of spiritual energy believed to be the embodiment of Shiva himself. It is said that death in this sacred city grants moksha, liberation from the cycle of life and death.

Contact, follow and support my work - all in one place: ⁠https://linktr.ee/NamaskarIndia

Bibliography:

Eck, D. L. (1982). Banaras: City of Light. Knopf.

Shastri, J. L. (Trans.). (1970). Ancient Indian Tradition & Mythology: The Siva Purana (40 Volumes). Motilal Banarsidass Publishers.

Debroy, B. (2012). The Shiv Purana. Penguin Books India.

Topic: Indian mythology | Hindu mythology | Hinduism

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), the episode weaves together mythology, astronomy, and spiritual insights.

Contact, follow and support my work - all in one place: https://linktr.ee/NamaskarIndia

Bibliography:

Shastri, J. L. (1970). Shivapurana. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers.

Flood, G. D. (1996). An Introduction to Hinduism. Cambridge University Press.

Kramrisch, S. (1981). The Presence of Siva. Princeton University Press.

Topic: Indian mythology | Hindu mythology | Hinduism

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 harmoniously blends solar and lunar cycles to maintain alignment with nature's rhythms, ensuring a prosperous life in tune with the cosmic order.

Bibliography:

Sen, S. N., & Bag, A. K. (1983). The Sūrya-Siddhānta: A Text-book of Hindu Astronomy. Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society.

Kapoor, S. D. (2005). Indian Calendar from Post-Vedic Period to AD 1900: An Analytical Study. New Delhi: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.

Burgess, E. (2002). The Surya Siddhanta and the Siddhanta Siromani: A Textbook of Hindu Astronomy. Alachua, Florida: Golden Egg Publishing Company.

Topic: History of India | Astronomy | Astrology

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 two dominant systems, Amavasyanta and Purnimanta. We uncover the fascinating phenomena of Tithi Vrddhi and Tithi Kshaya, caused by the moon's varying speed due to its elliptical orbit.

Bibliography:

Seth, H. C. (1994). Hindu calendar. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers.

Lochtefeld, J. (2002). Tithis in the Hindu calendar. In The illustrated encyclopedia of Hinduism (Vol. 2, pp. 710-711). Rosen Publishing.

Sharma, R. C. (2004). The Hindu calendar: A cultural and scientific perspective. Pustak Mahal.

Topic: History of India | Astronomy | Astrology

Kundali: Is it destiny written in the stars or an intriguing system of ancient wisdom? We're diving into the world of birth charts, exploring how they're made, and what they might (or might not) tell us about ourselves.

Bibliography:

Parāśara, & Rao, R. S. (2000). Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra (Vol. 1). Parashara Jyotishalaya.

deFouw, H., & Svoboda, R. (1996). Light on Life: An Introduction to the Astrology of India. Lotus Press. 

Kurczak, R. (2011). The Art and Practice of Vedic Astrology: Vol 1: The Fundamentals of Chart Interpretation. Himalayan Institute.

Topic: History of India | Astronomy | Astrology

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. Aligning with the 12 zodiac signs, nakshatras are considered a cosmic clock, with one day passing as the moon moves through each nakshatra, repeating every 27 days. 

Bibliography:

Padmanabham, T. (2017). History of Indian Astronomy. Springer.

Dixit, B., & Sewell, R. (2013). Indian Calendar.

Subbarayappa, B. V. (2004). The history of Indian astronomy. Springer.

Harness, D. M. (1999). The nakshatras: The lunar mansions of Vedic astrology. Lotus Press.

Agrawal, D. P. (2004). India's scientific heritage. Pearson Education India.

Kelley, D. H., & Milone, E. F. (2005). Exploring ancient skies: An encyclopedic survey of archaeoastronomy. Springer Science & Business Media.

Rao, S. B. (2000). Astronomy in India: A historical perspective. Universities Press.

Topic: History of India | Astronomy | Astrology | Indian mythology | Hindu mythology | Hinduism

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 zodiac is based on the sun's position. We will also cover the precession of the equinoxes, which causes the spring equinox to move along the orbit and creates a difference between these two zodiacs over time. 

Bibliography:

Campion N. (2012). A History of Western Astrology. A&C Black.

O'Connell, P. J. (2015). The Sidereal and Tropical Zodiacs: An Historical Survey. Culture and Cosmos, 19(2), 7-29.

Rao, K. N. (2010). Astrology for Beginners: B.V. Raman. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers.

Lahiri, S. (2008). Lahiri's Indian Ephemeris Of Planets' Positions: According To The ‘Nirayana' Or Sidereal System For 2002 A.D. To 2020 A.D. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers.

Topic: History of India | Astronomy | Astrology

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 to guide astrological predictions. We also discuss the ecliptic plane and how it relates to the zodiac. 

Bibliography:

Rochberg, F. (1998). Astrology in Ancient Mesopotamia: The Science of Omens and the Knowledge of the Heavens. University of Chicago Press.

Hoskin, M. (2003). The History of Astronomy: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press.

Tyson, N. D. (2017). Astrophysics for People in a Hurry. W.W. Norton & Company.

Sagan, C. (1980). Cosmos. Ballantine Books.

Subbarayappa, B. V. (2005). Indian Astronomy: An Introduction. National Book Trust, India.

Topic: History of India | Astronomy | Astrology

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 against the Sun and the Moon. We will also dive into the captivating subject of eclipses and uncover the science behind these celestial events.

Bibliography:

Pattanaik, D. (2013). Myth = Mithya: A Handbook of Hindu Mythology. Penguin UK.

Cooley, G. A. (2020). Solar Eclipses and Planetary Alignments. Xlibris Corporation.

Close, F. E. (2017). Eclipse: History. Science. Awe. Oxford University Press.

Topic: History of India | Astronomy | Astrology Indian mythology | Hindu mythology | Hinduism

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 mythology.

Bibliography:

Vyasa. (1993). The Mahabharata: Volume 1. Penguin Classics.

O'Flaherty, W. (1980). Hindu Myths: A Sourcebook Translated from the Sanskrit. Penguin Classics.

Pattanaik, D. (2003). Indian Mythology: Tales, Symbols, and Rituals from the Heart of the Subcontinent. Inner Traditions.

Brockington, J. (1998). The Sanskrit Epics. BRILL.

Topic: Indian mythology | Hindu mythology | Hinduism