Stories From India

This week, we'll cover a couple of stories from the #Panchatantra. One is about a little baby boy and his unlikely animal sibling. The other introduces air travel to a Tortoise. The cost of the flight ticket? He just has to keep his mouth closed.

The character this week is a colorful creature. It’s a #rainbowfish. I also like to think of it as the #Elsa fish for reasons that’ll soon be clear

Transcript and show notes

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

#sfipodcast #buddha

This week, we’ll continue the story of Devayani and Friday. We’ll see why you should be careful when going swimming. If you accidentally put on someone else’s clothes after your swim you might just end up becoming their servant!

The character this week is the sister of someone we previously encountered in the Character of the Week segment of Episode 4: Hare-y Tales. She’s a demon. She’s a Buffalo. She’s both!

Transcript and show notes

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

#sfipodcast #naradamuni #shukracharya #devayani #yayati #sharmishta #mahabharat

This week we’ll explore an old story that may remind you of the most recent Star Wars movie.

The character this week is an emperor from 3rd century BC, whose symbols live on to this day, both on the flag, as well as on pretty much all Indian currency.

Transcript and show notes

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

#sfipodcast #naradamuni #devayani #kacha #shukracharya #sanjeevanimantra

This week, we'll do a #folktale from #Bengal

It’s about two sisters who go to great lengths to retrieve a little cotton when it gets blown away by the wind. Including running for miles and flying into the Sky!

The character this week is two characters, not one. Because they are twins. These brothers are associated with medicine. And not just for getting getter when sick, but they can also bring people back from the dead! Something even the genie in Aladdin couldn’t do.

Transcript and show notes

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

#sfipodcast #naradamuni #ashvins #sukhudukhu

This week, we’re meeting #Hanuman who is a very central figure in the #Ramayan. Hanuman is the equivalent of #Superman. He’s got extraordinary powers with a much more interesting origin story than his Kryptonian comic book equivalent. Amongst other things, we’ll see the first recorded space flight! And why it’s a terrible idea to throw anything at a monkey.

The character this week is a person from the same court of Emperor #Akbar and #Birbal, but who sometimes got the better of both of them!

Transcript and show notes: https://sfipodcast.com/episode-25-up-up-and-away/

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

#sfipodcast #naradamuni #anjana #mulladopiyaza

This week, we’re back into the #Ramayana. We’ll talk about two events King #Dasharath was involved in that had a big impact on #Ram’s life. We’ll see why it’s a good idea to wear a protective orange vest when walking in a hunting zone. We’ll also see that if you are making unconditional promises to someone, you should be careful to see who else is listening in on your conversation.

The character this week is a wolf, who is excellent at tracking down stolen cows. And who taught humans that cows can be a good source of milk and butter!

Transcript and show notes: https://sfipodcast.com/?p=311

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

#sfipodcast #naradamuni #sarama

This week, we’ll do a folk tale from #MadhyaPradesh, about a magic cow that makes gold every time it goes to the bathroom. And a bowl that can make any food appear!

The character this week is someone whom we’ve encountered a lot on this podcast. It’s my dad! #Brahma the creator.

Transcript and show notes: https://sfipodcast.com/?p=300

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

#sfipodcast #naradamuni

This week, we're back into the world of #Akbar and #Birbal. We’ll see how one can stay warm despite being in the middle of a freezing lake all night, and also see what the term “slow cooker” really meant in medieval India

The character this week is the sister of Ram and Laxman. Most people are unaware of her and for a good reason. She doesn’t appear in most versions of the #Ramayana

Transcript and show notes

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

#sfipodcast #naradamuni #akbarbirbal #shanta

This week, we’ll continue the story of Prahlad and his evil dad and evil aunt. If you haven't heard the previous episode you should, because we left it on a cliffhanger!

The character this week has a very special power. In every fight, half of his opponent’s powers are magically transferred over to him. This makes him impossible to defeat. Except by sniper attack!

Transcript and show notes

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

#sfipodcast #naradamuni #holika #holi #hiranyakashapu #prahlad #narasimha #vishnu

This week, we’ll meet a killer Dad and a killer Aunt from hell!

Literature is full of evil Aunts - there's Bertie Wooster's Aunt Agatha, Harry Potter's Aunt Petunia, and the aunts from James and the Giant Peach to name just a few, but none of these is as evil as the one we are about to meet. I mean yes, Aunt Agatha eats broken bottles and Aunt Petunia makes Harry live on scraps, and James' aunts make him do all the chores, but how would it be if an Aunt wanted to kill her nephew?! Today's story is a two-parter and we'll meet just this delightful person.

Transcript and show notes

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

#sfipodcast #naradamuni #holika #holi #hiranyakashapu #prahlad #tigerofmysore