Vidura Podcasts

The Rakshasa (female:Rakshasi) is a race of beings who were big and fierce looking. They were powerful warriors and were mostly portrayed as the bad guys in ancient Indian scriptures. Hidimba was one of the better-known Rakshasas in Indian mythology–an entire parva is named after the story of his death in the Mahabharata. After killing Hidimba, the…

A shorter version of Shakuntala’s story from the Mahabharata, retold from a slightly different lens. Shakuntala was the wife of Duhshanta–the founder of the Pourava dynasty, and the mother of the great Emperor Bharata, who was the founder of the Kuru lineage and ancestor of the Kauravas and Pandavas. Shakuntala was a smart, intelligent and a feisty…

Ekalavya, a Nishada prince, was one of the best archers who lived in the time of the Pandavas. He wanted to be the best archer and he wanted to be trained by the best teacher–Drona. Drona, however, refused to teach him because Ekalavya was a Nishada. But a determined Ekalaya wasn’t ready to give up. Ekalavya’s actions put to test Drona’s relationsh…

The rivalry between the Pandavas and Kauravas is legendary. The Kauravas, especially Duryodhana, were not only motivated by greed, but they also believed that they were being discriminated against because of Dhritarastra's blindness. They believed the kingdom rightfully belonged to them and were ready to do whatever it took–even murder their relati…

A self made man in a world where one's parentage and lineage decided one's future and worth! Karna was the secret son of Kunti. Unaware of his real parents and raised as the son of a charioteer, Karna went on to make a name for himself based entirely on his talents and skills in the art of warfare. Listen to the story of Karna's: - Birth - Adoptive…

It's not a good idea to get on Drona’s bad side! One of the most powerful and influential characters in the story of the Mahabharata, Drona, an expert in the art and science of weapons, was the preceptor of the Kuru princes. His deep-seated hatred for his former friend King Drupada was just as legendary as the way he exacted his revenge from his ne…

It is ridiculous how many times I say the word "sons" on this episode! (Insert- sheepish smile emoji) Niyoga is an ancient Indian practice that was followed to make sure the continuation of a lineage through male progeny. Listen to the episode to know more about: - What it is and how it worked. - The reasons for the practice - Importance of sons in…

Pandu was cursed by rishi Kimdama because of a hunting accident. This story is about Pandu and his wife, Madri's death as a result of the curse and the events that followed. Listen to the story to know more about: - The cause and manner of Pandu's death - Why Madri chose to accompany Pandu to his afterlife rather than Kunti - The final rites of Pan…

In this episode we discuss about the origins and the birth of the Shunga Empire which was led by Pushyamitra Shunga, who was an army general/ military commander of the Mauryan State led by Brihadratha Maurya, the last ruler of the much weakened Mauryan dynasty. Post the demise of the Mauryan State, it is often alleged in some academic circles and b…

Part 2 of the story of the birth of Pandavas and Kauravas–the lead characters of the Mahabharata. (Part 1 - Episode 13) Both Dhritarashtra and Pandu are married, and the responsibility of continuing the royal line is theirs. Dhritarashtra is denied the throne because of his blindness and Pandu was made king. Listen to the story of: - Pandu's curse–…

Part 1 of the story of birth of the Pandavas and Kauravas. After the birth of the Kuru princes Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidhura, Bhishma took up the responsibility of both the thriving kingdom and also the growing princes. The members of the family were keen to see the princes marry well, have sons and continue the dynasty. Listen to the story of: …

Kerala has always been a unique state of India with one of the unique landscape and cultures. But, it s also a state which has a communist government in a democratic country. Therefore, it becomes important for us to understand as to what events led to a first communist government in India in the state of Kerala and how the CPI(M) has been able to …

Daughter of the great King Uparichara; mother to the author of the Mahabharata and the divider of the vedas; mother to 2 princes who became king; and the wife of King Shantanu, Satyavati was an intelligent and beautiful woman. Born to a Puru King and a fisherwoman mother, Satyavati was destined for great things and her adoptive father made sure to …

Souti Vaishampayana tells the story of the births of Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidura, who are seen as the saviors of the Kuru lineage. Listen to the story to learn more about: -How and why the Kuru lineage was in danger of going extinct -The princes' parents and how their births were planned in order to guarantee the continuation of the Kuru lineag…

Vasus are children of Manu, who is the son of Brahma, and are collectively called the Ashta Vasu or Eight Vasus. They are deities who represent the eight elements—earth, water, fire, wind, sun, sky, moon and the stars; in the Mahabharata, they are named Dhara, Aha, Anala, Anila, Pratyusha, Prabhasa, Soma and Dhruva, respectively. Vasus lived a priv…

The Great Game. These 3 words has been etched in our memory as a political and diplomatic confrontation or battle that existed for most of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century between the British Empire and the Russian Empire over Afghanistan and neighboring territories in Central and South Asia, and having direct consequences in Pers…

As commander of the Kuru army and the grand-uncle to both the Kauravas and Pandavas, Bhishma is one of the main protagonists of the story. The son of King Shantanu and goddess Ganga, he was named Devavrata at birth. In Indian culture, Bhishma is widely loved and admired because of his dedication to dharma and his selflessness. Listen to how: -Shant…

Govina Haadu,or Song of the cow (also called, Punyakotiya Kathe or Punyakoti's story) is a story about a cow named Punyakoti, who inadvertently crosses path with a very hungry and fierce tiger named Arbhuta. Based on a story in Mahabharata, this beautiful, soul stirring song has been part of Kannada folklore for thousands of years. Listen to know h…

In this episode we have with us Advocate Navroop Singhji, a Geopolitical analyst and avid reader, researcher with a keen interest in international affairs, foreign policy, diplomacy and conflicts across the globe. As we all are aware that post COVID pandemic in 2020-2022, the world is on a churning mode where the US led Global Order established pos…

"Dogrās" are one of the most important martial communities which Bhārat has ever produced. They played a key role in the north western areas of the Indian Sub-continent by ruling, influencing and drawing the fate of the sub-continent since the Mahabharata times. In this episode we have with us Shri. Rohit Pathaniaji to shed a light on the origins, …

Puru, son of Yayati, belonged to the Lunar dynasty. He was the founder of the Puru or Kuru lineage-key players in the Mahabharata. Blog: http://storiesofindiaretold.com Podcast website: https://storiesofindiaretold.podbean.com Instagram: @storiesofindiaretoldBy storiesofindiaretold

The Nagas are semi-divine serpents. They were cursed by their mother and condemned to die in the snake sacrifice conducted by the descendent of Pandavas, King Janamejaya. Under the threat of the decimation of their race, the Nagas searched for a cure to beat their curse. Their grandfather, Brahma, revealed that the key to break their curse lies in …

A love story like no other. Young Dushyanta and Shakuntala meet in an enchanting hermitage in an equally enchanting forest. After spending a few moments in each others company, they fall in love and decide to marry. Alas! they are soon separated. Years later, the time comes for them to reunite, but things don't go exactly as Shakuntala had expected…

The fully grown Garuda—the legendary eagle-like creature—was powerful and mighty. The King of Birds inspired awe and respect everywhere he went. His loyalty and bravery won the hearts of even Vishnu and Indra; and his campaign to free his mother from her slavery won him the enmity of the Nagas. Listen to the story of how: - Garuda became Vishnu's v…

Legandary eagle-like creature, Garuda shone as brightly as the sun. Garuda's birth was blessed by powerful sages. With powerful and godly ancestors, and blessed with powers that equalled that of Lord Indra, Garuda was destined for greatness. Blog: http://storiesofindiaretold.com Podcast website: https://storiesofindiaretold.podbean.com…

One of the most beloved text from ancient India, the Mahabharata is an epic poem. The core story talks about the Kurukshetra war fought between the Kouravas and the Pandavas. It said that—“What is not found in the Mahabharata, will not be found anywhere else.” Blog: http://storiesofindiaretold.com Podcast Website: https://storiesofindiaretold.podbe…

A story about grit and determination of a boy named Dhruva. The name Dhruva means the one who is immovable or fixed. Just like his namesake, the Dhruva star(Pole star), Dhruva was immovable and unshakeable in his focus. Blog: http://storiesofindiaretold.com Podcast website: https://storiesofindiaretold.podbean.com…

The world is a difficult place and an interesting one too. Its dynamics keep changing with the time according to the whims of its human populace (not discounting the nature, of course) and to change those dynamics, humans rely on the word called "Geopolitics". We have seen many global orders being changed and upended since millennia and current wor…

Blog http://storiesofindiaretold.com Podcast website: https://storiesofindiaretold.podbean.com Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/2XCH6ZI6H582CIDjY9u35w?si=cd245a77e5e94d3aBy storiesofindiaretold

In this Part 2, we continue our discussion with Shri. Virendra Singh Rathoreji on Samrat Prithvirāj Chauhan. In this part, he guides us on the following: 6. Two battles of Tarain 7. Reasons for losing the 2nd battle with Muhammad of Ghor 8. End of Prithvirāj 9. Future of Chahamana Dynasty after Samrat Prithvirāj Chauhan 10. Conclusion.…

Prithvirāj Chauhan, the name echoes emotional responses from Indians. Though a celebrated Emperor, Samrat Prithvirāj Chauhan met an ominous end of his life. Today we have with us Shri. Virendra Singh Rathoreji to discuss and guide us on the 'REAL' portrait of this Samrāt. In this episode Shri. Virendra also dispels many popular myths on Samrāt and …

धर्म एक ऐसा शब्द है जिसे लोग परिचित तो है पर उसके वास्‍तविक अर्थ से अभी भी अन्‍भिग्‍या है।इस महत्वपूर्ण शब्द को समझाने के लिए आज हमारे समक्ष है श्री आदित्य शर्मा, जो इस एपिसोड में इस शब्द के वास्‍तविक अर्थ पर प्रकाश डालेंगे। और वह ये भी बताएंगे की धर्म का अर्थ 'सनातन धर्म' के दर्शनों जैसे मीमांसा, सांख्य, योग इत्यादि और इतिहास-पुराणों के साथ श्री क…

'The Strange Death of Europe: Immigration, Identity, Islam' is written by the celebrated British author and political commentator Douglas Murray. In this episode we have with us Mr. Adarsh Jha from Upword to discuss the issues highlighted in the book by its author. The book, as the title suggests, discusses about the issues of migration, identity, …

Temple, Devalaya or Mandir is considered sacred spiritual place or a shrine in the Sanatan Culture or Sanātan Dharma. In the normal parlance, people consider them as a normal place of worship and often compares them with the places of worships of Abrahamic Faiths such as Mosques or Churches etc.However, if we go back to many centuries, temples have…

India i.e. Bharat has a long and a complex history. The current days of churning which is happening in our world requires us to think out of the box. Hence, it becomes more important than ever for us to go back to our critical past; analyze it, learn from it and apply in present day situations. While reading the book called 'The India Way' written …

Khalsa was formed by Sri Guru Gobind Singhji (the tenth guru) to institutionalize the Sikh Faith; which was founded by Sri Guru Nanak (the first guru) and later other gurus who promoted and spread the Sikh Faith. In this episode we have our guest Adarsh Jha who dispels the reasons on why and how the institute of Khalsa was formed by Sri Guru Gobind…

Arjuna, the ardent devotee of Lord Krishna also known as Keshav, Madhav, Madhusudan, Giridhar, Jagannath, Madan Mohana etc. will always remain greater than Karna. In this episode I outline the brief points which proves why Arjuna is the greatest warrior and why he surpasses Karna in various deeds. As Krishna (salutations to his lotus feet) has alwa…

Genghis Khan (The Universal Ruler) was the foremost conqueror our world and the humanity has witnessed till date. But usually, he is protrayed as the mongol barbarian who plundered the lands along with his horde and killed scores of population in his quest to increase the boundaries of Mongol Nation. However, there is more to this enigmatic persona…

Farm Bills!!!! These two words we have have been hearing since the protests began in December 2020. However, many of us are not aware of what these three farm bills entails. Further, what is MSP? why a particular group of farmers are so adamant on MSP assurance and how many of us understand what MSP is? Tune in to listen to our Episode 3 Part 1 whi…

"Panipat" - This town of Haryana invokes lot of emotions in our country. The battlefield of Panipat has witnessed innumerable battles since the days of Mahabharata which was fought in Kurukshetra. In the medieval times, it has witnessed not one but three huge battles which decided the course of our sub-continent i.e. India. In this episode we take …

Why political literacy is important? what is political literacy? Can political literacy be achieved by understanding the places and its cultures; studying and learning regarding the great personalities of those places, while avoiding to make them larger than life or a 'god' to them; to know history of the place; and to actively participate in the s…

An introduction for my podcast channel.