13. Raj Balkaran | Purāṇas and Hindu Mythology

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Raj Balkaran about his early
days of spiritual seeking in Toronto, discovering religious
studies, the power of myth and narrative in Hindu traditions, his
work on the Purāṇas, the Devī Māhātmya and Sūrya Māhātmya of the
Mārkeṇḍeya Purāṇa, as well as a preview of his upcoming online
course, YS 112 | Yoga and Hindu Mythology.

Speaker Bio

Raj Balkaran is a scholar of Hindu mythology and author of
The Goddess and the King in Indian Myth (2018) and The Goddess
and the Sun in Indian Myth (2020), both published as part of
Routledge’s Hindu Studies Series. He holds advanced degrees in
Hinduism from the University of Toronto and University of
Calgary.


Alongside his academic training, Dr. Balkaran apprenticed with an
Indian master for twelve years as part of a living oral tradition
dedicated to the preservation and application of Hindu
philosophy. He therefore brings hundreds of hours of traditional
transmissions of yoga philosophy to the table, which he dovetails
with academic rigor and captivating storytelling.


A seasoned online educator, Dr. Balkaran also teaches online
courses privately and at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies.
Beyond teaching and research, he enjoys a thriving life
consulting practice and hosts the New Books in Hindu Studies
Podcast.



Links


https://rajbalkaran.com/

https://ochs.academia.edu/RajBalkaran

YS 112 | Yoga and Hindu Mythology