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Artwork for New Books in Indian Religions

New Books in Indian Religions

Marshall Poe
Hinduism
Buddhism
Religious Studies
Critics Not Caretakers: Redescribing the Public Study Of Religion
Hindu Nationalism
University Of Alabama
Christianity
Tina Turner
Shakti
Philosophy Of Religion
Burton Mack
Bharatanatyam
Vaiṣṇava Concepts Of God
Bhagavad Gita
Goddess Worship
Bengal
1948 Police Action
Cultural Identity
Devadasis
Panentheism

This podcast is a channel on the New Books Network. The New Books Network is an academic audio library dedicated to public education. In each episode you will hear scholars discuss their recently published research with another expert in their field. Discover our 150+ channels and browse our 28,000+ episodes on our website: ⁠newbooksnetwork.com⁠ Subscribe to our free weekly Substack newsletter to ... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes592Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Religion & SpiritualityHinduism

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Artwork for New Books in Indian Religions

Latest Episodes

"Nitya Prārthanā” and “Nitya Dhyāna” are two profound collections designed to infuse daily life with sacredness. “Nitya Prārthanā” offers popular chants from the prayer tradition of India (not Veda) for everyday activities, transforming routine tasks... more

The Serpent’s Tale: Kundalini, Yoga, and the History of an Experience (Columbia UP, 2025) traces the intricate global histories of Kuṇḍalinī, from its Sanskrit origins to its popularity in the West. Ranging from esoteric texts to global gurus, from... more

Blending travelogue, history, and archaeology, Searching for Ashoka: Questing for a Buddhist King from India to Thailand (SUNY Press, 2023) unravels the various avatars of India's most famous emperor, revealing how he came to be remembered—and forgot... more

The Bhagavad Gita is a world classic often considered to be not just the 'Hindu Bible' but sometimes the 'Indian Bible' as well. Over the last two centuries, it has attracted much scholarly attention from Indologists. Ithamar Theodor's bold and revis... more

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Recent Guests

Dr. Nayanjot Lahiri
Professor of History at Ashoka University
Ashoka University
Episode: Nayanjot Lahiri, "Searching for Ashoka: Questing for a Buddhist King from India to Thailand" (SUNY Press, 2023)
Dr. Ithamar Theodor
Author and scholar at Zephad's Academic College, specializing in the Bhagavad Gita.
Zephad's Academic College
Episode: Ithamar Theodor, "The Philosophy of the Bhagavad-Gita" (Cambridge UP, 2025)
Luke Gibson
Author of 'Reading Sanskrit: A Complete Step-By-Step Introduction with Texts from the Buddhist Tradition'
Columbia University Press
Episode: Luke Gibson, "Reading Sanskrit: A Complete Step-By-Step Introduction with Texts from the Buddhist Tradition" (Columbia UP, 2025)
Steven W. Ramey
Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
Episode: Steven W. Ramey, "Hinduism in Five Minutes" (Equinox, 2022)
Russell T. McCutcheon
Scholar and author of 'Our Primary Expertise'
University of Alabama
Episode: Russell T. McCutcheon, "Our Primary Expertise: A Future for the Study of Religion" (Rutgers UP, 2025)
Wendy Doniger
Renowned expert in Indology and Hindu mythology, author of several books including her latest on the Mahabharata
Speaking Tiger
Episode: Wendy Doniger, "The Dharma of Unfaithful Wives and Faithful Jackals: Some Moral Tales From The Mahabharata" (Speaking Tiger, 2024)
Ghazala Wahab
Editor of Force Magazine and author of several works including 'Born a Muslim'
Force Magazine
Episode: Ghazala Wahab, "The Hindi Heartland: A Study" (Aleph Book Company, 2025)
Dr. Barbora Sojkova
Co-editor of Yoga Studies in Five Minutes
Equinox Publishing
Episode: Barbora Sojkova and Theodora Wildcroft, "Yoga Studies in Five Minutes" (Equinox Publishing, 2025)
Dr. Theodora Wildcroft
Co-editor of Yoga Studies in Five Minutes
Equinox Publishing
Episode: Barbora Sojkova and Theodora Wildcroft, "Yoga Studies in Five Minutes" (Equinox Publishing, 2025)

Host

Raj Balkaran
Host of New Books in Indian Religions, engaging dialogues with experts in the field.

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 46 ratings
  • My first review

    I was compelled to express my appreciation for this podcast. Ran Balkaran has such a soothing smart voice and open curiosity that each interview is a deep conversation, real dialogue, and fun exploration.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LatinaYogi
    United States4 years ago
  • Jennifer B. Saunders Is Ear Grating

    I only listened to one episode before I unsubscribed. Jennifer B. Saunders has the most broken speech I’ve ever heard for someone qualified and educated. She says um like every other word, come on. Speak better, your voice is so slow, and the “um”s need to stop.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Kata R
    United States6 years ago

Listeners Say

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There are mixed feelings about the diversity of guest speakers and their articulation, with some praising the depth of conversation while others have expressed dissatisfaction with specific episodes.
Listeners appreciate the thoughtful and engaging discussions conducted with scholars, noting the host's gentle approach and academic rigor.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Nayanjot Lahiri, "Searching for Ashoka: Questing for a Buddhist King from India to Thailand" (SUNY Press, 2023)
Q: What audience is your book for?
The book targets general readers interested in Asian history, as well as specialists in religious studies and memory.
Nayanjot Lahiri, "Searching for Ashoka: Questing for a Buddhist King from India to Thailand" (SUNY Press, 2023)
Q: What would you hope to be the primary takeaway conclusion just the reader arrives at upon reading this book?
The historical Ashoka is qualitatively different from the remembered emperor; he is visible but reinvented across cultures.
Nayanjot Lahiri, "Searching for Ashoka: Questing for a Buddhist King from India to Thailand" (SUNY Press, 2023)
Q: How did this project arise for you?
The book is a sequel to my first book on Ashoka, spurred by my travels to various Buddhist holy sites and my desire to explore how Ashoka's memory has evolved over time.
Gavin Flood, "The Concept of Mind in Hindu Tantra" (Routledge, 2024)
Q: What do you hope folks will take away from this work as a whole?
I would like people to take away the idea that there is a complex relationship between mind and body, and the understanding of the concept of mind has evolved through generations in India, connecting with other philosophical systems.
Gavin Flood, "The Concept of Mind in Hindu Tantra" (Routledge, 2024)
Q: How does it come to mind to write a book on the concept of mind in Hindu Tantra?
The genesis of the work was sparked by Herbert Gunter's article on the concept of mind in Buddhist Tantra, which raised interesting questions about translating mentalistic language across different philosophical systems.

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Frequently Asked Questions About New Books in Indian Religions

What is New Books in Indian Religions about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The podcast focuses on discussions surrounding recent publications in the field of Indian religions, featuring scholars who engage in meaningful dialogues about their research. Episodes cover a wide range of topics, including historical and contemporary issues related to Buddhism, Hinduism, yoga, and the intersection of socio-political dynamics within these faiths. The conversations often bring to light the complexities of philosophical texts, ritual practices, and cultural histories, inviting both academic and general audiences to explore the rich tapestry of Indian religious traditions.

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1. Vedanta Talks - Swami Sarvapriyananda
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How many episodes of New Books in Indian Religions are there?

New Books in Indian Religions launched 11 years ago and published 592 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on New Books in Indian Religions?

Recent guests on New Books in Indian Religions include:

1. Dr. Nayanjot Lahiri
2. Dr. Ithamar Theodor
3. Luke Gibson
4. Steven W. Ramey
5. Russell T. McCutcheon
6. Wendy Doniger
7. Ghazala Wahab
8. Dr. Barbora Sojkova

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