Podcasts about Hindu studies

What does yoga actually mean? If you answered 'union,' Harmony and Russell have a fascinating surprise for you. In this deeply rich conversation with Sanskrit scholar and Ashtanga teacher Zoë Slatoff, the trio explores the ancient philosophical roots beneath the practices many of us do every day. Zoë is the author of Yogavataranam: The Translation of Yoga, A New Approach to Sanskrit, Associate Director of the Yoga Studies MA program at Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles), and a PhD candidate whose dissertation may permanently change the way you think about what yoga is for. The conversation moves from Zoë's early years in Brooklyn and a pivotal Rodney Yee VHS tape, to engineering studies at the elite Cooper Union, to teaching 16 yoga classes a week in New York City, to the magic of Lakshmi Puram in Mysore before the internet existed. It arrives, finally, at the big philosophical question at the heart of her dissertation: how did yoga go from meaning separation to meaning union? What You'll Learn in This Episode Why "yoga" in the Yoga Sutras means separation—not union—and how Advaita Vedanta changed everything The role of the Upadesha Sahasri (attributed to Shankaracharya) in bridging dualism and non-duality How Pattabhi Jois used to quote ancient Vedantic texts every single day in conference in Lakshmi Puram Why the neti neti practice ('not this, not that') is a powerful tool for modern meditators How Zoë began her Sanskrit journey in Mysore and transformed it into a published textbook and academic career What it means to teach Sanskrit in a way that actually serves yoga practitioners (not classical scholars) The magic—and the chaos—of traveling to India without the internet, using hand-drawn maps and STD phone boxes Why Zoë believes dualism and non-duality are ultimately describing the same thing, just from different angles Guest Bio: Zoë Slatoff Zoë Slatoff is a Sanskrit scholar, longtime Ashtanga yoga practitioner and teacher, and author of Yogavataranam: The Translation of Yoga—a groundbreaking Sanskrit grammar textbook designed specifically for yoga practitioners who want to read the texts that inform their practice. She holds a master's degree from Columbia University in Asian Languages and Cultures, is completing her PhD at Lancaster University, and currently serves as Associate Director (and incoming Director) of the Yoga Studies MA program at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. She also teaches Sanskrit online through the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies. Resources & Links Mentioned Yogavataranam: The Translation of Yoga by Zoë Slatoff — available wherever books are sold (new edition coming soon) Yoga Studies MA Program at Loyola Marymount University — visit lmu.edu for admissions info Sanskrit classes online through the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies — check Zoë's website at ashtangayogasanskrit.com Yoga Gives Back — the charity whose fundraising gala reunited Zoë, Harmony, and Russell in LA Harmony Slater's Portugal intensives — Lisbon and Faro (end of June through mid-July); details in show links The Being Gathering festival, Portugal The Inner Rejuvenation Codes: https://harmonyslater.kit.com/inner-rejuvenation-codes-mc Join the Lightworker Mastermind:  https://harmonyslater.com/lightworker-mastermind FIND Harmony online: https://harmonyslater.com/ Harmony on IG: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyslaterofficial/ Finding Harmony Podcast on IG: https://www.instagram.com/findingharmonypodcast/ FREE Manifestation Activation: https://harmonyslater.kit.com/manifestation-activation

What does yoga actually mean? If you answered 'union,' Harmony and Russell have a fascinating surprise for you. In this deeply rich conversation with Sanskrit scholar and Ashtanga teacher Zoë  Slatoff, the trio explores the ancient philosophical roots beneath the practices many of us do every day. Zoë is the author of Yogavataranam: The Translation of Yoga, A New Approach to Sanskrit, Associate Director of the Yoga Studies MA program at Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles), and a PhD candidate whose dissertation may permanently change the way you think about what yoga is for. The conversation moves from Zoë 's early years in Brooklyn and a pivotal Rodney Yee VHS tape, to engineering studies at the elite Cooper Union, to teaching 16 yoga classes a week in New York City, to the magic of Lakshmi Puram in Mysore before the internet existed. It arrives, finally, at the big philosophical question at the heart of her dissertation: how did yoga go from meaning separation to meaning union? What You'll Learn in This Episode Why "yoga" in the Yoga Sutras means separation—not union—and how Advaita Vedanta changed everything The role of the Upadesha Sahasri (attributed to Shankaracharya) in bridging dualism and non-duality How Pattabhi Jois used to quote ancient Vedantic texts every single day in conference in Lakshmi Puram Why the neti neti practice ('not this, not that') is a powerful tool for modern meditators How Zoe began her Sanskrit journey in Mysore and transformed it into a published textbook and academic career What it means to teach Sanskrit in a way that actually serves yoga practitioners (not classical scholars) The magic—and the chaos—of traveling to India without the internet, using hand-drawn maps and STD phone boxes Why Zoe believes dualism and non-duality are ultimately describing the same thing, just from different angles Guest Bio: Zoë  Slatoff Zoë  Slatoff is a Sanskrit scholar, longtime Ashtanga yoga practitioner and teacher, and author of Yogavataranam: The Translation of Yoga—a groundbreaking Sanskrit grammar textbook designed specifically for yoga practitioners who want to read the texts that inform their practice. She holds a master's degree from Columbia University in Asian Languages and Cultures, is completing her PhD at Lancaster University, and currently serves as Associate Director (and incoming Director) of the Yoga Studies MA program at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. She also teaches Sanskrit online through the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies. Resources & Links Mentioned Yogavataranam: The Translation of Yoga by Zoe Slatoff — available wherever books are sold (new edition coming soon) Yoga Studies MA Program at Loyola Marymount University — visit lmu.edu for admissions info Sanskrit classes online through the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies — check Zoe's website at ashtangayogasanskrit.com Yoga Gives Back — the charity whose fundraising gala reunited Zoe, Harmony, and Russell in LA Harmony Slater's Portugal intensives — Lisbon and Faro (end of June through mid-July); details in show links The Being Gathering festival, Portugal The Inner Rejuvenation Codes: https://harmonyslater.kit.com/inner-rejuvenation-codes-mc Join the Lightworker Mastermind:  https://harmonyslater.com/lightworker-mastermind FIND Harmony online: https://harmonyslater.com/ Harmony on IG: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyslaterofficial/ Finding Harmony Podcast on IG: https://www.instagram.com/findingharmonypodcast/ FREE Manifestation Activation: https://harmonyslater.kit.com/manifestation-activation

Why have moral philosophers largely ignored colonialism? In Moral Philosophy and De-Colonialism: The Irrationality of Oppression (Bloomsbury Academic, 2026), Shyam Ranganathan tells the story of moral philosophy and colonialism and reveals the benefits of drawing from a colonized tradition to a create a rigorous logic-based ethics. This is a timely exploration of the the ways in which Western colonialism has structured moral theorizing to insulate itself from criticism. In his account of the domination of the European tradition and the suppression of questions of its colonialism, Ranganathan covers the evolution of metaethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics in ancient European, Chinese, and Indian traditions of philosophy. We see the presence of white supremacy in the writings of J.S. Mill, Marx and Engels, and the importance placed on autonomy and sovereignty in Hobbes and Kant. The European influence of interpretation on our peer review of historical philosophy is evident throughout. Using South Asia as an example Ranganathan examines how colonizers are able to erase moral philosophical history and redefine cultures as religions, judged in terms of their conformity to, or deviation from, the Western tradition, which is treated as secular. His acknowledgment of Yoga as a basic ethical theory introduces us to thinking that recognizes persons as a diverse group, traversing sex, gender, race, sexual orientation, and species. Through this analysis of colonized traditions and ethics, Ranganathan is able to de-colonize moral philosophy by looking outside the colonizing tradition. If we want sophisticated and inclusive ways of thinking about how to live we must turn towards indigenous thought. Shyam Ranganathan is a member of the Department of Philosophy and York Center for Asian Research at York University, Toronto, Canada, and founder of the Yoga Philosophy Institute. Dr. Raj Balkaran is a scholar of Indian mythology and seasoned online educator. He teaches at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies and at his own virtual School of Indian Wisdom where he delivers original courses applying Indian wisdom teachings to modern life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Why have moral philosophers largely ignored colonialism? In Moral Philosophy and De-Colonialism: The Irrationality of Oppression (Bloomsbury Academic, 2026), Shyam Ranganathan tells the story of moral philosophy and colonialism and reveals the benefits of drawing from a colonized tradition to a create a rigorous logic-based ethics. This is a timely exploration of the the ways in which Western colonialism has structured moral theorizing to insulate itself from criticism. In his account of the domination of the European tradition and the suppression of questions of its colonialism, Ranganathan covers the evolution of metaethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics in ancient European, Chinese, and Indian traditions of philosophy. We see the presence of white supremacy in the writings of J.S. Mill, Marx and Engels, and the importance placed on autonomy and sovereignty in Hobbes and Kant. The European influence of interpretation on our peer review of historical philosophy is evident throughout. Using South Asia as an example Ranganathan examines how colonizers are able to erase moral philosophical history and redefine cultures as religions, judged in terms of their conformity to, or deviation from, the Western tradition, which is treated as secular. His acknowledgment of Yoga as a basic ethical theory introduces us to thinking that recognizes persons as a diverse group, traversing sex, gender, race, sexual orientation, and species. Through this analysis of colonized traditions and ethics, Ranganathan is able to de-colonize moral philosophy by looking outside the colonizing tradition. If we want sophisticated and inclusive ways of thinking about how to live we must turn towards indigenous thought. Shyam Ranganathan is a member of the Department of Philosophy and York Center for Asian Research at York University, Toronto, Canada, and founder of the Yoga Philosophy Institute. Dr. Raj Balkaran is a scholar of Indian mythology and seasoned online educator. He teaches at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies and at his own virtual School of Indian Wisdom where he delivers original courses applying Indian wisdom teachings to modern life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/native-american-studies

Why have moral philosophers largely ignored colonialism? In Moral Philosophy and De-Colonialism: The Irrationality of Oppression (Bloomsbury Academic, 2026), Shyam Ranganathan tells the story of moral philosophy and colonialism and reveals the benefits of drawing from a colonized tradition to a create a rigorous logic-based ethics. This is a timely exploration of the the ways in which Western colonialism has structured moral theorizing to insulate itself from criticism. In his account of the domination of the European tradition and the suppression of questions of its colonialism, Ranganathan covers the evolution of metaethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics in ancient European, Chinese, and Indian traditions of philosophy. We see the presence of white supremacy in the writings of J.S. Mill, Marx and Engels, and the importance placed on autonomy and sovereignty in Hobbes and Kant. The European influence of interpretation on our peer review of historical philosophy is evident throughout. Using South Asia as an example Ranganathan examines how colonizers are able to erase moral philosophical history and redefine cultures as religions, judged in terms of their conformity to, or deviation from, the Western tradition, which is treated as secular. His acknowledgment of Yoga as a basic ethical theory introduces us to thinking that recognizes persons as a diverse group, traversing sex, gender, race, sexual orientation, and species. Through this analysis of colonized traditions and ethics, Ranganathan is able to de-colonize moral philosophy by looking outside the colonizing tradition. If we want sophisticated and inclusive ways of thinking about how to live we must turn towards indigenous thought. Shyam Ranganathan is a member of the Department of Philosophy and York Center for Asian Research at York University, Toronto, Canada, and founder of the Yoga Philosophy Institute. Dr. Raj Balkaran is a scholar of Indian mythology and seasoned online educator. He teaches at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies and at his own virtual School of Indian Wisdom where he delivers original courses applying Indian wisdom teachings to modern life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/critical-theory

Why have moral philosophers largely ignored colonialism? In Moral Philosophy and De-Colonialism: The Irrationality of Oppression (Bloomsbury Academic, 2026), Shyam Ranganathan tells the story of moral philosophy and colonialism and reveals the benefits of drawing from a colonized tradition to a create a rigorous logic-based ethics. This is a timely exploration of the the ways in which Western colonialism has structured moral theorizing to insulate itself from criticism. In his account of the domination of the European tradition and the suppression of questions of its colonialism, Ranganathan covers the evolution of metaethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics in ancient European, Chinese, and Indian traditions of philosophy. We see the presence of white supremacy in the writings of J.S. Mill, Marx and Engels, and the importance placed on autonomy and sovereignty in Hobbes and Kant. The European influence of interpretation on our peer review of historical philosophy is evident throughout. Using South Asia as an example Ranganathan examines how colonizers are able to erase moral philosophical history and redefine cultures as religions, judged in terms of their conformity to, or deviation from, the Western tradition, which is treated as secular. His acknowledgment of Yoga as a basic ethical theory introduces us to thinking that recognizes persons as a diverse group, traversing sex, gender, race, sexual orientation, and species. Through this analysis of colonized traditions and ethics, Ranganathan is able to de-colonize moral philosophy by looking outside the colonizing tradition. If we want sophisticated and inclusive ways of thinking about how to live we must turn towards indigenous thought. Shyam Ranganathan is a member of the Department of Philosophy and York Center for Asian Research at York University, Toronto, Canada, and founder of the Yoga Philosophy Institute. Dr. Raj Balkaran is a scholar of Indian mythology and seasoned online educator. He teaches at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies and at his own virtual School of Indian Wisdom where he delivers original courses applying Indian wisdom teachings to modern life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/south-asian-studies

Why have moral philosophers largely ignored colonialism? In Moral Philosophy and De-Colonialism: The Irrationality of Oppression (Bloomsbury Academic, 2026), Shyam Ranganathan tells the story of moral philosophy and colonialism and reveals the benefits of drawing from a colonized tradition to a create a rigorous logic-based ethics. This is a timely exploration of the the ways in which Western colonialism has structured moral theorizing to insulate itself from criticism. In his account of the domination of the European tradition and the suppression of questions of its colonialism, Ranganathan covers the evolution of metaethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics in ancient European, Chinese, and Indian traditions of philosophy. We see the presence of white supremacy in the writings of J.S. Mill, Marx and Engels, and the importance placed on autonomy and sovereignty in Hobbes and Kant. The European influence of interpretation on our peer review of historical philosophy is evident throughout. Using South Asia as an example Ranganathan examines how colonizers are able to erase moral philosophical history and redefine cultures as religions, judged in terms of their conformity to, or deviation from, the Western tradition, which is treated as secular. His acknowledgment of Yoga as a basic ethical theory introduces us to thinking that recognizes persons as a diverse group, traversing sex, gender, race, sexual orientation, and species. Through this analysis of colonized traditions and ethics, Ranganathan is able to de-colonize moral philosophy by looking outside the colonizing tradition. If we want sophisticated and inclusive ways of thinking about how to live we must turn towards indigenous thought. Shyam Ranganathan is a member of the Department of Philosophy and York Center for Asian Research at York University, Toronto, Canada, and founder of the Yoga Philosophy Institute. Dr. Raj Balkaran is a scholar of Indian mythology and seasoned online educator. He teaches at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies and at his own virtual School of Indian Wisdom where he delivers original courses applying Indian wisdom teachings to modern life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/indian-religions

Why have moral philosophers largely ignored colonialism? In Moral Philosophy and De-Colonialism: The Irrationality of Oppression (Bloomsbury Academic, 2026), Shyam Ranganathan tells the story of moral philosophy and colonialism and reveals the benefits of drawing from a colonized tradition to a create a rigorous logic-based ethics. This is a timely exploration of the the ways in which Western colonialism has structured moral theorizing to insulate itself from criticism. In his account of the domination of the European tradition and the suppression of questions of its colonialism, Ranganathan covers the evolution of metaethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics in ancient European, Chinese, and Indian traditions of philosophy. We see the presence of white supremacy in the writings of J.S. Mill, Marx and Engels, and the importance placed on autonomy and sovereignty in Hobbes and Kant. The European influence of interpretation on our peer review of historical philosophy is evident throughout. Using South Asia as an example Ranganathan examines how colonizers are able to erase moral philosophical history and redefine cultures as religions, judged in terms of their conformity to, or deviation from, the Western tradition, which is treated as secular. His acknowledgment of Yoga as a basic ethical theory introduces us to thinking that recognizes persons as a diverse group, traversing sex, gender, race, sexual orientation, and species. Through this analysis of colonized traditions and ethics, Ranganathan is able to de-colonize moral philosophy by looking outside the colonizing tradition. If we want sophisticated and inclusive ways of thinking about how to live we must turn towards indigenous thought. Shyam Ranganathan is a member of the Department of Philosophy and York Center for Asian Research at York University, Toronto, Canada, and founder of the Yoga Philosophy Institute. Dr. Raj Balkaran is a scholar of Indian mythology and seasoned online educator. He teaches at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies and at his own virtual School of Indian Wisdom where he delivers original courses applying Indian wisdom teachings to modern life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/politics-and-polemics

This webinar examines the relationship between Hindu thought and modern science through the lenses of history, integration, and innovation. Rather than asking whether a classical Hindu text can be reconciled with modern biology in a literal or reductionist sense, the book investigates how a sophisticated theological tradition can engage in constructive dialogue with contemporary scientific thought while preserving its intellectual integrity. By focusing on the Bhāgavata Purāṇa and its interpretive tradition, the study argues that Hindu theology possesses conceptual resources capable of engaging modern scientific discourse at the levels of metaphysics, epistemology, and philosophical anthropology.This lecture isolates the teleological structure of knowledge as the decisive point of contact. It contrasts the operative ends of modern scientific inquiry—explanation, prediction, and technical control—with the Bhāgavata's soteriological orientation, in which knowledge functions as a transformative discipline ordered toward the reconfiguration of perception and the cultivation of devotion. On this account, epistemology is inseparable from formation: knowing is not merely representational but participatory. Reframing the science–religion interface in terms of ends rather than competing truth-claims, the argument advances a model of integration in which divergent yet potentially complementary purposes coordinate distinct epistemic practices.Jonathan B. Edelmann, Ph.D., is currently a Fellow of the International Society for Science and Religion (ISSR) and the owner and manager of Scholar Path Consulting, LLC. Edelmann has a BA in Philosophy from the University of California at Santa Barbara, an MA (MSt) and a PhD (DPhil) from the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, was a Luce Fellow in the American Academy of Religion, and has taught Sanskrit, Indian Philosophy, Science and Religion as an Assistant and Associate Professor.Edelmann's first book, Hindu Theology and Biology, published by Oxford University Press, won awards from the John Templeton Foundation and the Dharma Academy of North America, and was nominated for the Hindu-Christian Studies Award. He has published in leading academic journals in his areas of specialization, such as the Journal of Vaishnava Studies, Journal of Religious Ethics, Journal of Hindu Studies, Journal of Dharma Studies, Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Journal of the American Oriental Society, Zygon, and others. He has published chapters with Columbia, Brill, Oxford, and other leading academic presses.Edelmann has served as steering committee Chair and Editor for leading academic societies and journals, advised student university groups, and served as MA/PhD advisor.

The 2026 Bhakti Yoga Conference is a beautiful global gathering exploring the heart of Bhakti Yoga through the theme Sacred Community — Walking the Path of Love Together. Bringing together monks, scholars, yogis, musicians, and spiritual leaders from around the world, this conference offers a rich space for wisdom, reflection, and connection. Through heartfelt dialogue, spiritual teachings, and shared devotion, we explore how love, friendship, and sacred community can support us on the path. Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of love and devotion — a spiritual path that invites us into a deeper relationship with the Divine through service, compassion, and meaningful connection. Hosted in collaboration with Harvard Divinity School and the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, this special gathering is an invitation to come together in the spirit of devotion, learning, and community. Register free here:https://www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-yoga-conference

The 2026 Bhakti Yoga Conference is a beautiful global gathering exploring the heart of Bhakti Yoga through the theme Sacred Community — Walking the Path of Love Together. Bringing together monks, scholars, yogis, musicians, and spiritual leaders from around the world, this conference offers a rich space for wisdom, reflection, and connection. Through heartfelt dialogue, spiritual teachings, and shared devotion, we explore how love, friendship, and sacred community can support us on the path. Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of love and devotion — a spiritual path that invites us into a deeper relationship with the Divine through service, compassion, and meaningful connection. Hosted in collaboration with Harvard Divinity School and the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, this special gathering is an invitation to come together in the spirit of devotion, learning, and community. Register free here:https://www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-yoga-conference

The 2026 Bhakti Yoga Conference is a beautiful global gathering exploring the heart of Bhakti Yoga through the theme Sacred Community — Walking the Path of Love Together. Bringing together monks, scholars, yogis, musicians, and spiritual leaders from around the world, this conference offers a rich space for wisdom, reflection, and connection. Through heartfelt dialogue, spiritual teachings, and shared devotion, we explore how love, friendship, and sacred community can support us on the path. Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of love and devotion — a spiritual path that invites us into a deeper relationship with the Divine through service, compassion, and meaningful connection. Hosted in collaboration with Harvard Divinity School and the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, this special gathering is an invitation to come together in the spirit of devotion, learning, and community. Register free here:https://www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-yoga-conference

The 2026 Bhakti Yoga Conference is a beautiful global gathering exploring the heart of Bhakti Yoga through the theme Sacred Community — Walking the Path of Love Together. Bringing together monks, scholars, yogis, musicians, and spiritual leaders from around the world, this conference offers a rich space for wisdom, reflection, and connection. Through heartfelt dialogue, spiritual teachings, and shared devotion, we explore how love, friendship, and sacred community can support us on the path. Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of love and devotion — a spiritual path that invites us into a deeper relationship with the Divine through service, compassion, and meaningful connection. Hosted in collaboration with Harvard Divinity School and the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, this special gathering is an invitation to come together in the spirit of devotion, learning, and community. Register free here:https://www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-yoga-conference

The 2026 Bhakti Yoga Conference is a beautiful global gathering exploring the heart of Bhakti Yoga through the theme Sacred Community — Walking the Path of Love Together. Bringing together monks, scholars, yogis, musicians, and spiritual leaders from around the world, this conference offers a rich space for wisdom, reflection, and connection. Through heartfelt dialogue, spiritual teachings, and shared devotion, we explore how love, friendship, and sacred community can support us on the path. Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of love and devotion — a spiritual path that invites us into a deeper relationship with the Divine through service, compassion, and meaningful connection. Hosted in collaboration with Harvard Divinity School and the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, this special gathering is an invitation to come together in the spirit of devotion, learning, and community. Register free here:https://www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-yoga-conference

The 2026 Bhakti Yoga Conference is a beautiful global gathering exploring the heart of Bhakti Yoga through the theme Sacred Community — Walking the Path of Love Together. Bringing together monks, scholars, yogis, musicians, and spiritual leaders from around the world, this conference offers a rich space for wisdom, reflection, and connection. Through heartfelt dialogue, spiritual teachings, and shared devotion, we explore how love, friendship, and sacred community can support us on the path. Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of love and devotion — a spiritual path that invites us into a deeper relationship with the Divine through service, compassion, and meaningful connection. Hosted in collaboration with Harvard Divinity School and the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, this special gathering is an invitation to come together in the spirit of devotion, learning, and community. Register free here:https://www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-yoga-conference

The 2026 Bhakti Yoga Conference is a beautiful global gathering exploring the heart of Bhakti Yoga through the theme Sacred Community — Walking the Path of Love Together. Bringing together monks, scholars, yogis, musicians, and spiritual leaders from around the world, this conference offers a rich space for wisdom, reflection, and connection. Through heartfelt dialogue, spiritual teachings, and shared devotion, we explore how love, friendship, and sacred community can support us on the path. Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of love and devotion — a spiritual path that invites us into a deeper relationship with the Divine through service, compassion, and meaningful connection. Hosted in collaboration with Harvard Divinity School and the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, this special gathering is an invitation to come together in the spirit of devotion, learning, and community. Register free here:https://www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-yoga-conference

The 2026 Bhakti Yoga Conference is a beautiful global gathering exploring the heart of Bhakti Yoga through the theme Sacred Community — Walking the Path of Love Together. Bringing together monks, scholars, yogis, musicians, and spiritual leaders from around the world, this conference offers a rich space for wisdom, reflection, and connection. Through heartfelt dialogue, spiritual teachings, and shared devotion, we explore how love, friendship, and sacred community can support us on the path. Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of love and devotion — a spiritual path that invites us into a deeper relationship with the Divine through service, compassion, and meaningful connection. Hosted in collaboration with Harvard Divinity School and the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, this special gathering is an invitation to come together in the spirit of devotion, learning, and community. Register free here:https://www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-yoga-conference

The 2026 Bhakti Yoga Conference is a beautiful global gathering exploring the heart of Bhakti Yoga through the theme Sacred Community — Walking the Path of Love Together. Bringing together monks, scholars, yogis, musicians, and spiritual leaders from around the world, this conference offers a rich space for wisdom, reflection, and connection. Through heartfelt dialogue, spiritual teachings, and shared devotion, we explore how love, friendship, and sacred community can support us on the path. Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of love and devotion — a spiritual path that invites us into a deeper relationship with the Divine through service, compassion, and meaningful connection. Hosted in collaboration with Harvard Divinity School and the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, this special gathering is an invitation to come together in the spirit of devotion, learning, and community. Register free here:https://www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-yoga-conference

The 2026 Bhakti Yoga Conference is a beautiful global gathering exploring the heart of Bhakti Yoga through the theme Sacred Community — Walking the Path of Love Together. Bringing together monks, scholars, yogis, musicians, and spiritual leaders from around the world, this conference offers a rich space for wisdom, reflection, and connection. Through heartfelt dialogue, spiritual teachings, and shared devotion, we explore how love, friendship, and sacred community can support us on the path. Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of love and devotion — a spiritual path that invites us into a deeper relationship with the Divine through service, compassion, and meaningful connection. Hosted in collaboration with Harvard Divinity School and the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, this special gathering is an invitation to come together in the spirit of devotion, learning, and community. Register free here:https://www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-yoga-conference

The 2026 Bhakti Yoga Conference is a beautiful global gathering exploring the heart of Bhakti Yoga through the theme Sacred Community — Walking the Path of Love Together. Bringing together monks, scholars, yogis, musicians, and spiritual leaders from around the world, this conference offers a rich space for wisdom, reflection, and connection. Through heartfelt dialogue, spiritual teachings, and shared devotion, we explore how love, friendship, and sacred community can support us on the path. Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of love and devotion — a spiritual path that invites us into a deeper relationship with the Divine through service, compassion, and meaningful connection. Hosted in collaboration with Harvard Divinity School and the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, this special gathering is an invitation to come together in the spirit of devotion, learning, and community. Register free here:https://www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-yoga-conference

The 2026 Bhakti Yoga Conference is a beautiful global gathering exploring the heart of Bhakti Yoga through the theme Sacred Community — Walking the Path of Love Together. Bringing together monks, scholars, yogis, musicians, and spiritual leaders from around the world, this conference offers a rich space for wisdom, reflection, and connection. Through heartfelt dialogue, spiritual teachings, and shared devotion, we explore how love, friendship, and sacred community can support us on the path. Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of love and devotion — a spiritual path that invites us into a deeper relationship with the Divine through service, compassion, and meaningful connection. Hosted in collaboration with Harvard Divinity School and the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, this special gathering is an invitation to come together in the spirit of devotion, learning, and community. Register free here:https://www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-yoga-conference

The 2026 Bhakti Yoga Conference is a beautiful global gathering exploring the heart of Bhakti Yoga through the theme Sacred Community — Walking the Path of Love Together. Bringing together monks, scholars, yogis, musicians, and spiritual leaders from around the world, this conference offers a rich space for wisdom, reflection, and connection. Through heartfelt dialogue, spiritual teachings, and shared devotion, we explore how love, friendship, and sacred community can support us on the path. Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of love and devotion — a spiritual path that invites us into a deeper relationship with the Divine through service, compassion, and meaningful connection. Hosted in collaboration with Harvard Divinity School and the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, this special gathering is an invitation to come together in the spirit of devotion, learning, and community. Register free here:https://www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-yoga-conference

The 2026 Bhakti Yoga Conference is a beautiful global gathering exploring the heart of Bhakti Yoga through the theme Sacred Community — Walking the Path of Love Together. Bringing together monks, scholars, yogis, musicians, and spiritual leaders from around the world, this conference offers a rich space for wisdom, reflection, and connection. Through heartfelt dialogue, spiritual teachings, and shared devotion, we explore how love, friendship, and sacred community can support us on the path. Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of love and devotion — a spiritual path that invites us into a deeper relationship with the Divine through service, compassion, and meaningful connection. Hosted in collaboration with Harvard Divinity School and the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, this special gathering is an invitation to come together in the spirit of devotion, learning, and community. Register free here:https://www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-yoga-conference

The 2026 Bhakti Yoga Conference is a beautiful global gathering exploring the heart of Bhakti Yoga through the theme Sacred Community — Walking the Path of Love Together. Bringing together monks, scholars, yogis, musicians, and spiritual leaders from around the world, this conference offers a rich space for wisdom, reflection, and connection. Through heartfelt dialogue, spiritual teachings, and shared devotion, we explore how love, friendship, and sacred community can support us on the path. Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of love and devotion — a spiritual path that invites us into a deeper relationship with the Divine through service, compassion, and meaningful connection. Hosted in collaboration with Harvard Divinity School and the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, this special gathering is an invitation to come together in the spirit of devotion, learning, and community. Register free here:https://www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-yoga-conference

The 2026 Bhakti Yoga Conference is a beautiful global gathering exploring the heart of Bhakti Yoga through the theme Sacred Community — Walking the Path of Love Together. Bringing together monks, scholars, yogis, musicians, and spiritual leaders from around the world, this conference offers a rich space for wisdom, reflection, and connection. Through heartfelt dialogue, spiritual teachings, and shared devotion, we explore how love, friendship, and sacred community can support us on the path. Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of love and devotion — a spiritual path that invites us into a deeper relationship with the Divine through service, compassion, and meaningful connection. Hosted in collaboration with Harvard Divinity School and the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, this special gathering is an invitation to come together in the spirit of devotion, learning, and community. Register free here:https://www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-yoga-conference

The 2026 Bhakti Yoga Conference is a beautiful global gathering exploring the heart of Bhakti Yoga through the theme Sacred Community — Walking the Path of Love Together. Bringing together monks, scholars, yogis, musicians, and spiritual leaders from around the world, this conference offers a rich space for wisdom, reflection, and connection. Through heartfelt dialogue, spiritual teachings, and shared devotion, we explore how love, friendship, and sacred community can support us on the path. Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of love and devotion — a spiritual path that invites us into a deeper relationship with the Divine through service, compassion, and meaningful connection. Hosted in collaboration with Harvard Divinity School and the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, this special gathering is an invitation to come together in the spirit of devotion, learning, and community. Register free here:https://www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-yoga-conference

The 2026 Bhakti Yoga Conference is a beautiful global gathering exploring the heart of Bhakti Yoga through the theme Sacred Community — Walking the Path of Love Together. Bringing together monks, scholars, yogis, musicians, and spiritual leaders from around the world, this conference offers a rich space for wisdom, reflection, and connection. Through heartfelt dialogue, spiritual teachings, and shared devotion, we explore how love, friendship, and sacred community can support us on the path. Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of love and devotion — a spiritual path that invites us into a deeper relationship with the Divine through service, compassion, and meaningful connection. Hosted in collaboration with Harvard Divinity School and the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, this special gathering is an invitation to come together in the spirit of devotion, learning, and community. Register free here:https://www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-yoga-conference

The 2026 Bhakti Yoga Conference is a beautiful global gathering exploring the heart of Bhakti Yoga through the theme Sacred Community — Walking the Path of Love Together. Bringing together monks, scholars, yogis, musicians, and spiritual leaders from around the world, this conference offers a rich space for wisdom, reflection, and connection. Through heartfelt dialogue, spiritual teachings, and shared devotion, we explore how love, friendship, and sacred community can support us on the path. Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of love and devotion — a spiritual path that invites us into a deeper relationship with the Divine through service, compassion, and meaningful connection. Hosted in collaboration with Harvard Divinity School and the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, this special gathering is an invitation to come together in the spirit of devotion, learning, and community. Register free here:https://www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-yoga-conference

The 2026 Bhakti Yoga Conference is a beautiful global gathering exploring the heart of Bhakti Yoga through the theme Sacred Community — Walking the Path of Love Together. Bringing together monks, scholars, yogis, musicians, and spiritual leaders from around the world, this conference offers a rich space for wisdom, reflection, and connection. Through heartfelt dialogue, spiritual teachings, and shared devotion, we explore how love, friendship, and sacred community can support us on the path. Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of love and devotion — a spiritual path that invites us into a deeper relationship with the Divine through service, compassion, and meaningful connection. Hosted in collaboration with Harvard Divinity School and the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, this special gathering is an invitation to come together in the spirit of devotion, learning, and community. Register free here:https://www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-yoga-conference

The 2026 Bhakti Yoga Conference is a beautiful global gathering exploring the heart of Bhakti Yoga through the theme Sacred Community — Walking the Path of Love Together. Bringing together monks, scholars, yogis, musicians, and spiritual leaders from around the world, this conference offers a rich space for wisdom, reflection, and connection. Through heartfelt dialogue, spiritual teachings, and shared devotion, we explore how love, friendship, and sacred community can support us on the path. Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of love and devotion — a spiritual path that invites us into a deeper relationship with the Divine through service, compassion, and meaningful connection. Hosted in collaboration with Harvard Divinity School and the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, this special gathering is an invitation to come together in the spirit of devotion, learning, and community. Register free here:https://www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-yoga-conference

The 2026 Bhakti Yoga Conference is a beautiful global gathering exploring the heart of Bhakti Yoga through the theme Sacred Community — Walking the Path of Love Together. Bringing together monks, scholars, yogis, musicians, and spiritual leaders from around the world, this conference offers a rich space for wisdom, reflection, and connection. Through heartfelt dialogue, spiritual teachings, and shared devotion, we explore how love, friendship, and sacred community can support us on the path. Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of love and devotion — a spiritual path that invites us into a deeper relationship with the Divine through service, compassion, and meaningful connection. Hosted in collaboration with Harvard Divinity School and the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, this special gathering is an invitation to come together in the spirit of devotion, learning, and community. Register free here:https://www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-yoga-conference

The 2026 Bhakti Yoga Conference is a beautiful global gathering exploring the heart of Bhakti Yoga through the theme Sacred Community — Walking the Path of Love Together. Bringing together monks, scholars, yogis, musicians, and spiritual leaders from around the world, this conference offers a rich space for wisdom, reflection, and connection. Through heartfelt dialogue, spiritual teachings, and shared devotion, we explore how love, friendship, and sacred community can support us on the path. Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of love and devotion — a spiritual path that invites us into a deeper relationship with the Divine through service, compassion, and meaningful connection. Hosted in collaboration with Harvard Divinity School and the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, this special gathering is an invitation to come together in the spirit of devotion, learning, and community. Register free here:https://www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-yoga-conference

The 2026 Bhakti Yoga Conference is a beautiful global gathering exploring the heart of Bhakti Yoga through the theme Sacred Community — Walking the Path of Love Together. Bringing together monks, scholars, yogis, musicians, and spiritual leaders from around the world, this conference offers a rich space for wisdom, reflection, and connection. Through heartfelt dialogue, spiritual teachings, and shared devotion, we explore how love, friendship, and sacred community can support us on the path. Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of love and devotion — a spiritual path that invites us into a deeper relationship with the Divine through service, compassion, and meaningful connection. Hosted in collaboration with Harvard Divinity School and the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, this special gathering is an invitation to come together in the spirit of devotion, learning, and community. Register free here:https://www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-yoga-conference

The 2026 Bhakti Yoga Conference is a beautiful global gathering exploring the heart of Bhakti Yoga through the theme Sacred Community — Walking the Path of Love Together. Bringing together monks, scholars, yogis, musicians, and spiritual leaders from around the world, this conference offers a rich space for wisdom, reflection, and connection. Through heartfelt dialogue, spiritual teachings, and shared devotion, we explore how love, friendship, and sacred community can support us on the path. Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of love and devotion — a spiritual path that invites us into a deeper relationship with the Divine through service, compassion, and meaningful connection. Hosted in collaboration with Harvard Divinity School and the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, this special gathering is an invitation to come together in the spirit of devotion, learning, and community. Register free here:https://www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-yoga-conference

Shantala Sriramaiah is the founder of Veda Studies and a Veda recitation teacher in the Mysore lineage, trained under Sri M.S. Sreenivasan and mentored by the Challakere Brothers. Born in Bangalore into a family of chanting — her mother taught for over thirty years — Shantala now leads a global community of thousands of students through rigorous online instruction grounded in Śīkṣā, the vedāṅga governing Vedic phonetics. Her courses range from foundational chanting to the full Śrī Rudram, and a Teacher Training Programme developed in partnership with INDICA. In this conversation, we explore what it means to carry a living oral tradition into the digital age, the place of women in Vedic transmission, and the pedagogy of a practice that demands nothing less than complete attention. Here are some links to learn more about Shantala's work: Website: https://www.vedastudies.com Spotify Artist Page: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2c2XaZTIfbryunWLcUVSo7 The Indian Wisdom Podcast is hosted by Dr. Raj Balkaran, a Sanskrit scholar, seasoned storyteller and spiritual lineage holder. He teaches at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies and at The Indian Wisdom School. He is also the author of "The Stories Behind the Poses: The Indian Mythology that Inspired 50 Yoga Postures” and runs a thriving one-on-one spiritual guidance practice. Personal Website: https://rajbalkaran.com Courses: https://indianwisdomschool.com Podcast: https://indianwisdompodcast.com

How do we know what we think we know? Are our opinions our own, or are they conditioned by external influences? What helps to balance opposing views? How important are such questions to yoga – both philosophically and practically?This podcast explores some of the voices in my head. It was inspired by a recent conversation about the Yoga Sūtra on my year-long course, The Path of Knowledge. There are also ingredients from Gavin Flood, a colleague at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, plus an essay on tensions between scholars and practitioners.That article cites writing by C. W. Huntington, Jr. – particularly Māyā, a novel he describes as “a first person narrative rooted in the literary tradition of Henry Miller, Thomas Merton, Jack Kerouac, and Carlos Castaneda”, and his last book, What I Don't Know About Death. It also draws on Robert M. Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (about which more here, in a BBC broadcast).

The 2026 Bhakti Yoga Conference is a beautiful global gathering exploring the heart of Bhakti Yoga through the theme Sacred Community — Walking the Path of Love Together. Bringing together monks, scholars, yogis, musicians, and spiritual leaders from around the world, this conference offers a rich space for wisdom, reflection, and connection. Through heartfelt dialogue, spiritual teachings, and shared devotion, we explore how love, friendship, and sacred community can support us on the path. Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of love and devotion — a spiritual path that invites us into a deeper relationship with the Divine through service, compassion, and meaningful connection. Hosted in collaboration with Harvard Divinity School and the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, this special gathering is an invitation to come together in the spirit of devotion, learning, and community. Register free here: https://www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-yoga-conference

The 2026 Bhakti Yoga Conference is a beautiful global gathering exploring the heart of Bhakti Yoga through the theme Sacred Community — Walking the Path of Love Together. Bringing together monks, scholars, yogis, musicians, and spiritual leaders from around the world, this conference offers a rich space for wisdom, reflection, and connection. Through heartfelt dialogue, spiritual teachings, and shared devotion, we explore how love, friendship, and sacred community can support us on the path. Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of love and devotion — a spiritual path that invites us into a deeper relationship with the Divine through service, compassion, and meaningful connection. Hosted in collaboration with Harvard Divinity School and the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, this special gathering is an invitation to come together in the spirit of devotion, learning, and community. Register free here:https://www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-yoga-conference

The 2026 Bhakti Yoga Conference is a beautiful global gathering exploring the heart of Bhakti Yoga through the theme Sacred Community — Walking the Path of Love Together. Bringing together monks, scholars, yogis, musicians, and spiritual leaders from around the world, this conference offers a rich space for wisdom, reflection, and connection. Through heartfelt dialogue, spiritual teachings, and shared devotion, we explore how love, friendship, and sacred community can support us on the path. Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of love and devotion — a spiritual path that invites us into a deeper relationship with the Divine through service, compassion, and meaningful connection. Hosted in collaboration with Harvard Divinity School and the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, this special gathering is an invitation to come together in the spirit of devotion, learning, and community. Register free here:https://www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-yoga-conference

The 2026 Bhakti Yoga Conference is a beautiful global gathering exploring the heart of Bhakti Yoga through the theme Sacred Community — Walking the Path of Love Together. Bringing together monks, scholars, yogis, musicians, and spiritual leaders from around the world, this conference offers a rich space for wisdom, reflection, and connection. Through heartfelt dialogue, spiritual teachings, and shared devotion, we explore how love, friendship, and sacred community can support us on the path. Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of love and devotion — a spiritual path that invites us into a deeper relationship with the Divine through service, compassion, and meaningful connection. Hosted in collaboration with Harvard Divinity School and the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, this special gathering is an invitation to come together in the spirit of devotion, learning, and community. Register free here:https://www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-yoga-conference

Explore Bhakti Yoga, spiritual friendship, and sacred community with S.B. Keshava Swami and Rev. Dr. Teddy Hickman-Maynard in this beautiful opening gathering of the 2026 Bhakti Yoga Conference, filmed live at Harvard Divinity School. In this inspiring session, devotion, love, and spiritual relationships are explored as essential parts of walking the path of Bhakti Yoga together. The 2026 Bhakti Yoga Conference brings together renowned monks, scholars, yogis, musicians, and spiritual leaders around one heartfelt theme: Sacred Community — Walking the Path of Love Together. Through wisdom teachings and meaningful dialogue, this gathering explores how devotion, friendship, and spiritual connection can support and deepen our path. Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of love and devotion — a spiritual path centered on cultivating a personal relationship with the Divine through service, compassion, and sacred community. The opening session is hosted at Harvard Divinity School, and the closing session is hosted at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies. Register free here: https://www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-yoga-conference

The 2026 Bhakti Yoga Conference is a beautiful global gathering exploring the heart of Bhakti Yoga through the theme Sacred Community — Walking the Path of Love Together. Bringing together monks, scholars, yogis, musicians, and spiritual leaders from around the world, this conference offers a rich space for wisdom, reflection, and connection. Through heartfelt dialogue, spiritual teachings, and shared devotion, we explore how love, friendship, and sacred community can support us on the path. Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of love and devotion — a spiritual path that invites us into a deeper relationship with the Divine through service, compassion, and meaningful connection. Hosted in collaboration with Harvard Divinity School and the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, this special gathering is an invitation to come together in the spirit of devotion, learning, and community. Register free here: https://www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-yoga-conference

Lisa Miller, Ph.D. is a professor of Psychology and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, founder of the Spirituality Mind Body Institute, and the bestselling author of The Awakened Brain. Her work beautifully bridges science and spirituality, exploring how an awakened spiritual life can support resilience, meaning, and a deeper connection to what is sacred in everyday life. We are honored to include this conversation as part of the 2026 Bhakti Yoga Conference, a global gathering exploring the theme Sacred Community — Walking the Path of Love Together. Bringing together monks, scholars, yogis, musicians, and spiritual leaders from around the world, the conference offers a heartfelt space for wisdom, reflection, devotion, and connection. Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of love and devotion — a spiritual path that invites us into deeper relationship with the Divine through service, compassion, and sacred community. Hosted in collaboration with Harvard Divinity School and the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, this gathering is a beautiful invitation to explore the path of love together.

This episode features a conversation with the founding members of the Feminist Critical Hindu Studies Collective, also known as the Auntylectuals. We began with each of them reflecting on their pathway into Hindu Studies and how the questions of caste and gender shaped their approaches to this field. We then discussed their motivations for starting the collective and what interventions they hoped to make through it. This took us deeper into some thorny topics: caste as a form of embodied knowledge that is often accompanied by the denial of its continued social power; the politics of Hinduism in North America where Hindus are both predominantly upper caste and a racial minority; the relationship between Hinduism and Hindutva, or Hindu nationalism; the traffic in language and tactics between Hindutva and Zionism; and the efforts to push back against the movement to make caste a protected category in U.S. anti-discrimination law. Guests: Shreena Gandhi: Professor of Religious Studies, Michigan State University Harshita Kamath: Professor of Telugu Culture, Literature, and History, Emory University Sailaja Krishnamurti: Professor of Gender Studies, Queen's University Shana Sippy, Professor of Religion, Centre College Mentioned in the episode: Rajiv Malhotra: an ideologue of the Hindu nationalist movement in the U.S. and founder of Infinity Foundation Harshita Kamath, Impersonations: The Artifice of Brahmin Masculinity in South Indian Dance Amar Chitra Katha: an Indian comic book publisher whose comics are hugely popular and widely available in India and the Indian diaspora. Sailaja Krishnamurti, “Learning about Hindu Religion through Comics and Popular Culture,” David Yoo and Khyati Y Joshi eds. Envisioning Religion, Race and Asian Americans, Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, 207-226, 2020. Babri Masjid: a 16th century mosque that became the target of Hindu nationalist mobilization and was destroyed by vigilante mobs in December 1992. Marko Geslani, “A Model Minority Religion: The Race of Hindu Studies,” American Religion, forthcoming. Thenmozhi Soundarajan, The Trauma of Caste Sarah Ahmed, Queer Phenomenology: Orientations, Objects, Others Feminist Critical Hindu Studies Collective, “Feminist Critical Hindu Studies in formation” Feminist Critical Hindu Studies Collective, “Hindu fragility and the politics of mimicry in North America” Feminist Critical Hindu Studies Collective, “Hinduphobia is a smokescreen for Hindu nationalists” Shana Sippy and Sailaja Krishnamurti, “Not all Hinduism is Hindutva, but Hindutva is in fact Hinduism” Shana Sippy, “Strange and Storied Alliances: Hindus and Jews, India and Israel,” manuscript in progress Shana Sippy, "Victimization, Supremacism, Solidarity, and the Affective and Emulative Politics of American Hindus" Tomako Masuzawa, The Invention of World Religions, Or How European Universalism Was Preserved in the Language of Pluralism Shreena Gandhi, “Framing Islam as American Religion Despite White Supremacy” Equality Labs is a South Asian Dalit civil rights organization. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

This episode features a conversation with the founding members of the Feminist Critical Hindu Studies Collective, also known as the Auntylectuals. We began with each of them reflecting on their pathway into Hindu Studies and how the questions of caste and gender shaped their approaches to this field. We then discussed their motivations for starting the collective and what interventions they hoped to make through it. This took us deeper into some thorny topics: caste as a form of embodied knowledge that is often accompanied by the denial of its continued social power; the politics of Hinduism in North America where Hindus are both predominantly upper caste and a racial minority; the relationship between Hinduism and Hindutva, or Hindu nationalism; the traffic in language and tactics between Hindutva and Zionism; and the efforts to push back against the movement to make caste a protected category in U.S. anti-discrimination law. Guests: Shreena Gandhi: Professor of Religious Studies, Michigan State University Harshita Kamath: Professor of Telugu Culture, Literature, and History, Emory University Sailaja Krishnamurti: Professor of Gender Studies, Queen's University Shana Sippy, Professor of Religion, Centre College Mentioned in the episode: Rajiv Malhotra: an ideologue of the Hindu nationalist movement in the U.S. and founder of Infinity Foundation Harshita Kamath, Impersonations: The Artifice of Brahmin Masculinity in South Indian Dance Amar Chitra Katha: an Indian comic book publisher whose comics are hugely popular and widely available in India and the Indian diaspora. Sailaja Krishnamurti, “Learning about Hindu Religion through Comics and Popular Culture,” David Yoo and Khyati Y Joshi eds. Envisioning Religion, Race and Asian Americans, Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, 207-226, 2020. Babri Masjid: a 16th century mosque that became the target of Hindu nationalist mobilization and was destroyed by vigilante mobs in December 1992. Marko Geslani, “A Model Minority Religion: The Race of Hindu Studies,” American Religion, forthcoming. Thenmozhi Soundarajan, The Trauma of Caste Sarah Ahmed, Queer Phenomenology: Orientations, Objects, Others Feminist Critical Hindu Studies Collective, “Feminist Critical Hindu Studies in formation” Feminist Critical Hindu Studies Collective, “Hindu fragility and the politics of mimicry in North America” Feminist Critical Hindu Studies Collective, “Hinduphobia is a smokescreen for Hindu nationalists” Shana Sippy and Sailaja Krishnamurti, “Not all Hinduism is Hindutva, but Hindutva is in fact Hinduism” Shana Sippy, “Strange and Storied Alliances: Hindus and Jews, India and Israel,” manuscript in progress Shana Sippy, "Victimization, Supremacism, Solidarity, and the Affective and Emulative Politics of American Hindus" Tomako Masuzawa, The Invention of World Religions, Or How European Universalism Was Preserved in the Language of Pluralism Shreena Gandhi, “Framing Islam as American Religion Despite White Supremacy” Equality Labs is a South Asian Dalit civil rights organization. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/gender-studies

This episode features a conversation with the founding members of the Feminist Critical Hindu Studies Collective, also known as the Auntylectuals. We began with each of them reflecting on their pathway into Hindu Studies and how the questions of caste and gender shaped their approaches to this field. We then discussed their motivations for starting the collective and what interventions they hoped to make through it. This took us deeper into some thorny topics: caste as a form of embodied knowledge that is often accompanied by the denial of its continued social power; the politics of Hinduism in North America where Hindus are both predominantly upper caste and a racial minority; the relationship between Hinduism and Hindutva, or Hindu nationalism; the traffic in language and tactics between Hindutva and Zionism; and the efforts to push back against the movement to make caste a protected category in U.S. anti-discrimination law. Guests: Shreena Gandhi: Professor of Religious Studies, Michigan State University Harshita Kamath: Professor of Telugu Culture, Literature, and History, Emory University Sailaja Krishnamurti: Professor of Gender Studies, Queen's University Shana Sippy, Professor of Religion, Centre College Mentioned in the episode: Rajiv Malhotra: an ideologue of the Hindu nationalist movement in the U.S. and founder of Infinity Foundation Harshita Kamath, Impersonations: The Artifice of Brahmin Masculinity in South Indian Dance Amar Chitra Katha: an Indian comic book publisher whose comics are hugely popular and widely available in India and the Indian diaspora. Sailaja Krishnamurti, “Learning about Hindu Religion through Comics and Popular Culture,” David Yoo and Khyati Y Joshi eds. Envisioning Religion, Race and Asian Americans, Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, 207-226, 2020. Babri Masjid: a 16th century mosque that became the target of Hindu nationalist mobilization and was destroyed by vigilante mobs in December 1992. Marko Geslani, “A Model Minority Religion: The Race of Hindu Studies,” American Religion, forthcoming. Thenmozhi Soundarajan, The Trauma of Caste Sarah Ahmed, Queer Phenomenology: Orientations, Objects, Others Feminist Critical Hindu Studies Collective, “Feminist Critical Hindu Studies in formation” Feminist Critical Hindu Studies Collective, “Hindu fragility and the politics of mimicry in North America” Feminist Critical Hindu Studies Collective, “Hinduphobia is a smokescreen for Hindu nationalists” Shana Sippy and Sailaja Krishnamurti, “Not all Hinduism is Hindutva, but Hindutva is in fact Hinduism” Shana Sippy, “Strange and Storied Alliances: Hindus and Jews, India and Israel,” manuscript in progress Shana Sippy, "Victimization, Supremacism, Solidarity, and the Affective and Emulative Politics of American Hindus" Tomako Masuzawa, The Invention of World Religions, Or How European Universalism Was Preserved in the Language of Pluralism Shreena Gandhi, “Framing Islam as American Religion Despite White Supremacy” Equality Labs is a South Asian Dalit civil rights organization. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/critical-theory

This episode features a conversation with the founding members of the Feminist Critical Hindu Studies Collective, also known as the Auntylectuals. We began with each of them reflecting on their pathway into Hindu Studies and how the questions of caste and gender shaped their approaches to this field. We then discussed their motivations for starting the collective and what interventions they hoped to make through it. This took us deeper into some thorny topics: caste as a form of embodied knowledge that is often accompanied by the denial of its continued social power; the politics of Hinduism in North America where Hindus are both predominantly upper caste and a racial minority; the relationship between Hinduism and Hindutva, or Hindu nationalism; the traffic in language and tactics between Hindutva and Zionism; and the efforts to push back against the movement to make caste a protected category in U.S. anti-discrimination law. Guests: Shreena Gandhi: Professor of Religious Studies, Michigan State University Harshita Kamath: Professor of Telugu Culture, Literature, and History, Emory University Sailaja Krishnamurti: Professor of Gender Studies, Queen's University Shana Sippy, Professor of Religion, Centre College Mentioned in the episode: Rajiv Malhotra: an ideologue of the Hindu nationalist movement in the U.S. and founder of Infinity Foundation Harshita Kamath, Impersonations: The Artifice of Brahmin Masculinity in South Indian Dance Amar Chitra Katha: an Indian comic book publisher whose comics are hugely popular and widely available in India and the Indian diaspora. Sailaja Krishnamurti, “Learning about Hindu Religion through Comics and Popular Culture,” David Yoo and Khyati Y Joshi eds. Envisioning Religion, Race and Asian Americans, Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, 207-226, 2020. Babri Masjid: a 16th century mosque that became the target of Hindu nationalist mobilization and was destroyed by vigilante mobs in December 1992. Marko Geslani, “A Model Minority Religion: The Race of Hindu Studies,” American Religion, forthcoming. Thenmozhi Soundarajan, The Trauma of Caste Sarah Ahmed, Queer Phenomenology: Orientations, Objects, Others Feminist Critical Hindu Studies Collective, “Feminist Critical Hindu Studies in formation” Feminist Critical Hindu Studies Collective, “Hindu fragility and the politics of mimicry in North America” Feminist Critical Hindu Studies Collective, “Hinduphobia is a smokescreen for Hindu nationalists” Shana Sippy and Sailaja Krishnamurti, “Not all Hinduism is Hindutva, but Hindutva is in fact Hinduism” Shana Sippy, “Strange and Storied Alliances: Hindus and Jews, India and Israel,” manuscript in progress Shana Sippy, "Victimization, Supremacism, Solidarity, and the Affective and Emulative Politics of American Hindus" Tomako Masuzawa, The Invention of World Religions, Or How European Universalism Was Preserved in the Language of Pluralism Shreena Gandhi, “Framing Islam as American Religion Despite White Supremacy” Equality Labs is a South Asian Dalit civil rights organization. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/anthropology

This episode features a conversation with the founding members of the Feminist Critical Hindu Studies Collective, also known as the Auntylectuals. We began with each of them reflecting on their pathway into Hindu Studies and how the questions of caste and gender shaped their approaches to this field. We then discussed their motivations for starting the collective and what interventions they hoped to make through it. This took us deeper into some thorny topics: caste as a form of embodied knowledge that is often accompanied by the denial of its continued social power; the politics of Hinduism in North America where Hindus are both predominantly upper caste and a racial minority; the relationship between Hinduism and Hindutva, or Hindu nationalism; the traffic in language and tactics between Hindutva and Zionism; and the efforts to push back against the movement to make caste a protected category in U.S. anti-discrimination law. Guests: Shreena Gandhi: Professor of Religious Studies, Michigan State University Harshita Kamath: Professor of Telugu Culture, Literature, and History, Emory University Sailaja Krishnamurti: Professor of Gender Studies, Queen's University Shana Sippy, Professor of Religion, Centre College Mentioned in the episode: Rajiv Malhotra: an ideologue of the Hindu nationalist movement in the U.S. and founder of Infinity Foundation Harshita Kamath, Impersonations: The Artifice of Brahmin Masculinity in South Indian Dance Amar Chitra Katha: an Indian comic book publisher whose comics are hugely popular and widely available in India and the Indian diaspora. Sailaja Krishnamurti, “Learning about Hindu Religion through Comics and Popular Culture,” David Yoo and Khyati Y Joshi eds. Envisioning Religion, Race and Asian Americans, Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, 207-226, 2020. Babri Masjid: a 16th century mosque that became the target of Hindu nationalist mobilization and was destroyed by vigilante mobs in December 1992. Marko Geslani, “A Model Minority Religion: The Race of Hindu Studies,” American Religion, forthcoming. Thenmozhi Soundarajan, The Trauma of Caste Sarah Ahmed, Queer Phenomenology: Orientations, Objects, Others Feminist Critical Hindu Studies Collective, “Feminist Critical Hindu Studies in formation” Feminist Critical Hindu Studies Collective, “Hindu fragility and the politics of mimicry in North America” Feminist Critical Hindu Studies Collective, “Hinduphobia is a smokescreen for Hindu nationalists” Shana Sippy and Sailaja Krishnamurti, “Not all Hinduism is Hindutva, but Hindutva is in fact Hinduism” Shana Sippy, “Strange and Storied Alliances: Hindus and Jews, India and Israel,” manuscript in progress Shana Sippy, "Victimization, Supremacism, Solidarity, and the Affective and Emulative Politics of American Hindus" Tomako Masuzawa, The Invention of World Religions, Or How European Universalism Was Preserved in the Language of Pluralism Shreena Gandhi, “Framing Islam as American Religion Despite White Supremacy” Equality Labs is a South Asian Dalit civil rights organization. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/south-asian-studies

This episode features a conversation with the founding members of the Feminist Critical Hindu Studies Collective, also known as the Auntylectuals. We began with each of them reflecting on their pathway into Hindu Studies and how the questions of caste and gender shaped their approaches to this field. We then discussed their motivations for starting the collective and what interventions they hoped to make through it. This took us deeper into some thorny topics: caste as a form of embodied knowledge that is often accompanied by the denial of its continued social power; the politics of Hinduism in North America where Hindus are both predominantly upper caste and a racial minority; the relationship between Hinduism and Hindutva, or Hindu nationalism; the traffic in language and tactics between Hindutva and Zionism; and the efforts to push back against the movement to make caste a protected category in U.S. anti-discrimination law. Guests: Shreena Gandhi: Professor of Religious Studies, Michigan State University Harshita Kamath: Professor of Telugu Culture, Literature, and History, Emory University Sailaja Krishnamurti: Professor of Gender Studies, Queen's University Shana Sippy, Professor of Religion, Centre College Mentioned in the episode: Rajiv Malhotra: an ideologue of the Hindu nationalist movement in the U.S. and founder of Infinity Foundation Harshita Kamath, Impersonations: The Artifice of Brahmin Masculinity in South Indian Dance Amar Chitra Katha: an Indian comic book publisher whose comics are hugely popular and widely available in India and the Indian diaspora. Sailaja Krishnamurti, “Learning about Hindu Religion through Comics and Popular Culture,” David Yoo and Khyati Y Joshi eds. Envisioning Religion, Race and Asian Americans, Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, 207-226, 2020. Babri Masjid: a 16th century mosque that became the target of Hindu nationalist mobilization and was destroyed by vigilante mobs in December 1992. Marko Geslani, “A Model Minority Religion: The Race of Hindu Studies,” American Religion, forthcoming. Thenmozhi Soundarajan, The Trauma of Caste Sarah Ahmed, Queer Phenomenology: Orientations, Objects, Others Feminist Critical Hindu Studies Collective, “Feminist Critical Hindu Studies in formation” Feminist Critical Hindu Studies Collective, “Hindu fragility and the politics of mimicry in North America” Feminist Critical Hindu Studies Collective, “Hinduphobia is a smokescreen for Hindu nationalists” Shana Sippy and Sailaja Krishnamurti, “Not all Hinduism is Hindutva, but Hindutva is in fact Hinduism” Shana Sippy, “Strange and Storied Alliances: Hindus and Jews, India and Israel,” manuscript in progress Shana Sippy, "Victimization, Supremacism, Solidarity, and the Affective and Emulative Politics of American Hindus" Tomako Masuzawa, The Invention of World Religions, Or How European Universalism Was Preserved in the Language of Pluralism Shreena Gandhi, “Framing Islam as American Religion Despite White Supremacy” Equality Labs is a South Asian Dalit civil rights organization. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode features a conversation with the founding members of the Feminist Critical Hindu Studies Collective, also known as the Auntylectuals. We began with each of them reflecting on their pathway into Hindu Studies and how the questions of caste and gender shaped their approaches to this field. We then discussed their motivations for starting the collective and what interventions they hoped to make through it. This took us deeper into some thorny topics: caste as a form of embodied knowledge that is often accompanied by the denial of its continued social power; the politics of Hinduism in North America where Hindus are both predominantly upper caste and a racial minority; the relationship between Hinduism and Hindutva, or Hindu nationalism; the traffic in language and tactics between Hindutva and Zionism; and the efforts to push back against the movement to make caste a protected category in U.S. anti-discrimination law. Guests: Shreena Gandhi: Professor of Religious Studies, Michigan State University Harshita Kamath: Professor of Telugu Culture, Literature, and History, Emory University Sailaja Krishnamurti: Professor of Gender Studies, Queen's University Shana Sippy, Professor of Religion, Centre College Mentioned in the episode: Rajiv Malhotra: an ideologue of the Hindu nationalist movement in the U.S. and founder of Infinity Foundation Harshita Kamath, Impersonations: The Artifice of Brahmin Masculinity in South Indian Dance Amar Chitra Katha: an Indian comic book publisher whose comics are hugely popular and widely available in India and the Indian diaspora. Sailaja Krishnamurti, “Learning about Hindu Religion through Comics and Popular Culture,” David Yoo and Khyati Y Joshi eds. Envisioning Religion, Race and Asian Americans, Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, 207-226, 2020. Babri Masjid: a 16th century mosque that became the target of Hindu nationalist mobilization and was destroyed by vigilante mobs in December 1992. Marko Geslani, “A Model Minority Religion: The Race of Hindu Studies,” American Religion, forthcoming. Thenmozhi Soundarajan, The Trauma of Caste Sarah Ahmed, Queer Phenomenology: Orientations, Objects, Others Feminist Critical Hindu Studies Collective, “Feminist Critical Hindu Studies in formation” Feminist Critical Hindu Studies Collective, “Hindu fragility and the politics of mimicry in North America” Feminist Critical Hindu Studies Collective, “Hinduphobia is a smokescreen for Hindu nationalists” Shana Sippy and Sailaja Krishnamurti, “Not all Hinduism is Hindutva, but Hindutva is in fact Hinduism” Shana Sippy, “Strange and Storied Alliances: Hindus and Jews, India and Israel,” manuscript in progress Shana Sippy, "Victimization, Supremacism, Solidarity, and the Affective and Emulative Politics of American Hindus" Tomako Masuzawa, The Invention of World Religions, Or How European Universalism Was Preserved in the Language of Pluralism Shreena Gandhi, “Framing Islam as American Religion Despite White Supremacy” Equality Labs is a South Asian Dalit civil rights organization. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/indian-religions