Upanishad Ganga
Season 1
Short stories exploring today's concepts in ancient Indian contexts.
Where to Watch Season 1
52 Episodes
- The Journey: Introduction to UpanishadsE1
The Journey: Introduction to UpanishadsA student reaches Benares to learn Sanskrit texts. The teacher says that this is a journey to know oneself, and truth and happiness. His son holds them irrelevant, but directs a Romeo-Juliet play in the style of the ancient poet, Kalidas. - Think - Who Am I, Ask - Story from MahabharatE2
Think - Who Am I, Ask - Story from MahabharatWe are asked to consider if we know who we are, the purpose of our lives, why do we often rebel and who within ourselves wants to express itself. In a play Sri Krishna extols that the entire cosmos is He, the one Atman; we are all one. - Vedanga - Story of BhaskaracharyaE7
Vedanga - Story of BhaskaracharyaRenowned mathematician and astronomer Bhaskaracharya wrote the treatise, Karan Kutuhal. Unable to get his daughter Lilawati married, he wrote the treatise on Vedic maths, Lilawati. Maths is considered crucial to the study of the Vedas. - The Human Goal: Dharma - Story of Raja HarishchandraE9
The Human Goal: Dharma - Story of Raja HarishchandraRaja Harishchandra lived according to the rules of dharma, with steadfast effort and never reneging on his words. Once, he mistakenly disturbs Sage Vishwamitra's meditation and has to sell his wife, son and himself to pay the sage's fine. - The Human Goal: Artha - Story of Chanakya & ChandraguptaE10
The Human Goal: Artha - Story of Chanakya & ChandraguptaVishnugupta (Chanakya) taught Chandragupta, the ruler of Magadh, that a king is just like a paid servant. He has vast responsibilities to keep his subjects happy. And, for that, dharmic economic principles of governing should be employed. - The Human Goal: Kama - Story of Samrat BhartrihariE11
The Human Goal: Kama - Story of Samrat BhartrihariThe Lord of Desire (Kama devta) is key to all beings. Dharma should rule Desire. King Bhartrihari bestowed a fruit blessed with sexual prowess to his wife. After travelling to four persons, it came back through his clueless, other wife. - The Human Goal: Moksha - Story of KotikarnaE12
The Human Goal: Moksha - Story of KotikarnaAttaining moksha (enlightenment) should be the ultimate aspiration and effort for all. Kotikarna had untold wealth, and was highly egotistic. He sets out to attain moksha, realizing that money cannot buy it. Thief Satyawadi follows him. - Brahmacharya Ashram: Student Life - Story of SatyakamaE13
Brahmacharya Ashram: Student Life - Story of SatyakamaLiving in and seeking the truth is enough for a student to be taught by a guru. Young Satyakam, of lower caste, wanted to study. The gurus did not accept him due to his low caste. But, Rishi Gautam agreed because he had spoken the truth. - Gruhasta Ashram: Married Life - Story of Mahakavi Magha
E14Gruhasta Ashram: Married Life - Story of Mahakavi MaghaAfter his education as a Brahmacharya (student), a person becomes a Gruhasta (householder). Here he lives according to dharmic principles, helping others as much as possible and not harming anyone. The story of poet Magha illustrates this. - Vanprasth Ashram: Retired Life - Story Of Bheem, Dhritarashtra & Bimbisar, AjatshatruE15
Vanprasth Ashram: Retired Life - Story Of Bheem, Dhritarashtra & Bimbisar, AjatshatruAs you grow old, vanaprashta ashram (retired life) should follow gruhasta ashram (householder life). Sorrow results if it is postponed or ignored. Old Dhritrastra and King Bimbisara clung to their lives of worldly desire, and suffered. - Sanyasa Ashram: Renunciation: 1 - Story of VidyaranyaE16
Sanyasa Ashram: Renunciation: 1 - Story of VidyaranyaIn the last phase of sanyasa (renunciation), detachment is practiced and moksha (enlightenment) is sought. Having lost his family, Vidyaranya became a monk at the Shringeri Sharda Peetam and lead a revolt against the anti-Hindu Mughals. - Renunciation 2 - Yajnavalkya & MaitreyiE17
Renunciation 2 - Yajnavalkya & MaitreyiUnable to answer a question in a contest, Vidagdha commits suicide. Acharya Yajnavalkya realizes that the real victory is to know oneself. Renunciation means no desire for people, things and ourselves. The soul is essentially joyous. - Varna - The Universal CharacterisationE18
Varna - The Universal CharacterisationMagadh's brahmins opposed appointing low caste Chandragupta as their ruler. Chanakya (Vishnugupta) argued that caste is not based on birth. It is based on occupation, effort and present karma. He cited many well known examples in defense. - Shodasha Samskara - The 16 Milestones of Life - 1E19
Shodasha Samskara - The 16 Milestones of Life - 1There are 16 milestones (Shodasha Samskaras) in a life's journey from the womb till death. Surdas explains the first 8 of these. These are garbhadana, pumsavana, seemantonayana, jatakarma, namakarna, nishkarma, annaprashana and chudakarma. - Shodasha Samskara - The 16 Milestones of Life - 2E20
Shodasha Samskara - The 16 Milestones of Life - 2Blind Surdas recounts that, as a child, he was neglected. Even a group of travelling singers left him behind. Vallabhacharya stops by to hear young Surdas sing. Emperor Akbar and Tansen visit him. He explains the upnayana step to Kanhai. - Shodasha Samskara - The 16 Milestones of Life -3E21
Shodasha Samskara - The 16 Milestones of Life -3Vallabhacharya initiates Surdas to vedic knowledge. Surdas explains the remaining milestones to Kanhai. Emperor Akbar is beset by fakes when he decides to compile Surdas' songs and get them translated to Farsi. Birbal solves this problem. - Theory Of Karma & Rebirth: ChitraketuE22
Theory Of Karma & Rebirth: ChitraketuChitraketu experiences the joy and tragedy of a new born son. The son's soul has seen countless rebirths, with countless parents. Unfulfilled desires cause rebirth. Past karma rules our present and present karma dictates our rebirths. - Adhikari - The Seeker of KnowledgeE24
Adhikari - The Seeker of KnowledgeNachiketa, son of Vajashravas, meets Lord Yama, the God of Death. Granted 3 boons by Yama, Nachiketa desires to know what is Death, what comes after and what is not impermanent. Yama replies that only the soul (Atman) is indestructible. - Guru Upasadan - Seeking the Guru - Indra & VirochanaE26
Guru Upasadan - Seeking the Guru - Indra & VirochanaThe Asuras and the Gods constantly fought. They send one person each to Acharya Prajapati to learn about the secret of existence. Prajapati taught that the Atman is non-material, eternal and in every being. So, we should share everything. - Anatman - Not The Self - Abhimanyu & SavitriE28
Anatman - Not The Self - Abhimanyu & SavitriWhen Abhimanyu is slain in war, Krishna explains that the soul never dies. Savitri pursues her dead husband being taken away by Yamaraja. He grants her many boons but she wants 100 sons. Yamaraja is forced to give her dead husband back. - Atman - The True Self - ArunagirinatharE29
Atman - The True Self - ArunagirinatharArunagiri was a dissolute and became a pauper. His sister berated him and offered herself to him, if he so craved sensual pleasures. Awakened, Arunagiri became a renunciate and seeker. He realized that only the atman is permanent. - The Existence Principle - Yagyavalkya & GargiE30
The Existence Principle - Yagyavalkya & GargiKing Janak organized a Brahma Sabha (assembly). Yagyavalkya remained undefeated in its Q and A session. He expounded on the all-pervading Brahma when Gargi had 2 questions. He later composed 3 texts used extensively in historical India. - Consciousness: The Life Principle - Balaki, Ajatshatru & DevsE31
Consciousness: The Life Principle - Balaki, Ajatshatru & DevsKing Ajatshatru renounces his throne in favor of Balaki when the latter wants to learn from him. Indra, Agni and Vayu learn that they are not the real victors. The omniscient force, Brahma, is the origin of everything in the universe. - The Self And The Not Self: Jada BharatE34
The Self And The Not Self: Jada BharatJada Bharata explains that we are not our bodies or our possessions. We are atman which is unchanging and omnipresent. It is the same atman which dwells in all beings and things. So, we are no different from all else in the universe. - Maya: The Power Of Bhagwan - Narad & KrishnaE36
Maya: The Power Of Bhagwan - Narad & KrishnaSage Narada asks Lord Krishna to explain what is Maya, Illusion. Krishna explains that Maya is inexpressible. Only that which was true earlier, is true today and will be true tomorrow, is not Maya. All else is impermanent and changing.