Stories Of India Retold

Q & A. Niyoga: ancient Indian practice to beget sons and heirs

It is ridiculous how many times I say the word "sons" on this episode! (Insert- sheepish smile emoji)
Niyoga is an ancient Indian practice that was followed to make sure the continuation of a lineage through male progeny. 
Listen to the episode to know more about:
- What it is and how it worked. 
- The reasons for the practice
- Importance of sons in the society
- Different ways to obtain sons
- Rights of sons born through niyoga
 
Email your questions to: storiesofindiaretold@gmail.com
Blog: http://storiesofindiaretold.com
Podcast website: https://storiesofindiaretold.podbean.com 
Instagram: @storiesofindiaretold
 
References:
The Mahabharata 1: Complete and Unabridged; translated by Bibek Debroy. (2015). Penguin Random House India. (Original work published 2010)
Sahgal, S. (2011). GENDERED INQUIRY INTO NIYOGA: APPRAISING THE INSTITUTION FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF FEMALE ACTORS. Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, 72, 179–192. http://www.jstor.org/stable/44146710
 
Mishra, V. B. (1977). THE PRACTICE OF NIYOGA IN ANCIENT LITERATURE OF INDIA : A SOCIOLOGICAL STUDY. Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, 58/59, 773–776. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41691747
 
Music: At Depth- Lish Grooves

Ep.15: Death of Pandu–A hunting accident and the aftermath. (The Mahabharata)

Pandu was cursed by rishi Kimdama because of a hunting accident. This story is about Pandu and his wife, Madri's death as a result of the curse and the events that followed.
Listen to the story to know more about:
- The cause and manner of Pandu's death 
- Why Madri chose to accompany Pandu to his afterlife rather than Kunti
- The final rites of Pandu and Madri–where, what and how.
- What happened to the five sons of Pandu–the Pandavas, and Kunti after Pandu's death.
Music: Jesse Gallagher
Blog: http://storiesofindiaretold.com
Podcast website: https://storiesofindiaretold.podbean.com 
Instagram: @storiesofindiaretold
The Mahabharata 1: Complete and Unabridged; translated by Bibek Debroy. (2015). Penguin Random House India. (Original work published 2010)

Ep 14: Birth of the Pandavas and Kauravas (The Mahabharata)

Part 2 of the story of the birth of Pandavas and Kauravas–the lead characters of the Mahabharata. (Part 1 - Episode 13)
Both Dhritarashtra and Pandu are married, and the responsibility of continuing the royal line is theirs. Dhritarashtra is denied the throne because of his blindness and Pandu was made king.
Listen to the story of:
- Pandu's curse–a King who could not procreate 
- How Gandhari had 100 sons, the Kauravas. (With some help from Veda Vyasa!)
- How and why Pandu convinced Kunti to have sons through niyoga
- How Kunti and Madri conceived their sons, the Pandavas
 
Music: Jesse Gallagher
Blog: http://storiesofindiaretold.com
Podcast website: https://storiesofindiaretold.podbean.com 
Instagram: @storiesofindiaretold
The Mahabharata 1: Complete and Unabridged; translated by Bibek Debroy. (2015). Penguin Random House India. (Original work published 2010)
 

Ep.13: Marriages of Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidura (The Mahabharata)

Part 1 of the story of birth of the Pandavas and Kauravas. After the birth of the Kuru princes Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidhura, Bhishma took up the responsibility of both the thriving kingdom and also the growing princes. The members of the family were keen to see the princes marry well, have sons and continue the dynasty. 
Listen to the story of:
- Who the princes married
- How and why the girls were selected
- How Gandhari and Kunti received boons to have sons.
 
Music: Jesse Gallagher
Blog: http://storiesofindiaretold.com
Podcast website: https://storiesofindiaretold.podbean.com 
Instagram: @storiesofindiaretold
 

Ep.12.Satyavati: Origin; Boon of sweet fragrance; Mother of Veda Vyasa (Mahabharata)

Daughter of the great King Uparichara; mother to the author of the Mahabharata and the divider of the vedas; mother to 2 princes who became king; and the wife of King Shantanu, Satyavati was an intelligent and beautiful woman. Born to a Puru King and a fisherwoman mother, Satyavati was destined for great things and her adoptive father made sure to give her the best he could. 
Listen to:
-the origin and stories of her ancestors
-the circumstances of her birth
-her affair and the time she fell in love
-how she received the boon
-her son–Veda Vyasa Krishna Dwaipayana
-what she did to save the Puru lineage from extinction.

Ep. 11.Dhritarashtra, Pandu, Vidura:Birth; the struggle to revive a dying dynasty (Mahabharata)

Souti Vaishampayana tells the story of the births of Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidura, who are seen as the saviors of the Kuru lineage.
Listen to the story to learn more about:
-How and why the Kuru lineage was in danger of going extinct
-The princes' parents and how their births were planned in order to guarantee the continuation of the Kuru lineage
-How the kidnapped princess Amba convinced Bhishma to let her go
-How the author of Mahabharata, Krishna Dwaipayana, is connected to the Kuru lineage. 
Blog: http://storiesofindiaretold.com
Podcast website: https://storiesofindiaretold.podbean.com 
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Ep.10 Ashta Vasu/Eight Vasus:Vasishta’s curse; rebirth as mortals on earth (The Mahabharta)

Vasus are children of Manu, who is the son of Brahma, and are collectively called the Ashta Vasu or Eight Vasus. They are deities who represent the eight elements—earth, water, fire, wind, sun, sky, moon and the stars; in the Mahabharata, they are named Dhara, Aha, Anala, Anila, Pratyusha, Prabhasa, Soma and Dhruva, respectively. Vasus lived a privileged life in the heavens. But, one day, they got in trouble with the great sage Vasishta and were cursed very harshly. 
Listen to:
-the events that led to the Vasus being cursed by Vasishta
-the details of the curse and how the Vasus managed it
-Goddess Ganga's role in their forced entry into earth as mortals
-Prabhasa's identity as a mortal on earth.
 
Blog: http://storiesofindiaretold.com
Podcast website: https://storiesofindiaretold.podbean.com 
Instagram: @storiesofindiaretold
 

Ep.9 Bhishma:Birth; vow of Brahmacharya; boon to choose time of death(Mahabharata)

As commander of the Kuru army and the grand-uncle to both the Kauravas and Pandavas, Bhishma is one of the main protagonists of the story. The son of King Shantanu and goddess Ganga, he was named Devavrata at birth. In Indian culture, Bhishma is widely loved and admired because of his dedication to dharma and his selflessness.
Listen to how:
-Shantanu and Ganga were married and then separated
-Bhishma was born
-Shantanu was heartbroken because he couldn't marry the woman he loved, Satyavati.
-Bhishma gave up his claim to the throne and took up a vow of brahmacharya 
-Shantanu granted his son the boon to choose the time of his death
Blog: http://storiesofindiaretold.com
Podcast website: https://storiesofindiaretold.podbean.com 
Instagram: @storiesofindiaretold
 

Ep 8. Punyakoti’s story; Song of the cow/Govina Haadu (Indian/Kannada Folklore)

Govina Haadu,or Song of the cow (also called, Punyakotiya Kathe or Punyakoti's story) is a story about a cow named Punyakoti, who inadvertently crosses path with a very hungry and fierce tiger named Arbhuta. Based on a story in Mahabharata, this beautiful, soul stirring song has been part of Kannada folklore for thousands of years.
Listen to know how:
-Punyakoti convinces Arbhuta to let her see her young calf one more time before he makes a meal of her.
-Arbhuta is influenced by Punyakoti's beliefs and actions. 
 
Blog: http://storiesofindiaretold.com
Podcast website: https://storiesofindiaretold.podbean.com 
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Ep 7.Yayati’s love triangle; obsession with his youth; why Puru was heir..(The Mahabharata)

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