Soma Yoga Institute is pleased to welcome Dr. Raj Balkaran.
His course decodes ancient Indian mythology for life wisdom, and insight on healing, personal development, and spiritual evolution. Each class consists of a transformative synergy of expert academic lecture, engaging captivating storytelling, authentic Sanskrit chanting, lucid archetypal decoding, and a grounded guided meditation. You will also have the chance for personal interaction during the live lecture and Q&A. You will receive the lecture recording, a PDF Handout, and suggested readings.
Thursdays, January 7 - February 4, 2021 from 4pm-5:30pm PST / 7pm-8:30pm EST
***Recordings available after the call***
Session One - Grounding, Gaṇeśa and Auspicious Beginnings
Thursday, January 7, 2021
4pm-5:30pm PST / 7pm-8:30pm EST
This talk will look to the mythology of Gaṇeśa, the elephant-headed lord of wisdom and auspicious beginnings. You will learn the significance of how Gaṇeśa got his elephant’s head, and also why he is worshipped first among the host of Hindu gods. Drawing on primary source Sanskrit texts, Dr. Raj Balkaran expertly decodes Indian myths as rich repositories of life wisdom, personal growth and spiritual evolution. Start off 2021 on auspicious footing by invoking the energy of Gaṇeśa.
Session Two- Śiva, Lord of Yogis
Thursday, January 14, 2021
4pm-5:30pm PST / 7pm-8:30pm EST
This module turns to the paradoxical mythology of the erotic ascetic Śiva, Lord of Yogis himself. We unpack his role in the mythic descent of the celestial Ganges river from heaven to earth. We also explore Śiva’s blissful dance of cosmic destruction at the end of the Kali Yuga.
Session Three - The Greatness of the Goddess
Thursday, January 21, 2021
4pm-5:30pm PST / 7pm-8:30pm EST
The Indian Goddess is associated with the ancient Sanskrit word for “power” (shakti). Each Goddess personifies a specific energy which seekers can invoke for their personal development.
This series explores key personifications of Power from ancient India’s Goddess traditions. You will come to learn their rich symbolisms with an eye to the role they might play in your own life journey.
Session Four- The Wisdom of the Sages
Thursday, January 28, 2021
4pm-5:30pm PST / 7pm-8:30pm EST
The session unpacks the stories of eminent Hindu sages. We explore in detail the rivalry between the sages Vasiṣṭha and Viśvāmitra and their cosmic feud over a wish-fulfilling cow. You will learn why certain yoga poses are named after these sages.
Session Five - The Churning of the Ocean
Thursday, February 4, 2021
4pm-5:30pm PST / 7pm-8:30pm EST
This session plumbs the depths of one of the richest Indian myths: the primordial collaboration between the demons and the gods to churn the cosmic oceans in search for the elixir of immortality (soma). This wellspring of wisdom includes vignettes about how Śiva got his blue throat, the birth of the goddess Lakṣmī, and how Viṣṇu—donning feminine form—seduced the demons away from the elixir.
About Dr. Raj Balkaran
Dr. Raj Balkaran is an expert in Indian mythology, possessing academic degrees in Sanskrit narrative texts. Alongside his academic training, Dr. Balkaran apprenticed with an Indian master for twelve years as part of a living oral tradition dedicated to the preservation and application of Indian teachings. He is an initiate and avid practitioner. Skilled at applying ancient Indian teachings to modern life, he dovetails academic training, captivating storytelling, and life wisdom to nourish his students’ hearts and minds alike. A seasoned online educator, Dr. Balkaran teaches online courses privately, at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies and at Yogic Studies. Beyond practice, research and teaching, he podcasts and runs a thriving life coaching practice. See rajbalkaran.com for more information.
For more information please contact [email protected].