ancienthistory

An architectural marvel famous for the mysteries of its origin. Some believe that these rock carvings have 99 lakh 99 thousand 999 gods imprisoned in them because of a spell. Some say that these were made by a single man in a single night. There are endless secrets and stories hidden in the intricacies of these carvings. Listen to the full episode to know the entire truth behind the rock carvings of Unakoti. 

Narrated by

Purab

Written by

Tanishka Tripathi

Creative Director 

Dhruv Lau

Sound Design

Aayush

For Feedback and suggestions write to us - podcast@redfm.in or DM on Instagram - @redfmpodcasts

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1996, scientists at Roslin Institute of Scotland cloned a sheep and named it Dolly. Dolly was celebrated as the world’s first cloned mammal. This event occurred just 3 decades back. But, Indian scriptures, written thousands of years ago, have several references of cloning. The Vedas and Puranas talk about not only animals but also humans that might have been cloned. Some doctors say that the processes and methods mentioned in these books are feasible today.

Did ancient Indians know the complex science of cloning? Is human cloning possible, and even necessary?

Narrated by

Purab

Written by

Mihir Joshi

Audio Design by

Aayush Mehra

Creative Direction by

Dhruv Lau

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alas, we have come to the end of the show we've been talking about for years. Will we still compare things to it? Yes. Yes we will. But for now, we bid a fond farewell and we're off to see the Harley!

How did Buddhism catch on in South India? Episode 7 of Echoes of India explores the life of the Andhra teacher Nagarjuna, called a "Second Buddha", his fascinating philosophy of "zeroness", and the ancient South Indian dynasty who built Roman-style theatres in the 2nd century CE.

If you have questions for Anirudh, follow him on Twitter @AKanisetti or on Instagram @aniruddhadevaraya

Notes, sources, credits and a transcript of the episode can be found at https://www.anirudhkanisetti.com/home/episode-7

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the story of how South India's grandest Buddhist monument was built: the story of a time when Buddhism dominated the Indian subcontinent, and South Indian Buddhism reached out to shape the art and religion of millions.

Episode 5 of Echoes of India moves further South to the fertile coastal lands of Andhra, where Buddhism flourished in the first two centuries CE, interacting with local and foreign art styles to create the gorgeous Amaravati school of art, resulting in the crowdfunding of an immense white stupa that would stand for nearly 1400 years. Hear the chanting of monks, the clear bells of a great monastic complex, and the awestruck words of the Chinese monk Xuanzang, who made a pilgrimage to the site in the 7th century.

If you have questions for Anirudh, follow him on Twitter @AKanisetti or on Instagram @aniruddhadevaraya

Notes, sources, credits and a transcript of the episode can be found at https://www.anirudhkanisetti.com/home/episode-5

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1900 years after she was carved, an Indian ivory statuette was uncovered in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii. How did she come there, and how much had the world changed since the eruption of Vesuvius buried her?

This is her story: a story of the globalization of the ancient world, a story of the vast diversity and complexity of the world that our ancestors called home.

Episode 4 of Echoes of India looks back on the first three to paint a picture of a planet in flux, as economic webs weave together ancient civilizations in a pattern of interaction and innovation that is strikingly reminiscent of the world we know today. Hear the explosion of Vesuvius, the great markets of Alexandria, and the booming thunder of the monsoons that blew trading fleets to the shores of India.

If you have questions for Anirudh, follow him on Twitter @AKanisetti or on Instagram @aniruddhadevaraya

Notes, sources, credits and a transcript of the episode can be found at https://www.anirudhkanisetti.com/home/episode-4

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

History is written by kings. What if a queen could tell us her story?

In this episode, the rush of Central Asian nomads into India is halted by the first true empire based in the Deccan. But it would not be the last. And the most remarkable aspect of this empire? Its queens - powerful matriarchs who ruled and built in their own right, and whose vision of what a kingdom should be had profound effects on all that came after.

The third episode of Echoes of India continues the complex saga of ancient Indian history but moves South - hear the boasts of mighty queens who commanded resources unthinkable to their ancestors, as trade, greed and violence lead to a saga of revenge and competition that will change the course of Indian history forever. If you have questions for Anirudh, follow him on Twitter @AKanisetti or on Instagram @aniruddhadevaraya

Notes, sources, credits and a transcript of the episode can be found at https://www.anirudhkanisetti.com/home/episode-3

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.