Welcome back to ILF Radio! In today’s episode, we journey to the coastal town of Puri in Odisha, home to the revered Jagannath Temple - where Jagannath, the Lord of the World, presides over faith, history, and imagination.

Rooted in powerful myths of origin and shaped by centuries of historical change, the Jagannath Temple emerges from a long process of assimilation where tribal, Shaiva, and local traditions gradually merged into a distinctive Vaishnava vision. From the patronage of the Ganga and Gajapati rulers to the interventions of British administration, the temple has remained central to the political and cultural life of the region. Each year, during the Rath Yatra, lakhs of pilgrims flood the streets of Puri, transforming the town into a moving landscape of devotion, chariots, and crowds.

Book by today's expert - Altar of Power: The Temple and the State in the Land of Jagannatha Sixteenth to Nineteenth Centuries

Book by Yaaminey Mubayi

Link to pictures of key site-

https://share.google/yKm9Qmh6Ff0BbR5O8

Relevant reading material -

https://www.jstor.org/stable/44141229 Sthambeshwari Devi Cult

The Cult Of Jagannath And The Regional Tradion Of Orissa A Eschmann H Kulke GC Tripathi https://share.google/wKbD0FVOPgMphjbNC

Follow India Lost and Found on Instagram @indialostandfound, X (formerly Twitter) @IndiaLostFound, and Facebook @IndiaLostFound for more captivating stories of heritage sites. Let's ensure that the essence of our civilizational history is preserved for generations to come. You can also visit our website at https://www.indialostandfound.com/ to explore additional content and join our mission to uncover India's lost treasures.

Intro/Outro music credit: Dhaka by Kevin McLeod

Welcome back to ILF Radio! For our first episode of the New year, fresh out of the Christmas season, we asked, what significance does Christmas hold in an Indian context? What are the origins of Christianity in India? A religion of Semitic roots, but popularly known through the lens of Western tradition. Was it a colonial import or does its history run far deeper?

The practice of Christian tradition in India is as diverse as its culture, having evolved and assimilated within an Indian context over two millenniums since the death of Christ. But the most fascinating and overlooked fact is that the very first introduction of Christianity on Indian shores took place as early as the apostolic era by one of Jesus’ chosen 12 apostles – Thomas who was also known as Didymus, “Doubting Thomas” and most popularly referred today as St. Thomas, the Patron saint of India. How did a Palestinian Jew from Galilee come to live and die on our Southern shores? What is the legacy he left behind? We are joined today by Vijay Kamalkara, founder and CEO of Chennai based Story trails – one of the pioneers of story-based walking tours in the country to give us an account of what we know of the ministry of St. Thomas in India.

Links to key heritage sites from today’s episode:

- Santhome Basilica, Chennai

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Thomas_Cathedral_Basilica,_Chennai#/media/File:Santhome_Basilica.jpg

- Spearhead believed to have killed St. Thomas at Santhome Basilica

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Thomas_Cathedral_Basilica,_Chennai#/media/File:Chennai,_basilica_di_san_tommaso_apostolo,_museo,_reliquiario_dell'osso_di_s._tommaso_e_della_lancia_che_lo_uccise,_02.jpg

- Tob of St. Thomas at Santhome

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tomb_of_St._Thomas_in_India.JPG

- Marthoma Pontifical Shrine, Kodungaloor

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Mar_Thoma_Church,_Kodungaloor#/media/File:Kodungaloor_Mar_Thoma_Church.jpg

- Bone relic believed to belong to St. Thomas at Marthoma Kodungaloor

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Mar_Thoma_Church,_Kodungaloor#/media/File:Thomasreliquiar_Kondungallur.jpg

- St. Thomas Church on the Mount - the site believed to commemorate the martyrdom of St. Thomas

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:St._Thomas_Church_on_the_Mount#/media/File:Main_Entrance_St_Thomas_Mount_Church_Chennai_Aug22_A7C_02249.jpg/2

- 14 stations of the Cross positioned along the 160-step climb up the mount (nos 3,5,10 and 13)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Thomas_Mount_National_Shrine_Basilica#/media/File:Statue_of_jesus_at_st.Thomas_mount_church,_chennai_3.JPG

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Thomas_Mount_National_Shrine_Basilica#/media/File:Statue_of_jesus_at_st.Thomas_mount_church,_chennai_5.JPG

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Thomas_Mount_National_Shrine_Basilica#/media/File:Statue_of_jesus_at_st.Thomas_mount_church,_chennai.JPG

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Thomas_Mount_National_Shrine_Basilica#/media/File:Station_Cross_XIII_Thomas_Mount_Chennai_Aug22_A7C_02282.jpg

Follow India Lost and Found on Instagram @indialostandfound, X (formerly Twitter) @IndiaLostFound, and Facebook @IndiaLostFound for more captivating stories of heritage sites. Let's ensure that the essence of our civilizational history is preserved for generations to come. You can also visit our website at https://www.indialostandfound.com/ to explore additional content and join our mission to uncover India's lost treasures.

Intro/Outro music credit: Dhaka by Kevin McLeod

Welcome back to ILF Radio! In today’s episode, we discuss a powerful relic of the Kachhawa dynasty - the Jaigarh fort.

A monument of immense strategic significance, Jaigarh remains a powerful symbol of resilience, ingenuity and artistic brilliance. From its advanced water conservation systems to the awe inspiring Jaiban canon, it is a place where engineering marvels, artistic expression and spiritual beliefs converge. Dr Chandni Chowdhary delves into its legacy to uncover how its past continues to shape the cultural identity of Rajasthan, particularly Jaipur today.

Links to key heritage sites from today’s episode:

- View of the fort with watchtower: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:External_walls_and_towers_of_Jaigarh_Fort#/media/File:Jaigarh_Fort,_Jaipur,_20191218_1627_9453.jpg

- Jaiban Canon: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Jaivan_Cannon#/media/File:Jaibaan_Canon_(The_Jaivana).jpg

-Water collection pond:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Rainwater_Collector_(Jaigarh_Fort)#/media/File:Jaigarh_008.jpg

- Fortifications along the Aravallis:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:External_walls_and_towers_of_Jaigarh_Fort#/media/File:20191218_Jaigarh_Fort,_Amer,_Jaipur_1615_9417.jpg

- Garden and North wall:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:External_walls_and_towers_of_Jaigarh_Fort#/media/File:Jaigarh_Fort,_Amer,_Jaipur,_20191218_1613_9402.jpg

Follow India Lost and Found on Instagram @indialostandfound, X (formerly Twitter) @IndiaLostFound, and Facebook @IndiaLostFound for more captivating stories of heritage sites. Let's ensure that the essence of our civilizational history is preserved for generations to come. You can also visit our website at https://www.indialostandfound.com/ to explore additional content and join our mission to uncover India's lost treasures.

Intro/Outro music credit: Dhaka by Kevin McLeod

Welcome back to ILF Radio! In today’s episode, we’re set to explore the iconographic development of Durga as Mahishasuramardini.

The earliest depictions of Durga as Mahishasuramardini can be found in the 1st century BCE, with a lion beneath her feet, armed with weapons, killing a bull. This form is found throughout the subcontinent, depicted on temples, caves, seals and coins, and widely supplemented by texts like Devi Mahatmyam, which describes the killing of an asura named Mahisha in great detail, and widely found in folklore as well. Around the 6th century CE, the form develops further as Mahishasura transforms from a bull, as depicted earlier, to a half-man, half-bull; this is observed in the temples constructed by early Chalukyas, such as Aihole, and further, in the Mahishasuramardini cave at Mahabalipuram made by the Pallavas. The adaptation of this form in worship also varies through various regions. While she is a daughter returning to her father's house in Bengal, the same Goddess is just form, Katyayani, among the nine forms of the Goddess in North India.

Deepa Chakravarthy takes us through the iconographic changes, and helps us connect with the true essence of the tale as she uncovers the meaning behind the intangible force of Shakti.

Links to key heritage sites from today’s episode:

- Kotravai: the Tamil goddess of victory

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kottravai_at_peruvudayar_temple,_Thanjavur.jpg

- Elements of Hindu Iconography by Gopinatha Rao

https://archive.org/details/cu31924071128825

- Badami Cave 1 Durga

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:6th_century_Durga_spearing_buffalo_demon_Mahishasura_(cave_1),_Badami_Hindu_cave_temple_Karnataka.jpg

- Durga at Aihole

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Durga_Temple_Aihole_ADSC_1481.jpg

- Durga slaying Mahishasura at Mahabalipuram Rock-cut cave

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Durga_Slaying_Mahishasur_sculpture_at_Mamallapur_1913.jpg

Follow India Lost and Found on Instagram @indialostandfound, X (formerly Twitter) @IndiaLostFound, and Facebook @IndiaLostFound for more captivating stories of heritage sites. Let's ensure that the essence of our civilizational history is preserved for generations to come. You can also visit our website at https://www.indialostandfound.com/ to explore additional content and join our mission to uncover India's lost treasures.

Intro/Outro music credit: Dhaka by Kevin McLeod

Welcome back to ILF Radio! In today’s episode, we’re on a pilgrimage to the temple town of Chidambram in Tamil Nadu where the Thillai Nataraja temple rises in celebration of Shiva, the Lord of the dance!

While the earliest mention of the temple dates back to the 6th century CE. The construction of the temple complex as we see it today began in the early Chola period around the 10th century and it further developed as it continued to receive patronage from successive empires. Every square inch of its 40 acres is packed with profound symbolism and purpose. Its construction is a testament of craftsmanship in sculpture and metallurgy. Positioned in alignment with what was once considered to be the earth’s magnetic equator or “the sacred heart of the universe”, the design of the temple is said to resonate with the cosmic rhythm and is a metaphor of Shiva’s anthropometric form. It is our pleasure at ILF to have established Mohiniyattam dancer and oral historian Deepa Chakravarthy walk us through the past and present of these sacred halls.

Links to key heritage sites from today’s episode:

- Layout of the Thillai Nataraja Temple complex: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:10th_to_13th_century_Chidambaram_Nataraja_Temple_plan.svg

- Wood engraving from the 1870’s of the sacred tank and gopuram: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nataraja_Temple,_Chidambaram#/media/File:Sacred_Tank_and_Pagoda_at_Chillambaran,_India,_c_1870.jpg

-Golden roof of the Chit Sabha:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Thillai_Nataraja_Temple,_Chidambaram#/media/File:Golden_Roof,_Nataraja_Temple_in_Chidambaram.jpg

- Natya Shastra dance mudras at the Thillai Nataraja:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Dance_mudra_reliefs_at_the_Thillai_Nataraja_Temple,_Chidambaram#/media/File:13th_century_collage_of_Natya_Sastra_dance_mudra_on_Chidambaram_Nataraja_temple_eastern_gopura.jpg

- Nataraja performing Ananda Tandava:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nataraja_Temple,_Chidambaram#/media/File:Nataraja01.jpg

- View of the fort from the beach showing St. Mary’s steeple (date unknown)

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fort_St._George.jpg

Follow India Lost and Found on Instagram @indialostandfound, X (formerly Twitter) @IndiaLostFound, and Facebook @IndiaLostFound for more captivating stories of heritage sites. Let's ensure that the essence of our civilizational history is preserved for generations to come. You can also visit our website at https://www.indialostandfound.com/ to explore additional content and join our mission to uncover India's lost treasures.

Intro/Outro music credit: Dhaka by Kevin McLeod

Welcome back to another episode of ILF Radio, where today we journey into the timeless world of the Ajanta Caves. More than artistic marvels, these rock-cut monuments are a window into the spiritual and cultural life of ancient India. Built between the 2nd century BCE and 6th century CE, Ajanta reflects the evolving traditions of Buddhism, beginning with the simple, austere Hinayana phase and later embracing the more elaborate Mahayana imagery. The caves are celebrated for their breathtaking murals and sculptures, which vividly depict stories from the Jataka tales, daily life, and the path to enlightenment. These paintings, with their refined colors and flowing lines, capture the essence of compassion, devotion, and artistic brilliance. Yet, over time, Ajanta faced decline with the waning of Buddhism in India. In this episode, we’ll explore these layers- faith, art, and eventual obscurity.

Glossary:

1. Chaitya – A Buddhist prayer hall or shrine, often housing a stupa.

2. Vihara – A Buddhist monastery or dwelling place for monks.

3. Avadanas – Legendary or moral stories illustrating Buddhist teachings.

4. Jatakas – Tales of the previous lives of the Buddha, teaching moral lessons.

5. Vinaya – The regulatory framework or code of conduct for Buddhist monks and nuns.

6. Nirgranthikas – Ascetic sects in ancient India, often associated with Jainism.

7. Ajivikas – An ancient Indian religious sect emphasizing fatalism and strict asceticism.

8. Mahasanghikas – One of the early Buddhist schools, emphasizing the transcendental nature of the Buddha.

9. Theravadins – Followers of the Theravada school, emphasizing the earliest Buddhist teachings.

10. Sravastavadins – A Buddhist sect known for its detailed Abhidharma scholasticism.

11. Māra – The demon or personification of temptation and death in Buddhism.

12. Avalokiteshvara – The Bodhisattva of compassion in Mahayana Buddhism.

13. Manjushri – The Bodhisattva representing wisdom in Mahayana Buddhism.

14. Bodhisattva – An enlightened being who delays final nirvana to help others achieve enlightenment.

Explore visuals from today's episode- https://www.p4panorama.com/360-virtual-tour/ajanta-caves/

Follow India Lost and Found on Instagram @indialostandfound, X (formerly Twitter) @IndiaLostFound, and Facebook @IndiaLostFound for more stories from India’s layered past. You can also visit our website at https://www.indialostandfound.com/ to explore more such journeys.

Intro/Outro music credit: Dhaka by Kevin McLeod

Welcome back to ILF Radio! Today, we’re journeying into the Ajanta Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site nestled in the rugged Sahyadri hills of Maharashtra. Carved into a horseshoe-shaped gorge along the Waghora River, these rock-cut caves, dating back over two millennia, are a sanctuary of art, devotion, and storytelling. Within their stone-carved facades lie timeless murals, intricate sculptures, and monastic cells that once echoed with chants of Buddhist monks. Beyond their artistic grandeur, the caves embody a living archive of faith and imagination, where every wall still whispers the rhythm of meditation, ritual, and ancient creativity.

We are delighted to have Professor Seema Bawa, a renowned Art Historian who teaches at the University of Delhi. She has authored numerous books on Ancient Indian Art and religious art. Prof. Bawa brings to the table a wide array of experience in reading the ancient cave art and uncovering the beauty of these heritage sites. In this episode, she will guide us through the scenic landcsape of the Sahyadri hills and introduce us to the importance of this landscape for the Buddhist monks. Reading through the Pali cannon and understanding the majectic structures inside the cave, this episode will delve into the arrangement of the Buddhist monastic order which reflects in Ajanta.

Glossary:

1. Chaitya – A Buddhist prayer hall or shrine, often housing a stupa.

2. Vihara – A Buddhist monastery or dwelling place for monks.

3. Avadanas – Legendary or moral stories illustrating Buddhist teachings.

4. Jatakas – Tales of the previous lives of the Buddha, teaching moral lessons.

5. Vinaya – The regulatory framework or code of conduct for Buddhist monks and nuns.

6. Nirgranthikas – Ascetic sects in ancient India, often associated with Jainism.

7. Ajivikas – An ancient Indian religious sect emphasizing fatalism and strict asceticism.

8. Mahasanghikas – One of the early Buddhist schools, emphasizing the transcendental nature of the Buddha.

9. Theravadins – Followers of the Theravada school, emphasizing the earliest Buddhist teachings.

10. Sravastavadins – A Buddhist sect known for its detailed Abhidharma scholasticism.

11. Māra – The demon or personification of temptation and death in Buddhism.

12. Avalokiteshvara – The Bodhisattva of compassion in Mahayana Buddhism.

13. Manjushri – The Bodhisattva representing wisdom in Mahayana Buddhism.

14. Bodhisattva – An enlightened being who delays final nirvana to help others achieve enlightenment.

Explore visuals from today's episode- https://www.p4panorama.com/360-virtual-tour/ajanta-caves/

Follow India Lost and Found on Instagram @indialostandfound, X (formerly Twitter) @IndiaLostFound, and Facebook @IndiaLostFound for more stories from India’s layered past. You can also visit our website at https://www.indialostandfound.com/ to explore more such journeys.

Intro/Outro music credit: Dhaka by Kevin McLeod

Welcome to a brand new episode of ILF Radio!

Today, we’re stepping into Raj Bhavan, Mumbai, the official residence of the Governor of Maharashtra. Situated at the southern tip of Malabar Hill, surrounded by the Arabian Sea and enveloped in dense greenery, this 160-year-old estate is as much a place of reflection as it is of governance. Beyond its ornate banquet halls and ceremonial rooms lies a space alive with memories, layered histories, and quiet corners that still hold the rhythm of ritual and routine.

Joining us is Mr. Umesh Kashikar, Public Relations Officer at Raj Bhavan for over 26 years. A passionate historian and former Research Officer in the Governor's Secretariat, Mr. Kashikar has guided countless visitors through this estate, offering insights not only into its architecture and legacy but also the lived-in nuances that never make it to official records.

In this episode, we talk about everything from the transformation of the British-era bunker into a museum of revolutionaries, to the understated presence of the Sri Gundi Devi temple and the challenges of balancing modern infrastructure with heritage preservation. With Mr. Kashikar as our guide, we experience Raj Bhavan not just as a political address, but as a living archive – one that blends protocol with pause, and history with heartbeat.

Explore visuals from today’s episode:

Raj Bhavan aerial view: https://us.images.westend61.de/0001985783pw/aerial-view-of-rajbhavan-back-bay-malabar-point-mumbai-india-AAEF30827.jpg

Official site: https://rajbhavan-maharashtra.gov.in

Follow India Lost and Found on Instagram @indialostandfound, X (formerly Twitter) @IndiaLostFound, and Facebook @IndiaLostFound for more stories from India’s layered past. You can also visit our website at https://www.indialostandfound.com/ to explore more such journeys.

Intro/Outro music credit: Dhaka by Kevin McLeod