History & Mythology
Indian History & Mythology
Beyond scripture and practice, this is where we tell the larger stories — the kingdoms and empires that shaped the subcontinent, and the epics and Puranic tales behind the deities worshipped across our mantra and aarti pages. Long-form, narrative, and rooted in sources.
History is a living, contested field, and regional accounts can differ on dates, names, and emphasis. We aim to present the widely accepted narrative clearly while flagging where scholarship or tradition varies.
The Teacher and the Outcast Prince: How Chanakya and Chandragupta Maurya Built an Empire
Before Ashoka, there was Chandragupta — a young man with no kingdom, guided by a teacher who had been humiliated at court and never forgot it. Together they built the first empire to unite most of the Indian subcontinent.
The Kingdom That Changed an Emperor: The History of Kalinga and Odisha
Ashoka won the Kalinga War — and the defeated kingdom changed the conqueror. From Kharavela's forgotten empire to the temples of Puri and Konark, this is the 2,000-year story of Kalinga and Odisha.
"I Shall Not Give Up My Jhansi": The Story of Rani Lakshmibai
Widowed, denied her adopted son's right to the throne, and ordered to surrender her kingdom, Rani Lakshmibai chose to fight instead. Her defence of Jhansi made her one of the most enduring symbols of resistance in Indian history.
Neither Side Could Win Alone: The Myth of Samudra Manthan, the Churning of the Ocean
To win back their lost power, the devas needed help from the very asuras they were losing to. Samudra Manthan is the Puranic story of what it costs to churn an ocean for immortality — and who ends up drinking the poison along the way.
The Boy Who Was Crowned King of a Kingdom That Didn't Exist Yet: Shivaji and the Rise of the Marathas
At sixteen, Shivaji began capturing forts with a small band of followers. By the time he was crowned king at Raigad, he had built an empire that would outlast the Mughals — using terrain, timing, and an idea called Swarajya, self-rule.
Hampi's Ruins Were Once a Living Empire: The Story of Vijayanagara
Founded by two brothers on the losing side of a war, Vijayanagara grew into an empire whose capital city amazed foreign travellers with its wealth. Its ruins at Hampi are what remain of one of medieval India's great civilizations.