Episode from The Immortal India Podcast with Amish Tripathi & Jijith Nadumuri Ravi

In this illuminating episode of The Immortal India Podcast, author Amish Tripathi welcomes Jijith Nadumuri Ravi, a former ISRO space scientist and author of Rivers of Rigveda. Together, they explore a fascinating perspective on human origins and migrations — the idea that while Homo sapiens first evolved in Africa, India became the central cradle for populations outside the continent.What's Inside:Trace the remarkable journey of the early explorers who left Africa, followed coastal routes across now-submerged Arabian and Iranian shores, and established themselves in the Indian subcontinent.Understand the science behind this theory, supported by genetics and insights from the Human Genome Project. About the Guest:Jijith Nadumuri Ravi is a former ISRO scientist and the author of Rivers of Rigveda, which delves into the geo-chronology of the Rigveda and offers a fresh update on the Out of India Theory. His other acclaimed works include Geography of Ramayana and Geography of Mahabharata, where he intricately maps ancient Indian texts to real-world geography.(Amish, Jijith, Africa, India, Human origins, Human Migrations, Human Genome Project) Like, share, and subscribe for more from the Immortal India Podcast.Social media channels:Instagram: @authoramishFacebook: @authoramishX/Twitter: @authoramish#ImmortalIndiaPodcast#AmishTripathi#JijithNadumuriRavi#HumanOrigins#HumanMigration#OutOfAfricaTheory#OutOfIndiaTheory#AncientIndia#IndianCivilization#HumanGenomeProject#GeneticsResearch#Rigveda#RiversOfRigveda#IndianHistory#VedicHistory#Archaeogenetics#Anthropology#SciencePodcast#HistoryPodcast#IndiaAfricaConnections#AncientMigration#ISROScientist#AmishInterviews#IndianKnowledgeSystems

Relationships & Marriages in Ancient India

Amish x Brishti Guha | The Immortal India Podcast

What did love, marriage, and relationship really mean in ancient India? Were these rigid and conservative institutions, or did they flourish in an environment of freedom, understanding, and mutual respect?

In this captivating episode, Amish speaks to our special guest, Dr. Brishti Guha, Associate Professor of Economics at the Centre for International Trade and Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University. Together, they explore the truths about relationships & marriages in India’s past—revealing a society richer and more open-minded than modern preconceptions might suggest.

The discussion spans stories of polyandry, such as Draupadi’s marriage to five Pandavas in the Mahabharata, to the encouragement of widow remarriage across ancient texts, including the Rigveda, Arthashastra, and even theMahabharata. These examples show that the understanding of relationships in ancient India could be surprisingly modern, inclusive, and diverse.

Dr. Guha tells us about the fascinating range of marriages featured in ancient scriptures:

Gandharva Vivaha (marriage by mutual love)

Rakshasa Vivaha (marriage by abduction)

Pisacha Vivaha (marriage by force)

Inter-caste and cross-varna marriages

Traditional arranged marriages

And many more—each demonstrating the complexity and inclusiveness of social life in ancient India

Through this thoughtful conversation, the podcast brings to life a world where individual choice, love, and dharma harmonize with duty, family, and respect for personal will.

If you are passionate about Indian heritage, culture, and philosophy, this episode will transform the way you view the past—and offer valuable lessons for today.

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more insightful conversations!

Find Brishti Guha on Instagram: @brishtiguha12

Social media channels of Amish Tripathi:

Instagram: @authoramish

Facebook: @authoramish

X/Twitter: @authoramish

Reference Links — For Deeper Exploration

1. Mahabharata

(Adi Parva, Chap 122: Pandu tells Kunti how marriages used to be open until Shvetaketu changed the custom.

Adi Parva, Chap 168: Polyandry, Draupadi marries five Pandavas and Yudhishthir mentions other such marriages in older times.

Adi Parva, Chap 217: Arjun and Chitrangada's "contract" marriage, Arjun gives up rights to his future children with Chitrangada

Udyog Parva, Chaps 114-117: story of Madhavi and her multiple marriages

A link to an English translation of the Sanskrit Mahabharata online is https://sacred-texts.com/hin/maha/index.htm

2. RigVeda (hymn 10.18 is the famous "burial hymn" or "funeral hymn" which talks about widow remarriage). The best translation of the RigVeda is the Jamison and Brereton translation, which also contains a discussion of the word "didhishu" in the hymn, which means "second husband". Here is a link to the Sanskrit hymn:

https://sacred-texts.com/hin/rvsan/rv10018.htm

3. Arthashastra, Book 3, chapters 2 to 4 talk about widow remarriage and inheritance laws relating to children of women who marry more than once

4. Kamasutra, Book 4, chapter 2 also talks about widow remarriage.

5. Harita Dharmasutra talks about "sadyovadhus" and "brahmavadinis", the latter usually didn't marry.

6. Ashvalayana Grihyasutra gives a list of highly respected teachers and many women (Gargi, Sulabha, Maitreyi, Vadava Pratitheyi) are on the list.

7. Baudhayana Dharmasutra, Book 1, chapter 11.20.16 talks about gandharva vivaha being the most popular with everyone.

8. Texts with examples of gandharva vivaha include:

Avimaraka (of Bhasa), a play where a princess marries a shepherd

Chaurapanchasika (of Bilhana), written when the poet was caught having a secret relationship with a princess

Abhigyana Shakuntalam (of Kalidasa)

Brihatkatha

Dashakumaracharita

9. Ancient Indian Historical Tradition by F.E Pargiter explains how there were many mixed castes because intercaste marriages were extremely common.

In this episode of the Immortal India Podcast, Amish Tripathi is joined by historian and author Nick Collins for an eye-opening exploration of India’s maritime history and its pivotal role in ancient global civilization. Drawing from Nick’s groundbreaking book, "How Maritime Trade and the Indian Subcontinent Shaped the World: Ice Age to Mid-Eighth Century," the discussion uncovers how ancient Indian merchants, thinkers, and adventurers shaped the fortunes of the ancient world.

What’s Inside:

Learn how India’s influence sailed across seas—spreading innovations, ideas, and philosophy far beyond its borders.

Explore how the Indian subcontinent became a central hub of ancient maritime trade, influencing civilizations from Sumeria to Egypt and Greece.

Discover evidence and theories about Indian migrants shaping ancient cultures, including the Hittites, Mitannis, Greeks, and Trojans.

Delve into the history of Lothal and how its exports shaped interactions with Sumeria, highlighting the dynamic exchange of goods and ideas.

About the guest:

Nick Collins studied history at Magdalene College, Cambridge, and then embarked on a career in maritime trade with Clarkson, the world’s leading provider of maritime services. His book investigates how Indian trade and philosophy have left an enduring mark on world civilizations, making him an exciting and insightful guest on Immortal India.

Social media channels of Amish Tripathi:

Instagram: @authoramish

Facebook: @authoramish

X/Twitter: @authoramish