Shadow to Self with Acharya Shunya

In this episode of  Shadow to Self , Acharya Shunya shares the Gayatri Mantra not as theory, but as living memory. From early dawn walks along the Sarayu River in Ayodhya to the disciplined transmission of her grandfather, she reveals how Gayatri became the inner architecture of her life. You will learn: • Why Gayatri is called the mother of the Vedas • The meaning of its three lines and three vya...

In this episode, Vedic wisdom meets the depths of Jewish mysticism as host Acharya Shunya sit sin dialogue with Rabbi Matthew Ponak. Together, they explore how the shadow is not something to be conquered but met with divine intelligence, how ancient traditions guide us when the self feels fragmented, and how grace arrives when effort alone falls short. Drawing from Advaita and embodied Kabbalah, t...

Sita, the heroine of the Hindu epic  Ramayana  and a divine feminine avatar of Lakshmi, is often misunderstood. She is praised for her patience, remembered for her suffering, but rarely honored for her sovereign choices, her hidden fire, her radical return to Self. In this extraordinary episode, Acharya Shunya brings together the creators of  Sitayana —a groundbreaking audio retelling of the  Rama...

Acharya Shunya is joined by Dr. Shamini Jain—clinical psychologist, award-winning researcher, founder of the Consciousness and Healing Initiative, and author of  Healing Ourselves . Drawing from her Jain upbringing, her work in biofield science, and her love for  the goddess,  music and mantra, Dr. Jain speaks with Acharya Shunya about the healing source field, the four paths of yoga, and how embr...

Beneath your spiritual practices may live five ancient forces freezing your truth: the kleshas. In this poetic and piercing episode, Acharya Shunya reveals how real Yoga doesn't just soothe you—it thaws the false self. Journey through the inner glaciers of ignorance, ego, attachment, aversion, and fear—and rediscover the Self that's always been there. This is not lifestyle yoga. This is  serious ...

In this episode of Shadow to Self, Acharya Shunya flips the script: Real yogis don't chase life—they serve it. And that's when life starts giving back. Drawing from the fire of Karma Yoga, she reveals the true turning point: when your life becomes an offering, not a performance. The Yogi's Way to Win in Life Yoga isn't a chase. It's a fire. Listen now—and stop waiting. Start burning.

What if your stuckness, your suffering, even your failure to "get it right" on the spiritual path… is not a detour, but the path itself? In this compelling conversation, Vedic teacher  Acharya Shunya  meets with  Phil Goldberg ,  bestselling author of  American Veda  and the forthcoming  Karmic Relief: Harnessing the Laws of Cause and Effect for a Joyful, Meaningful Life  (releasing October 2025)....

A true Guru doesn't comfort the ego—they burn it. In this episode, Acharya Shunya contrasts the rise of yoga instructors with the sacred fire of the Guru tradition. Through lineage stories, sacred verses, and fierce love for truth, she invites us to let yoga burn again.

In this moving episode, Acharya Shunya speaks with Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati about her new book  Come Home to Yourself  — a heartfelt guide for anyone seeking inner peace and spiritual clarity. Sadhviji was a Stanford grad living a typical American life in California — until a trip to India  and a dip in the Ganges  changed everything. For the past  3 5+ years, she's lived as a renunciate by the...

Yoga was never meant to soothe you. It was meant to burn—to pierce illusion, dissolve ego, and awaken the Self. In this Season 2 premiere of Shadow to Self, Acharya Shunya—a Vedic scholar and fierce voice of lineage—returns to restore Yoga to its sacred fire. Not a trend. Not a performance. A path.  New episodes drop on the 2nd & 4th Wednesdays.  Learn more: AcharyaShunya.com   Google Podcasts  Yo...

In this enlightening conversation, Tracee Stanley, the author of the bestselling book "Radiant Rest: Yoga Nidra for Deep Relaxation and Awakened Clarity," joins podcast host Acharya Shunya, a three-time bestselling author and esteemed Vedic teacher. Together, these two influential feminine leaders delve into the profound wisdom of yoga nidra, meditation, and self-inquiry, sharing insights and teac...

Join Acharya Shunya in conversation with  David Nichtern is a senior Buddhist teacher who has practiced meditation for over 40 years. He was an early student of Tibetan master Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and teaches Buddhist principles through his Dharma Moon platform. D avid  mentors students  and leads meditation teacher training s worldwide . As an author, Nichtern  has authored many books includi...

Ayurveda, the ancient Vedic system of health and healing is often able to deliver results despite a poor prognosis. How does that happen? How can you intellectually align with classic wisdom to benefit from the deepest promise of Ayurveda? What are some of Ayurveda's deep tenets and how can you come into alignment with your own deepest state of health? Listen to this informative and inspiring epis...

 Vedic m ythology which is timeless and teaches us about ourselves, from beyond  culture, religion and gender. These myths are tales of characters who never existed, and yet the characters who variously embody shades of light and darkness, are eternal . They existed before we existed. They will survive us.  Learn from Vedic scholar and bestselling author Acharya Shunya, the ways you can glean deep...

In this episode, Vedic Scholar and author of best selling book Sovereign Self  clarifies how in each one of us we have a dimension that lives inside space and time constructs and occupies a story and a dimension that is beyond space and time and any kind of story. If we learn to connect more with the latter than the former,  we can have a human story but not be bound by it or suffer because of it;...

Shree or Shri represents Goddess Lakshmi herself and her grace, splendour, beauty, wealth, affluence, prosperity, good luck.  Did you know that each embodied soul has a karmic quota of "Shree' to unpack in a given lifetime. Sadly, many of us are not in alignment with Shree and harbor wrong beliefs that prevent Shree from manifesting  good fortune for us. In this episode, show host Acharya Shunya,...

If you're willing to believe that  your shadow isn't just the scary, fearful, uncomfortable part of you, but your inner friend, you can start to feel comfortable sitting it down, asking some questions, and seeing it as your teacher. Whether the shadow becomes your friend or enemy depends largely upon your relationship with the Self.

Learn how to free yourself from your own negative, self-doubting and betraying mind. This timely episode is a soothing balm for our times. Discover how to embrace authenticity, self-love and rewrtie a life script of peace, clarity and purpose. This episode highlights Acharya Shunya's journey to freedom. Tune in, to transform your life and the world we live in. Be inspired and invest in yourself. G...

Acharya Shunya talks about being whole and coming into a relationship with the Shadow and the Self. Being human means accepting the co-existence of the appearance and the truth – this phenomenon she calls "Enlightened Vulnerability." She instructs us not to blame our Shadow, and that the Shadow tends to perpetuate itself – till we infuse it with the Truth. She re-stresses the importance of discern...

There is a deposit within all humans to be noble, considerate and above all, kind, because of who we truly are – the dharmic Self – and not what our ego thinks we are. Yet, we need reminders, because many times, we forget our deepest spiritual imperatives. In this episode of Shadow to Self, Acharya Shunya, shall delve deep into the concept of ahimsa (non-violence) and why and how you can practice...

In this podcast, Vedic Scholar and bestselling author of  Roar Like A Goddess , Acharya Shunya invites listeners on a quest for personal excellence in everything they do, for greater success and satisfaction in life. She explains how excellence is different from perfectionism and how the Hindu Goddess Lakshmi is all about excellence. By adopting this one dharma value of excellence , you will becom...

In the episode, Achara Shunya muses on the spiritual significance of Diwali - the Hindu Festival of Lights and delves deep into Ramayana, the epic story behind Diwali with Michael Sternfeld, MA, who is a distinguished scholar of Ramayana and also a producer/director with over 400 productions in theater, music, dance, audio and video to his credit. In addition to publishing the complete audio Ramay...

Respecting yourself is a critical prerequisite to everything else such as self-esteem, self-love, self-consideration and even feeling worthy of fulfilling your needs and availing opportunities like everyone else. For many people, especially women, self-respect is blocked. Acharya Shunya discusses 4 ways to unblock the flow of this divine self-validating emotion within you that shall make you more...

The Vedic festival of Navratri celebrates the Divine Mother as Goddess Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati, who are said to descend to the earth plane through moon rays, to destroy negativity and instill dharma and power in the hearts of all humans who revere HER. Join Acharya Shunya, Vedic Scholar and Author of Roar Like A Goddess,  as she unpacks her festival memories along with rituals and practices...

Embracing the Inner Druga represents confidently riding the lion of colonialism, patriarchy and misogyny in the modern context, and becoming, not only defiant but invincible in your divine, goddess blessed life. In this power filled episode, Vedic scholar and lineage holder Acharya Shunya shares about her progressive Vedic roots, her first feminine lineage - ancestor and what will happen when all...