Faculty

With Hinduism degrees from the University of Toronto and University of Calgary, Dr. Raj Balkaran is a scholar of Hindu mythology and author of The Goddess and the King in Indian Myth (2018) and The Goddess and the Sun in Indian Myth (2020), both published as part of Routledge’s Hindu Studies Series.

Alongside his academic training, Raj apprenticed with an Indian master for twelve years as part of a living oral tradition dedicated to the preservation and application of Hindu philosophy. He therefore brings hundreds of hours of traditional transmissions on yoga philosophy to the table, which he dovetails with academic rigor and captivating storytelling to deliver impactful instruction at Yogic Studies.

A seasoned online educator, Raj also teaches online courses privately and at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies. Beyond teaching and research, Raj enjoys a thriving consulting practice and hosts the New Books in Hindu Studies podcast.

Courses taught: 

• YS 112 | Yoga and Hindu Mythology 
• YS 208 | Devīmāhātmya: Greatness of the Goddess

Selected Publications: 

• 2023. Co-authored with Noor van Brussel. “Mother of Compassion, Mother of Wrath: Reflections of the Hindu Goddess in Mirrored Māhātmyas.” International Journal of Hindu Studies.  
• 2022. The Stories Behind the Poses: The Indian Mythology That Inspired 50 Yoga Postures. Leaping Hare Press.
• 2020. The Goddess and the Sun in Indian Myth: Power, Preservation, and Mirrored Mahatmyas in the Markandeya Purana. Routledge. 
• 2018. The Goddess and The King in Indian Myth: Ring Composition, Royal Power, and the Dharmic Double Helix. Routledge.