184. The Buddhist Merlin

184. The Buddhist Merlin

While in the West the legends of King Arthur were being born, a Buddhist tantric magician of immense magical powers - Vajrabodhi - was enshrining himself as the Merlin of first India, and then China. Undeniably one of the most extraordinary characters of the 8th century, Vajrabodhi would play a crucial role in transporting Buddhism to the Chinese court, along with Indian scholarship. After being sent there on an important embassy by his cousin, a mighty Pallava king of Southern India, Vajrabodhi embarked upon a colourful odyssey to rival those of antiquity, meeting, as he went, a young boy who would later become his loyal companion and a powerful sorcerer in his own right; Amoghavajra. Together they were alleged to have sent rain dragons to cure droughts, and concocted spells or mantras capable of destroying the invading hordes of Islam and the Tibetans. What then is the truth of these exceptional monks and their purported “magic”? Did they really conquer rampaging armies and even master the elements? Join William and Anita as they discuss Vajrabodhi, the Buddhist magician of India, and his sorcerer’s apprentice. From wizards, spells, and rain dragons, to invading armies, and the secrets of the previously unexplainable Borobudur… To fill out the survey: survey.empirepoduk.com To buy William's book: https://coles-books.co.uk/the-golden-road-by-william-dalrymple-signed-edition Twitter: @Empirepoduk Email: empirepoduk@gmail.com Goalhangerpodcasts.com Assistant Producers: Anouska Lewis and Tabby Syrett Producer: Callum Hill Exec Producer: Neil Fearn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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340. Chairman Mao: World War II, Japanese Invasion, & Massacre in Nanjing (Ep 3)

340. Chairman Mao: World War II, Japanese Invasion, & Massacre in Nanjing (Ep 3)

How did World War II break out in Asia in 1937? Why did Mao Zedong and his fellow communists live in caves after the Long March? How did the notorious Nanjing Massacre occur? ** Binge all six episode...

10 Maalis 56min

339. Chairman Mao: China's Communist Uprising (Ep 2)

339. Chairman Mao: China's Communist Uprising (Ep 2)

Why did the communists and nationalists join forces with the USSR during the Chinese Civil War? When did the nationalists purge communists in what is known as the “White Terror”? Why did 80,000 commun...

5 Maalis 51min

338.Chairman Mao: Birth of A Dictator (Ep 1)

338.Chairman Mao: Birth of A Dictator (Ep 1)

A revolutionary hero or a brutal despot? Mao Zedong has one of the most recognisable portraits on Earth. How did he rise to become the founder of the People’s Republic of China?  ** Binge all six epi...

3 Maalis 47min

337. Bronze Age Apocalypse: Philistines, Israelites, & Rebuilding The Ruins (Ep 6)

337. Bronze Age Apocalypse: Philistines, Israelites, & Rebuilding The Ruins (Ep 6)

How did the Phoenicians create the alphabet we still use today? Was the Bronze Age collapse comparable to the fall of Rome? What does DNA evidence tell us about the origins of the Philistines and Isra...

26 Helmi 56min

336. Bronze Age Apocalypse: How To Survive The End of The World (Ep 5)

336. Bronze Age Apocalypse: How To Survive The End of The World (Ep 5)

Which ancient civilisation was the best at surviving the Apocalypse, and which was the worst? Who were the Hittites, and what did they actually call themselves? Does the Bronze Age collapse serve as a...

24 Helmi 48min

  335. Bronze Age Apocalypse: Solving The Mystery of The Collapse (Ep 4)

335. Bronze Age Apocalypse: Solving The Mystery of The Collapse (Ep 4)

Who were the ‘Sea Peoples’? Was the Bronze Age Collapse caused by a single catastrophic event? How did the Egyptians try to adapt to the changing climate? From the scientific evidence hidden in ancien...

19 Helmi 1h

334. Bronze Age Apocalypse: Did Homer Write History? (Ep 3)

334. Bronze Age Apocalypse: Did Homer Write History? (Ep 3)

The legendary ancient Greek poet, Homer, is a key source to our understanding of the Bronze Age Collapse, but did a single genius named Homer even exist? How could sophisticated poems like The Iliad a...

17 Helmi 42min

333. Bronze Age Apocalypse: The Fall of Troy with Stephen Fry (Ep 2)

333. Bronze Age Apocalypse: The Fall of Troy with Stephen Fry (Ep 2)

Stephen Fry joins William and Anita to discuss how Greek Myths have shaped our understanding of the Bronze Age Collapse.  Was the Trojan Horse real? What can we learn about the end of ancient civilis...

12 Helmi 52min

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