A podcast for curious kids and their grown-ups

Ancient India’s greatest stories, told by a kid who loves them

Welcome to Mythical Masala with Neev, the podcast that brings ancient myths and legends to life in a fun, fresh, and engaging way! Hosted by Neev, a curious and adventurous tween, this show takes listeners on a magical journey through the greatest epic tales from Indian mythology.

Mythical Masala with Neev cover art: Neev with a microphone surrounded by Rama, Krishna, Hanuman and Ganesha

Latest episode

S5E10: Tulsi and Shankhachuda | The Trick That Turned Vishnu into a Stone

Every year, a couple of weeks after Diwali, families all over India dress a tulsi plant like a bride and marry her to Vishnu. But who was Tulsi before she was a plant? Neev and his mom travel to the icy valley of Badri, where a princess named Tulsi prays for years to marry Vishnu. Instead, she marries Shankhachuda, a demon king so fair and generous that the gods can't find a reason to hate him. When the gods lose heaven to him, Shiva goes to war, and only a disguise and a trick can end it. ...

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Show notes and transcript

Start here

Pick a story

The Ramayana

Rama, Sita, Hanuman and the fall of Ravana, told in story order.

The Mahabharata

From Shantanu to the end of the Kurukshetra war, three seasons long.

Vishnu’s Avatars and Adventures

Narasimha, Varaha, Gajendra and the other avatars who step in to save the world.

Recent

More episodes

S5 E9 Oct 29, 2026 · 18 min

Narada's Pride: How a Poor Farmer Taught the Proudest Sage a Lesson

Narada, the wandering sage who's always singing "Narayan, Narayan," is sure he's the greatest devotee of Vishnu in the whole universe. So Vishnu takes him to Earth in disguise to meet someone surprising: a poor farmer. Neev and his mom follow Narada into a tiny hut with almost no food, where the farmer gives everything to two strangers, even his children's dinner. When Narada scoffs that the farmer only prays in his spare time, Vishnu hands him a bowl of oil, full to the brim, and a very si...

S5 Bonus Oct 26, 2026 · 14 min

S5: Bonus Episode: Seeing the Ramayana Movie? The Whole Epic Explained for Kids

Seeing the new Ramayana movie? Start here. Neev and his mom race through the whole Ramayana in about 12 minutes, with no movie spoilers. Prince Rama breaks Shiva's mighty bow and marries Sita. Queen Kaikeyi's two wishes send him into the forest for fourteen years, and his brother Bharata rules with Rama's sandals on the throne. A golden deer tricks Rama, and Ravana, the ten-headed king of Lanka, carries Sita away while the brave old vulture Jatayu fights to stop him. Along the way, find out h...

S5 E8 Oct 22, 2026 · 21 min

Sudarshan Chakra: How Vishnu Got His Spinning Disc and Why Durvasa Ran

Where did Vishnu's spinning disc, the Sudarshan Chakra, come from? It starts with a thousand lotus flowers, a test from Shiva, and one flower that goes missing. Neev and his mom tell the story of how Shiva gave Vishnu the chakra, including a lesser-known version where Vishnu tests it on Shiva himself. Then the chakra goes to work, guarding King Ambarisha, a kind king keeping his Ekadashi fast. When the hot-tempered sage Durvasa turns up late for lunch and loses his temper over a single sip o...

S5 E7 Oct 15, 2026 · 22 min

Varaha: When Vishnu Became a Giant Boar to Lift the Earth From the Ocean

Why was the Earth at the bottom of the ocean, and why did Vishnu have to become a giant boar to bring it back? It all starts at a door. Four tiny, barefoot visitors walk up to Vishnu's home. They look like little kids, but they're some of the wisest sages in the universe. When Vishnu's two guards, Jaya and Vijaya, laugh at them and shut the gate, a curse sends the guards down to Earth as demon brothers. One of them, Hiranyaksha, drags the whole Earth to the bottom of the cosmic ocean. Neev an...

S5 E6 Oct 8, 2026 · 21 min

Garuda: The Giant Eagle Who Stole Immortality to Free His Mother

Where did Garuda, the giant eagle who carries Vishnu, come from? It starts with two sisters, a pure white horse, and a bet that was rigged from the start. When Kadru cheats her sister Vinata into becoming her servant, Vinata's son Garuda sets out to win her freedom. The price is the amrita, the nectar of immortality, locked away in heaven and guarded by Indra and every god he has. Follow Garuda as he blazes out of his egg, carries a branch full of thumb-sized sages, slips through a wheel of s...

S5 E5 Oct 1, 2026 · 17 min

Why Do We Celebrate Onam? The Story of Vamana and Mahabali

The gods have lost heaven itself to the mighty demon king Bali, the most generous ruler who ever lived. So Vishnu comes down to help, and this time he arrives in his smallest form ever: Vamana, a little boy with a wooden bowl. At Bali's grand ceremony, where the king gives away anything anyone asks, Vamana requests something almost silly: just three steps of land. But when a promise is sealed and the tiny boy begins to grow, three steps turn out to be enough to cover the entire universe. A st...

All episodes

Seasons

Listen in order

Season 5: Vishnu’s Avatars and Adventures
Narasimha, the churning of the ocean, Gajendra, Dhruva, Vamana, Garuda and Varaha.
Season 4: The Kurukshetra War
Eighteen days that decided the Mahabharata, from Arjuna’s dilemma to the Pandavas’ final journey.
Season 3: Exile, Dice and Epic Vows
The game of dice, twelve years in the forest and one in disguise, and the Pandavas in disguise before the war.
Season 2: The Mahabharata Begins
Shantanu and Ganga, Bhishma’s vow, the birth of the Pandavas and Kauravas, and Krishna’s childhood in Vrindavan.
Season 1: The Ramayana, Ganesha and the Gods
How it all began: Ganesha’s elephant head, Rama’s exile, Hanuman’s leap to Lanka and the fall of Ravana.

From the blog

Guides, lesson plans and story lists for parents and teachers.

Taking Your Kids to See the Ramayana Movie: What Parents Should Know
Is the Ramayana movie OK for kids? The PG-13 rating, the 3-hour runtime, the story in 10 minutes, and what to listen to before you go.
Stories About Courage for Kids
Five Indian mythology stories that show kids what courage looks like, from Hanuman’s leap across the ocean to young Rama facing demons in the forest.
Stories About Honesty for Kids
Five Indian mythology stories about honesty, from King Harishchandra who would not lie to the cost of Shakuni’s loaded dice.

All posts Printables Teachers and parents

About the show

In each episode, Neev dives into the thrilling adventures of heroic gods, powerful warriors and mystical creatures from the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and beyond, with a sprinkle of humor and relatable twists for young listeners. Perfect for families, kids and anyone curious about Indian mythology.

More about Neev and the show Send fan mail