Watch/Listen to Acharya Shunya in a Roundtable Discussion with the Creators of "Sita's Gems"
Jai Maa! Jai Guru Deva!
I wanted to share a pair of new episodes of Acharya Shunya's Shadow to Self podcast that was just published. This is a 2 part recording of a fascinating roundtable discussion between Acharya Shunya and the creators of the audiobook and course "Sita's Gems".
I was very fortunate to be able to sit in on this conversation live, and it was fascinating! I learned more about the Ramayana, Lord Rama, and about Maa Sita especially. In addition to the discussion, there was a beautiful piece sung by our Navratri Kirtan leader Nina Rao.
You can watch the YouTube video recordings at the links below, or listen to the Shadow to Self audio podcast (find on Apple, Spotify, and everywhere podcasts are streamed).
IF YOU ENJOY THIS DISCUSSION - Please like, subscribe, and leave a positive comment wherever you can!
Episode 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtAMui6vaP8
Episode 2 - https://youtu.be/0dZiZNfqCJk?si=TYdtBKdYjjvUotiB
In Sacred Service,
Sadhvi Aparna
Shadow to Self 'Sita's Gems' Episode Description
Sita, the heroine of the Hindu epic Ramayana and a divine feminine avatar of Lakshmi, is often misunderstood. She is remembered for her suffering, praised for her patience, but rarely honored for her sovereignty—her fierce choices, her dharmic fire, and her return to Self. In this extended 2-hour conversation, Acharya Shunya brings together the creative team behind Sitayana—a powerful 24-passage audio journey that reclaims Sita as a spiritual force in her own right. Together, they explore exile, silence, devotion, dharma, defiance, and the feminine path to awakening.
Guests: Michael Sternfeld – Producer of Sitayana and lifelong devotee of the Ramayana
Nina Rao – Executive Producer, devotional chant artist, and conservation advocate
Mirabai Starr – Mystic, author, and translator of feminine spiritual texts
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni – Award-winning novelist and author of The Forest of Enchantments
Highlights Include:
✔️ What it means to center Sita—not Rama—in the Ramayana
✔️ How devotion, silence, and resistance live together in the feminine
✔️ Reflections from bhakti, interspiritual mysticism, and sacred storytelling
✔️ A powerful excerpt from the Sitayana passage: “Sita Returns to Mother Earth”
✔️ A devotional chant offered by Nina Rao for Maa Sita
I am looking forward to listening to these episodes. Sita’s Gems is much needed to bring Maa Sita’s full and authentic voice and story to the world. Here is the link to purchase the beautiful Sita’s Gems program. Home - Sita's Gems The Store link on that page takes you to Michael Sternfeld’s other audio productions on Valmiki Ramayana, selected Upanishad passages, Shri Ram, and Hanuman ji, which are also wonderful. Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s retelling of the Ramayana from Sita’s perspective is called The Forest of Enchantments and is well worth the read (as is The Palace of Illusions, centered on Draupadi from the Mahabharata).