Time, a serpent, endlessly sheds its skin.
On Myths & Samsara, we trace the scales left behind—myths, stories, and forgotten echoes of Sri Lanka and the Indian subcontinent.
Samsara is more than a cycle—it is a vast and unyielding landscape where gods wage wars across kalpas, mortals are reborn as monsters, and the same soul drifts through ages, wearing a hundred faces.
Through the lens of Buddhist cosmology, we explore ancient tales to set the stage for historical fiction—citing old magic, reborn in new worlds.
What you’ll find here:
Deep dives into Buddhist cosmology, samsara, and the six realms of existence
Myths and folklore from the Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka, retold with reverence and imagination
World-building insights drawn from centuries of spiritual and cultural lore
A glimpse into a fantasy saga spanning ten thousand years, where the dead do not rest and time itself is a labyrinth
Subscribe—and step beyond the edge of memory.
010 - How Buddhist Cosmology Inspired the Pawn of Samsara Duology
After a hiatus to publish The Pawn of Samsara duology, D.M. De Alwis returns to the mic to pull back the curtain on the cosmology of his fictional universe. How does Buddhist philosophy shape a fantasy world?
In this episode, we explore the "One Rule" that governs every being in this multiverse—from the lowest human to the highest deity—and how the law of Karma-Vipaka (Action and Consequence) replaces traditional "magic" with cosmic weight. D.M. discusses the character arcs of Sinha and Isha, the role of divine manipulation, and why there is no "hero’s journey" when you are trapped in the cycle of Samsara.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
The Rules of the Universe: Why fixed laws are essential for high-stakes fantasy world-building.
Sinha vs. Isha: How two righteous characters can end up on opposite sides of the god/demon divide.
The Greater Gods: Why the "silence of gods" is actually a calculated part of the cosmic balance.
Future Worlds: A sneak peek at the upcoming project, A Monkey’s Mask, and the introduction of Yakshas, Nagas, and Rakshas.
Links & Resources Mentioned:
Official Website: dmdealwis.com (http://dmdealwis.com)
Buy the Books: The Pawn of Samsara Duology (https://www.google.com/search?q=https://dmdealwis.com/books)
Social Media: Find D.M. De Alwis on most platforms @dmdealwis
Featured Books:
A Lion's Head (Sinha's Story)
A Lion's Pride (The continuation of the duology)
About the Host: D.M. De Alwis is the author of the Pawn of Samsara duology and host of the Myths and Samsara podcast. She explores mythology, folklore, and storytelling through the lens of Buddhist cosmology.
Love the show? If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a 5-star review.
17 Jun 2025
009 | Witchcraft or Religion?
This episode explores the misunderstood sub-religions of Demonism, Capuism, and Grahaism in Sri Lanka, revealing their historical context and cultural significance.
3 Jun 2025
008 | The Demons of Disease | Illness, myths, and the Spirit World
This episode examines Maha Kola Sanni Yaksha, the chief of disease demons in Sri Lankan folklore, and how the Sanni Yakuma ritual blends cultural performance with healing practices.
27 May 2025
007 - The Hat Seller | The Thoppi Karaya
DM DEALWIS narrates a Sri Lankan folktale about a hat seller who cleverly outsmarts monkeys, teaching listeners the value of observation and patience.
20 May 2025
006 | The Consecrating of Vijaya | Reading of Chapter VII of the Mahavamsa
This episode is a reading of The Consecrating of Vijaya from Chapter VI of the Mahavamsa, the second-earliest chronicle of Sri Lanka. This version talks about how his people wished him to declare himself King. He rejects his then-wife in favour of a royal wife from the subcontinent.
The first version of this story can be found in Myths & Samsara, Episode 2 | Vijaya's Story | Reading of Book IX of the Dipavamsa. The first part of this version of the story can be found as Episode 5 | The Coming of Vijaya | Reading of Chapter VI of the Mahavamsa.
This version was translated into English by Wilhelm Geiger, PhD, with assistance from Mabel Haynes Bode. Comissioned by the Pali Text Society in 1912 and titled The Mahavamsa or The Great Chronicle of Ceylon. The digitized copy can be found online.
The Dipavamsa is the earliest attempt to write a Chronicle of the Sāsana and the Kings of Sri Lanka, from earliest times up to the 5th c. A.D (1000 years after the events). The Mahavamsa is believed to have been recorded between 1000 and 1250 A.D (1500 years after the events).
This is an English reading. The language is cumbersome. My bias is to suspect both the translator of Western bias and the priesthood authors of the Mahavamsa of bias towards the reigning monarchs of the time, who wished their rule to be mandated by the existing Buddhist chronicles and their 'long-standing' relationship with the Indian mainland.
To find out more about me and why this podcast, visit https://www.dmdealwis.com/. (https://www.dmdealwis.com/002-vijayas-story/)
13 May 2025
005 | The Coming of Vijaya | Reading of Chapter VI of the Mahavamsa
This episode is a reading of The Coming of Vijaya from Chapter VI of the Mahavamsa, the second-earliest chronicle of Sri Lanka. This is the second version of the story of Prince Vijaya—his banishment and journey from the Indian subcontinent and his arrival to the Island of Lanka.
The first version can be found in Myths & Samsara, Episode 2 | Vijaya's Story | Reading of Book IX of the Dipavamsa.
This version was translated into English by Wilhelm Geiger, PhD, with assistance from Mabel Haynes Bode. Comissioned by the Pali Text Society in 1912 and titled The Mahavamsa or The Great Chronicle of Ceylon. The digitized copy can be found online.
The Dipavamsa is the earliest attempt to write a Chronicle of the Sāsana and the Kings of Sri Lanka, from earliest times up to the 5th c. A.D (1000 years after the events). The Mahavamsa is believed to have been recorded between 1000 and 1250 A.D (1500 years after the events).
This is an English reading. The language is cumbersome. My bias is to suspect both the translator of Western bias and the priesthood authors of the Mahavamsa of bias towards the reigning monarchs of the time, who wished their rule to be mandated by the existing Buddhist chronicles and their 'long-standing' relationship with the Indian mainland.
To find out more about me and why this podcast, visit https://www.dmdealwis.com/. (https://www.dmdealwis.com/002-vijayas-story/)
8 May 2025
004 | A Conversation on Masks, Playing God, and Striving for Enlightenment
What’s with the masks? In this episode, we talk about their deeper meaning—how they’re used across cultures to signal fear, power, and identity, and how that symbolism carries into the story. In the world of the book, masks aren’t just props. They mark social roles, spiritual status, and lineage, shaping how characters are seen—and how they see themselves.
We also get into the larger structure behind the story: rebirth, karma, and the slow progression of characters over time. Their choices matter, across lifetimes. Patterns repeat. Some characters rise. Some fall. But all of them change.
There’s a thread about meditation too—not the modern kind, but what happens when you live without distraction. That quiet shapes the characters’ mental and emotional development, grounding their arcs across generations.
This episode is for anyone who’s into layered character work, mythology that builds over time, and stories that aren’t afraid to go deep.
29 Apr 2025
003 | Nara Simha | A conversation on higher order beings
This episode isn’t about religion. It’s about how stories are shaped by culture, how people interpret them, and how those interpretations keep evolving.
How does storytelling explore questions about belief, memory, and moral complexity without fixating on an answer? Drawing from Buddhist cosmology, Hindu mythology, and oral traditions of South Asia, characters' mental and spiritual states affect their setting and consequences and can lead to predestined results.
We focus on the journey of Nara Simha, an immortal being who moves from a sterile immortal plane to the human realm, which is full of sensory and emotional intensity.
Can we imagine how karma works over lifetimes? How characters carry the consequences for their choices, and how people are remembered—sometimes worshipped—after death.
Gods and supernatural beings in mythology are allowed to be flawed. How does that carry through to storytelling?
We also discuss how real-world systems and social dynamics can shape fantasy worlds in subtle and direct ways.
Special thanks to our host and co-producer, Lisa G. For an audio-visual experience, check out the Myths & Samsara Podcast on YouTube. D.M. De Alwis is an author of Historical Fantasy, find out more at www.dmdealwis.com.
15 Apr 2025
002 | Vijaya's Story | Reading of Book IX of the Dipavamsa
This episode is a reading of Vijaya's Story from Book IX of the Dipavamsa, the earliest chronicle of Sri Lanka. It tells the story of Prince Vijaya—his banishment and journey from the Indian subcontinent and his arrival to the Island of Lanka.
This reading is from the text found here: An Ancient Buddhist Historical Record edited and translated by Hermann Oldenberg and available online through the efforts of Buddhist monk, Ānandajoti Bhikkhu in 2018. This edition is based on a reprint of the 1879 edition made by the Pali Text Society in 2000. https://ancient-buddhist-texts.net/Texts-and-Translations/Dipavamsa/09-Vijaya.htm (https://ancient-buddhist-texts.net/Texts-and-Translations/Dipavamsa/09-Vijaya.htm)
The Dipavamsa is the earliest attempt to write a Chronicle of the Sāsana and the Kings of Sri Lanka, from earliest times up to the 5th c. A.D.
This reading gives both Pali and English versions. Please excuse mistakes introduced in my reading of the Pali text.
To find out more about me and why this podcast, visit https://www.dmdealwis.com/002-vijayas-story/ (https://www.dmdealwis.com/002-vijayas-story/).
9 Apr 2025
001 | Audience & Animals? | Writing Fantasy Through Buddhist Cosmology
Welcome to Episode 1 of Myths & Samsara!
In this episode, Eunah asks DM about the audience and the age group she writes for. The conversation shifts to how she writes animal characters and their place in a hierarchy shaped by Buddhist Cosmology. We explore this for human-animal relationships & storytelling.
Topics in this episode:
Audience
Hierarchy of animals vs humans in Buddhist cosmology
Samsara (video only)
More about me:
I’m Diliny M. De Alwis, an author currently on submission with my fantasy novel. Learn more about me at dmdealwis.com (http://dmdealwis.com).
Follow @dmdealwis on Instagram, Bluesky, & Threads!
Subscribe for more deep dives into storytelling, mythology, and cosmology!
9 Apr 2025
000 | Introduction to Myths & Samsara
An introduction to Myths and Samsara.
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