In My Gita, acclaimed mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik demystifies The Bhagavad Gita for the contemporary reader. His unique approach-thematic rather than verse-by-verse-makes the ancient treatise eminently accessible, combined as it is with his trademark illustrations and simple diagrams. In a world that seems spellbound by argument over dialogue, vi-vaad over sam-vaad, Devdutt highlights how Krishna nudges Arjuna to understand rather than judge his relationships. This becomes relevant today...

What does the Biblical story of Nathan and David say about effective communication skills? How do you identify the Raja Bhoj, the Gangu Teli and the Shekchilli in your office? What is the corporate equivalent of an Ashwamedha yajna? Drawing from sources as diverse as the Mahabharata and the Bible, the Vikram-Betal stories, the Iliad and the Odyssey, Islamic tenets, the tales of rishis and kings, and fables from around the world, Devdutt Pattanaik, India's leading mythologist, provides a fa...

An exploration of 99 classic myths of India from an entirely non-Western paradigm that provides a fresh understanding of the Hindu spiritual landscape• Compares and contrasts Indian mythology with the stories of the Bible, ancient Egypt, Greece, Scandinavia, and Mesopotamia• Looks at the evolution of Indian narratives and their interpretations over the millennia• Demonstrates how the mythology, rituals, and art of ancient India are still vibrant today and inform the...

Deepen Your Yoga Experience with the Origin Stories of 64 Common AsanasExplore the stories from Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain mythology that nurtured the idea of yoga and shaped the development of its most iconic asanas. Learn how svana-asana (dog pose) is connected to Shiva, bhujanga-asana (cobra pose) was inspired by shape-shifting beings who live below the earth, and much more.Many practitioners are unaware of yoga's underlying philosophy, symbols, and ritua...

Are the illustrious clans of the Mahabharata from Surya Vansh or Chandra Vansh? Which yuga does the Ramayana occur in, and does it occur only once? What do haldi, kumkum, bhasm or chandan signify in a puja thali? After the sensational response to Season 1 of EPIC Channel’s Devlok with Devdutt Pattanaik, Devdutt invited his viewers and readers to ask him questions about Hindu mythology, which he has answered over thirty thrilling episodes. Prepare to be educated, entertained and moved as De...

Manu said that a woman’s dharma is to be mother, daughter, sister and wife in service of men, regardless of the caste. In modern times we call this patriarchy. In the Veda, the need to control and favour hierarchy, is an expression of an anxious mind. Hindu, Buddhist and Jain lore is full of tales where women do not let men define their dharma. In modern times we call this feminism. In the Veda, the acceptance of a woman's choice is an expression of a wise and secure mind. While in Western...

***A god transforms into a nymph and enchants another god.A king becomes pregnant.A prince discovers on his wedding night that he is not a man.***Another king has children who call him both father and mother. A hero turns into a eunuch and wears female apparel. A princess has to turn into a man before she can avenge her humiliation. Widows of a king make love to conceive his child. Friends of the same sex end up marrying each other after one of them metamorphoses into a woman. These are so...

The first exhaustive collection of goddess mythologies from India.• Explores the evolution of goddess worship in India over 4,000 years.• Stunning color photographs illustrate many stories of goddess lore never before available in one collection.In India it is said that there is a goddess in every village, a nymph in every lake. Demonesses stand guard on village frontiers, ogresses howl on crossroads, and untamed forests resound with the laughter of celestial virgin...

The Bhagavad Gita is one of the most widely read and influential texts in India and across the world. Over the centuries, countless scholars, authors, and thinkers have translated and interpreted its teachings, each offering their own perspective. Devdutt Pattanaik's My Gita continues this long tradition—but with a distinctly modern voice.What sets My Gita apart is its contemporary approach. Rather than presenting the Gita's teachings in their full original struct...

It is a popular belief that the Ramayana is idealistic, while the Mahabharata is realistic. Yet these two epics have identical building blocks, identical themes, and identical history.In this ground-breaking book, Devdutt Pattanaik, India' s most popular mythologist, explores the similarities and dissimilarities between the two epics in a ' playful analysis' accompanied by his signature illustrations. Whether it is the family structure, forest exile, or war, the comparison between the two ...

Devdutt Pattanaik introduces the story of Hanuman, the much-loved Hindu deity, to a new generation of readers. Hanuman, Anjani's Mighty Son is perfect as a read-aloud to acquaint young readers with the qualities of valour, selflessness, loyalty and humility that Hanuman embodied. Curated with fascinating bite-sized stories--from how young Hanuman almost ate the sun to how he helped Ram rescue Sita from Lanka--it features over forty playful artworks along with dedicated colouring p...

In September 1924, John Marshall, Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India, informed the world about the existence of the Indus (Harappan) civilization: some 4,500 years old, as ancient as Mesopotamia, as grand as ancient Egypt, and a part of the Bronze Age trading network.How did the Harappan civilization contribute to later Vedic and Tantrik thought?Did the Harappans follow monastic ideals that later became part of Buddhism and Jainism?Was their scri...