Synopses & Reviews
An exploration of 99 classic myths of India from an entirely non-Western paradigm that provides a fresh understanding of the Hindu spiritual landscapeandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#8226; Compares and contrasts Indian mythology with the stories of the Bible, ancient Egypt, Greece, Scandinavia, and Mesopotamiaandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#8226; Looks at the evolution of Indian narratives and their interpretations over the millenniaandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#8226; Demonstrates how the mythology, rituals, and art of ancient India are still vibrant today and inform the contemporary generationandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;From the blood-letting Kali to the mysterious Ganesha, the Hindu spiritual landscape is populated by characters that find no parallel in the Western spiritual world. andlt;iandgt;Indian Mythologyandlt;/iandgt; explores the rich tapestry of these characters within 99 classic myths, showing that the mythological world of India can be best understood when we move away from a Western, monotheistic mindset and into the polytheistic world of Hindu traditions.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Featuring 48 artistic renderings of important mythological figures from across India, the author unlocks the mysteries of the narratives, rituals, and artwork of ancient India to reveal the tension between world-affirming and world-rejecting ideas, between conformism and contradiction, between Shiva and Vishnu, Krishna and Rama, Gauri and Kali. This groundbreaking book opens the door to the unknown and exotic, providing a glimpse into the rich mythic tradition that has empowered millions of human beings for centuries.
Review
andquot;Further calls on the ability of the Western mind to see from another point of view.andquot;
Review
"I cannot praise this book highly enough. Pattanaik is a gifted teacher and writer."
Review
"Further calls on the ability of the Western mind to see from another point of view." ForeWord, 2004, Vol.7 No.1
Review
"I cannot praise this book highly enough. Pattanaik is a gifted teacher and writer." < b=""> Alicia Elkins <> , < i=""> Rambles <> , May 2004
Synopsis
Provides a fresh understanding of the Hindu spirtual landscapes and pantheon of gods and goddesses through 99 classic myths
Synopsis
Includes bibliographical references (p. 208-210) and index.
Synopsis
HINDUISM / MYTHOLOGYThe Hindu spiritual landscape is populated by multidimensional characters whose embodiment of both positive and negative aspects finds no parallel within the good versus evil mythology of the Western world. From the goddess Kali to the mysterious elephant-headed Ganesha, Indian Mythology explores the rich tapestry of these characters within ninety-nine classic myths, revealing the essence of the Hindu worldview and demonstrating how these ancient stories can inform a contemporary generation. Devdutt Pattanaik examines the meaning behind the metaphors of the classic myths in symbolic art and in a multifaceted tradition of ritual practices. Fifty artistic renderings of important mythological figures (from seventeenth-century temple carvings to twentieth-century calendar art) illustrate the complex polytheistic Hindu tradition and show how central these figures are to the Hindu conception of the world. Vishnu and Shiva, Gauri and Kali, Krishna and Rama embody the inherent tension between two poles--positive and negative, light and dark, preservative and destructive, world affirming and world rejecting. These opposing energies are valued equally in the cyclical Hindu worldview--a long view that recognizes their natural balance over time. The author also compares and contrasts Indian mythology with the stories of the Bible, ancient Egypt, Greece, Scandinavia, and Mesopotamia, offering Western readers a way to decode the symbolism of the rich Hindu tradition--an enduring mythic tradition that has empowered millions of human beings for centuries. A medical doctor by training, DEVDUTT PATTANAIK moved away from clinical practice to nurture his passion for mythology. His booksinclude The Goddess in India and introductions to Shiva, Vishnu, and Devi. He lives in Mumbai, India, where he works as a health communicator and writes and lectures on Hindu narratives, art, rituals, and philosophy.
About the Author
A medical doctor by training, Devdutt Pattanaik moved away from clinical practice to nurture his passion for mythology. His unorthodox approach is evident in his books, which include introductions to Shiva and Vishnu and andlt;Iandgt;The Goddess in Indiaandlt;/Iandgt;. He lives in Mumbai, India, where he works as a health communicator and writes and lectures on Hindu narratives, art, rituals, and philosophy.
Table of Contents
andlt;Iandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;/Iandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Introductionandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;Iandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;/Iandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Chapter 1--Mythology: Studying Myth andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;/Iandgt;andlt;Bandgt;andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp; Vishnu and the Earth Cow (Bhagavata Purana) andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Myth and Mythology andlt;BRandgt;andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Expressions of Mythandlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Renuka's Umbrella (Mahabharata) andbull; Renuka's Infidelity (Mahabharata) andbull; Renuka's Head (Yellamma Mahatmya) andbull;andnbsp;Arjuna and the Navagunjara andbull;andnbsp;(Orissan folklore based on the Mahabharata) andbull;andnbsp;The Half-Woman God (Tamil Temple Lore) andbull;andnbsp;A Golden Effigy of Sita (Uttara Ramayana) andbull;andnbsp;Lakshmi's Symbols (Orissan folklore) andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;The Function of Mythandlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Rama's Ring (Folklore based on the Ramayana) andbull;andnbsp;A Palace for Indra (Brahmavaivarta Purana) andbull;andnbsp;Shambuka Beheaded (Uttara Ramayana) andbull;andnbsp;The Beheading of Brahma (Shiva Purana) andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Coping Through Mythmaking andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Conclusion andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Chapter 2--Mythosphere: Comparing Myths andlt;BRandgt;andlt;/Iandgt;andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;The Idea of God andlt;BRandgt;andlt;/Bandgt;Harishchandra (Bhagavata Purana) andbull;andnbsp;The Past Life of Yashoda and Nanda (Padma Purana) andbull;andnbsp;The Doorkeepers of Vishnu (Bhagavata Purana) andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Devils and Demonsandlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Why Rama Went into Exile (Ramayana) andbull;andnbsp;The Curse of Gandhari (Mahabharata) andbull;andnbsp;The Offering of Bel Leaves (Linga Purana) andbull;andnbsp;Indra Seduces Ahalya (Ramayana) andbull;andnbsp;Churning the Ocean to Find Shri (Bhagavata Purana) andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Creation with a Differenceandlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;The Birth of the Three Gods (Folklore) andbull;andnbsp;Brahma Opens His Eyes (Vishnu Purana) andbull;andnbsp;Brahma's Mind-Born Sons (Brahmavaivarta Purana) andbull;andnbsp;Brahma Splits Himself (Shiva Purana) andbull;andnbsp;The Creation of Death (Mahabharata) andbull;andnbsp;Transformations of the Daughter (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad) andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Heaven or Hellandlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;The Birth of Urvashi (Bhagavata Purana) andbull;andnbsp;Mahabhisha (Mahabharata) andbull;andnbsp;Agastya's Ancestors (Mahabharata) andbull;andnbsp;Heaven for Markandeya (Linga Purana) andbull;andnbsp;The Death of Yama (Rig Veda) andbull;andnbsp;Vishnu Cursed (Padma Purana) andbull;andnbsp;Fish to the Rescue (Matsya Purana) andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Conclusion andlt;BRandgt;andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Chapter 3--Mythopoesis: Transforming Myth andlt;BRandgt;andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;/Iandgt;andlt;Bandgt;March of the Vedic Hymnsandlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;The Beheading of Vishwarupa (Mahabharata) andbull;andnbsp;Durvasa's Curse (Padma Purana) andbull;andnbsp;Mount Vindhya Bows (Uttara Ramayana) andbull;andnbsp;The Birth of River Kaveri (Kaveri Mahatmya) andbull;andnbsp;Repelling Taraka (Ramayana) andbull;andnbsp;Rama Befriends the Monkeys (Ramayana) andbull;andnbsp;The Burning of Khandavaprastha (Mahabharata) andbull;andnbsp;The Marriage of Marisha (Bhagavata Purana) andbull;andnbsp;The Body of Society (Rig Veda) andbull;andnbsp;Vishwamitra Becomes a Rishi (Bhagavata Purana) andbull;andnbsp;Ekalavya (Mahabharata) andbull;andnbsp;Atoning for Killing Ravana (Rishikesh Sthala Purana) andbull;andnbsp;Ammaveru's Husband (South Indian folklore) andbull;andnbsp;The Birth of Krishna (Harivamsa) andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;The Ascetic Ideal andlt;BRandgt;andlt;/Bandgt;Parashurama Destroys the Warrior Race (Vishnu Purana) andbull;andnbsp;The Golden Mongoose (Mahabharata) andbull;andnbsp;Yagnavalkya Rebels (Brahmanda Purana) andbull;andnbsp;Nachiketa Questions Yama (Katha Upanishad) andbull;andnbsp;Vidura's Past Life (Mahabharata) andbull;andnbsp;Shiva Enlightens Matsyendra-nath (Nav-Nath-Charitra) andbull;andnbsp;The Destruction of Daksha's Yagna (Skanda Purana) andbull;andnbsp;Kapila's Fiery Glance (Ramayana) andbull;andnbsp;Trishanku (Vishnu Purana) andbull;andnbsp;Kumbhakarna's Asceticism (Ramayana) andbull;andnbsp;Dadhichi's Head (Jaiminya Brahmana) andbull;andnbsp;Dadhichi's Bones (Mahabharata) andbull;andnbsp;Vishwamitra and Menaka (Bhagavata Purana) andbull;andnbsp;The Seduction of Rishyashringa (Mahabharata) andbull;andnbsp;The Birth of Skanda (Skanda Purana) andbull;andnbsp;Shilavati's Chastity (Brahmanda Purana) andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;The Birth of Godandlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Krishna Humbles Indra (Bhagavata Purana) andbull;andnbsp;Kali's Tongue (Kalika Purana) andbull;andnbsp;Vishnu Enlightens Brahma (Vishnu Purana) andbull;andnbsp;Shiva the Dancer (Skanda Purana) andbull;andnbsp;The Return of Vyasa's Son (Devi Bhagavata Purana) andbull;andnbsp;The Death of Parikshit (Bhagavata Purana) andbull;andnbsp;The Power of Rama's Name (Ramayana) andbull;andnbsp;The Idol in the Termite Hill (Temple lore) andbull;andnbsp;The Marriage of Valli (Skanda Purana) andbull;andnbsp;The Descent of Ganga (Shiva Purana) andbull;andnbsp;The Pillar of Fire (Shiva Purana) andbull;andnbsp;Mohini to the Rescue (Vishnu Purana) andbull;andnbsp;The Birth of Ayyappa (Sabarimalai Sthala Purana) andbull;andnbsp;God Turns for Kanaka Dasa (Udipi Sthala Purana) andbull;andnbsp;The Hunter's Eye (Periyar Purana)andnbsp; andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Invasions and Immigrationsandlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;The Death of the Pandavas (Mahabharata) andbull;andnbsp;Manikantha and Vavar (Sabarimalai Sthala Purana) andbull;andnbsp;Ranganatha's Muslim Bride (Shrirangam Sthala Purana) andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Conclusion andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Chapter 4--Mythography: Interpreting Myth andlt;BRandgt;andlt;/Iandgt;andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;History and Prehistory andlt;BRandgt;andlt;/Bandgt;The Sons of Kadru and Vinata (Mahabharata) andbull;andnbsp;Yudhishtira's Horse Sacrifice (Mahabharata) andbull;andnbsp;Krishna's Early Life (Harivamsa) andbull;andnbsp;Krishna's Later Life (Mahabharata) andbull;andnbsp;The Sacrifice of Sunahshepas (Mahabharata) andbull;andnbsp;The Children of Vichitravirya (Mahabharata) andbull;andnbsp;Oghavati's Obedience (Mahabharata) andbull;andnbsp;Gandhari's Children (Mahabharata) andbull;andnbsp;Krishna Curses Ashwathama (Mahabharata) andbull;andnbsp;Shiva Destroys Tripura (Linga Purana) andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Strategic Chartersandlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;The Churning of Vena's Corpse (Bhagavata Purana) andbull;andnbsp;Shvetaketu's Law (Mahabharata) andbull;andnbsp;The Marriage of Draupadi (Mahabharata) andbull;andnbsp;Shiva Blesses Draupadi (Mahabharata) andbull;andnbsp;Vrinda's Chastity (Shiva Purana) andbull;andnbsp;Sita's Chastity (Uttara Ramayana) andbull;andnbsp;Three Boons for Kaikeyi (Ramayana) andbull;andnbsp;How Mountains Came into Being (Bhagavata Purana) andbull;andnbsp;Dhruva (Folklore based on the Bhagavata Purana) andbull;andnbsp;Donations for Venkateshwara (Tirumalai Sthala Purana) andbull;andnbsp;Jayadeva's Verse (Folklore) andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;This in Terms of That andlt;BRandgt;andlt;/Bandgt;Chandra and the Nakshatras (Somnath Sthala Purana) andbull;andnbsp;Rudra and Prajapati (Shatapatha Brahmana) andbull;andnbsp;Sapta Rishis and Their Wives (Mahabharata) andbull;andnbsp;Krishna's Rasa Leela (Gita Govinda) andbull;andnbsp;The Rescue of the Elephant King (Bhagavata Purana) andbull;andnbsp;Shiva's Erect Manhood (Shiva Purana) andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Metaphors of the Mindandlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Kunti's Magic Formula (Mahabharata) andbull;andnbsp;The Sons of Yayati (Mahabharata) andbull;andnbsp;Devavrata's Vow of Celibacy (Mahabharata) andbull;andnbsp;Arjuna's Exile (Mahabharata) andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Conclusion andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Glossary andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Bibliography andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Indexandlt;/Bandgt;