Title:
Mahagatha: 100 Tales from the Puranas
Author:
Satyarth Nayak
Publisher:
HarperCollins India (2022)
Genre:
Mythology, Non-Fiction
Pages:
436
ISBN:
978-9356294493
Buy
the Book: Amazon Link
In ‘Mahagatha: 100 Tales from the Puranas’ Nayak narrates the enthralling stories of devas and asuras with a fresh perspective and more personal touch. Basically, it is a compilation of 100 tales of our ancient lore. It begins with ‘Brahma begins creation’ and ends with ‘Janmejaya’s snake sacrifice. Author tried to chronicle these mythological stages of life in a very sequential order. The writing is simple yet captivating. The illustrated part is enticing and amplifies the storytelling.
‘The Parabrahman now implanted its own seed in the water. Thus fertilised, the water nurtured the seed and, in due course, generated an egg. A golden egg that shone like an orb of light. Since this egg, or anda, had been spawned by the Parabrahman, it came to be known as Brahmanda. The cosmos.’
Author clearly stated that, creative liberties have been taken to enhance the bodies of some of these tales, but their souls remain untouched. He added, there is no simplified dichotomy of good and evil but a highly complex cosmos where even devas can act vile and ever asuras can act virtuous, where boons can often create chaos and curses can often lead to good.
‘Something was emerging from Yamuna right behind him. Someone was looming so high that it was blocking the moon. Casting a shadow over father and son. Vasudeva turned and stared in awe. The mighty Vasuki had surfaced from the river. The serpent's ten hoods were spreading over them like a giant parasol. Gods and goddesses appeared now to see this divine spectacle. To see Vasudeva cradling the lord below and Vasuki shielding him from above. To see both man and animal celebrating the Preserver who had taken another avatar for their sake.’
This book provides an insightful ride of the lives of mortal and immortal gods. It touches the basis of various Vedic warfare. It is such an intriguing read. I’ll definitely go back to these pictorial alluring stories someday. Undoubtedly, an essential read for those, who feel inclined to Hindu mythology.
Some enlightening fragments:
Shiva
emerges
Vishnu
gets the Sudarshana Chakra
Marisha
takes ten husbands
Ganesha
comes to life
The
Vamana Avatar
Vishnu
is beheaded
Sita
lays four curses
Vishwamitra
accepts meat.
Krishna
Heals Kubja
"I have been working on it for five years and went through all the Puranas. 100 of the greatest mythological tales from these ancient texts have been handpicked and compiled into an epic illustrated edition," ¬ Satyarth Nayak on his book.
Blurb
Do
you know the story where Brahma and Vishnu race against each other or where
Shiva battles Krishna? Where Indra attempts foeticide or where Rama punishes a
Shudra? Do you know about Maya Sita or Narada's monkey face? Or why Surya falls
from the sky or why Chandra commits adultery?
The Puranas of Hinduism are a universe of wisdom, embodying a fundamental quest for answers that makes them forever relevant. Now, for the first time, 100 of the greatest mythological tales from these ancient texts have been handpicked and compiled into an epic illustrated edition. Besides popular legends of devas, asuras, sages and kings, Satyarth Nayak has dug up lesser-known stories, like the one where Vishnu is beheaded or where Saraswati curses Lakshmi or where Harishchandra tricks Varuna. Nayak also recounts these 100 tales in a unique chronological format, beginning with Creation in Satya Yuga and ending with the advent of Kali Yuga. Using Puranic markers, he constructs a narrative that travels through the four yugas, offering continuous and organic action. In such a reading, it is revealed that these stories are not isolated events but linked to each other in the grand scheme of things. That every occurrence has a past and a future. A cause and effect. An interconnected cycle of karma and karma-phal.
Delving
into the minds of gods, demons and humans alike, Mahagatha seeks a
deeper understanding of their motivations. The timelessness of their impulses
speaks across the aeons to readers of today. Written in lively prose with
charming illustrations, these 100 tales will entertain and enlighten, and make
you connect the dots of Hindu mythology like never before.
About The Author
Satyarth
Nayak is an author and screenwriter based in Mumbai. A former SAARC Award
winning Correspondent with CNN-IBN, Delhi, he holds a Masters in English
Literature from St. Stephen's. Sridevi – The Eternal Screen Goddess (Penguin,
2019) is Satyarth's best-selling biography. His debut novel, The Emperor's
Riddles, was released in 2014. He followed it up with his second thriller
titled Venom in 2020. Satyarth has also scripted Sony's epic
historical show, Porus, touted as India's most expensive television series
that aired from 2017 to 2019. His short stories have won the British Council
award and appeared in Sudha Murty's Penguin anthology, Something Happened
On The Way To Heaven.
Connect to author: Twitter
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