#BookReview : Seven Secret of the Goddess by Devdutt Pattanaik

Within infinite myths lies the Eternal Truth?
Who sees it all?
Varuna has but a thousand eyes
Indra, a hundred
And I, only two.

Since I started reading preface /Author's note of the books , This is the quote that I admire the most.This is a humble opening to all books by Devdutta and it eloquently sums how every myth must be treated in all fairness. That is in terms of many truths or many versions. Devdutta Pattanaik is one author whose books I await eagerly. Thejourney that started with "the Pregnant King" is perhaps my initiation into reading mythology and acknowledging the fact that it is a definitive factor that shapes us and the society in general.

Seven Secret Of the Goddess starts with the differences between goddess and Goddess , devi and Devi. The subtlety yet the significance of the differences set the tone of the book for me. It prepares one to be concious and aware during the reading else one might miss something. The book is divided into seven sections - Gaia (the Greek Goddess of creation), Kali, Gauri, Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati and Vitthai (A female form of Lord Krishna). The first section talks of mother of Gods and how in each religion / mythology , the female domination turned into trading first and then into male domination and ownership as we see today. It nowhere says the merits of one over another but presents the truth as it is, leading the reader to question the way we treat women today.

Many of hindu readers are already aware of some of the Devi forms from the frequently read "Durga Stuti" so it was quite relatable and interesting to know of other versions and stories popular in different parts and communities of the country.From the wild and powerful Kali to the domesticated and docile Gauri, the book covers all moods of the devi and the women in general emphasizing that since long, all variations of devi have been present and worshipped by human. All the forms are as important as the Devi from who they emerge.

Another reason that I love this book (and others by Devdutt) is for the mention of source for all the tales. Even in this book, all the scriptures from which the stories have been picked are mentioned so that any reader with further interest can refer them any time. Linking the stories not just across geographical boundaries but also across cultures in different centuries has been done flawlessly.

Every page of the book has the images / artforms depicting the stories and hence is so easy to relate with the text. The images are from all over the country and some from old texts and paintings , each with captions making it really engaging read for anyone.

My rating : 5/5

This is a book that can be and should be read by every one interested in mythology or history or society.

You can buy the book from flipkart

Also try the flipkart e book version of the book here

Business Sutra by Devdutt Patnayik

 I signed up for reviewing this book only 'cause I love Devdutt Pattnaik books. At first when I began the book, I wondered if it was a good decision , since I am far far away from any sort of business / management profiles. But within a few pages , I fell into the flow of the author's direction of thought.

The introduction of the book covers his initiation into the topic , the basic definitions and ground rules for belief , the three beliefs , the culture , the links to management and before you know , you become comfortable with the stories & the morals that we can map to present times. The illustrations done by the author are as funny as simplistic to learn from. The attention is given to all details and presentation of the idea in most effective and understandable way. Each story that DP took from our scriptures & like wise , is so seamlessly transitioned into the modern story snippets. while I read the book , I paused and wondered if i had been in same situation or how do people usually react to these scenes. there are many ideas / learning that one can use in our personal lives too and not just business. After all , life too is a transactional sum of a lot of our actions of give and take like this : Even if you ignore the management part of things , the book has excellent tales and examples from mythology that would initiate you into this topic and make you read more and more. No one can make you impressed with mythology like DP does. The opening pages of the book were very easy as introductions of the topic felt like some one is talking just to you. The illustrations are awesome ! they are fun , clear and so on the mark. I almost got reminded of a teacher who taught us with similar stimulating visuals . No aspect of human or business lifeline is left untouched. Without much forceful reading , the author has made us so aware and curious about things around us and way we conciously or subconciously get affected by it. I will surely reccomend this book to all managers & entrepreneurs, if they ever plan to apply the indian way of dealing things.

 All in all , a good read. I would rate 3.5/5. 

You can buy the book here : http://www.flipkart.com/business-sutra-very-indian-approach-management/p/itmdhwr4zfgzhvwr

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Mithya by Devdutt Pattanaik

Mithya

ISBN: 0143099701

First Published: 2006

Pages: 206

Genre: Mythology

Synopsis: Devdutt Pattanaik, a renowned mythologist, digs deep into the rich symbolism of hindu mythology. Gives a new dimension to our belief system and growing up stories.

Excerpt: 

A decoding of Hindu mythology
Hindus have one God.
They also have 330 million gods: male gods, female gods, personal gods, family gods, household gods, village gods, gods of space and time, gods for specific castes and particular professions, gods who reside in trees, in animals, in minerals, in geometrical patterns and in man-made objects.
Then there are a whole host of demons.
But no Devil.

Nightflier speaks:

Listening to/reading stories from the hindu mythology was a huge part of my growing up years. Whenever my grandmother used to visit us, she would tell bed time stories from the mahabharat, ramayan. So reading Devdutt Pattanaik' mithya was like being transported to childhood. But there was a catch. The deeper hidden philosophy behind the stories and legends.

And what an interesting read. Being a mythological fiction fan, getting my basics cleared felt good. Not only that, its really really interesting to read how our civilizations have progressed and our beliefs have been formatted so that we distinguish between culture and nature and respect both equally. 

Nevertheless just relishing the stories of Pandavas, krishna, ram-rajya, shiva felt refreshing. Though one problem I have is why doesn't the author go real deep into symbolism and instead keeps it superficial. And may be my answer lies here - mass targeting.

If you are interested in comparative mythology, then this should be a part of your repertoire.

Rating: 3.5/5

Price: 255 (crossword)Penguin India publishers