Jaya: an illustrated retelling of the Mahabharata

Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata
Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling Of The Mahabharata has the whole epic, which was originally known as Jaya, condensed into a tiny capsule in this book. Other than retelling the interesting parts of the Mahabharata, what makes this book a favourite among the readers is Pattanaik rendering of the various local folklores and tales that are associated with the epic, which have been presented in a whole new genre. With a master stroke, the author has elaborated the storyline by including lesser known folklore stories of the epic, while keeping intact its original form and style. The book has been divided into 108 chapters and has vivid illustrations along with 250 simple line drawings painted by Pattanaik himself. Besides infusing the different tales from local versions of the epic, the author has also added folk arts aspects picked up from 'Yakshagana’ in Karnataka, 'Terukuttu’ in Tamil Nadu and 'Pandavani’ in Chattisgarh to blend with the narrative. Stories of Barbareek, Aravan, Astika, Madhavi and Jaimini form a special portion of this book. Other than this, Pattanaik has also introduced some intriguing ongoing traditions, like the worship of Draupadi in temples of Tamil Nadu. Along with this, a whole section has been devoted to the Kurukshetra war described on the basis of descriptive astronomical information. By infusing these interesting details along with the various local versions of the epic, the author has attempted to create a pan-Indian version of the epic that has, since times immemorial, helped in shaping the culture and history of the whole country. Published by Penguin, this book may be a great choice for those intrigued to know about the religious and cultural intricacies of the country as well as those who are reading the epic for the first time. About the author: Devdutt Pattanaik: A doctor by training, a marketing manager by profession and a mythologist by passion, Devdutt Pattanaik wears many hats. Apart from travelling extensively giving lectures on different topics ranging between relevance of sacred stories and the importance of rituals and symbols in modern times, Devdutt Pattanaik has also written numerous books including Devi: An Introduction, 7 Secrets of Hindu Calendar Art and Symbols and Rituals from the Heart of the Subcontinent to name a few.

Sita: An Illustrated Retelling of Ramayana
Sita: An Illustrated Retelling of Ramayana is an epic story based on the life of India’s most admired prince- ‘Rama’ and his wife ‘Sita’. Ramayana is a mythological story, which is being passed on from past many generations. Since ages, the character that is most emphasized has been that of Rama, who has always been known to keep his word whatever be the circumstances. The role of Sita has been generally overlooked in the past. Sita too is a pivotal character being a single mother; she went through many ups and downs all alone. Still, she has often been portrayed as a frail and meek character. In the present book, the author has emphasized on this very fact that Sita, though shown as a submissive character, was a woman who had massive strength. In the book, the author has shown Sita’s childhood in a more detailed manner. Her relationship with her father, king Janaka, who was a very sober and spiritual person, Sita’s forest stay with her husband and after that her lone stay, her connection and conversations with the women in Lanka, at the ‘Ashoka Vatika’, the sentiments that were shared amongst them. Also, depicted is her attachment with her sisters, with the trees in the forest, as she loved her life in forest, her bond with the mother earth. This book has portrayed Sita in a fair and magnanimous way, along with restating the whole story of Ramayana. The book is available in paperback version and can be ordered online on Amazon India. About the author: Devdutt Pattanaik is a medical doctor in terms of education, a leadership advisor as per profession and a mythologist in terms of enthusiasm. He has, as an author and lecturer, delivered comprehensively on sacred and spiritual tales. He has been collaborating with the publishers Penguin India and their works comprise of The Book of Ram, Myth=Mithya; A Handbook of Hindu Mythology, The Pregnant King, The Book of Kali, Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of The Mahabharata, besides the Devlok series of kids’ tales.