Indian Mythology: Tales, Symbols, and Rituals from the Heart of the Subcontinent

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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 contemporary generationFrom 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. Indian Mythology 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.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.

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Devdutt Pattanaik, born in 1970, is an Indian author, physician, mythologist, columnist and consultant. He is currently the Chief Belief Officer of the Future Group. Pattanaik has written more than twenty-five books, some of which are Myth=Mithya: A Handbook of Hindu Mythology, Vishnu: An Introduction, Hanuman's Ramayan, and The Book of Ram. The author completed his MBBS from Grant Medical College, Mumbai, and then decided to pursue a course in Comparative Mythology at Mumbai University. Before he starting writing books, Pattanaik worked for fourteen years in the pharma and healthcare industry. He now writes a column for The Economic Times, and is an inspirational speaker as well as a leadership coach. Pattanaik has hosted TV shows, namely Shastrarth on CNBC-Awaaz and Business Sutra on CNBC-18. The author is a story consultant for Star TV, and he gave a TED lecture in 2009. Pattanaik lives in Mumbai.