Devdutt Pattanaik is a leading expert and writer on India’s ancient scriptures and traditions, and this book of his explores the intriguing and often paradoxical world of Indian Mythology.

Through the course of their descent down countless generations, mythological stories are often treated as works of fantasy, and in order to break this down and provide some clarity on what’s fact and what’s fiction, Pattanaik delves into the smaller details and explains them with succinct ease.

In the book, Pattanaik attempts to explain common Hindu symbols and traditions, and he also explores the meanings behind rituals that are followed by Hindus. The book includes interesting snippets about Indian culture, the potential of the human soul to reach perfection, and the concepts of life and death.

Why do Hindus believe in one Supreme God, but have 330 million Gods overall?

Is there a place beyond hell that Hinduism talks about?

Why were the righteous Pandavas banished to hell, while the Kauravas were sent to heaven?

The book includes illustrations sketched by the author as these give him the freedom to explain the finer aspects of Hinduism easily.

Devdutt Pattanaik is a doctor who shifted his focus to Indian mythology and their influence on the people of the country. He has written many books based on Indian epics and Puranas.

Devdutt Pattanaik has written other books based on Hindu epics and other related works. Some of his other books are:

Devi, the Mother-Goddess: an introduction
Shiva: an introduction
Vishnu: an introduction
The Goddess in India: the five faces of the eternal feminine
Hanuman: an introduction
The Man Who Was A Woman and other queer tales of Hindu lore
Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and fortune: an introduction

His Writing Style
Devdutt Pattanaik's style is simple and elegant, and he adds value by creating his own line drawing illustrations ? an unusual combination. He is not strictly traditional in his retelling, yet he remains true to the original spirit of the stories. He also explores the influence of the epics on Indian thought and their continued relevance to life, even today, thousands of years after the stories were written.

His Personal Life
Devdutt Pattanaik grew up in Mumbai and graduated with a degree in medicine from the Grant Medical College. He later studied Comparative Mythology at Mumbai University.

After working in the Healthcare industry for 14 years, he turned his attention to the wisdom and insights contained in the ancient Hindu texts. He started to write books and columns on the subject and has also delivered many lectures on Indian mythology.