Showing results by author "Devdutt Pattanaik" in All Categories

Manu said that a woman’s dharma is to be mother, daughter, sister and wife in service of men, regardless of the caste. In modern times we call this patriarchy. In the Veda, the need to control and favour hierarchy, is an expression of an anxious mind.Hindu, Buddhist and Jain lore is full of...

The Myth and Culture Podcast revisits ancient myths, once treated as irrelevant to modern life, and demonstrates their interconnectedness with contemporary culture, business, politics, and society. Join renowned mythologist and author Devdutt Pattanaik in conversation with Jerry Johnson, a writer & speaker on Western Philosophy, as they skillfully reframe the hot-button issues of our times to uncover the myths that drive our lives.

Artha-shastra is about generating food, i.e. wealth, by creating goods and services; Kama-shastra is about indulging our hungers with this food. Dharma-shastra insists we consider the hunger of others, while Moksha-shastra is about outgrowing our hungers, in order to be detached and generous...

Audible presents Krishna 360 Degrees, an Audible Original, written and narrated by Devdutt Pattanaik. Krishna 360 Degrees is a deep dive into the story of Krishna. By exploring him as a child, a toddler, a teenager, a cowherd, a statesman, a lover, a husband, a father and a god-on-earth, as expressed in various stories and images about him, we hope to gain a deeper insight into Hindu philosophy.

Audible presents Stree 360 Degrees. Women in Indian mythology: what do stories from Vedas, Puranas, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Tamil, Buddhist and Jain lore tell us about women in ancient India? Were women oppressed or liberated? Did they have agency, or were all decisions made for them by men? The answers will surprise you.

Audible presents Ravana 360 Degrees, an Audible Original. Ravana 360 Degrees is a deep dive into the story of Ravana. By exploring him as a son, a brother, a father, a king, a husband, a devotee and an enemy, as expressed in various stories and images about him, we hope to gain a deeper insight into Hindu philosophy.

Audible presents Suno Ramayana Devdutt Pattanaik ke Saath, an Audible Original. Understand the eternal love of Ramayana, Get knowledge from Sanskrit Ramayana and Regional Ramayana, Know about the stories of Hindi, Odia, Bengali, Assamese, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada Ramayana and if Vedas are seeds, then Ramayana is the fruit, We will taste that fruit. Written and narrated by Devdutt Pattanaik, Suno Ramayana, samjho Ramayana.

Hindu mythology abounds with fascinating gods, goddesses and characters whose visual representations—through calendar art—are equally colourful. Hindu calendar art may seem fantastic and kitsch, but it is in fact the most democratic expression of a mythic imagery that was once restricted to temple walls and palm leaf manuscripts. These portraits of the Hindu pantheon of gods and the stories that surround them can be found on the walls and puja rooms of almost every Hindu household in India. Rich in symbols, each image is a piece of an ancient metaphysical jigsaw puzzle.

Why are Hindus so ritualistic? Why do they worship idols? Were Hindus always casteist? Are Hindus supposed to be vegetarian? Why is a Hindu prayer different from a Muslim or Christian prayer? Did the arrival of Muslim invaders a thousand years ago destroy Hindu culture?Answering key questions on...

Hindu mythology is full of tales in which animals play important roles. Some animals are looked upon with fear and dread while some are worshiped along with the gods. Some shape the fate of the world, others form everlasting bonds with humans. Where did the animals come from? From Vishnu’s avatars or Shiva’s asanas? How was a deer responsible for the events of the Ramayana? Why is Garuda the sworn enemy of the nagas? How did a mongoose teach Yudhishtira the true meaning of sacrifice?

The multi-dimensional aspect of the characters found in the Hindu spiritual world is unlike any other. The Hindu Gods and Goddesses embody both positive as well as negative characteristics. Bhartiya Pauranik Kathaein discusses how these opposing energies are valued equally in the Hindu worldview and how they balance out over time. Not only does this book reveal the essence of the Hindu worldview but also helps interpret ancient stories to inform the contemporary generation.

Heaven is no paradise : Reflections on Contentment, Happiness and Success is an Audible Original audiobook by Devdutt Pattanaik, narrated by himself. Across twelve chapters, he explores why humans are wired to feel inadequate, how myths and tales shape societies, and how the East, West, and India each frame success differently.

This book brings together 99 meditations to better understand the stories, symbols and rituals of that adorable elephant-headed Hindu god who removes hurdles and brings prosperity and peace. Known variously as Ganapati, Gajanana, Vinayaka or Pillayar, he can help all of us score a century in the game called life.

Many modern scholars say Shiva’s linga is a phallic symbol. Most devotees disagree. Who is right? This book looks at the sexual metaphors associated with Shiva and uncovers the meaning beneath.

Why are identity cards important, even for gods? How can you tell a Deva from a Manava? How would you find a particular god in a crowd of gods? One day, when Krishna wanted to board an aeroplane, he was not allowed to! All because he did not have an identity card. Then his friends Garuda and...

Why is the cow useful to everyone? How are the earth and the cow similar? Why is Gauri another name for a cow? Little girl Gauri thinks milk comes from packets, till she meets Sweety the talking cow. Sweety tells Gauri about the first cow on earth, Surabhi, and how she provided so many useful...

Why was Indra an unhappy god? What are the many magical things Indra has in paradise? Will Indra ever find happiness? Little Harsha was sad, so a cloud flew him up to Indra's palace, just to show Harsha that the king of gods was sadder than him! There, with his new friends Indra and Airavata...

More than 500 years after the Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi wrote his epic poem Padmavat, the story of Padmavati, princess of Simhal, and her lover and husband, Ratansen, the king of Chittor, continues to capture the imagination of listeners everywhere. In Padmavat, we meet Padmavati’s friend, philosopher and guide - Hiraman - a parrot, as well as Nagmati - Ratansen’s first wife, and the brave Rajput warriors Gora and Badal.

Devdutt Pattanaik is the author of over twenty-five books and 500 articles on the relevance of mythology in modern times. Trained in medicine (MBBSfrom Grant Medical College, Mumbai University), he worked in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries for fifteen years before devoting all his...

It is a popular belief that the Ramayana is idealistic while the Mahabharata is realistic. Yet these two epics have identical building blocks, identical themes and identical history. In this groundbreaking book, Devdutt Pattanaik, India’s most popular mythologist, explores the similarities and dissimilarities between the two epics in a ‘playful analysis’. Whether it is the family structure, forest exile or war, the comparison between the two epics proves a startling point - the Mahabharata is in fact a reaction to the events in the Ramayana.