Author, Speaker, Illustrator, Mythologist
Understanding Sacred stories, myths, rituals and their relevance in modern timesDr. Devdutt Pattanaik
Send Email
Browse Mahabharata
Caught in a Whirlpool
The death of a young boy called Abhimanyu on the 13th day of the war at Kurushetra has trigged many a folklore.
By the banks of the Yamuna
Published in First City, Delhi, March 2005
Why? O why? O lord of Mathura!
Why do you want to go back to Gokul?
These lines are repeated in a soulful song sung by Shubha Mudgal in the film `Raincoat’. I it heard at a friend’s house. The tune was fantastic. The voice rich and earthy. But it was [...]
Jai Ho!
The mythic connection between Rahmans’ oscar acceptance speech, the song ‘Jai ho’ and the word ‘Jai’.
Bhima
First City, New Delhi, Feb 2006
They humiliated his wife. Dragged and disrobed her in full view of the court. He avenged her humiliation. Killed them all. Drank their blood. Abandoning dharma in the process. His name was Bhima, the powerful one, the second Pandava. Yudhishtira’s muscle man of a brother, as simple as he was strong. [...]
An Elephant called Ashwatthama
First City, Mythos, August 2006
According to the rules of the war that took place in Kurukshetra, no one was allowed to strike an animal unless it posed a direct threat. Like many other rules of war, this one was also broken. Bhima killed an elephant called Ashwatthama.
The Pandavas shouted, Ashwattahama is dead. Drona, commander of [...]
Talking Heads
First Published in First City, New Delhi, June 2006
The story of the Talking Head is not found in Peter Brooke’s retelling of the Mahabharata. It is not even found in Vyasa’s original. Yet is a very popular folklore. Stories of the Talking Head can be found as far afield as Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu [...]
A Boy Called Karna
It is not difficult to fall in love with Karna. He has all the elements of a hero but is not allowed to be one – by his mother, his brothers, his teacher, even God. Our heart goes out to him. It all starts with a princess called Kunti letting her curiosity getting the better [...]
The Context of the Mahabharata
To understand the Mahabharata we have appreciate the Ramayana and to appreciate both we need to appreciate the Vedas.