2018
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Bypassing the womb
In Puranic literature, we come across the concept of ayonija, someone who is not born from the womb, and consequently, is able to bypass or rise above the cycle of birth and death
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On Diwali, understanding the nature of wealth through the mythology connected with goddess Lakshmi
Editor’s note: “The living (sajiva, in Sanskrit) seek food, the lifeless (ajiva) and the dead (nirjiva) don’t. This makes food the fundamental target (laksh) of life. From laksh comes Lakshmi. Lakshmi is food (anna) in nature and wealth (dhana) in…
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Land of body parts
The Buddhists and the Hindus share the idea of the land becoming sacred, when it is connected with the body of a holy being.
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Who is a Hindu? Hindu ship of Theseus
Traditions may change every few years, but one school of thought says the essence of Hinduism will remain the same.
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Ancient incest in the sky
In the Vedas, long before people knew about gods such as Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma, there was a story of how the god of heaven committed incest with the goddess of dawn, his daughter
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No definite article in Indic culture
A word like Satya, does not mean the truth, it means infinite truth. Mithya, doesn’t mean falsehood or interpretations or perceptions, it means limited or finite truth.
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The nymph and the hermit
The most visible form of connecting with the material world is the sexual act.
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Who is a Hindu? The forest of sacred stories
Puranas introduce us to the classical Hindu trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and their spouses — goddesses Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati.
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Modern people want to feel liberal, so they construct a past that’s conservative
Published on 27th October, 2018, in Indian Express. The latest edition of the Express Adda in New Delhi hosted author and mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik. In a discussion moderated by The Indian Express Literary Editor Pratik Kanjilal, Pattanaik talked about what’s…
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Men and women in Hindu mythology
God cannot exist without Goddess. Goddess cannot exist without God. Indian author Devdutt Pattanaik sheds light on Hindu mythology.
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Devdutt Pattanaik on Why Indian Mythology Is Relevant in Western Workplaces Too
In a two-part interview, the author and mythologist unravels the secret to finding balance and purpose
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Mountain of Vedas
Through stories of the mountain of Vedas and the blinking gods, Hindus were made aware of the scale of the universe and its wisdom, very different from the finite, closed word of ancient Greeks, inherited by the church
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Lessons from Indra’s elephant
Legend has it that fear of Indian war elephants was one of the reason that prevented Alexander from marching into the subcontinent. By the time of Ashoka, the elephant embodied kingship and so naturally came to be associated with Indra,…
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Exclusive | Verdict rejected value of diversity: Devdutt Pattanaik on Sabarimala
In an exclusive interview to Thestatesman.com, Devdutt Pattanaik speaks on mythology, Sabarimala, Ram temple, Section 377 and many other subjects.
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Who is a Hindu? Understanding Hindu stories
A typical Durga image, established collectively, represents the collective power of the village which helps in defeating calamities. This then becomes an anthropological approach in the study of Hindu mythology.