Deepen Your Yoga Experience with the Origin Stories of 64 Common AsanasExplore the stories from Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain mythology that nurtured the idea of yoga and shaped the development of its most iconic asanas. Learn how svana-asana (dog pose) is connected to Shiva, bhujanga-asana (cobra pose) was inspired by shape-shifting beings who live below the earth, and much more.Many practitioners are unaware of yoga's underlying philosophy, symbols, and ritua...

In My Gita, acclaimed mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik demystifies The Bhagavad Gita for the contemporary reader. His unique approach-thematic rather than verse-by-verse-makes the ancient treatise eminently accessible, combined as it is with his trademark illustrations and simple diagrams. In a world that seems spellbound by argument over dialogue, vi-vaad over sam-vaad, Devdutt highlights how Krishna nudges Arjuna to understand rather than judge his relationships. This becomes relevant today...

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 tales where women do not let men define their dharma. In modern times we call this feminism. In the Veda, the acceptance of a woman's choice is an expression of a wise and secure mind. While in Western...

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...

In September 1924, John Marshall, Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India, informed the world about the existence of the Indus (Harappan) civilization: some 4,500 years old, as ancient as Mesopotamia, as grand as ancient Egypt, and a part of the Bronze Age trading network.How did the Harappan civilization contribute to later Vedic and Tantrik thought?Did the Harappans follow monastic ideals that later became part of Buddhism and Jainism?Was their scri...

Shiva’s damaru to Krishna’s flute, Durga’s ghanti and Ravana’s lute. Dance to the rhythm and embrace the sound, As divine melodies swirl around. Well-known mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik introduces young readers to the fun and fascinating musical instruments of Hindu gods with his unique art and easy-to-read text.

Vishnu’s chakra spins through space,Durga’s many arms strike with grace.From vajra, gada to trishools bright,Divine tools wield celestial might!Well-known mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik introduces young readers to the wonderful weapons of Hindu gods with his unique art and easy-to-read text.ABOUT THE BOOKS:Suitable for bedtime reading and parent-child bonding.Perfect way

In September 1924, John Marshall, Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India, informed the world about the existence of the Indus (Harappan) civilization: some 4,500 years old, as ancient as Mesopotamia, as grand as ancient Egypt, and a part of the Bronze Age trading network.How did the Harappan civilization contribute to later Vedic and Tantrik thought?Did the Harappans follow monastic ideals that later became part of Buddhism and Jainism?Was their scri...

In the wilderness of humanityIn the forest of the mindWho eats whom?Who sees whom?Aranyaka is about the great forests within us, and without. Braiding Vedic philosophy with the story of three spirited seekers, it explores the fears and hungers that underpin all human interactions.

The popular names of many yogic asanas -- from Virbhadra-asana and Hanuman-asana to Matsyendra-asana, Kurma-asana and Ananta-asana -- are based on characters and personages from Indian mythology. Who were these mythological characters, what were their stories, and how are they connected to yogic postures? Yog Puran, the Hindi translation of Devdutt Pattanaik's Yoga Mythology (co-written with international yoga practitioner Matt Rulli) retells the fascinating tales from Hi...

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. Together, these four Hindu shastras provide a framework within which human action, its purposes and consequences, can be defined; together, they validate human existence and give it meaning.In...

What does the Biblical story of Nathan and David say about effective communication skills? How do you identify the Raja Bhoj, the Gangu Teli and the Shekchilli in your office? What is the corporate equivalent of an Ashwamedha yajna? Drawing from sources as diverse as the Mahabharata and the Bible, the Vikram-Betal stories, the Iliad and the Odyssey, Islamic tenets, the tales of rishis and kings, and fables from around the world, Devdutt Pattanaik, India's leading mythologist, provides a fa...