THE EXILED PRINCE by Ravi Venugopal (book 1 from The Crystal Guardian Series)

                                                                                     

With my interest in India mythology, another book that was a pure page turner was The Exiled Prince by Ravi, as the 1^st book in this Crystal Guardian trilogy. The story is being told by Lord Rama to Lava and Kusha on a flashback mode. This is the story of Rama, as experienced by him which gives a new dimension to Ramayana.

My first knowledge on Ramayana was through the TV adapted series by Ramayan Sagar and some short stories. In the TV adapted series, Kaikeyi is portrayed as an evil lady who is the mastermind behind Rama, Laxman and Sita having to endure 14 years Vanavaas, but in this book, Kaikeyi is shown as courageous warrior and warfare expert who realizes the reason of Rama’s birth and purpose and as a person who make the initial guidance for Rama to accomplish his mission on earlth. The character of Kaikeyi is given great emphasis and shown in a new shade.

History of Vishwamitra, Sita, Vashista and Parushrama is explained convincingly and in first person context and shows the clean intention of character development. Vishwamitra cultivates Rama and prepares him to reach his destiny and Rama realizes the supremacy of his powers when he slays demon Tataka in Dandaka forest.

The writing is fluid, simple vocabulary and makes an easy read, the characters are well etched and time lines well wrapped.

Some light moments from the book:

- Rama lays awake in his bed thinking about Sita, tossing around restlessly in the excitement of meeting her next morning for the first time.

- Vishwamitra's narration of his story- his obsession towards a cow, his tryst with Menaka and how he gets betrayed

- Rama's doubt of him being a human with eternal power is quite valid as he does not feel any specialty in his body and living.

In all a good take on the Ramayana… The book does lose steam in between but overall achieves what it desires. I would rate the book 2.50 / 5.   Now waiting for the 2^nd book to come out.

For more details on the book:  http://www.directtextbook.com/isbn/B00I3LOK86

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Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata by Devdutt Pattanaik

I started reading books/stories based on our Indian mythology with the Shiva Trilogy. As for Mahabharata, all I can associate with is the televised adaptation by B. R Chopra on Doordarshan in my younger days and stories about Krishna.

Mahabharata being a myth or history maybe a matter of one’s perspective, but to me it is an epic. The ever numerous characters, their choices, conflicts, complex relations, desires, morals, loss and gains and above all the Godly Wisdom through the character Krishna. The story conveys very clearly that every actions has its consequences, if not in this lifetime then several births later. We are all accountable for our karma!

After having read this book, I probably can say that there could not be any other book that puts the story of Mahabharata so simply for everyone to understand. The author uses extremely simple language and the numerous chapters that feels like short stories with interesting illustration. The interpretation and explanations at the end of every chapter make it even more interesting and connects the reader well with the storyline. Again a must read, for sure.

I oscillate between being a believer and a non-believer and this book doesn’t help me overcome this conflict, but the two thing the book does convey is the complete authority of the supreme power that controls the elements in this world and lastly that we are accountable for our Karma either in this lifetime itself or future births.

Lord Krishna plays a pivotal role in the whole story. This strange fact brings up a difficult question in the reader's mind - to judge or not to judge God.

This version answers the conflict in a very consistent and satisfactory manner, and that to me was the biggest plus for this book. Although abridged the author has managed to squeeze in as much information as possible through stories on smaller and non-central characters in the epic which was never known but who has a part in the way things unfolded, this helps keep the interest of the reader alive and connected well with the book. Another good thing about this book is that the author has included in almost every chapter little anecdotes about characters and events from various regional versions of the epic and folklores. The author has also given his interpretations of a lot of events in the book which build upon his central theme - the answer to the question - to judge or not to judge God.

One excerpt that i really liked from the book about how the war was destined:   Page 245(Illustration)

"In the Vishnu  Purana, the earth goddess in the form of a cow complains to Vishnu that she has been milked so terribly by the greedy kings of the earth that her udders are sore. Vishnu promises to teach the greedy kings a lesson; as a lioness, the earth can drink their blood. Thus the battle at Kuru-kshetra is preordained by cosmic events. Its is a sacrifice to quench the thirst of the earth-goddess and restore the earth's splendour"

I recommend this book to all who those who have or haven't read Mahabharata. It is a good initiation and is a “Must-Have” book for one’s collection.  I would rate the book 3.75 / 5.0

So, if you have even a slight interest in Indian mythology or confused as I am, lay your hands on this book! I can assure all that it’ll be a good treat you won’t ever regret. A sure complete page turner.

For details on the book:  http://www.directtextbook.com/isbn/9780143104254

Outside of this book, i somehow feel that the so call "Kurukshetra" war could have been completely avoided if only a few people Lord Krishna, Bheeshma, Dridharashtra and a few would have talked and restrained when things were going out of control...

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