‘Why are most
temples dedicated to Vishnu, Shiva, or the Goddess, but not to Brahma or Indra?
How are an asura, yaksha, and pishacha different from each other? Why did the
Pandavas find themselves in Naraka rather than Swarga?’
‘Devlok’ by Devdutt
Pattanaik is based on the first season of the popular television show that goes
by the same name. The show was aired on ‘Epic’ and attracted a large audience,
the ones interested to dig deeper into the philosophy of mythology.
About The Author
Source - Wikipedia
Devdutt Pattanaik has
authored over twenty-five books and hundreds of articles relevant to mythology
and how its ideals can be inculcated in modern times. He is a speaker and
illustrator as well, and his work majorly revolves around religion, mythology,
and management.
Formerly a healthcare
worker, Devdutt Pattanaik has been trained in medicine and worked in the
respective field for over fifteen years. But his interest in mythology drew him
towards devoting his time completely to his passion. Pattanaik is well-known
for decoding beliefs in various cultures with a hint of rationality.
Not A Storyline;
Full Of Conversations
We often look for
books that ‘speak’ to us. Well, this book does that! Devlok is not based on a
mythological tale, story, or character; it is a collection of casual
conversations out of the season one of the Devlok Television Series.
This is an
interesting take on mythological stories as one can open any page and you will
be intrigued to know about what is written on that page. Also, it is different
from books that have a continuing story based on many rituals and takes a lot
of time to complete.
‘Devlok’ is the ideal
light read for anyone who has a keen interest in rituals and stories connected
with mythology. The conversation ranges from common topics like Puja, Marriage,
Colour, and Gita to some unusual terms like Gods and Food, Gods and Plants,
Shape Shifting, and Hell and Heaven.
What makes it an
interesting read is that these conversations are very precise, direct, and to
the point. So, if anyone doesn’t have some prior knowledge regarding mythology,
this book might not be for you. But anyone with a keen interest and some basic
knowledge of mythology will be able to understand it better.
His Truth
At the beginning
itself, the author clarifies that the content of this book might not be
factually sound. The conversations are a result of his research combined with
his beliefs and how he perceives various aspects of mythology.
As a reader, I
thought this was a great way to open the content of the book for individual
perception. While many works based on mythology try to bind the reader’s
opinion to the limit that author set through his work, Pattanaik opened his
work to different point-of-views and perceptions.
‘Within infinite
myths lies an eternal truth
Who knows it all?
Varuna has but a thousand eyes
Indra, a hundred
You and I, only two’
-Devdutta
Pattanaik
Plot And Tone Of
Devlok
The plot of the book,
as mentioned earlier, is the conversations from the television series that go
by the same name as the book. So, the tone of the book is very casual. The
whole book is a dialogue between the author and the host, and picturing
yourself as the host makes reading the book even more interesting.
It is a series of
questions and answers that are specific to the chapter name mentioned. Like,
all questions regarding puja are under the chapter that goes by that
name. The television series might not have been able to classify the questions
so well, but the book.
The Main Message
The main message of
the book is not to impose any beliefs on the reader, neither it is to make the
reader believe anything that the author is saying. The main message of ‘Devlok’
is to go into the depths of philosophies that are connected with mythology.
Perceiving mythology
as history might not be the answer for everyone. So the author conveys the
message that mythology, believe or not, stays relevant throughout generations.
This is because various rituals and cultural activities are connected with
mythology and are very prevalent in society.
But, when
understanding of philosophies is combined with such strong beliefs, mythology
becomes more than just night-time tales; it becomes a lifestyle.
Overall Rating –
3.8/5
Written by – Simran
Mahon
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