Jaya by Devdutt Pattanaik
“High above the sky stands Swarga, paradise, abode of the gods. Still above is Vaikuntha, heaven, abode of God.
The doorkeepers of Vaikuntha are the twins, Jaya and Yijaya, both whose names mean ‘victory’. One keeps you in Swarga; the other raises you into Vaikuntha.
In Vaikuntha there is bliss forever, in Swarga there is pleasure for only as long as you deserve. What is the difference between Jaya and Vijaya? Solve this puzzle and you will solve the mystery of the Mahabharata.”
Brilliantly using a series of 250 line drawings and notes on the various regional versions of the great epic, Devdutt Pattanaik skilfully presents an intriguing and captivating retelling of the Mahabharata.
Vyasa’s sanskrit epic, which was originally known as Jaya, is analysed by Pattanaik on various levels. The original versions give the events as they supposedly unfolded. This version however, not only gives the causes and effects for the events, it also brings forth the important lessons that were meant to be learnt from these events. The author adds interesting unknown facts like Draupadi’s secret love for Karna, her husbands’ arch enemy, that never found a place in the many versions that exist.
“Refusal to accept the flow of the world is the root of all misery.”
Devdutt Pattanaik known for his expertise in the field of mythology, does not let the reader down. This brilliantly researched and equally brilliantly presented book is a book that everyone will enjoy.
Rating- 5/5
Jaya
Devdutt Pattanaik
Penguin
372 pages
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