Have you ever had a burning question

about Hindu mythology but didn’t want

dive all the way in, just find something
specific? Whether it be “how did the
connection between music and puja
develope?” or “what learning do we
get from Vishnu’s avatars?” the
answer is here. In the book Devlok,
Devdutt Pattanaik attempts the
answer some of the most commonly
asked questions and misconceptions
of Hinduism. Pattanaik has a
wonderful format and style of writing
that puts forth his knowledge in a
logical and reasonable manner,
allowing even atheists to understand
the concepts. Without diving into the
vastness of the sacred texts, one can
begin to understand all the complexity
of Hinduism by simply reading this
book. I found it easy to follow for the
most part, and certainly very
informative. I think what I liked most
about the book is that in each answer,
Pattanaik always tied the concept
back to modern times in a way that
was relevant an easy to understand. It was a nice mix of mythology and current issues.
For example there is a story about one of Buddha's consorts, Ila. Ila, a king, one day
enters a forest which turns anyone who enters into a women. Ila too falls victim of the
spell and goes to Shiva for assistance. Shiva modifies the curse so that Ila will be a
man during the waxing period of the moon and a women during the waning period of the
moon. Pattanaik goes on to mention that this story could be referring the people we
know as homosexual in the modern day. I enjoyed this story because it goes to show
that homosexuality is something that society has oppressed, not Hinduism. To anyone
interested in dipping a finger into the world of Hinduism, I would certainly recommend
this book. Not only does it give to a basic overview of some of the famous tales, but
also allows you to be curious and learn more. Enjoy!

By: Dane Liebermann