Events & Things

This is the second of a set of two books by Dr. Shreekant Vijaykar about Hindu Mythological Tales. Written as a series of essays, musings, and thought experiments over a decade and a half, and covering over a hundred lesser-known Events and Things from Hindu mythology, this volume is a thinking person’s companion to the wonderful world of ancient Hindu civilization. Covering the stories and incidents in one of the most ancient cultures of the world, this book, along with its companion that covers Names and Places (Part I), is a modern-day encyclopedia of Hindu myths and legends.

This is not just a storybook. It is a compendium, and a rational enquiry, often witty, sometimes irreverent, but always curious, into the nature of these myths that have propelled a large body of art, literature, and social thought through the millennia. It explores the mythical stories and situations in particular and human condition in general.

Dr. Shreekant Vijaykar, in his lucid narrative style and a penchant for juxtaposing different concepts and events, takes us through a magical and cerebral ride across a myriad of Hindu myths and legends from Mahabharata, Ramayana, the Vedas, and the Puranas. While doing so, he adds his own commentary, gives simple explanations that are often overlooked, and draws parallels between different stories, making it a marvellous reading experience across the two texts.