Jaya : An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata by Devdutt Pattanaik
Jaya or Spiritual Victory as the essence of the Mahabharata is often lost while telling and retelling of the tale. We tend to oversimplify the complex plot, motives, consequences and the conflict between desire and destiny. Also, because of the message of Karma, we have been led to believe in destiny more than desire. Human beings are master of their own desires and their actions determine their destiny. Hence, we are not as bound by fate as we believe.
This retelling of the epic by Devdutt Pattanaik is a magnificent attempt at simplifying the philosophical underpinnings of the stories and the characters narrated without oversimplifying. Stories and anecdotes collected from different parts of India and South –East Asia provide a richness and accessibility to the often retold and interpreted tale.
Despite the explanations of symbols and their possible meanings and the knowledge of the storyline, the book retains its simple charm and remains spell binding throughout. The themes explored here e.g. the meaning of Civilization, exploitation of Earth and its appeal to Vishnu the Preserver to sustain life on Earth express contemporary concerns.Also, the wisdom contained here transcends the constraints of time, history and people. Truly, the narrative embodies the following as a fact :-
“ Whatever exists is found here
Whatever is not here does not exist”.
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