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Vishwamitra : The Man Who Dared to Challenge the Gods by Vineet Aggarwal (2014-11-30) Paperback
When Satyavati, wife of Rishi Ruchik, exchanges with her mother the magic potion for bearing a child, they change not just their children’s destiny, but also the history of mankind. Born of this mix up is Vishwamitra, the son of a Kshatriya, who strives to become a Brahmarishi—the ultimate and most powerful of all Gurus. Vishwamitra is the powerful story of a brave but stubborn, haughty yet compassionate, visionary king of Aryavarta who not only acquires material wealth through military conquests but also becomes one of the most well-known sages of all times.
Unknown Binding
First published November 1, 2014
56 people are currently reading
750 people want to read
About the author
Vineet Aggarwal
7 books102 followersDr. Vineet Aggarwal is described by many as a doctor by qualification, manager by profession and author by passion.
Born in a family of doctors, he successfully completed an initial stint with the family occupation before deciding to venture into pharmaceutical management and currently pursues writing and travel photography along with his managerial roles.
He is the author of popular online blogs ‘Decode Hindu Mythology’ and ‘Fraternity Against Terrorism and Extremism’ and the author of books ‘Vishwamitra – the Man who dared to challenge the Gods’, ‘The Legend of Parshu-Raam’ * 'BHarat - the Man who built a Nation."
Born in a family of doctors, he successfully completed an initial stint with the family occupation before deciding to venture into pharmaceutical management and currently pursues writing and travel photography along with his managerial roles.
He is the author of popular online blogs ‘Decode Hindu Mythology’ and ‘Fraternity Against Terrorism and Extremism’ and the author of books ‘Vishwamitra – the Man who dared to challenge the Gods’, ‘The Legend of Parshu-Raam’ * 'BHarat - the Man who built a Nation."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
July 12, 2015
Vishwarath was born to a great king. He was meant to rule over Kingdoms, until a trifle with Brahmarishi Vasishth set him on a path to achieve what no human had ever dreamt of. ‘Vishwamitra’ is the story of Vishwarath, a man who dared to challenge the Gods, a human who set out to defy all odds and beat his nemesis, only to realise that it was never his destiny to become the emperor of the world (jeet-indra) but to be the master of his own senses (jeet-indriya). I’d like to compliment the first time author, Dr Vineet Aggarwal, for choosing one of the most interesting characters from Hindu mythology to write this story. A well-paced narrative strewn with vivid imagery makes this book a delightful read. I totally enjoyed it and would recommend it to all mythology aficionados.
January 8, 2015
Vishwamitra is Dr Vineet's début book but the writing style and narration convey the maturity of an erudite writer. The book is an easy read and can be completed in one sitting by most readers also because despite not being a thriller the book is interesting and keeps the reader engaged all throughout. Though the overarching theme is mythology, it is to author's credit that the book manages to convey a deeper meaning that human spirit should know no bounds. As you read through the pages protagonist conveys the indomitable spirit. Vishwamitra as a character is not unknown to readers of mythology we have grown up knowing him as an angry seer whose meditation was interrupted by menaka. The exposition manages to convey the finer nuances of how the transformation to Vishwamitra would have taken place. The way the finer creative details have been build into the plot are subtle yet beautiful. As you flip through the pages you appreciate the vast amount of research and author's signature style of correlating mythology and science. It is these nuggets that make it a pleasurable read. The beauty of menaka-Vishwamitra union is tasteful and esthetic.
All in all a wonderful read with meticulous writing
All in all a wonderful read with meticulous writing
January 7, 2016
Excellent read.
The choice of writing about the character of Vishwamitra did not fascinate me initially. However, I knew the book would be worth a read for I was familiar with the author's blog, decode Hindu mythology (www.decodehindumythology.com). Fortunately, the book was way better than I had ever expected. It was nearly flawless.
Storyline is intriguing. Major characters are sketched well. Pacing is appropriate, except for the ending. And of course, the writing style gets you hooked. Extremely well researched, keeps the reader wondering about the sources of such in-depth information, most of which are from the puranas, rig veda etc. The research about a non-cliché character such as Vishwamitra would have been cumbersome, but the author's successful effort is clearly shown in the book. It does a great job in conveying the story in a fascinating manner.
An occasional, rare grammatical error, mostly missing articles, but it does not affect the flow of the story. The ending could have been paced in a better way though, but you can't deny that it's a great climax. Overall, if you're a mythology lover, or simply a book lover, get Vishwamitra, it won't disappoint you, and you'll find yourself glued to the book in no time.
An easy 5.
The choice of writing about the character of Vishwamitra did not fascinate me initially. However, I knew the book would be worth a read for I was familiar with the author's blog, decode Hindu mythology (www.decodehindumythology.com). Fortunately, the book was way better than I had ever expected. It was nearly flawless.
Storyline is intriguing. Major characters are sketched well. Pacing is appropriate, except for the ending. And of course, the writing style gets you hooked. Extremely well researched, keeps the reader wondering about the sources of such in-depth information, most of which are from the puranas, rig veda etc. The research about a non-cliché character such as Vishwamitra would have been cumbersome, but the author's successful effort is clearly shown in the book. It does a great job in conveying the story in a fascinating manner.
An occasional, rare grammatical error, mostly missing articles, but it does not affect the flow of the story. The ending could have been paced in a better way though, but you can't deny that it's a great climax. Overall, if you're a mythology lover, or simply a book lover, get Vishwamitra, it won't disappoint you, and you'll find yourself glued to the book in no time.
An easy 5.
March 12, 2017
Viswamitra,one of the most intriguing characters of Indian History was portrayed well by the debutant author..the transformations and emotions of viswamitra right from his childhood to the scene where he's named Brahmarshhi were well captured..Especially the scenes where he's transformed from viswarath to viswamithra and final confronting scene with vashista and viswamitra realizing his final destiny were classic..
The life journey of viswamitra giving us a subtle message that a human can achieve anything beyond possibilities by sheer willpower and determination was put forth in a convincing and believable way by the author..The fusion of Science,Myth and Philosophy was worked well adding depth to the main characters. Menaka-Viswamitra relation was well portrayed and we'll be getting a feel that viswamitra is a complete man who perfectly lived through DHARMA ARTHA KAMA MOKSHA phases,Should appreciate author for capturing this essence and portraying this in a very believable and understandable way.
Book is fast paced and will be completed in a single sitting for avid readers.There're no dull moments anywhere in the book and trust me You won't regret this..
Kudos to the author and hail VISWAMITRA-THE MAN WHO DARED TO CHALLENGE THE GODS!!!!
The life journey of viswamitra giving us a subtle message that a human can achieve anything beyond possibilities by sheer willpower and determination was put forth in a convincing and believable way by the author..The fusion of Science,Myth and Philosophy was worked well adding depth to the main characters. Menaka-Viswamitra relation was well portrayed and we'll be getting a feel that viswamitra is a complete man who perfectly lived through DHARMA ARTHA KAMA MOKSHA phases,Should appreciate author for capturing this essence and portraying this in a very believable and understandable way.
Book is fast paced and will be completed in a single sitting for avid readers.There're no dull moments anywhere in the book and trust me You won't regret this..
Kudos to the author and hail VISWAMITRA-THE MAN WHO DARED TO CHALLENGE THE GODS!!!!
January 8, 2015
Sheer Brilliance! A Remarkable Journey!
Never have I read a mythological book so intensely detailed. It clearly reveals the amount of research been done by the author before it arrived into the reader's hands. I thoroughly enjoyed the author's imagination that has been amazingly presented! I could have finished the book in one go. But I thought of extending this fabulous adventure with some brief pauses to relive the events in my imagination :) ! The use of scientific terms in this great mythological saga to explore the logical possibilities is absolutely mind blowing!
Also, it would be great to see a graphic version of this fantastic adventure. A television series would also be superb if presented exactly as described in the book!
I would highly recommend this book to all. Its awesome!
Never have I read a mythological book so intensely detailed. It clearly reveals the amount of research been done by the author before it arrived into the reader's hands. I thoroughly enjoyed the author's imagination that has been amazingly presented! I could have finished the book in one go. But I thought of extending this fabulous adventure with some brief pauses to relive the events in my imagination :) ! The use of scientific terms in this great mythological saga to explore the logical possibilities is absolutely mind blowing!
Also, it would be great to see a graphic version of this fantastic adventure. A television series would also be superb if presented exactly as described in the book!
I would highly recommend this book to all. Its awesome!
February 11, 2015
As a first book by the author it is an impressive work. The way the book has been written is good and keeps you well engaged. The book tries to balance mythology and science which is done well and you can actually see science connecting to mythology. For those who have a very basic understanding of mythology this book will make your help you develop a rational attitude towards understanding mythology. Author has done his background work really well and it becomes evident by the depth he reaches in explaining things. The book has used some innovative concepts like replacing chapters with adhyays which are well connected and have a smooth flow. Also the way message is well conveyed. Hence, I can say "Do read it once".
September 2, 2017
Dr. Vineet Aggarwal did a good job with his debut 'Vishwamitra'. It a simple read and the research done by the author is visible. The tale of Rishi Vishwamitra is told is such a way that the reader is hooked to the book. It is the story of Vishwartha and his transformation to Vishwamitra. The story begins with Satyavati, her marriage and birth of Yamadagni & Vishwartha. The author talks in detail about the encounters between Vasishta and Vishwartha. For me, these encounters were the most interesting parts of the book.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in philosophy, mythology.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in philosophy, mythology.
May 13, 2015
A very good and detailed research about one of the famous Character of Indian mythology. A nice and apt narration. Loved each and every part of the story. One of the highlights of the Book was the full feel of reading a mythology as it was named ‘Adhyaye’ instead of Chapters. A must read book.
Full Review: http://www.himanipassion.com/book-rev...
Full Review: http://www.himanipassion.com/book-rev...
September 4, 2016
A disappointing read. Did not expect much as I surely judged the book from its cover, it felt like a children's book. Sadly, it is written for adults. The book attempts to tell the story of a Saint who in Hindu Mythology is one of the more intriguing figures. The book fails in all respects- the story, the characters, the climax and whatnot. One of the many novels written in the wake of The Shiva Trilogy, this book fails even to match them. I would recommend you read it for fun though.
May 28, 2016
Dr Vineet Aggarwal is a budding Author. I have gone through his book and found it to be quite interesting especially since it comes from a first-time writer! The journey of Vishwamitra is quite well defined and the climax is stunning.
April 9, 2018
[Detailed review is available at: http://thinkerviews.com/books/english...]
Retelling mythology from one’s own perspective is in-thing in the literary world of India now. There are many authors exploring this genre and we see hits and misses both here.
Recently we got a chance to read "VishwaMitra" by Dr. Vineet Aggrawal and we are impressed with the way it is written.
Vishwamitra is comparatively a less explored character in Indian mythology and a majority of readers can't recollect much more than the famous Vishwamitra-Menaka union. Here also, most of the readers consider it as a low moment. However, very few know that Vishwamitra and Menaka lived together for years! So, get ready to know the story of how Visharath became VishwaMitra.
The Plot:
It all starts when king Kadhi used to rule Mahodayapur. There was a history of KanyaKubja and Kadhi was eventually blessed with a baby girl. He named her Satyavati. Considering her as his heir, Kadhi got her educated in war-games and administration as well.
One fine day, the king was all ready to announce the active participation of Satyavati into the administration of his kingdom and promote her as the next ruler of the same. But, if the things always go in the direction decided by a person, then who will believe in the destiny?
Ruchik, son of sage Chyavan, comes to the court of Kadhi and asks him for the hand of Satyavati!
Kadhi was buried into worries and dilemma with this proposal. He cannot bluntly say No to a sage like Ruchik and at the same time for the girl like Satyavati who grew up in all the comforts of the palace, the sage like Ruchik is not an ideal groom. And, who will rule the kingdom if Satyavati will live in an Ashram or abode? A king is responsible to his citizens as well. And, it is his duty to provide them next eligible ruler.
What will happen now? Will Ruchik be refused? If so, what will be the consequences? If he is not, then how his married life will Satyavati proceed? What these events have to do with the legend of VishwaMitra who became so powerful later in his life that he challenged - Indra - the god of devas? Well, you need to read the book to know more :).
Views and Reviews:
Vineet Aggrawal is in complete control of the story throughout. He nicely balanced the importance and weightage to all the principal characters. No important incidents are skipped. Actually, there is comparatively, a less amount of information is available in scriptures and legends to fit into this story. The author needed to fill in some gaps with his imagination.
While the descriptions of Jungle, beauty and the surroundings are convincing, the same can be told of the war scenes. The conversations are written effectively. The way tale stars and gradually moves ahead in a flawless manner is something you will love reading. Here are some of the interesting lines from the book:
Truly there’s no better happiness than getting the right partner in life!
— — —
… was too engrossed in my own reluctance to begin a householder’s life to pay attention to what my prospective bride may have in her mind.
— — —
I cannot undo the past but I can strive to give you a bright future.
I admire the way the Vishwamitra-Menaka episode is handled in this book. Actually all the strong female characters stand tall and gives a lessons to the writers who writes anything in the name of feminism. All the characters in this book does what they are destined to without any gender bias. And, according to me it is the most significant achievement of the author. one more thing I must say about the book is, the way science and mythology are weaved together.
Summary:
Definitely a worth reading book.
Rating:
Definitely 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Retelling mythology from one’s own perspective is in-thing in the literary world of India now. There are many authors exploring this genre and we see hits and misses both here.
Recently we got a chance to read "VishwaMitra" by Dr. Vineet Aggrawal and we are impressed with the way it is written.
Vishwamitra is comparatively a less explored character in Indian mythology and a majority of readers can't recollect much more than the famous Vishwamitra-Menaka union. Here also, most of the readers consider it as a low moment. However, very few know that Vishwamitra and Menaka lived together for years! So, get ready to know the story of how Visharath became VishwaMitra.
The Plot:
It all starts when king Kadhi used to rule Mahodayapur. There was a history of KanyaKubja and Kadhi was eventually blessed with a baby girl. He named her Satyavati. Considering her as his heir, Kadhi got her educated in war-games and administration as well.
One fine day, the king was all ready to announce the active participation of Satyavati into the administration of his kingdom and promote her as the next ruler of the same. But, if the things always go in the direction decided by a person, then who will believe in the destiny?
Ruchik, son of sage Chyavan, comes to the court of Kadhi and asks him for the hand of Satyavati!
Kadhi was buried into worries and dilemma with this proposal. He cannot bluntly say No to a sage like Ruchik and at the same time for the girl like Satyavati who grew up in all the comforts of the palace, the sage like Ruchik is not an ideal groom. And, who will rule the kingdom if Satyavati will live in an Ashram or abode? A king is responsible to his citizens as well. And, it is his duty to provide them next eligible ruler.
What will happen now? Will Ruchik be refused? If so, what will be the consequences? If he is not, then how his married life will Satyavati proceed? What these events have to do with the legend of VishwaMitra who became so powerful later in his life that he challenged - Indra - the god of devas? Well, you need to read the book to know more :).
Views and Reviews:
Vineet Aggrawal is in complete control of the story throughout. He nicely balanced the importance and weightage to all the principal characters. No important incidents are skipped. Actually, there is comparatively, a less amount of information is available in scriptures and legends to fit into this story. The author needed to fill in some gaps with his imagination.
While the descriptions of Jungle, beauty and the surroundings are convincing, the same can be told of the war scenes. The conversations are written effectively. The way tale stars and gradually moves ahead in a flawless manner is something you will love reading. Here are some of the interesting lines from the book:
Truly there’s no better happiness than getting the right partner in life!
— — —
… was too engrossed in my own reluctance to begin a householder’s life to pay attention to what my prospective bride may have in her mind.
— — —
I cannot undo the past but I can strive to give you a bright future.
I admire the way the Vishwamitra-Menaka episode is handled in this book. Actually all the strong female characters stand tall and gives a lessons to the writers who writes anything in the name of feminism. All the characters in this book does what they are destined to without any gender bias. And, according to me it is the most significant achievement of the author. one more thing I must say about the book is, the way science and mythology are weaved together.
Summary:
Definitely a worth reading book.
Rating:
Definitely 4.5 out of 5 stars.
January 5, 2024
I have always felt conflicted on a few things regarding religion. A major one being that all religions kind of portray humans to be an inferior species who are too weak to make an impact, who should always follow God as sheep, who should spend their lives in guilt or repenting on sins and always remembering their place in the universe as mere mortals deriving any positive energy from the Creator/God only, always inferior.
This book was a breath of fresh air for me. I loved the journey of a human from Vishwarth to Vishwamitra. The kind of dedication he showed in bringing the Gods down is highly admirable. I liked the writing prose of the author. The story was gripping, interesting and smooth. I liked the back story of Vishwarth as well. This story showed what capacity a human has and what power can it hold if they really put their heart and soul into it. This story forces you to think that if we are one of the finest creation (self proclaimed) of the creator than we must have some extraordinary qualities. Why do we assume that we are useless?
Even when the Gods particularly Indra plotted against a mere human, he was able to overcome those challenges and become a legend.
I highly recommend this book to mythology enthusiasts. Although the plot is simple, it has some very good high points.
This book was a breath of fresh air for me. I loved the journey of a human from Vishwarth to Vishwamitra. The kind of dedication he showed in bringing the Gods down is highly admirable. I liked the writing prose of the author. The story was gripping, interesting and smooth. I liked the back story of Vishwarth as well. This story showed what capacity a human has and what power can it hold if they really put their heart and soul into it. This story forces you to think that if we are one of the finest creation (self proclaimed) of the creator than we must have some extraordinary qualities. Why do we assume that we are useless?
Even when the Gods particularly Indra plotted against a mere human, he was able to overcome those challenges and become a legend.
I highly recommend this book to mythology enthusiasts. Although the plot is simple, it has some very good high points.
October 19, 2018
Summary:
The book as the title suggests is about Vishwamitra. The story starts with the how the destiny of Vishwamitra is decided even before he was born due to a mistake committed by his sister. He was born to the King who went on to become a Brahmarishi through his hard work and Penance.
My Take:
It’s a marvellous book on history. It has some facts about Vishwarath alias Vishwamitra which many aren’t aware of. For e.g. it was Vishwamitra who discovered the powerful Gayatri Mantra which converts matter into energy. The novel is a medium paced story with lengthy chapters termed as Adhyays.
A lot of importance has been given to details in a scene. The descriptions are very detailed. History has been presented beautifully. The book turns interesting post the introduction of Menaka and Vishwamitra’s penance. You feel sad for Menaka.
I loved the twist in ending. An absolutely intriguing read for history lovers. My rating 4.5/5
The book as the title suggests is about Vishwamitra. The story starts with the how the destiny of Vishwamitra is decided even before he was born due to a mistake committed by his sister. He was born to the King who went on to become a Brahmarishi through his hard work and Penance.
My Take:
It’s a marvellous book on history. It has some facts about Vishwarath alias Vishwamitra which many aren’t aware of. For e.g. it was Vishwamitra who discovered the powerful Gayatri Mantra which converts matter into energy. The novel is a medium paced story with lengthy chapters termed as Adhyays.
A lot of importance has been given to details in a scene. The descriptions are very detailed. History has been presented beautifully. The book turns interesting post the introduction of Menaka and Vishwamitra’s penance. You feel sad for Menaka.
I loved the twist in ending. An absolutely intriguing read for history lovers. My rating 4.5/5
March 7, 2018
Well I must say Dr Vineet has chosen one of the most interesting character whom we all know by name but hardly we know the background and history so this book has all that what you need to know about him.Its described beautifully and you tend to pictures that era in mind while reading the book.Described perfectly in chronological order it’s a must for every mythology reader.I enjoyed reading the book and I would recommend it to others as well.Happy Reading Guys 😊
December 13, 2018
A recommended one to all Mytho lovers. The story sequence is too good. The story in itself is very inspiring. Loved the way most of the complex aspects of spirituality is described with Science terminologies. It's so easily understandable. What's more appreciable is the essence of the story is retained and so relatable to the present generation's mindset.So glad I came across this book. Going to purchase all of the authors' books now :)
February 2, 2015
I found the book entertaining, racy and a quick read. It's riveting and a page turner. I was pulled into vishwamitra's world and I was sad when the book ended. I'm looking forward to the next book by the author. An excellent debut.
September 17, 2016
The transformation of Vishwarath to Vishwamitra is indeed intriguing. Dr. Vineet has to be credited with a good job of building the character of the great maharishi. A wonderful book to read and know one of the classic characters of Aryavarta.
April 25, 2017
A simple book about the mythological tale of Vishwamitra who mastered his own destiny. The author had done enough researches on the topic which can be clearly seen from the pages. The best part is the message provided at the end which can be absorbed from the story of Vishwamitra
February 9, 2016
Though very well researched, it is not gripping! Liked the read though :)
October 1, 2017
Amazing research ! Fan of doctor Vineet! He was Surgical in presenting the amazing life and story of a great sage!
February 14, 2018
Wonderful read on viswamitra.simple to read and good first attempt in writing by the author
April 4, 2018
Exceptionally brilliant!!!!
July 16, 2017
What can i say about an erudite who has explored Indian history & antiquity to the core. It was a delight to finally come across a book that's based on Sanatan history & characters, that in spite of being fiction, neither corrupted them nor glorified the villains (which has become a trend among the fiction writers lately), but brought the real essence of Dharm.
The book though has quite an sluggish start, but gradually (within few chapters) it catches the pace and it just gets better with every page. One has to accept the prowess of the author, by the way he came up with the logical/scientific explanations to various event we see as "chamatkaars", especially the 'upliftment of Trishanku towards heaven', that was just marvelous.
And I am thankful that the author didn't try to bring any idiotic-logical, rather idiological description for the act of divine, which I am tired of seeing in mythological-fiction books where the author tries to explain the leelas and ruins it. The acceptance to the truth, the actual is what should we do instead of being hesitant of accepting our heritage, cause what's truth, will always be.
Like I once quoted in one of my blogs: "divinity cannot be doubted or questioned, it is holy. One can either believe it or disown it as there is no mid-way"
'Vishwamitra' is the journey of a human, who defied all odds and attained what he aspired for, that was rare to devas even. The book is a must read and I wish Vineet all the best for his future endeavors.
The book though has quite an sluggish start, but gradually (within few chapters) it catches the pace and it just gets better with every page. One has to accept the prowess of the author, by the way he came up with the logical/scientific explanations to various event we see as "chamatkaars", especially the 'upliftment of Trishanku towards heaven', that was just marvelous.
And I am thankful that the author didn't try to bring any idiotic-logical, rather idiological description for the act of divine, which I am tired of seeing in mythological-fiction books where the author tries to explain the leelas and ruins it. The acceptance to the truth, the actual is what should we do instead of being hesitant of accepting our heritage, cause what's truth, will always be.
Like I once quoted in one of my blogs: "divinity cannot be doubted or questioned, it is holy. One can either believe it or disown it as there is no mid-way"
'Vishwamitra' is the journey of a human, who defied all odds and attained what he aspired for, that was rare to devas even. The book is a must read and I wish Vineet all the best for his future endeavors.
September 4, 2022
To be honest, I did not know anything about Vishwamitra - not even that he is one of the Saptarishis, let alone the fact that he was the rishi who had instructed Ram to kill Tadaka. But in a way, I'm glad I didn't because I was completely taken away by the life story of this mortal who also turned out to be a staunch egalitarian for all species. That is, as the back cover says: 'the man who dared to challenge the gods. Essentially, the Devas.
I found this bit, the purpose of Vishwamitra quite amusing because ironically now humans seem to have been doing the same thing as the Devas - assuming themselves to be the most important species on this planet, considering millions of other species with whom we share this planet as inferior. And this perspective in turn reminded me of the movie 'Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes' which has a similar theme.
Initially, I was doubtful whether an English retelling of such Indic stories will be able to deliver the unique essence of the stories. However, the writer did not disappoint and did an excellent job. The descriptions and scientific explanations of the superpowers of the rishis made it seem sci-fi, but a sci-fi story of the past. Particularly loved the part where Vishwamitra was planning to prepare the shield for Satyavrat. Loved those descriptions. And by the way, there's quite a bit of romance as well (which I surprisingly found a bit too passionate) as well as heartbreaks.
Overall, amusing was what I felt throughout the book and there were numerous instances where I had to laugh out loud. Especially when Rishi Chyavan had asked the king and queen to take the position of horses of the chariot and tour the city! And to be honest, geniuses though they may be, rishis seem to come up with the most bizarre ways of testing one.
Also what I liked was the focus on meditation or rather tapasya. Any rishi story seems to have tapasya as a very important component. And that you can achieve the 23 siddhis just doing tapasya is just fascinating. Overall, I really liked this book.
I found this bit, the purpose of Vishwamitra quite amusing because ironically now humans seem to have been doing the same thing as the Devas - assuming themselves to be the most important species on this planet, considering millions of other species with whom we share this planet as inferior. And this perspective in turn reminded me of the movie 'Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes' which has a similar theme.
Initially, I was doubtful whether an English retelling of such Indic stories will be able to deliver the unique essence of the stories. However, the writer did not disappoint and did an excellent job. The descriptions and scientific explanations of the superpowers of the rishis made it seem sci-fi, but a sci-fi story of the past. Particularly loved the part where Vishwamitra was planning to prepare the shield for Satyavrat. Loved those descriptions. And by the way, there's quite a bit of romance as well (which I surprisingly found a bit too passionate) as well as heartbreaks.
Overall, amusing was what I felt throughout the book and there were numerous instances where I had to laugh out loud. Especially when Rishi Chyavan had asked the king and queen to take the position of horses of the chariot and tour the city! And to be honest, geniuses though they may be, rishis seem to come up with the most bizarre ways of testing one.
Also what I liked was the focus on meditation or rather tapasya. Any rishi story seems to have tapasya as a very important component. And that you can achieve the 23 siddhis just doing tapasya is just fascinating. Overall, I really liked this book.
January 27, 2015
Pictorial amalgamation of Mythology, Psychology,Science and Humanities in Dr. Vineet Aggarwal's Vishwamitra: The Man who dared to Challenge the Gods!
According to Plato's theory of Mimesis, "Art is twice removed from reality." We are a piece of art in the hands of creator... In his created world of Moh, Maya and Mithya! Vishwamitra, the book begins with Brahma’s awakening of his own consciousness, as he comes to realize that he is the replica of Vishnu, who is considered to be the real truth. As he is the creator of Humanity and all the other living things breathing in the Universe, we the Humans are twice removed from Lord Vishnu, or our Creator, live a life of Illusion as we think ourselves to be a greater part of the Universe are fools to believe so. The discovery in our cosmology and Universe everyday only affirms the fact that is brought to limelight in the book by Yamdagni, Vishwamitra’s brother:
“… this universe is but one out of billions of such universes, each with Brahma of its own, and even these but exist but for a single breath of Shri Maha Vishnu! Still we wage wars and hoard our possessions as though they will last us forever…as if we are going to last forever….”
I have found the book interesting as I notice the writer’s maturity of presenting the pictorial presentation of words in his first book, and find his hard labour and love for the words in the sheer amalgamation of the four streams together: Mythology, Psychology, Science and Humanity. When you trace the outline of the story, you see a Mythological hero, who undergoes a pattern of Monomyth propounded by the famous mythologist and postmodern theorist, Joseph Campbell himself through: Separation, Initiation and Return. The journey of the self-discovery of the hero, who undergoes through different trials and tribulation, only to return back to the common man to bestow the boons of his enlightenment; that one is nothing short of the power which lies within him, and has to be traced in the inner recesses of his sub-conscious mind through the art of meditation by controlling his senses around him, which brings inner peace and spiritual awakening in him. The pictorial presentation and its gripping story, keeps you hooked throughout the narration. It’s interesting to note the scientific approach of the writer while he explains the different way of gestation and piezoelectric term, come alive through the sheer use of words. Even the Chapters are replaced with the Adhyaye in the story; to give the essence of the time Vsihwamitra belonged to, an aspect which doesn’t breaks the regular flow of thought in the reader, engrossing us into deeper state of meditation, with Vishwamitra himself. The story is also appealing as far as senses are concerned. It makes you aware of all the six senses that a man possess. The story takes you to different levels from Plato’s theory of Mimesis to Mythological story, where you yourself feel like a Royalite, as a part of the story. As the story unfolds it takes you into the deeper realms of your own psyche, where you feel angered, shattered, yet not willing to give up as mortal human being, who possesses the inner strength of being Brahmanad because you yourself are a part of that creation and no less. And, when you are guided by The Guardians of Angels, in cruising one’s own destiny, you never feel lost. Every time we fail in our attempts, it only makes us realize us of our inner strength and the relationship between Vasishth and Vishwamitra, speaks of that guidance which is the turning point in the story. The teacher shows the path, yet does not walk it for himself, is best told and understood in the story. It even gives you a tour through the Universe, for which if you want you can refer to his blog Decode Hindu Mythology, in which he speaks of the Cosmology and Yugas according to Mythology, with a scientific approach of a contemporary writer. The most extra-ordinary thing about the book is the presentation of man-woman relationship, especially the love story of Vishwamitra and Menaka. What I found in the book is that a man may marry for the sake of social obligation, yet he remains lustful, obliging to his carnal desire and yet undergoes a feeling of incompleteness throughout. While, a woman may carry the feeling of being most beautiful, yet feels incomplete and alone in the company of her flatterers. And, when Vishwamitra and Menaka come together as man and woman, they feel complete sense of oneness with each other. Yet, when truth comes to the forefront, the unexpected reaction of the protagonist leaves both of them shattered.
If you are just reading it for pleasure sake, still there is much to read about it. A natural story teller, with simplistic style punctuated with life ironies, idiomatic phrases, metaphors, similes are all pearls in Natural stream. It’s a gripping story of the mythological hero named Vishwamitra, who in his pursuit of self-discovery undergoes different trials and tribulation as a Kshatriya to attain the title of being a higher ascetic. It’s also the story of us, the common man, who when one starts believing in his inner strength can become the master of his own destiny. Nothing in this life is easy. And, in order to attain the higher realms of success the path is always full of struggles and learning, and the recognition of one’s own inner strength is the true essence of the story. It’s not just another Hindu mythological story, for me as a reader it’s a story of the hero who believes in his inner strength and never gives up on his inner strength or ability. Men lost in mundane world will find some of the solutions and answer to their confusions in this book... mythological as a physical attribute, yet contemporary in temperament!
According to Plato's theory of Mimesis, "Art is twice removed from reality." We are a piece of art in the hands of creator... In his created world of Moh, Maya and Mithya! Vishwamitra, the book begins with Brahma’s awakening of his own consciousness, as he comes to realize that he is the replica of Vishnu, who is considered to be the real truth. As he is the creator of Humanity and all the other living things breathing in the Universe, we the Humans are twice removed from Lord Vishnu, or our Creator, live a life of Illusion as we think ourselves to be a greater part of the Universe are fools to believe so. The discovery in our cosmology and Universe everyday only affirms the fact that is brought to limelight in the book by Yamdagni, Vishwamitra’s brother:
“… this universe is but one out of billions of such universes, each with Brahma of its own, and even these but exist but for a single breath of Shri Maha Vishnu! Still we wage wars and hoard our possessions as though they will last us forever…as if we are going to last forever….”
I have found the book interesting as I notice the writer’s maturity of presenting the pictorial presentation of words in his first book, and find his hard labour and love for the words in the sheer amalgamation of the four streams together: Mythology, Psychology, Science and Humanity. When you trace the outline of the story, you see a Mythological hero, who undergoes a pattern of Monomyth propounded by the famous mythologist and postmodern theorist, Joseph Campbell himself through: Separation, Initiation and Return. The journey of the self-discovery of the hero, who undergoes through different trials and tribulation, only to return back to the common man to bestow the boons of his enlightenment; that one is nothing short of the power which lies within him, and has to be traced in the inner recesses of his sub-conscious mind through the art of meditation by controlling his senses around him, which brings inner peace and spiritual awakening in him. The pictorial presentation and its gripping story, keeps you hooked throughout the narration. It’s interesting to note the scientific approach of the writer while he explains the different way of gestation and piezoelectric term, come alive through the sheer use of words. Even the Chapters are replaced with the Adhyaye in the story; to give the essence of the time Vsihwamitra belonged to, an aspect which doesn’t breaks the regular flow of thought in the reader, engrossing us into deeper state of meditation, with Vishwamitra himself. The story is also appealing as far as senses are concerned. It makes you aware of all the six senses that a man possess. The story takes you to different levels from Plato’s theory of Mimesis to Mythological story, where you yourself feel like a Royalite, as a part of the story. As the story unfolds it takes you into the deeper realms of your own psyche, where you feel angered, shattered, yet not willing to give up as mortal human being, who possesses the inner strength of being Brahmanad because you yourself are a part of that creation and no less. And, when you are guided by The Guardians of Angels, in cruising one’s own destiny, you never feel lost. Every time we fail in our attempts, it only makes us realize us of our inner strength and the relationship between Vasishth and Vishwamitra, speaks of that guidance which is the turning point in the story. The teacher shows the path, yet does not walk it for himself, is best told and understood in the story. It even gives you a tour through the Universe, for which if you want you can refer to his blog Decode Hindu Mythology, in which he speaks of the Cosmology and Yugas according to Mythology, with a scientific approach of a contemporary writer. The most extra-ordinary thing about the book is the presentation of man-woman relationship, especially the love story of Vishwamitra and Menaka. What I found in the book is that a man may marry for the sake of social obligation, yet he remains lustful, obliging to his carnal desire and yet undergoes a feeling of incompleteness throughout. While, a woman may carry the feeling of being most beautiful, yet feels incomplete and alone in the company of her flatterers. And, when Vishwamitra and Menaka come together as man and woman, they feel complete sense of oneness with each other. Yet, when truth comes to the forefront, the unexpected reaction of the protagonist leaves both of them shattered.
If you are just reading it for pleasure sake, still there is much to read about it. A natural story teller, with simplistic style punctuated with life ironies, idiomatic phrases, metaphors, similes are all pearls in Natural stream. It’s a gripping story of the mythological hero named Vishwamitra, who in his pursuit of self-discovery undergoes different trials and tribulation as a Kshatriya to attain the title of being a higher ascetic. It’s also the story of us, the common man, who when one starts believing in his inner strength can become the master of his own destiny. Nothing in this life is easy. And, in order to attain the higher realms of success the path is always full of struggles and learning, and the recognition of one’s own inner strength is the true essence of the story. It’s not just another Hindu mythological story, for me as a reader it’s a story of the hero who believes in his inner strength and never gives up on his inner strength or ability. Men lost in mundane world will find some of the solutions and answer to their confusions in this book... mythological as a physical attribute, yet contemporary in temperament!
January 8, 2015
For all those who enjoy reading I am sure you would have tried to identify a common thread that connects all the disparate works you liked. For me that thread has been a dose of philosophy delivered the non-pedantic way. Some works that have had a deep and lasting impact on my psyche are The Fountainhead, Kane and Abel, Siddhartha (Herman Hesse), Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance and Shantaram. Among all these books written and revered all across the world, across religions, across age groups and above all among many other demographic and psychographic cuts/ segments, the most beautiful element for me is the ability of the human mind to lead an individual to deliverance and eventually self-actualization.
Vishwamitra in my humble opinion is a master class story simply because it engages, teaches, makes you ask fundamental questions to your own self all while giving you a quick, well-paced, historical account of among the most glorious of men from the annals of Indian history (I do not want to call it mythology). A man who defied all odds only because he saw the human mind as a machine, one so capable that it could achieve anything it dreams of and more importantly worked on.
Best of luck to Dr Vineet Aggarwal, we look at more such quality stuff from you in the future. Works that make Indian authors popular for great content and not writing pseudo Bollywood scripts!
Vishwamitra in my humble opinion is a master class story simply because it engages, teaches, makes you ask fundamental questions to your own self all while giving you a quick, well-paced, historical account of among the most glorious of men from the annals of Indian history (I do not want to call it mythology). A man who defied all odds only because he saw the human mind as a machine, one so capable that it could achieve anything it dreams of and more importantly worked on.
Best of luck to Dr Vineet Aggarwal, we look at more such quality stuff from you in the future. Works that make Indian authors popular for great content and not writing pseudo Bollywood scripts!
April 30, 2015
In Chennai, during the early 1970s, there was this film and theatre personality called Manohar who used to produce, direct and act in some superb plays. I remember certain scenes in the play that stupefied the audience then. The scene where Vishwamitra enables the ascension of Trishanku Swarglok in his human body, and the creation of Trishanku's own Swarglok. Powerful visual rendition on stage then.
The same is with the book Vishwamitra by Dr. Vineet Aggarwal. Power packed narration in simple, entertaining, and yet detailed manner! Manohar's play excelled in powerful dialogues in Tamil with stunning stage effects. This book excels in kicking up powerful visual imagery through simple and engaging storytelling.
It is a reasonably we'll known story of a Kshatriyas king who embarks on an arduous journey of spirituality to become a Brahmarishi. The author retells this story in a very unique manner with modern interpretations that is awesome. Laser guided weapons, wormholes and genetic engineering are just a few things that figure in the narration.
I will read this book again, in some months!
The same is with the book Vishwamitra by Dr. Vineet Aggarwal. Power packed narration in simple, entertaining, and yet detailed manner! Manohar's play excelled in powerful dialogues in Tamil with stunning stage effects. This book excels in kicking up powerful visual imagery through simple and engaging storytelling.
It is a reasonably we'll known story of a Kshatriyas king who embarks on an arduous journey of spirituality to become a Brahmarishi. The author retells this story in a very unique manner with modern interpretations that is awesome. Laser guided weapons, wormholes and genetic engineering are just a few things that figure in the narration.
I will read this book again, in some months!
May 19, 2015
Dr. Vineet Aggarwal is a master story teller. He knows where to elaborate and where to be concise. He makes reading a known mythological story even more interesting. VA's depiction of the daily mundane are magically transformed on being read. Vishwamitra's life is usually blanketed behind a veil of ignorance in most books in this genre. But VA's thoroughly researched and some deviations make this book a must read for those trying to understand mythology. Though this book might come as a disappointment to those expecting a lot of magic - boons and curses, this is definitely a plausible hypothesis of how the events in Vishwamitra's life may have unfolded.
Though some unbelievable astrophysics is involved, it only enhances the flavour of this book. Philosophy from different Hindu scriptures sprinkled at different intervals also make this a wonderful read for anyone at anytime during their lives.
A recommended read for all mythology buffs.
I do hope VA writes about Parashu-Rama and Yamadagni rather than jump to writing his own version of the Ramayana like most of the other contemporary authors of this genre.
Though some unbelievable astrophysics is involved, it only enhances the flavour of this book. Philosophy from different Hindu scriptures sprinkled at different intervals also make this a wonderful read for anyone at anytime during their lives.
A recommended read for all mythology buffs.
I do hope VA writes about Parashu-Rama and Yamadagni rather than jump to writing his own version of the Ramayana like most of the other contemporary authors of this genre.
January 11, 2015
Vishwamitra is a kind of book which every debutant can dream of. There is only one word which can be apt for describing this book. Lovely. The way the writer has created the scenes, developed the characters and narrated the story, it shows he has entirely followed his heart. His love for mythology was radiating out of every page.
Its not actually a fast paced story. The writer takes time to explain the situations, to build up the character but given the genre of this book, it is not meant to be fast paced.
The commendable thing is amalgamation of Science and spirituality. Its neither entirely spiritual nor scientific, though the former has major share. Another praiseworthy point is that like our ancient scriptures, this book also focuses on teaching many things through simple stories. The length of the book is very optimized and the writer has not overloaded the readers with too much of mythology and philosophy.
Its not actually a fast paced story. The writer takes time to explain the situations, to build up the character but given the genre of this book, it is not meant to be fast paced.
The commendable thing is amalgamation of Science and spirituality. Its neither entirely spiritual nor scientific, though the former has major share. Another praiseworthy point is that like our ancient scriptures, this book also focuses on teaching many things through simple stories. The length of the book is very optimized and the writer has not overloaded the readers with too much of mythology and philosophy.
February 2, 2015
Really Like the way Dr. Vineet could pen down his visualization in this book. You can feel the excitement it generates for moving quickly through next chapter. Lots of interesting Facts and the logical Medico-scientific description completely pulls you in to the story.
A must read fro Hindu Mythological Lovers.
Kudos to Dr. Veneet and looking forward for his next writing :)
-Ashutosh Kainth
A must read fro Hindu Mythological Lovers.
Kudos to Dr. Veneet and looking forward for his next writing :)
-Ashutosh Kainth
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