Pashu

by Devdutt Pattanaik

A unique feature of Hindu mythology is the key role played by animals or pashu. The
Puranas, ancient Hindu story chronicles, reveal that Brahma, the creator, had a son
called Kashyapa, whose many wives gave birth to different types of pashu:
• Timi gave birth to animals who swim
• Vinata gave birth to animals who fly
• Kadru gave birth to animals who crawl
• Surabhi gave birth to animals with hooves
• Sarama gave birth to animals with paws
• Surasa gave birth to animals who defy classification
This book retells their stories. With over 75 gorgeously illustrated anecdotes, Devdutt
Pattanaik reveals how our ancestors imagined the animal kingdom, and the key role
animals played in human lives.

Genres: Mythology, Childrens, Audiobook, Folklore, Short Stories, Nonfiction

184 pages, Paperback

First published November 21, 2014

About the author

Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik (born December 11, 1970) is an Indian physician turned leadership consultant, mythologist and author whose works focus largely on the areas of myth, mythology, and also management. He has written a number of books related to Hindu mythology, including Myth = Mithya: A Handbook of Hindu Mythology, a novel, The Pregnant King, and Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata (2010).
He is the Chief Belief Officer of Future Group, one of India’s largest retailers, bringing the wisdom of Indian mythology into Indian business, especifically in human resource management. He also writes a column for the newspaper MID DAY.
He has also written a novel based on a tale from the Mahabharata titled 'The Pregnant King' published by Penguin Books India

Reviews

[Ritojeet Basu · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good, basic introduction to animals in Hindu Mythology. Would be great for kids. Doesn't delve into much details, just like this review.

[Ankit garg · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cover and preface showcases the book as a bed time story book for 10 yr olds, but the author has invested a huge amount of time in researching and collating the content for this, although some of the facts/stories presented may not be globally accepted ones. Talks in length about various mythological stories in a concise and fun way. Good book for a lazy weekend for mythology lovers.

[Minesh Mehta · Rating 3 out of 5]

i brought it for my son, i enjoyed it also
Nice Stories at very root level, and my son liked it a lot.

[Anand Ganapathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought it for my niece and read it too. simple stories from mythology for kids :)

[Aruna Kumar Gadepalli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tales of animals in Indian mythology for children.

[Rishabh Mittal · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a book for kids. Devdutt is unbeatable when it comes to Indian mythology. This book is designed for kids. Language is simple, characters introduced to interest kids, and amuse them.
If you haven't read mythology before it can be a good start.

[Vishal Singh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dharma is opposite of Jungle Law. So we must protect the weak. Satisfy people hunger and provide them security.

[Ravi Prakash · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good book. It has great caricatures. It's basically written to allure the kids. It was nice pastime.

[John Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Final book of 2023. Ancient tales all about nature, animals, and humans relationships with them, with a range of powerful lessons.

[Sindhu S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, this book is for children. Even the author has categorized it so. However, reading Pashu was like meeting an old friend—rediscovering many things, reliving memories—quite an enjoyable experience.
As the years pass, many things go behind a thin curtain that envelops your memories. No matter how hard you try, some names and incidents escape you. Pashu helped me remove that curtain from at least one area: the mythological stories that my paternal grandfather used to tell me.
Not just that. My parents have always been kind to all animals and birds. My mother feeds and cares for those that come near our house. My brother and I have inherited some of that kindness. So, it is wonderful to know how important a role animals or pashu have in Hindu mythology.
Pattanaik shows how the animal kingdom is depicted in Hindu sacred books. This book has over 75 anecdotes accompanied by interesting illustrations. It can serve as an introduction to the uninitiated and a reminder to the well-versed.
I enjoyed it because it does not preach; it just narrates and leaves you to draw your conclusions—spiritual or otherwise.

[Amritha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good effort in collecting all these stories. I like that he didn't go into the spiritual side of each story. Let the matured readers find it on their own. Others can just enjoy these out of the top stories.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read the Hindi translation of this. Enjoyed because it's good Hindi but not simple Hindi. Classic short stories.

[Supriya Bansal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who could be better than the maestro of Indian Mythology to write a children’s book about the role of animals in the Puranas, Ramayana, Mahabharata, and other ancient texts?

Pattanaik once again presents a well-researched, reflective, and clever book for the middle graders elaborating on the origin, relevance, and indispensable role animals play in our folklore. Each anecdote diverts the readers’ attention to the context and the centrality of different animals in the often-told legends.

The book kicks off with a brief introduction about the origin of different species according to the mythos. Sage Kashyap, the son of Brahma, the creator, is apparently the father of the animal world, with each of his wives reproducing a different species. Timi is the mother of creatures that swim, Vinata of all those who fly, Kadru gives birth to animals who crawl, Surabhi to the ones with hooves, Sarama to ones with paws, and Surasa is the mother of those creatures that defy classification. The book delves into these animals in subsections, unknotting the connected stories from different regions and beliefs passed on by oral traditions.

The book is an interplay of well-known tales and scores of exotic stories that have stayed relatively unknown from widespread knowledge. Pattanaik keeps the narrative jaunty and upbeat with his vivid black and white illustrations and doesn’t refrain from challenging the well-accepted facts and figures. If a mythological belief appears incongruent in the shadows of modern knowledge, Pattanaik proposes a possible explanation, appealing to the curious and logical minds.

Pattanaik intricately weaves the secrets of the animal world into mysteries of mythology and brews a brilliant concoction. Much like his other kids’ books, the tales from the ancient Hindu text are age appropriate and streamlined for the target readers. A remarkable beginner set for the middle grader and a worthy companion to other books in this genre.

A fascinating collection of animal tales from ancient texts.

[Chapter.whispers.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚✨ After a long break, I’ve finally returned to one of my favorite genres—Hindu mythology. I picked up Pashu by Devdutt Pattanaik, and as always, his narration makes complex ideas so accessible and engaging.

This book explores mythology through the lens of animals in Indian epics and folklore. I loved how it beautifully weaves in lessons on patience, compassion, and the power of good deeds—reminding us that dharma isn’t just for humans but applies to all living beings. 🐘🦚🐍

✨ Two things that stood out for me:
🔹 The way each story is connected to a deeper symbolic meaning—every animal, from the serpent to the swan - carries a cultural and spiritual message.
🔹 The illustrations are simple yet impactful, making it a perfect read for both mythology enthusiasts and beginners.

[Dev Shani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pashu- pauranik janwaron ka chitran.....

Pashu ved se unki utpati se lekar vishit bhumika tak ki kahani kahti hai ...par kahani sanhhipt hi hai ...lekah unhe bochal ki bhasha me bata raha hai...
Ye bacho ke liye book hai toh thik hi hsi.....
Par is book se unhe bhi jyada kuch nahi samjh ane wala...

[Austin Ajit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pashu has contains animal stories from across the Mahabharata, to the Ramayana .It explains the creation of animals etc .
This wonderful book was full of facts from Indian mythology .It contains animal tales from the Mahabharata and was awesome.

[Riddhika Khanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice collection of stories from Hindu mythology specifically related to animals. loved it.

[Prabodh Agarwal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book for kids. I got it for free somewhere.

[Pallavi · Rating 4 out of 5]

very nice short stories from mythology.

[Shraddha Kamble · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though this book seems like it is for kids but as an adult i loved to read this one.

[Gayathri Manikandan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a treasure trove of information. Leaves you spell bound. Highly recommended for mythology fans. Thanks a ton to the author for bringing out such books

[Noor Anik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was a good read over all. Loved the illustrations. But it really challenged some of my previously known facts about Indian mythology.

[Sumit Pawar · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book on Introduction of Animals from Stories of various Puranas.

[Srikar Sri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do book on short stories about vahanas and detailed info about all mothers of all creaters.

[Meera Agrawal · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absolute favorite since I was 10!!! 😁

[Nandu · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing style can be considered more for those interested in mythology.
Wit and humour.More funny.

[Sonal Grover · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a book for people who likes to read mythological stories.

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great illustrations, but the book is for kids.