"Rāvan... The greatest villain of our legends, burnt down every year, reduced to ashes again and again, only to rise anew. His is a cycle of death and rebirth that never ends, a legend that refuses to die. And there is a reason for that. The tale of Rāvan still screams to be told, to break free of the falsehoods that have buried his truth. But in the vastness of our myths, there are bits and pieces of his legend scattered all around, leading us to the truth of what could well be the greatest unsolved mystery of all time. The truth of Rāvan's life, and his death by a God in mortal flesh… Rāvan's origin, as the descendant of Lord Brahma, his devotion to Shiva and his conquest of Swarga speak of a great king, stronger and wiser than even the Devas. How then does he succumb to lust, cowardice and finally, foolhardiness? And what was Rāvan's sin that made his death necessary? The abduction of Sitā was a mere front, for the Rām avatar had been born long before that. Why did Vishnu stand against him, when he was blessed by both Shiva and Brahma? How was Rāvan, blessed with invincibility, defeated so conveniently, by a God in human flesh? Could Rāvan not have thought of that, and prepared against it? And why did Shiva allow the death of his greatest worshipper, the one he himself had named? What if the Rāmayan was just a part of a greater story, a cosmic game of chess between Vishnu and Rāvan? What if our greatest epic is merely the end of a tale that had begun long ago?"
I am usually wary of all the reimaginations flying around of the great Indian mythology epics. Too much twisting and turning and what ifs. Some are genuinely good or rather scientifically explained. Others fall in the soap opera category.
With this context, I started on Rudravan. What piqued my interest was the fact that someone wanted to talk about Ravan's broader story rather than another book full of what ifs or a re-telling of Ramayan. And boy was the book refreshing. Kudos to the author for sticking (sometimes painfully :)) to the core material on Ravan. And yet painting a picture, bringing life and action to a flawed man/demon's deeds.
The book is amazingly well written and very fast paced - never a dull moment. Leaves you on the tenterhooks of what next? And yet it does not lose logic or sense, every occurrence explained beautifully without going into unnecessary details/ extensive side stories.
The author clearly loves dramatic story telling which works wonderfully for me. But what I like along with it is his ability to explain the philosophy or logic behind all the drama quite adroitly.
At close to 500 pages, it is not a short book by any account. Nonetheless, it's a swift read evolving quickly with its title character.
The Arthur has also provided illustrations at the start of every chapter. A little comic booky in art, I liked this unique addition. Apparently he has drawn it himself.
All in all a good Christmas break read! Definitely worth a look.
Ravan is portrayed as one of the greatest villains of all time in pretty much all the versions of the Ramayana. Rudravan, however, is the story of Dashanan, the possessor of the wisdom of the ten, the first Brahmadaitya (Brahmin + Daitya) and the creator of the TretaYuga. This is a story of how one man’s goal turned from survival to conquest to vengeance and finally, to endless rage.
The tale begins with a prelude into how the dark forces were ending and how the union of the light and dark in a new world was the only way to escape death. This prelude is further accentuated by the tales of the many daitya lords and their struggle to find and open a portal on the new planet, earth, only to be destroyed the Vishnu and the protectors of the light, the devas. These daityas were banished to the world of Patal, never to return.
The narrative then moves on to the birth of Kuber, Ravan and his siblings, their humble beginnings and how each of them fall prey towards the ways of the world. We see Dashanan as a strong spirited boy, a follower of Dharma, a source of knowledge only to be tainted the troubled history of his lineage. In his quest to find himself, Dashanan leaves no stone unturned. His conversations with the Daitya king Sumali only strengthen his resolve to build a new TretaYuga where the forces of the light and dark would prosper in the age of coexistence rather than conquest. But, was it truly a world of balance if Ravan chose who could live?
The rest of the story revolves around how Ravan gains the favor of the lord of annihilation, Rudra and ascends the throne of Lanka. Ravan rose like the dark knight, defeating the devas and creating a place for his people, the people of the dark world. What was astounding at this point was that Dashanan would constantly strive to balance the forces of the light and dark, not once letting the dark forces get the better of him. Alas, Dashanan was the destined child, the prince that was promised and maybe it was this solid resolve that Shiv adored in his Ravan.
If I had to use an Avengers reference here, Ravan is the Thanos of this version of Ramayana. Just like the warlord Thanos Ravan’s sole purpose in life was to revive the dark and bring about a perfect balance between the light and the dark forces, for that was the only way for the Earth to evolve from SatyaYuga towards the TretaYuga.
Rudravan is not a pity story of how Ravan was vanquished by Ram. It is the bold story of how one man stood against a god, for the survival of his clan, only to consumed by his vengeance and lose to his rage. Ravan is every bit a human like you and we tend to emphasize with Ravan for he was probably just meant to play his part in the cosmic game.
The author does not try to humanize the story by eliminating the concept of magic. He instead sparks mischief by romanticizing and allowing the glamour of magic to play its part. This is quite evident in the portrayal of the various boons, the pushpak, the mystic powers held by the daityas and the devas alike and most of all, in the portal of the Patal world as being the barren wasteland, riddled with fire to be the lava underbelly of Earth.
Ramayana is viewed as the story of how light won over the dark, but Rudravan is a story of how one man’s infinite wisdom could not grant him infinite perception. Rudravan is the story of Rudra’s Ravan and the great war was not just a muse to save the world but to save Ravan from himself, to guard his honor and his soul.
Final Verdict: This is a fast-read, high on fantasy fiction and will appeal to anyone interested in Indian mythology. Most captivating prelude to the most epic tale, The Ramayana.
A book which is both mesmerizing and enthralling in concept . So poignant and racy is the narrative that it holds the reader spellbound by sheer literary artistry. The writer has transformed a mythical saga with his absolute literary brilliance into a story one believes implicitly, so sincere is the effort.The research has been painstakingly done and as the narrative moves the reader is blessed with a sense of discovery ,the voyage of clinical literary outpourings changing and challenging the mind.The book by Rahul is a literary masterpiece and will take the academic world by storm.The emotional connect is huge as the reader connects his mythological diet gleaned over his childhood with what the writer surmises and educates his audience with.The sense of qualitative and quantitative erudition is evident in prose lovingly constructed and beautifully displayed. Rahul is a master of sentence and short paragraph configuration and the strategic beauty of the story shines like a beacon beckoning the reader by its vibrancy and strength.
I enjoyed reading the book for its literary strength,focus and above all its ability to make the reader think,ponder,question and connect with brilliance of the writer's mind.There are societal takes,age old inhibitions of the populace to whom the popular narrative is a childhood gift but when a writer does not toe established and known facts but diametrically lends a creative flavor to what the world knows he joins a club where the author is believed and eulogized. Rahul wields a pen which is devastating in impact and absolutely brilliant in its topicality.
A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TAKE ON RAMAYANA'S FAMOUS VILLIAN "RAVAN". WHAT IF HE WAS MADE TO BE WHAT HE WAS? WHAT IF HE WAS FORCED TO DO THINGS HE DID? WHAT IF THESE EVENTS TAKING PLACE IN RAMAYANA WERE GOD VISHNU'S LEELA TO SET AN EXAMPLE FOR MENTORING AND GUIDING HUMAN RACE? A UNIQUE ATTEMPT BY THE AUTHOR. THIS BOOKS OPENS UP THE BRAIN OF THE READER AND THINK OF VARIETY OF ANGLES TO LOOK AT THE CHARACTER OF RAVAN IN PARTICULAR. THERE ARE ALWAYS 2 SIDES OF A COIN.. WHAT IF....IS WHAT ONE SHOULD APPROACH READING THIS BOOK. JAI SHREE RAM 🙏🙏🙏⚘🌷🌺
Rudravan by Rahul Rajan Is About A Purpose To Live #Rudravan
Rudravan by Rahul Rajan is about a purpose to live, a reason to exist. This is what Ravan was seeking throughout his life. In fact, Ravan is the lead character of this excellent book. Everything else revolves around him in one way or the other. As a matter of fact, the reason of Ram's existence seems to be Ravan itself. If Ravan was not into existence, there would have been no need for Vishnu to take birth as Ram on earth. The story is predominantly a war between light and dark. In fact, it reflects so many paradigms to ponder upon. It is about grief and rage. About war of honor and vengeance. About shifting scales of power under different circumstances. The writing is perfect, engrossing, well-researched, and well-crafted. It is all about a person's deeds, karma, thinking, actions, and favors. Everything between light and dark.
Rudravan is like a long journey. A journey that once starts will not let you finish on your own will. You will have to be a part of this journey right until its end. That is what it is. Who says Gods don't play games? They do. And to all extents. But then it is the amount of fairness that matters. It is all about selfless motives and selfishness. In fact, it talks about Dharma and its entity. Whether it is relative or absolute? That is a point of discussion that keeps taking place between Ravan and Vibhishna. You will, in fact, be traveling between truths and myths. The book definitely takes you to a different level. A level where you introspect and intrigue a lot within and around. In fact, you start looking at things in only two perspectives - light and dark.
Rudravan presents the story of Ramayana in a much logical manner with a lot of research and facts. The things happening look more logical and satisfying. In fact, it will answer your so many questions about What, Why, and How for various things. Overall, Rudravan presents the story of Ram and Ravan in a very different perspective. I think it is a must read for everyone to refresh the whole game quite differently.
If you are a fan of this genre, trust me, you will love the book. The author has so fantastically written the entire book that one can actually visualise the entire drama folding right in front of the eyes. The details of Ravana, the cosmic web of deceit, everything is so beautifully done. I have always been in awe of the Trickster God and this book made me look up to him again. Guess there is a lot to learn from all of the India Mythology irrespective of whose perspective you read it from. The usual idea of Lord Ram as the hero and Ravana as the villain is so orthodox. This book makes you believe that the Dark and Light are within and we all are as much as Ravana as much as we are Lord Rama. One can connect to the confusion, the rage, the greed, the ego we mortals face daily. I have never read a 470-page book at one go but just couldn't convince myself to keep this one down. Great work by Rahul !! Can't thank my friend enough who gifted me this book. Highly highly recommended.
Rāvan, known only as the baddie from the epic Rāmayan, has a lot to his story than what is generally known of him. Greatest devotee of Shiva, King of the Daityas and conquerer of three worlds he was. Before the abduction of Sita and war with Lord Rām, his story is nothing short of the stuff of legends. This is a semi fictional biography style book and the author has done a commendable job.
This is the journey of Dashānan, the son of Visrav and his journey to become Rāvan, from his tale of birth, to his rise and to towards his end. This book is an edge of the seat read and author has delivered an amazing narrative. Although the way author interpreted the Puranas is different, it is certainly interesting and feels like science fiction.
I would certainly recommend this book for people who love fictionalized narrative of Indian legends.
Beautiful Writing. Fast Paced. Best Character development. Rahul Ranjan > Amish.
One of the finest books ever written in Indian mythological fiction ! The book was not so easy read as some of other mythological fiction books like Meluha series or scion of Ikshvaku series. It contains multiple layers and complex concepts that sometimes you have to read twice to understand that. This book i think gives proper justice to the story of ravan. Book is fast paced and holds you tight from first few pages itself. I would prefer Rahul Ranjan over Amish as far as mythological fiction is concerned , provided he writes more books in the future.
The first half of the book is thoroughly researched & well written. However the editing is poor. Looks like a find & replace operation has been performed when using words like naught, mayhap, aye, nigh to name a few, which becomes an irritant at times due to the frequency of usage.
Nice read. The ancient war between good and evil is retold with a twist. Not much changes are made in the original legend and the role of protector of the universe is portrait beautifully.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
A riveting read is what I would classify this as. I have always wanted to read the story of Ravana and how the episode played out. Till date, I have only read one side of the story. This work gave me exactly the perspective I was looking forward to.
I have to admit that I picked up the book with a bit of skepticism since I had not heard of the author. I don't even know whether he has authored anything else. I would say, I am very happy that I choose to pick it up and started reading. The book did the rest of the job since it did not allow me to put it down. Kudos to the author for writing this book!
Wow, what an interesting find and read. Rudravan presents a unique take on one of Hindu mythology’s most hated character. It’s obviously not first book on the subject, and nor I do suspect, the last. Despite what came before it, it manages to stand out exceedingly well and sets quite a high bar for those who choose to follow. I was also amazed by the knowledge that Rahul has on the subject, such depths and create clarity on subjects could have only come after years of passionate researching on the topic. The book manages to cover quite a bit of ground, tackling the cycle of Yugas and the plethora of Gods in our vast mythology. Despite sticking to the script of larger than life figures with larger than life deeds, the story still manages to seem quite modern in its overall outlook. The back and forth between Gods and Demons could well have taken place in a corporate boardroom, with each side striving to out-maneuver the other. The stakes are far higher of course. I am now waiting for the movie to come of this and I hope it happens soon…Honestly, I knew Ravan would die in the end, and I knew Ram would kill him. But till the very last page, I could not see how. That’s a terrific stunt to pull off from an author’s point of view. I also liked the fact that author never tried to show Ravan as a hero. The reader is told why the titular character is wrong, and the reasons are fairly elaborate. Despite that, the king of Lanka manages to evoke my sympathy, and carries this book on his broad shoulders. There is no simple definition of Good Vs Evil, and you keep joining the debate on whether Ravan’s sins are actually sins or not. Rahul Rajan, waiting for your new book now….I am sure you will spring another beautiful engaging surprise on us.
I have read multiple takes on the story of good vs evil and the story of Ram and his nemesis-villain Ravana. The villain - Are we sure ?
The author sets a frenetic pace with the prologue questioning the fundamental beliefs you have been brought up with. Years of doctrine junked in a few minutes and what follows is a breathtaking account of a game of chess between two unyielding superpowers. The book maintains the pace set in the initial reveal throughout and continues to reveal facets of the seemingly dark villain that aren't quite what they seem to be.
Rajan weaves a brilliant tale of intrigue, politics and devotion in his very relatable yet inimitable style. Heavy prose is so well supported by his incredible story-telling nous and the subtle comic book humor in places is just the lift an intense tale such as this needs. I finished the book in one sitting and eagerly look forward to his next.
To hear the tale of Ramayan from the other side (Ravan's side) of the table is quite intriguing. Aptly named Rudravan, the book treats the old familiar story in a completely refreshing way. Rahul's writing style is quite gripping and he successfully transfers the reader into the world he weaves quite intelligently. It is a great mix of mythology, science fiction, imagination and suspense. Would love to see it being made into a movie series, like LOTR.
I revisited story and rediscovered the magic of the tragedy of Ravana born of a illustrious lineage . conversant with the wisdom of Vedas as also blessed with booms of invincibility yet died a villain hated through the ages This narration explores the transformation of a man from purity to evil . The writer analyses Ravan as never before and in the process unveils the mystery of Rudravan personally recommend this for all age groups
I had a preconceived notion about Ravan just like many of us would have had before I started reading this book. 20 pages into the book and my notions started changing.. or rather evolving. One page after the other, as the story unfolded, it was like the characters in the book came alive as if in a play, all contributing to the character sketch of Ravan that I could never imagine existed, before reading this book. The faceoff between Ravan and Vishnu is the ultimate clincher of this book. The author has brilliantly weaved in all other characters like Raam, Hanuman, Jatayu, Sumali.. to name a few. It is the end of the book that will really surprise you and link back all that you would have thought while reading the book.
Brilliant narrative!! Being a fan of mythological thrillers and after having read different takes on Ravan, I haven't come across anything as interesting and unique as this book. This is Ravan's story beyond Ramayan, and traces his origins from the beginning of Treta Yug...Rahul Rajan's Raavan isn't a hero or a villain, but so much more. There are times you hate him and there are times you understand why he did what he did. But mostly its a great work of fiction which I really enjoyed. Highly recommended.