The Man from the Egg: Unusual Tales about the Trinity

by Sudha Murty

Did you know that Brahma once had five faces?
Why do snakes have a forked tongue?
Do gods cheat?
Why does Shiva sport a crescent moon on his head?

The Trinity, consisting of Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu, is the omnipresent trio responsible for the survival of the human race and the world as we know it. They are popular deities of worship all over India, but what remain largely unknown are some of their extraordinary stories.
Award-winning author Sudha Murty walks by your side, weaving enchanting tales of the three most powerful gods from the ancient world. Each story will take you back to a magical time when people could teleport, animals could fly and reincarnation was simply a fact of life.

Genres: Mythology, Fiction, Short Stories, Hinduism, Indian Literature, Fantasy, Religion

200 pages, Paperback

Published November 14, 2017

About the author

Sudha Murty was born in 1950 in Shiggaon in north Karnataka. She did her MTech in computer science, and is now the chairperson of the Infosys Foundation. A prolific writer in English and Kannada, she has written nine novels, four technical books, three travelogues, one collection of short stories, three collections of non-fiction pieces and two books for children.

Her books have been translated into all the major Indian languages and have sold over three lakh copies around the country. She was the recipient of the R.K. Narayan's Award for Literature and the Padma Shri in 2006.

Reviews

[Ishani · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a collection of historical tales of India and can be called a children’s book. And a very good one at that.

Anyone looking for a short read of such tales and who all don’t know much should definitely pick this up without a thought.👍🏼

My reason for the poor rating is that the title of the book gives an impression as if the contents are about The Man from An Egg whereas this is nothing but 4-6 pages of chapter in the entire book.

Though the book says “Unsual tales about the Trinity”, it doesn’t contain any unusual tales of them. All are quite famous and known.

Having said this, the unique side of the book is the collection of folk lores from in & around Karnataka.

The best part is the author Smt. Sudha Murthy ji, at the end of every tale, folk lore or otherwise, lists down the place of India with current geographic location and name where the incident happened or wherefrom the folk lore has been taken.

For someone like me, who tries to see, live and connect with the past, this idea was great.

Recommended for anyone new to ancient Indian history. And yes, these are not mythologies but actual history 😇

[Vri B · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars rating
Good book for beginners who have just gotten new interest in reading . For advanced readers , to be frank (not Frank Zhang) it's a slow book even though the stories have multiple changes.. it isn't gonna absolutely engage you or give you that great urge to continue reading and reading . This could be a good book for maybe night readers though it could bore you. But to sum everything up , it is a wonderful book overall and for short break filled reads , could also get you out of reading slumps .
Happy reading!!

[Arvind · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted an easy book for a break between the books I was reading and I probably picked the wrong one. This book is for 7-12 year olds who love Amar Chitra Katha. While reading, I felt the same way when I picked up an ACK (Abhimanyu) - decent but nothing close to what I felt reading them as a kid.

While the stories have good variety, they are also stories of Hinduism which made me slightly uncomfortable because it has been a long time complaint of mine that people get so caught up in stories that they don't delve into the religion's philosophy. "Bad guy gets a boon he shouldn't - creates trouble - Gods look for a loophole - bad guy dies" formula also got a bit old. But it won't be fair to judge it with bias since I was never the target reader in the first place.

A young, open mind that won't go "oh come on!! not again. people really believe this??" - this book is for them. 4 stars that way. 3 for the rest of us

[Vigneswara Prabhu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Contains stories from Indian mythology which are familiar to most who grew up surrounded by the culture.

Good for young people, or for gifting to someone unfamiliar with the topic.

Especially because of the eye catching cover and some good illustrations accompanying the stories.

[Sophrosyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good!Rarely I have seen Indian mythology tales written fascinatingly.
It's a different genre from the normal books that usual readers tend to read,

'but I am obsessed with Mythology and Folk tales'(anyone else or is it just me?),

irrespective of the country or language,and reading well known stories from a different but interesting angle was refreshing!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 stars!

[Vishnu Bhavana Athuluri · Rating 5 out of 5]

The man from the egg

As name says..This is about the Trinity (Brahma+Shiva+Vishnu). These gods are responsible for the survival of everything as we all know that.There are many tales related to devas and Asuras and how god's boons to asuras always gets people into trouble and God will take other reincarnations to deal with asuras thus helping the people. Best book to know more about trinity.

These tales are always quite interesting.No matter age everyone will be super excited when it comes to stories and about unknown tales from our childhood.This book is full of such unique tales and details mentioned about places where events occurred and about temples are very clear. This book will be a great pick for those who love mythology tales.

This is one of the best books of SudhaMurthy.

[Narinder Bhatia · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love mythology, then you are going to love this . True to its title, the book does deliver some unique tales related to Trinity God in Indian Mythology - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. I definitely discovered something new even about the tales that I was aware of earlier. Nice and enjoyable read.

[Utkarsh Ghadge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book on small stories about Trinity of Hindu mythology.


Sudha Murthy's ways of writing makes it a bit more interesting. Plus she has put every location in present fat related to the particular story

[NAGA KOUSHIK PASUPULETI · Rating 3 out of 5]

The man from the egg by sudha murthy is a collection of stories of the the hindu Trinity Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheswara. This book contains the stories which we read from our childhood and some we didn't hear. I have read it in may mother tongue telugu.
It is a good book for kids and young readers.
Rating:3.3/5

[Gen-v · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captivating ✨

[Niranjan Kamath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Good collection stories from Hindu Epics and Puranas. Many life lessons narrated using beautiful stories.

[Yashaswini Pai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get to know all about the trinity of Hindu mythology.

[Roma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always been an admirer of Sudha Murthy's novels due to its strong characterization of women. But this book as the title suggests is very different from her usual tales. The book is about unusual tales of the trinity of Brahma Vishnu and Shiva, the Indian dirties whom we worship. I am glad to have picked this book.

The book has many small tales, some known and many unknown facts from our mythology. It's not just tales but also briefs us about folk tales and stories behind many sacred places existing in India. I admit I wasn't aware of all such places or the beliefs associated with it. Truly a great book to lay my hands on.

All the stories are very interesting and even though I knew some tales nevertheless loved rereading about them. As Sudha ma'am rightly said in the introduction, the book is for future generations to read and know about stories which might get extinct with time. I hope this book doesn't get lost as it is a jewel.

Loved and simply loved this book. Undoubtedly a 5/5 from me on this.

Follow my book reviews on: http:/readitbyroma.blogspot.in

[Wendell D'Costa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tales of the Trinity.

The man from the egg was yet another mythological marvel from the ever enchanting Sudha Murhty. In this collection Mrs. Murthy showcases magical and fantastical tales of Lord Shiva, Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu who together form the Trinity.

Sudha Murthy's mythological collection is fascinating and also educative for people who want to learn about our Indian Mythology. The tales in this book are exhilarating, entertaining and thrilling from page to page. One can gain a lot of knowledge about the lives of Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma after reading this book, as many of the lesser known facts about them are explained in great detail. Also a word of appreciation for the illustrator for the wonderful artwork throughout the book. This book goes to show that Mrs. Murthy has done a lot of research and has gone a long way to write this book.

[Tvisha C · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is about the Trinity (Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh or Shiva), as the title indicates. We all know that these gods are in charge of ensuring that everything survives. There are many tales related to devas and Asuras and how god's boons to asuras always gets people into trouble and God will take other reincarnations to deal with asuras thus helping the people. The best book to learn more about the Trinity

These stories are always quite fascinating. Everyone will be incredibly interested about stories and about untold tales from our childhoods, regardless of age. This book is packed with such interesting stories, and the information provided about the temples and the locations where events took place is crystal clear. For people who enjoy mythological stories, this book is an excellent choice.

[Rathna Prabha Ponniah · Rating 5 out of 5]

After many years, I really feel my grandma's tales striking in my ears. She had been an extraordinary woman sharing her insights about the deities we worship in Hindu religion. Sudha Murthy brings her voice back in my head with her perfectly spun short stories. The book keeps us occupied and it is like a snack to bite whenever we need a break and the simplicity in narration gives us the breeze to come over again. Overall perfect for someone looking for a variety of books, delving into some serious stuff like fantasy science fiction and looking for a side breeze, this will keep you going into both the stuffs that you are into.

[Abhishek Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about the unusual tales about the Trinity. The Trinity, consisting of Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu, is that the omnipresent trio is liable for the survival of humanity and therefore the world as we all know it. they’re popular deities of worship everywhere India, but what remains largely unknown are a number of their extraordinary stories. This Sudha Murthy book has tried to give as much information about the lesser know myths. Checkout this article i found online about https://dailybugle.in/sudha-murthy-bo...

[Avinash K · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual a wonderful book by Mrs. Sudha Murthy, written in her simple yet beautiful style. I have only issue many of the boons given are attributed to Brahma, however many other sources attribute it Shiva. Of course, this is not a contest, but it seems to contradict the curse on Brahma of no one will worship Brahma. Consequently, this breaks the flow. So one star less. Having said that, the book is really worth reading.

[Dhivya Sridharan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stories we knew told in a different way..It reminds me of those God kills Asuras stories..unlike Devadutt's no inferences are made.. collection of stories of Trinity..feel like same things getting repeated..Asuras get boon, misuse, Gods find a way.. Interesting part is some asuras feel blessed dying at the hands of Lord..Garuda shown as equals to Vishnu in battle ..easy page turner

[AdwaitParsodkar · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Rating : 2.6 / 5

[Varnit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book by my favourite author Sudha Murty is absolutely un-putdownable. Not only is it a good source of mythology, it is also a very entertaining book. Highly recommend this book.

[Bhiju · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Man from the Egg is a delightful collection of short mythological tales, handpicked and retold by Sudha Murty in her signature simple and engaging storytelling style. The central thread that ties many of these stories together is the eternal quest for immortality among the asuras who go to extreme lengths through penance, boons, and clever tricks to avoid death. But what’s fascinating is how, in the end, their efforts always fail before the will of the Trimurti—Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.

One of the things I truly enjoyed was how the book isn’t limited to just popular stories—it brings to light some lesser-discussed ones too. For instance, there’s a story about why snakes have forked tongues.There’s also the birth story of Garuda, the majestic bird and vehicle of Lord Vishnu.

The book also takes us to Tirupati, weaving in the tale of Lord Vishnu’s wedding with Padmavati and how Kubera lent wealth for the grand occasion. What struck me was how the story connects it to the modern belief that devotees repay this debt even today by offering money at the temple—such a beautiful myth-to-ritual connection.

I also loved the tale of Jaya and Vijaya, the celestial gatekeepers of Vaikuntha, and how they were cursed to be born on Earth thrice as iconic villains.

But what stood out to me most was how the author doesn’t try to justify everything. Some stories do feel a little naïve, and certain divine actions come across as impulsive or even silly. But that’s how mythology has always been—it’s about what we’ve carried with us through folktales, temple stories, and oral traditions. And the author embraces that without over-glorifying or diluting it.

Aimed at younger readers, these retellings are simple and light—so those looking for intense drama or deep analysis might find it lacking. But for beginners or anyone wanting a calming, nostalgic revisit to mythology, it’s a perfect fit. Great for bedtime reads or storytelling with kids, it gently sparks curiosity about the myths that shape our culture.

[Adyant Nandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book "Man from the Egg" is absolutely unique and one in a million of all time. The book is about the Trinity, consisting of Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu, the dominant and supreme-powerful deities who are responsible for the survival of the human race. In the novel, we come across greedy asuras performing different types of poojas and yagnas to impress the powerful deities. The Asuras as usual always had an ask for a boon of immortality but the Gods also made sure that there has to be some loopholes in the boons so that they can be defeated by the gods easily when in need. As we read through the novel we see how gods with their wisdom handled difficult situations and made good win over evil.

The author has beautifully described each story in a simple way and with a message. My favorite chapter from the entire novel is "The Forked Tongues" because Garuda did everything to rescue his mother from Kadru's parasol shade and even fought with lord Vishnu to take nectar and hand it over to Kadru so, that he could free his mother from Kadru's clutches.

As a keen reader and good observer, I would definitely like to recommend this book, especially for youngsters, who are looking for some stories on Indian mythology. In the novel, each chapter deals with a different deity and some unknown extraordinary tales. As a young reader from school, I believe this should be read by all to get an insight of mythological figures from across India.

[Romita Mukherjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The tales and sagas of the elusive Trinity – Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva are not unknown to us. Their power, their valor, and their love for their devotees are evident in the many mythological tales and fiction written in their devotion.

However, do you know why touching the Shivalinga in Koluru village feels like stroking someone’s hair?

Do you know why Lord Ganesha is offered durva grass during pujas?

Do you know why snakes in today’s world have forked tongues?

Do you know who is known as the Indian Cupid of ancient times?

If you are also curious to know the answers to these questions, Sudha Murty’s “The Man from the Egg: Unusual Tales about the Trinity” is the book for you. In this book of the Unusual Tales from Mythology series, Sudha Mam brings to you the various myths and legends surrounding the Trinity in her signature style of storytelling.

Even though fictional, these stories made me aware of the reasons behind so many beliefs that I have grown up listening to and being curious about and I will forever be grateful to her for that.

Each of the stories in this collection is beautifully written and perfect for young and adult readers alike.

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Man from the Egg: Unusual Tales about the Trinity by Sudha Murty- As name indicates, this book narrates stories from Indian scriptures Shrimad Bhagwat, Puranas about the Trinity (Brahma+Shiva+Vishnu). These gods are responsible for the survival of everything humans, plans, animals. These tales also inform about how the devas and Asuras and how god's boons to asuras always gets people into trouble and God will take other reincarnations to deal with asuras. Thus helping the people out of the result of the boon given to the Asuras It is a good book for children, young men, women and elderly folks to know about these Epics in brief. The book informs about the functions of trinity. These tales are always quite interesting. No matter age everyone will be super excited when it comes to stories and about unknown tales from our childhood. This book is full of such unique tales and details mentioned about places where events occurred and about temples are very clear. This book will be a great pick for those who love mythology tales.

[Ashtami Dwivedi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy reading mythological tales and stories, which was the first and reall reason to pick this book up & guess what it did not dissapoint me at the very least. 🩷️What I really enjoyed about this book is how effortlessly it speaks to you. It’s a collection of short stories, but each one feels like a small life lesson wrapped inside a simple, everyday situation.❤️‍🩹
The title story, The Man from the Egg, instantly catches your attention, but what stays with you is the message behind it. Many stories gently talk about values like honesty, empathy, gratitude, and humility—without ever sounding like a lecture. You don’t feel like you’re being taught a lesson; instead, you discover it on your own.📚

The stories feel almost like someone older and wiser is sitting next to you, sharing experiences from life. You’ll meet characters who make mistakes, characters who surprise you with kindness, and characters who remind you of people you know in real life.🪐

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sudha Murthy's 'The Man from the Egg' is a mythological book about Trinity-Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu & Lord Shiva, which is a fascinating & interesting read.

Being a mythology lover, I absolutely loved reading this book. Throughout the time I read this book, I felt like I went back to my childhood days when I used to listen to the stories that my Appa & Grandpa used to tell. 

Some of the informations provided in this book was already known. But I personally loved the way Sudha Murthy narrated these stories. Additionally, a lot of unknown stories were also there.

Undoubtedly, this book is a highly recommended five star read for mythology lovers.

Looking forward to read more and more books of Sudha Murthy ❤️

[Richa Verma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a unique collection of stories revolving around the holy Hindu Trinity - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Some of them have a slightly different dominant version and it was a delight to read the marginalized ones. Most stories, like that of Rishikesh Narad's wedding, were unknown.

In a simple, lucid narrative style, Sudha Murty has woven these classical tales around the omnipotent trio. The language is so simple that even a child can understand the stories. Indeed, this book would be a great introduction of children to the immortal gods of Indian mythology. The stories keep the adults riveted, too.

A must read for anyone interested in Indian mythology! 5 on 5 for the engaging collection!

[Sushma Gowda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, I did not know such details about Hindu scriptures, It's an amazing book and a must read for all age types.
Ofcourse Sudha Murthy has proven again that she is a fantastic writer,
This book basically consists of 24 short stories (most of them aren't known popularly) of Trinity (Brahma Vishnu and Shiva) and their efforts to save the world from evil.

Spoiler alert: The man from the egg is birth of Garuda (Vishnu's Vahana), he travels on him coz to keep a check on Garuda so that he doesn't steal the nector/ Amrutha from heaven.

[Naveen Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

सुधा मूर्ति जी की यह पुस्तक पौराणिक कथाओं में रुचि रखने वाले नए पाठकों के लिए अच्छी पुस्तक है। पुस्तक को आप मोटे तौर पर दो भागों में बांट सकते हैं। पहला भाग में शिव परिवार से संबंधित कथाएं हैं। द्वितीय भाग में श्री विष्णु के दशावतार से संबंधित कथाएं हैं। इसके अलावा और भी अन्य पुरानी कथाएं इस पुस्तक में उपलब्ध है।
पुस्तक का नाम "अंडे से निकला आदमी" श्री विष्णु के वाहन गरुड़ देव के जन्म की कथा पर आधारित है। गरुड़ देव मनुष्य नहीं थे अतः पुस्तक का यह नाम भ्रमित करता है।
अंततः अच्छी पुस्तक, एक बार पढ़ने योग्य है।