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The Reign of the Vedic Gods
Hindu mythology is often compared to a bottomless ocean that cannot be navigated. The sheer number of gods and goddesses can be overwhelming. But it need not be that way. As Tagore, India’s Nobel Prize winning author, put it, “You cannot cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the waters.” In fact Tagore and Gandhi and Vivekananda were merely ordinary people energized by the tales of Indian mythology.
In this multi-volume series, Swami Achuthananda takes you on an extended journey—without getting wet—to meet with the gods and share their tales with you. These gods shared a peculiar trait: they were imperfect. Among the swarm of gods, the most ancient are the Vedic gods which include luminaries like Indra, Surya, Varuna, Agni, and others. Today a minor deity, Indra was once the ruler of the three worlds who, under the influence of a mysterious power drink, fought with the demons and vanquished them. His reign did not last long. His comrades Surya and Varuna also had their glory days but were overthrown by other gods of the pantheon. Yet, after thousands of years, gods like Indra, Surya, and Varuna are still household names and honored in Hindu rituals and traditions.
If you know little or nothing about Hindu mythology, this is your ideal starting point where you will meet the overwhelming array of Hindu gods and learn about their wonderful stories
Tentative release date of next book in this series:
#2 The ascent of Vishnu and the Fall of Brahma - Sep 2018
In this multi-volume series, Swami Achuthananda takes you on an extended journey—without getting wet—to meet with the gods and share their tales with you. These gods shared a peculiar trait: they were imperfect. Among the swarm of gods, the most ancient are the Vedic gods which include luminaries like Indra, Surya, Varuna, Agni, and others. Today a minor deity, Indra was once the ruler of the three worlds who, under the influence of a mysterious power drink, fought with the demons and vanquished them. His reign did not last long. His comrades Surya and Varuna also had their glory days but were overthrown by other gods of the pantheon. Yet, after thousands of years, gods like Indra, Surya, and Varuna are still household names and honored in Hindu rituals and traditions.
If you know little or nothing about Hindu mythology, this is your ideal starting point where you will meet the overwhelming array of Hindu gods and learn about their wonderful stories
Tentative release date of next book in this series:
#2 The ascent of Vishnu and the Fall of Brahma - Sep 2018
204 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 14, 2018
About the author
Swami Achuthananda
6 books11 followersSwami Achuthananda is an award-winning Australian-based Indian author specialising in Hindu mythology. He is an exponent of Indian Carnatic music and researches Hindu mythology in his spare time.
He has published a number of books on Hinduism and Hindu deities. Achuthananda’s books are targeted towards the general audience. Readers vouch that his narratives are concise, well-researched, and delivered with a touch of humor. His books combine mythology with social and political issues and have occasionally been controversial.
When Swami is not discussing Indian mythology, he's seen talking about India's other greatest religion—cricket. Swami just published book 4 (Krishna) of the non-fiction series, The Galaxy of Hindu Gods, and is currently working on book 5 (Shiva).
He has published a number of books on Hinduism and Hindu deities. Achuthananda’s books are targeted towards the general audience. Readers vouch that his narratives are concise, well-researched, and delivered with a touch of humor. His books combine mythology with social and political issues and have occasionally been controversial.
When Swami is not discussing Indian mythology, he's seen talking about India's other greatest religion—cricket. Swami just published book 4 (Krishna) of the non-fiction series, The Galaxy of Hindu Gods, and is currently working on book 5 (Shiva).
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 19, 2018
‘Death is not extinguishing the light; it is only putting out the lamp because the dawn has come’. –Rabindranath Tagore
Author Swami Achuthananda loves India passionately but lives outside of it. He is a born Hindu, lived more than two decades in India, and is an exponent of Indian Classical (Carnatic) music and a former student of K.J. Jesudas, India's award-winning playback singer. He appreciates Indian classical music as well as western songs.
Quite simply stated this is a reference book about Hindu gods and goddesses – the first volume of what Swami promises will be an ongoing series. Much of the joy of reading this well scribed resource book is the warm humor that permeates the description of his topic – ‘You will be surprised to learn that Hindu gods and goddesses are not paragons of perfection. In fact the notion of god is often challenged. Krishna spent his childhood as a world-famous butter thief and his adolescence as a romantic lover before he became a spiritual advisor who dispensed timeless wisdom. If you are a puritan, the deeds of Shiva will embarrass you to no end, just as his feats will inspire you and leave you in awe. You will find many unsavory characters, some with extensive criminal histories. Polygamy was rampant in those times, and deceit and treachery were the order of the day. But that’s only when you view a 5000-year-old mythology from a 21st century vantage point. The gods and goddesses are perfect only in their spheres of activity. Outside their spheres they make mistakes just like you and me, and are punished, leading them to change their behavior and correct their ways…. These stories have everything—romance, magic, action, maithuna (sex), weirdness, and unforgettable characters. Yet these are not merely tales of courage and bravery but lessons about our culture, heritage, and history.’
Swami opens with a wonderfully rounded description of the god Genesha and continues through thirty eight chapters introducing the gods and goddesses of India. As his synopsis states, ‘Hindu mythology is often compared to a bottomless ocean that cannot be navigated. The sheer number of gods and goddesses can be overwhelming. But it need not be that way. As Tagore, India’s Nobel Prize winning author, put it, “You cannot cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the waters.” In fact Tagore and Gandhi and Vivekananda were merely ordinary people energized by the tales of Indian mythology. In this multi-volume series, Swami Achuthananda takes you on an extended journey—without getting wet—to meet with the gods and share their tales with you. These gods shared a peculiar trait: they were imperfect. Among the swarm of gods, the most ancient are the Vedic gods which include luminaries like Indra, Surya, Varuna, Agni, and others. Today a minor deity, Indra was once the ruler of the three worlds who, under the influence of a mysterious power drink, fought with the demons and vanquished them. His reign did not last long. His comrades Surya and Varuna also had their glory days but were overthrown by other gods of the pantheon. Yet, after thousands of years, gods like Indra, Surya, and Varuna are still household names and honored in Hindu rituals and traditions. If you know little or nothing about Hindu mythology, this is your ideal starting point where you will meet the overwhelming array of Hindu gods and learn about their wonderful stories.
Rarely has a book about Hindu gods been as thorough as well as immensely entertaining as this fine book. Swami is both an expert on Hindu culture and a marvelous story weaver. And this book embraces history, is peppered with fine illustrations, and references and tongue in cheek sidebars about the strangest of the gods. It is a delight and immensely entertaining as well as more than likely the finest resource of the galaxy of the Hindu gods! Highly Recommended
Author Swami Achuthananda loves India passionately but lives outside of it. He is a born Hindu, lived more than two decades in India, and is an exponent of Indian Classical (Carnatic) music and a former student of K.J. Jesudas, India's award-winning playback singer. He appreciates Indian classical music as well as western songs.
Quite simply stated this is a reference book about Hindu gods and goddesses – the first volume of what Swami promises will be an ongoing series. Much of the joy of reading this well scribed resource book is the warm humor that permeates the description of his topic – ‘You will be surprised to learn that Hindu gods and goddesses are not paragons of perfection. In fact the notion of god is often challenged. Krishna spent his childhood as a world-famous butter thief and his adolescence as a romantic lover before he became a spiritual advisor who dispensed timeless wisdom. If you are a puritan, the deeds of Shiva will embarrass you to no end, just as his feats will inspire you and leave you in awe. You will find many unsavory characters, some with extensive criminal histories. Polygamy was rampant in those times, and deceit and treachery were the order of the day. But that’s only when you view a 5000-year-old mythology from a 21st century vantage point. The gods and goddesses are perfect only in their spheres of activity. Outside their spheres they make mistakes just like you and me, and are punished, leading them to change their behavior and correct their ways…. These stories have everything—romance, magic, action, maithuna (sex), weirdness, and unforgettable characters. Yet these are not merely tales of courage and bravery but lessons about our culture, heritage, and history.’
Swami opens with a wonderfully rounded description of the god Genesha and continues through thirty eight chapters introducing the gods and goddesses of India. As his synopsis states, ‘Hindu mythology is often compared to a bottomless ocean that cannot be navigated. The sheer number of gods and goddesses can be overwhelming. But it need not be that way. As Tagore, India’s Nobel Prize winning author, put it, “You cannot cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the waters.” In fact Tagore and Gandhi and Vivekananda were merely ordinary people energized by the tales of Indian mythology. In this multi-volume series, Swami Achuthananda takes you on an extended journey—without getting wet—to meet with the gods and share their tales with you. These gods shared a peculiar trait: they were imperfect. Among the swarm of gods, the most ancient are the Vedic gods which include luminaries like Indra, Surya, Varuna, Agni, and others. Today a minor deity, Indra was once the ruler of the three worlds who, under the influence of a mysterious power drink, fought with the demons and vanquished them. His reign did not last long. His comrades Surya and Varuna also had their glory days but were overthrown by other gods of the pantheon. Yet, after thousands of years, gods like Indra, Surya, and Varuna are still household names and honored in Hindu rituals and traditions. If you know little or nothing about Hindu mythology, this is your ideal starting point where you will meet the overwhelming array of Hindu gods and learn about their wonderful stories.
Rarely has a book about Hindu gods been as thorough as well as immensely entertaining as this fine book. Swami is both an expert on Hindu culture and a marvelous story weaver. And this book embraces history, is peppered with fine illustrations, and references and tongue in cheek sidebars about the strangest of the gods. It is a delight and immensely entertaining as well as more than likely the finest resource of the galaxy of the Hindu gods! Highly Recommended
August 31, 2018
This book by Swami Achuthananda is the first book in The Galaxy of Hindu Gods Series. In it, you’ll read about the interesting gods and goddesses of Hindu mythology. The author will take you on a winding and thrilling journey through the history of them and what their unique traits are. Achuthananda will also explore more behind the Vedic gods in this book. These gods are some of the oldest in Hindu mythology and some of the most revered. You’ll read about their passions and shortcomings in this educational and interesting read. The book also includes pictures of some of these gods and goddesses which can help you to imagine better what they looked like.
At 204 pages, this book might be a little long for some, but it’s well worth spending some time reading. If you’re interested in mythology or religion, you’ll want to consider adding this book to your reading list.
At 204 pages, this book might be a little long for some, but it’s well worth spending some time reading. If you’re interested in mythology or religion, you’ll want to consider adding this book to your reading list.
September 3, 2018
This book attempts to introduce the reader to the world of Hindu gods. There are a million of them (gods, that is).
Ganesha is the one with the head of an elephant. He was created, according to one folk tale, because Shiva (his father) had been intruding too often on Parvati's (his mother) bath. Using the dead skin and dandruff from her body, she created a son and gatekeeper. After Shiva is driven away by Ganesha, Shiva gets furious and chops off his head, not realizing that it was his own son. Parvati is very upset, but Shiva tries to console her by putting the head of an elephant on Ganesha's body. Shiva is known as the god of destruction; he does not do so well at creation.
Indra, the greatest of the Vedic gods, was hidden as a baby for a long time. Prithvi, his mother, did it to keep him away from a jealous Dyaus Pita, his father. At the time of his birth, humans were in the midst of a major famine, because the demon Vritra had stolen the clouds. There was a major battle between Indra and Vritra, which was won by Indra, and the rains returned. Indra also defends people and animals from other demons, leading to his becoming ruler of the universe.
Most Hindu and Aryan holy books talk about there being thirty-three gods (a reasonable number). So where did the number of 330 million gods come from? The book also talks about India's caste system, still entrenched in Indian society, despite attempts to change it.
First of a series, this book does a very good job at painlessly introducing the reader to Hindu gods. As a suggestion, for anyone who wants to learn more than the basics, read about one god at a time, instead of trying to understand all of them. This book is the place to start.
Ganesha is the one with the head of an elephant. He was created, according to one folk tale, because Shiva (his father) had been intruding too often on Parvati's (his mother) bath. Using the dead skin and dandruff from her body, she created a son and gatekeeper. After Shiva is driven away by Ganesha, Shiva gets furious and chops off his head, not realizing that it was his own son. Parvati is very upset, but Shiva tries to console her by putting the head of an elephant on Ganesha's body. Shiva is known as the god of destruction; he does not do so well at creation.
Indra, the greatest of the Vedic gods, was hidden as a baby for a long time. Prithvi, his mother, did it to keep him away from a jealous Dyaus Pita, his father. At the time of his birth, humans were in the midst of a major famine, because the demon Vritra had stolen the clouds. There was a major battle between Indra and Vritra, which was won by Indra, and the rains returned. Indra also defends people and animals from other demons, leading to his becoming ruler of the universe.
Most Hindu and Aryan holy books talk about there being thirty-three gods (a reasonable number). So where did the number of 330 million gods come from? The book also talks about India's caste system, still entrenched in Indian society, despite attempts to change it.
First of a series, this book does a very good job at painlessly introducing the reader to Hindu gods. As a suggestion, for anyone who wants to learn more than the basics, read about one god at a time, instead of trying to understand all of them. This book is the place to start.
June 21, 2018
The Reign of the Vedic Gods (The Galaxy of Hindu Gods Book 1) by Swami Achuthananda is a veritable endless source of information about the Hindu religion and Hindu gods and goddesses. This is the first in what is to be a multi volume series, as the author states that he simply cannot fit all of the information into one volume, it would simply be too thick. Achuthananda approaches the subject with a touch of humor, which helps in keeping the dissemination of information from being overwhelming. There is a lot here to digest, but the author makes it fairly easy and entertaining. He also is clear that the gods of Indian mythology, were in fact, quite imperfect, which makes them all the more appealing. This is a great reference book that outlines the lives of Hindu gods and Indian history for novices and experts alike. Highly recommend for an immersive read, and an entertaining one at that.
August 8, 2018
The Reign of the Vedic Gods was a gift to me from a friend, as I traveled extensively through Southeast Asia recently and was looking for some books to better understand the Hindu Gods. I was a bit intrigued by the title but decided to try to read it and what a good decision that has been!
Swami Achuthananda is a very gifted storyteller and is truly passionate and well-versed in Hindu mythology and this seems to be the first book in a series about the theme. He is able to tell the different myths and traits from the different Gods in a very entertaining way, simple enough for the ones who never had contact with the Hindu religion to understand and enjoy. The language used is delightful and is truly the highlight of the book. I will surely pay attention to the following books and the date of their release.
Swami Achuthananda is a very gifted storyteller and is truly passionate and well-versed in Hindu mythology and this seems to be the first book in a series about the theme. He is able to tell the different myths and traits from the different Gods in a very entertaining way, simple enough for the ones who never had contact with the Hindu religion to understand and enjoy. The language used is delightful and is truly the highlight of the book. I will surely pay attention to the following books and the date of their release.
August 11, 2018
When we refer to the subject known as religion, I always think it twice, because even though I’m Christian, there are things I still don’t know about it, but I have an open mind and this book caught my attention.
This was a very intriguing topic for me, mainly because I’m a completely stranger to these mythologies, but as soon as I start reading, you can feel the passion and commitment that was invested in this book, it’s easy and very compelling to understand, the more pages I turn the more I want to know, it was a nice experience and I learn a lot of new things from this amazing mythology.
The world is vast and wide, and when it comes to beliefs and religions, its range became even wider, but that is the awesomeness of this world, where so many cultures and mythos can be a part of each one of us, you must definitely need to read this book.
This was a very intriguing topic for me, mainly because I’m a completely stranger to these mythologies, but as soon as I start reading, you can feel the passion and commitment that was invested in this book, it’s easy and very compelling to understand, the more pages I turn the more I want to know, it was a nice experience and I learn a lot of new things from this amazing mythology.
The world is vast and wide, and when it comes to beliefs and religions, its range became even wider, but that is the awesomeness of this world, where so many cultures and mythos can be a part of each one of us, you must definitely need to read this book.
August 12, 2018
Informative and interesting
The Reign of the Vedic Gods (The Galaxy of Hindu Gods Book 1) by Swami Achuthananda is the first book of a series by Swami, simply because there is much information on Hindu Gods that he couldn’t fit it all into one book.
I have always been interested in learning about different Gods and this book really gave me a ton of information to process!! I’m Christian but I love reading the mythology and background for each God. There is so much interesting information, it will take me awhile to process it all, I know I will happily go through it several times as well as any other books by Swami Achuthanada! He has a real passion for the Hindu religion and it’s very obvious through his writing that he wants to share that passion with anyone who may be interested in learning more about the different Gods.
The Reign of the Vedic Gods (The Galaxy of Hindu Gods Book 1) by Swami Achuthananda is the first book of a series by Swami, simply because there is much information on Hindu Gods that he couldn’t fit it all into one book.
I have always been interested in learning about different Gods and this book really gave me a ton of information to process!! I’m Christian but I love reading the mythology and background for each God. There is so much interesting information, it will take me awhile to process it all, I know I will happily go through it several times as well as any other books by Swami Achuthanada! He has a real passion for the Hindu religion and it’s very obvious through his writing that he wants to share that passion with anyone who may be interested in learning more about the different Gods.
December 3, 2024
Really enjoyed this book. It gave a succinct overview of all the most important Vedic gods along with some mythology explaining each. I particularly liked the short chapters on the history of the Vedic age, the Indus Valley civilization, and the caste system, which were woven into the book between chapters about the various gods.
My takeaways that surprised me from this book: 1. Greek and Roman gods are so similar to Vedic gods and are likely derived from them. 2. Women were treated as true equals and had so many rights in the Vedic age; they were poets, priests, leaders etc. 3. Modern Hinduism has some influence from the Vedic age but was changed a lot after the Indus Valley civilization died out. It has also been intertwined heavily with the caste system.
It was a great read. Am looking forward to reading the next book on Hinduism by this author.
My takeaways that surprised me from this book: 1. Greek and Roman gods are so similar to Vedic gods and are likely derived from them. 2. Women were treated as true equals and had so many rights in the Vedic age; they were poets, priests, leaders etc. 3. Modern Hinduism has some influence from the Vedic age but was changed a lot after the Indus Valley civilization died out. It has also been intertwined heavily with the caste system.
It was a great read. Am looking forward to reading the next book on Hinduism by this author.
August 17, 2018
A simple opening into Hindu mythology.
This is a field I’ve been really interested in for a while now but I often find myself feeling overwhelmed or getting swamped by the number of different gods and teachings that there are.
In this books, tales are shared of each God, the teachings they taught and the lives they lived.
Laid out in an easy to read and written in an easily understandable way this is a great introduction to a deep field of study.
For me, someone who's just started to learn about Hindu mythology, this was absolutely perfect.
Thank you for sharing such wisdom and truth.
If you’d like to learn about this kind of mythology I’d highly recommend this book as a starting point.
This is a field I’ve been really interested in for a while now but I often find myself feeling overwhelmed or getting swamped by the number of different gods and teachings that there are.
In this books, tales are shared of each God, the teachings they taught and the lives they lived.
Laid out in an easy to read and written in an easily understandable way this is a great introduction to a deep field of study.
For me, someone who's just started to learn about Hindu mythology, this was absolutely perfect.
Thank you for sharing such wisdom and truth.
If you’d like to learn about this kind of mythology I’d highly recommend this book as a starting point.
August 8, 2018
A guide to the demigods of the Hindu religion
This is a guide to the first of many demigods of the Hindu religion. The book is written in a short easy to follow pace that breaks down the stories that have been told for many years about the demigods. The author has taken just the right amount of information to educate the reader but not overwhelm you with tons of information. I found the book to be informative and easy to follow. I would recommend this as a guide for anyone interested in learning about the Hindu religion and what it means. Interesting read for all those who like to learn about new things.
This is a guide to the first of many demigods of the Hindu religion. The book is written in a short easy to follow pace that breaks down the stories that have been told for many years about the demigods. The author has taken just the right amount of information to educate the reader but not overwhelm you with tons of information. I found the book to be informative and easy to follow. I would recommend this as a guide for anyone interested in learning about the Hindu religion and what it means. Interesting read for all those who like to learn about new things.
April 28, 2025
Study the subject before you write the book.
This book is vapid.
Swami Achuthananda displays a very limited knowledge of Hindu mythology. Even as a Westerners I found many inaccuracies in the telling of the stories. The most striking is the story of Indra slaying the dragon Vritra. He has Indra killing him with a thunderbolt but in the actual myth, he shoves a bunch of sea foam down the dragon's throat, killing him on a technicality.
Swami ji's explanations and insights are shallow and feel like filler.
If you're looking for a comprehensive guide to the Hindu gods, look elsewhere. This ain't it.
This book is vapid.
Swami Achuthananda displays a very limited knowledge of Hindu mythology. Even as a Westerners I found many inaccuracies in the telling of the stories. The most striking is the story of Indra slaying the dragon Vritra. He has Indra killing him with a thunderbolt but in the actual myth, he shoves a bunch of sea foam down the dragon's throat, killing him on a technicality.
Swami ji's explanations and insights are shallow and feel like filler.
If you're looking for a comprehensive guide to the Hindu gods, look elsewhere. This ain't it.
August 10, 2018
For me, this book was a refreshing read for something so knowledgeable. With books surrounding religious history or beliefs, I often feel slightly overwhelmed with confusion, information overload perhaps. However, Swami Achuthananda has written this book in a way that is witty, memorable, and easy to follow. His writing style is crisp and one that is never tiring. The tales and legacies of the Hindu gods that are in this book are exceedingly interesting and are an ideal read for those who have little knowledge of Hindu religion.
December 22, 2021
Introductory Book for Those Who Don’t Know About Hindu Gods
If you’re a newbie to the world of Hinduism and Hindu Gods and would like to start with the basics, then this is a good resource for you. For those looking to research in-depth into the subject, not so much. The writing is simple and it makes for a quick easy read.
If you’re a newbie to the world of Hinduism and Hindu Gods and would like to start with the basics, then this is a good resource for you. For those looking to research in-depth into the subject, not so much. The writing is simple and it makes for a quick easy read.
August 9, 2018
Excellent read on Hindu Vedic gods. Short and concise chapters make it easy to read.
October 1, 2018
Lots of info on gods, but Ganesha, Surya, and Kubera stand out.
March 25, 2019
Terrific overview of the Vedic gods and necessary background for any study of Hinduism.
June 22, 2023
easy read
This is a good and easy read for anyone starting to read about Indian Vedic gods…. … … …. ..
This is a good and easy read for anyone starting to read about Indian Vedic gods…. … … …. ..
August 31, 2018
I loved this book! I have always wanted to learn more about the Vedic Gods in the Hindu world and this book manages to lovingly describe all of them in great detail.
It manages to teach as much as possible without overloading you with information yet still keeping you amused.
I was entertained and thoroughly enjoyed the journey through the Vedic Age.
Author Swami Achuthananda's love of India and its history is beautifully open and engaging, I learned so much from this book and have already recommended it to friends who have both travelled in India and haven't yet visited.
I look forward to visiting their wonderful country armed with the knowledge given in this book.
It manages to teach as much as possible without overloading you with information yet still keeping you amused.
I was entertained and thoroughly enjoyed the journey through the Vedic Age.
Author Swami Achuthananda's love of India and its history is beautifully open and engaging, I learned so much from this book and have already recommended it to friends who have both travelled in India and haven't yet visited.
I look forward to visiting their wonderful country armed with the knowledge given in this book.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews