The Blue Lotus: Myths and Folktales of India

by Meena Arora Nayak

Here you will find gods who make the three worlds tremble and lightning swing wildly across the firmament, shape-shifting asuras living in enchanted forests, wandering rishis with formidable magical powers, bewitching apsaras gliding through heavenly palaces and heroes so tall they touch the skies.
Myths and folktales have nourished the cultural and spiritual heritage of India since the dawn of creation. They not only accentuate the splendour of the country’s diverse cultures—Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Islamic, Christian, Sikh, Parsi and tribal—but, collectively, they also blend to shape our nation’s psyche. Many of them are familiar to us from our own childhoods. Those that are new serve to remind us of the extraordinary complexity of India’s storytelling tradition. Sometimes these tales are archetypal and sometimes they defy categorization. Sometimes they affirm our core values and, at other times, they make us question the motives that drive us. But what is always true about them, no matter how fantastical or creative the forms they take, is the rare insight they give us into the lives we live. They teach us about kinship, desire, greed, conflict, friendship, treachery, compassion, arrogance, persecution, empowerment, secrecy, romance, suffering, courage, challenges, wisdom, sexuality and spirituality—and innumerable other things we might expect to experience in the course of our journey through life.
Through her masterful retelling, Meena Arora Nayak brings to vivid life familiar and beloved stories from the Vedas, Puranas, the great epics, Kathasaritsagara and the Panchatantra, as well as lesser-known offerings from the Jatakas, Bible, Holy Quran, Sikh Janamsakhis and the folk traditions of the Santhals, Khasis, Oriyas, Bengalis and Punjabis, among others. Perhaps the most comprehensive collection of Indian myths and folktales to have been published in our time, the tales in The Blue Lotus will leave readers of all ages spellbound

Genres: Mythology, India, Nonfiction

586 pages, Hardcover

Published October 20, 2018

Reviews

[Chitra Ahanthem · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a labour of love: the love to compile folk tales across diverse faiths, communities, tribes, region and scriptures. Bringing together a 188 stories in one volume is not something that sounds like an easy task but that’s what comes in this collection: I dare say, this is like a Collector’s Edition of myths and folktales of India. It has been exhaustively written and can almost intimidate the reader in you with its sheer volume and appearance (it is a Hardback edition) but believe me, this is a treasure trove that tells you just how much of a cultural diversity we have in our country.

The stories in this collection are under four broad categories: Roots and rhizome, that looks at the creation of the world; A Thousand petals, a section in which beings in the world grow, procreate, love, lusts, creates, feels, desires, fights, bonds, destroy, fight, suffers; The Seeded Pod, that covers death and endings and finally, The Lotus which looks at the spirituality aspect of life and death.

At 539 pages, the book might look like a tough one to crack but believe me, reading the stories takes one to the delight we felt when we heard stories being narrated to us by the elders in our family. I will recommend that you get this book: it will surely appeal to you and every one in the family regardless of age.

[Madhura Desai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Myths, stories, folktales and music are traditions of Indian culture. They are the tales that depict the human experience; both perfect and imperfect. The stories not only entertain us but they also explore the consequences of the choices we make. Sometimes these tales have a religious angle to them, some depict our own humanity and some just cannot be categorised in any bracket. But the one thing all these stories have in common is that they are rooted in the ethos of our culture.

The Blue Lotus by Meena Arora Nayak is a comprehensive collection of folktales, myths and legends from all over India and the various religions and cultures that inhabit it. The book is exhaustive in its reach and diverse in its approach. Here you will find gods who make the three worlds tremble, shape-shifting asuras, wandering rishis with formidable powers, enchanted forests, bewitching apsaras and magical heavenly palaces.

To read the complete review click on: https://www.theliterarycircle.com/the...

[Sangeeta Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haven't read such a brilliant collection of myth and folktales. I especially loved the introduction penned down by Meena Arora Nayak, which only goes on to show how exhaustive her research had been. It clearly went on to demarcate the greyish boundaries between myths and folktales. To quote her " Myths and folktales are both layered narratives that tell of the human experience in all its variety, perfection and imperfection." and she delivers to perfection. She has included not only tales from the puranas and vedas but also the gospels, the abrahamic tales. It is a truly inclusive piece with many known and many more unknown stories. A unique aspect of this book is its organization where the title is pretty much taken literally, starting from the roots and rhizomes to the thousand petals and the seeded pod. Give this book a chance if you are interested in understanding the culture of India from the lens of its folktales and myriad myths.

[Kamalika Talukdar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a delight to read . A book I would go back to again and again.
Thanks to Meena Arora Nayak , I got to read about myths I've known since childhood and learnt about a whole lot of stories I had no clue about. This is a treasure trove for those who wants to delve deep into the ancient takes of India.

[Vishnu Aiyappan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m going to keep it short. If you like short stories full of that intangible feeling that you had when you were a child, then this is it. Some stories were familiar, some not and everything was pure fun.

[Arnab · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating introduction to the rich world of Indian mythology, with worthy additions from some non-Indian (Muslim, Christian and Jewish) mythology as well. Highly recommended for all citizens of the world!

[Ashish Chauhan · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s a collection of short folk tales, and tbh I expected it to be much more engaging. The cover is beautiful, but the stories themselves fall flat — some even end abruptly. Overall, not very satisfying. 2 stars.

[Arvind · Rating 4 out of 5]

The kind of myths to relive and pass on to the next generation

[Arjun Javali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good collection of stories..

[Mauaa D · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book stands out as one of my favorites, earning a well-deserved 5-star rating. As an avid enthusiast of this genre, particularly drawn to folktales, I found immense joy in every page. It's evident that the author poured substantial effort, research, and time into crafting this masterpiece. The level of dedication showcased in this book is truly commendable, making it an exceptional and intriguing read in every aspect. I can't help but express my sheer love for it.