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Gods, Giants and the Geography of India
In the east, a pirate king finds his plans foiled by a formidable force of nature.In the north, a majestic mountain range emerges from a demon's tantrum.In the west, a sea keeps a city safely hidden in its deep waters.In the south, the avatar of a god gives a forest its name.Long ago, before science came up with explanations for the events that occurred in nature, people turned to stories to make sense of the wondrous workings of the natural world. And so, a life-giving stream became the gift of a goddess, a hot spring arose from the breath of a celestial snake and a heap of broken boulders served as a testament to a divine battle. Zigzagging through myths, folklore, local history and geological theories, this extraordinary book draws fascinating connections between ancient tales and the science behind the spectacular geography of India. Join Nalini Ramachandran on a most unusual, adventure-filled expedition up, down and across the country's varied terrain!
- GenresNonfictionHistory
276 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 3, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 13, 2022
This book is an informative entertainer. It is a well conceived and researched book. This book has a very interesting structure. A fable, a belief, a local deity, and a bit of Geology are combined to tell about the land mark places of India. The places and locations selected are prominent tourist places of India.
The places and stories, she chose, are like Mathura, a city under ocean, rivers like Narmada, the Karewa Lake and Himalayan ranges, Rama Sethu and Dhanushkoti as a Bridge city, Hampi as Architectural wonder etc.
The titles for places are very interesting with comic overtones. Though the writing looks very peripheral in general, at many places the author’s narration is philosophical and intellectual. I found a few interesting statements from the author, and I am including samples, here under.
A statement of Myth:
“Humans have not always been the best protectors of the natural world. So, that responsibility has largely fallen on the shoulders of the divine beings. In Hindu mythology it rests with Vishnu and various Avatars. The preserver, as he is called, shares a strange equation with geographical elements, some of which are curiously endowed with the ability to think and act like the divine protector himself....”
A statement as thinker:
“Being powerful royals, who possibly believed that could control everything and everyone, how did they react to the surprises that nature threw at them?”:
A statement as Geologist:
“Not all caves and Rocky formations are brown. The colour of the speleothems depends on the mineral content in the water. The presence of the mineral calcite can cause white formations, while that of iron can lead to red, orange, brown and black formations. So the white, brown, orange, and black object covering large part of a wall in the Patal Bhuvashwar Cave looked like Shiva’s tresses to Sheshnag and Raja Rituparna. But to Geologists, it is primarily a multicoloured speleothem formed by a combination of minerals in the water.”
“The epics Mahabharata and Ramayana, which narrate the stories of two complex royal families, set the journeys undertaken by their lead characters in real locations. Thus geographical features such as the Panchchuli Peaks, Satopanth Lake, and the Swargarohini Glacier, situated in the Himalayas, actually got their names from specific episodes in Mahabharata”.
Nalini Ramachandran, the author, is well known writer and her other titles as well are as queer as this title. I certainly recommend this book for all book loving children. A tourist will enjoy this commentary from the book while visiting the place.
The places and stories, she chose, are like Mathura, a city under ocean, rivers like Narmada, the Karewa Lake and Himalayan ranges, Rama Sethu and Dhanushkoti as a Bridge city, Hampi as Architectural wonder etc.
The titles for places are very interesting with comic overtones. Though the writing looks very peripheral in general, at many places the author’s narration is philosophical and intellectual. I found a few interesting statements from the author, and I am including samples, here under.
A statement of Myth:
“Humans have not always been the best protectors of the natural world. So, that responsibility has largely fallen on the shoulders of the divine beings. In Hindu mythology it rests with Vishnu and various Avatars. The preserver, as he is called, shares a strange equation with geographical elements, some of which are curiously endowed with the ability to think and act like the divine protector himself....”
A statement as thinker:
“Being powerful royals, who possibly believed that could control everything and everyone, how did they react to the surprises that nature threw at them?”:
A statement as Geologist:
“Not all caves and Rocky formations are brown. The colour of the speleothems depends on the mineral content in the water. The presence of the mineral calcite can cause white formations, while that of iron can lead to red, orange, brown and black formations. So the white, brown, orange, and black object covering large part of a wall in the Patal Bhuvashwar Cave looked like Shiva’s tresses to Sheshnag and Raja Rituparna. But to Geologists, it is primarily a multicoloured speleothem formed by a combination of minerals in the water.”
“The epics Mahabharata and Ramayana, which narrate the stories of two complex royal families, set the journeys undertaken by their lead characters in real locations. Thus geographical features such as the Panchchuli Peaks, Satopanth Lake, and the Swargarohini Glacier, situated in the Himalayas, actually got their names from specific episodes in Mahabharata”.
Nalini Ramachandran, the author, is well known writer and her other titles as well are as queer as this title. I certainly recommend this book for all book loving children. A tourist will enjoy this commentary from the book while visiting the place.
July 21, 2022
Rating: 4
Mythology/Epics is an astounding tool to instill morals and ethics in the vast public. In this book, the author has tried to use mythology and folklore stories to introduce us to unique Geographical places across India(especially North India). A unique approach to exploring Indian geography with a new face is fascinating. Every chapter starts with folklore stories to connect us to geographical regions, Using the stories author introduces us to the scientific reason behind this unique formation and its significance.
This book is a reliable source for all ages, Its unique presentation of epics and geographical science makes it easier to read and understand. The author also highlighted the risk of human invasion in these unique terrains, and its negative impact on its ecosystem.
While reading this book, I came to the realization, that most of the scary parts of geomyth believed by our ancestors indirectly protected the ecosystem and its inhabitants from invasive and wretched species like humans.
Exploring geomyths, debunking them with advanced science, presenting geography through gods and giants survived through people's folklore stories, bringing attention to the impact of climate change, and unique storytelling all are fused in this concise and remarkable book.
if you want to familiarize your child or yourself with the geography of India, this book is the best bet.
Mythology/Epics is an astounding tool to instill morals and ethics in the vast public. In this book, the author has tried to use mythology and folklore stories to introduce us to unique Geographical places across India(especially North India). A unique approach to exploring Indian geography with a new face is fascinating. Every chapter starts with folklore stories to connect us to geographical regions, Using the stories author introduces us to the scientific reason behind this unique formation and its significance.
This book is a reliable source for all ages, Its unique presentation of epics and geographical science makes it easier to read and understand. The author also highlighted the risk of human invasion in these unique terrains, and its negative impact on its ecosystem.
While reading this book, I came to the realization, that most of the scary parts of geomyth believed by our ancestors indirectly protected the ecosystem and its inhabitants from invasive and wretched species like humans.
Exploring geomyths, debunking them with advanced science, presenting geography through gods and giants survived through people's folklore stories, bringing attention to the impact of climate change, and unique storytelling all are fused in this concise and remarkable book.
if you want to familiarize your child or yourself with the geography of India, this book is the best bet.
June 17, 2022
As its title suggests, Gods, Giants and the Geography of India is about the geomythology of India: the many myths and legends and bits of folklore connected to the geography of the land. There are, here, the more well-known legends that form part of common lore, like the building of the Ram Setu to Lanka by the vanara sena, and Vishnu’s (or Kashyap Muni’s) draining of a lake to create the Kashmir Valley; but there are many others, several of them localized tales that relate to a deity (or an avatar, or an otherwise venerated being) that is probably not even heard of outside the area.
Nalini Ramachandran groups these myths and legends loosely together, on the basis of themes. Each chapter recounts (in a fun, readable way) one myth, which is then followed by a connecting of that myth to a geographical feature that relates to it. Ramachandran also takes special care to explain the science (the geology) behind the feature discussed, as well as, in most cases, how it might tie in to the myth. There are interesting bits of trivia about geology and its interpretation in legend, and—sadly, in a number of cases—the impact of human development on the geological feature in question.
I loved that, besides the rather more common myths derived from Hindu mythology, there is a good dose of folk lore and regional myth here, like the story about Manipur’s Loktak Lake or Bonbibi of Sunderbans. Or, even when the source is Hinduism, the interpretation is very local; these hidden gems, from across India, are priceless.
I enjoyed this book a lot: it was very informative and highly readable. And yes, the illustrations, by Sharanya Kunnath, are simply wonderful.
Nalini Ramachandran groups these myths and legends loosely together, on the basis of themes. Each chapter recounts (in a fun, readable way) one myth, which is then followed by a connecting of that myth to a geographical feature that relates to it. Ramachandran also takes special care to explain the science (the geology) behind the feature discussed, as well as, in most cases, how it might tie in to the myth. There are interesting bits of trivia about geology and its interpretation in legend, and—sadly, in a number of cases—the impact of human development on the geological feature in question.
I loved that, besides the rather more common myths derived from Hindu mythology, there is a good dose of folk lore and regional myth here, like the story about Manipur’s Loktak Lake or Bonbibi of Sunderbans. Or, even when the source is Hinduism, the interpretation is very local; these hidden gems, from across India, are priceless.
I enjoyed this book a lot: it was very informative and highly readable. And yes, the illustrations, by Sharanya Kunnath, are simply wonderful.
August 25, 2022
This book was fun to read. It gave a reminisce of the childhood when grandparents used to tell tales of the Gods and the folklores. Some of the tale were familiar while some were new. The author has divided the tales into parts: 1) the tale, 2) the connecting dot with the geographical region and 3) the end, based on facts and scientific reasons. These has helped in better understanding of the origin of the folklore and also how the place, waterbody etc. came into being. The part in “Connecting the dots” are well written, that it helps in understanding the reasoning and meaning of all the tales. The connection between the tradition and science is well defined, without losing the originality of the folklore.
The book gives the joy of reading in childhood, when books had illustrations in them. This is a fresh change from the non-illustrated books that usually the adults read. People of all ages can read this book and understands the significance of the place, rivers, hills, mountains, water body mentioned in the tales. Reading this book brings out the childhood emotions in an adult. The tales, the pictures, the scientific reasons, geographical origins behind them bring out the joy in reading.
The author has done a fabulous job of collecting tales from all the direction of India, from Kerala in south, to Ladakh in north, from Arunachal Pradesh in east to Gujarat in west. It is a welcome change and refreshing to read; to know folklores from different place associated with the gods that we revered.
The book gives the joy of reading in childhood, when books had illustrations in them. This is a fresh change from the non-illustrated books that usually the adults read. People of all ages can read this book and understands the significance of the place, rivers, hills, mountains, water body mentioned in the tales. Reading this book brings out the childhood emotions in an adult. The tales, the pictures, the scientific reasons, geographical origins behind them bring out the joy in reading.
The author has done a fabulous job of collecting tales from all the direction of India, from Kerala in south, to Ladakh in north, from Arunachal Pradesh in east to Gujarat in west. It is a welcome change and refreshing to read; to know folklores from different place associated with the gods that we revered.
July 20, 2022
The book is an excellent read for anyone who wants to know the geographical science behind mythical or archeological structures that have been talked about in many folklores and stories for centuries. The author has made sure to present the whole idea in such a lucid manner that it makes it easy for all age groups to read and understand. The dots have been so well connected that it makes you understand the reasoning behind all the myths mentioned in different chapters, accordingly. From the story of Mani Mahesh to the Loktak Lake , the book takes you through numerous folklores and exciting tales that have been passed on from one generation to another, keeping in mind that the presence of age old tradition and culture isn't lost in the quest of finding the science behind all of it. The geographical phenomenon and changes in the natural cycles resulting in such structures or certain traditional practices have been explained so well that all the facts have found there place consciously.
And offcourse the handmade illustrations by the designer (illustrator) Sharanaya Kunnath add a fun element and curiosity to the whole experience of going through the pages of this book.
And offcourse the handmade illustrations by the designer (illustrator) Sharanaya Kunnath add a fun element and curiosity to the whole experience of going through the pages of this book.
August 16, 2022
How much do you know about the country you live in? Did you know India was once a part of Africa millions of years ago? Do you know how the wonders of nature that we adore today came into existence?
.
Without a doubt everyone would agree things didn't just originated. Everything has scientific reasoning linked to the ancient tales.
.
I recall reading lines which quote, “ There is nothing more miraculous than the awareness of the wonders of nature. This book adds more substance to the above lines.
.
Gods, Giants and the Geography of India follows the adventurous stories of the gods and goddess and how the cosmos came into being through the incidences in their times. I really enjoyed the short stories about the Creators of the world then, which led to the discovery of the different parts of the world. And the most astonishing thing was to know about the connection with their present day forms. The book is a collection of different stories filled with wonder which focus on the geographical fables of India with a dash of geology and Mythology, facts, different versions, the present day forms and the science behind them..... all weaved into one.
.
Speaking of which the valley of flowers in Uttarakhand which mesmerises us even today was actually a gift showered on Hanuman by the Gods for his life saving deed.
.
Can you believe the marvellous Kashmir Valley was the Satisar Lake which was drained and turned into a fertile land by the boar ( avatar of Lord Vishnu ) in response to the threat posed by the water monster.
.
Featuring an array of many more captivating stories. I am sure the book has much food for thought to offer to the young readers while they witness geography many layers beneath as compared to their textual subject.
.
Without a doubt everyone would agree things didn't just originated. Everything has scientific reasoning linked to the ancient tales.
.
I recall reading lines which quote, “ There is nothing more miraculous than the awareness of the wonders of nature. This book adds more substance to the above lines.
.
Gods, Giants and the Geography of India follows the adventurous stories of the gods and goddess and how the cosmos came into being through the incidences in their times. I really enjoyed the short stories about the Creators of the world then, which led to the discovery of the different parts of the world. And the most astonishing thing was to know about the connection with their present day forms. The book is a collection of different stories filled with wonder which focus on the geographical fables of India with a dash of geology and Mythology, facts, different versions, the present day forms and the science behind them..... all weaved into one.
.
Speaking of which the valley of flowers in Uttarakhand which mesmerises us even today was actually a gift showered on Hanuman by the Gods for his life saving deed.
.
Can you believe the marvellous Kashmir Valley was the Satisar Lake which was drained and turned into a fertile land by the boar ( avatar of Lord Vishnu ) in response to the threat posed by the water monster.
.
Featuring an array of many more captivating stories. I am sure the book has much food for thought to offer to the young readers while they witness geography many layers beneath as compared to their textual subject.
July 9, 2022
After reading the book, i wish Indian geography was thought in School this way. The author covers almost the entire country and its formation with revelant proofs and examples. Never knew the connect between Kerala and Goa, history behind Kullu and Manali, the natural arch in tirupati.. Planning to visit all these places . Also, the author nicely points how all these places are losing its natural beauty due to human activities and the need to prevent further degradation of natural resources .
March 26, 2023
Terribly uncomfortable with the predominance of myths and legends in explaining natural and scientific phenomena, rather than approaching the topic the other way around. I was hoping for a porquoi story, which would have made it much more enjoyable and nurtured the imaginations of younger readers. Statements like 'Geologists believe...' instead of 'Geologists have scientific evidence...' leave the wrong impression on impressionable minds.
July 7, 2023
Loved reading this book and how it empowers in understanding the geographies around us and the mystery associated with it.
Nalini has encompassed 27 stories, each very interesting, narrated in a very common language that doesn't come across cringe and careful mirroring the tale with scientific finding and connecting the dots.
I really feel, this book should be introduced to children for it will really make one interested in Geography and learn more of it.
This one is highly recommended.
Nalini has encompassed 27 stories, each very interesting, narrated in a very common language that doesn't come across cringe and careful mirroring the tale with scientific finding and connecting the dots.
I really feel, this book should be introduced to children for it will really make one interested in Geography and learn more of it.
This one is highly recommended.
July 3, 2024
Stories have been written and passed down through generations with essential messages for survival. These tales often carry moral, informative, eventful, or pseudo-scientific messages, explaining phenomena and suggesting ways of life. This book draws a connection to those stories and provides evidence of their settings.
While reading, I encountered several Indian mythological stories familiar from my childhood, but I never knew the locations mentioned. This book helps us find the connections between the stories and various places in India. It goes further to explain how certain places came to be, backing up the narratives with scientific explanations. It's a brilliant blend of fact and fiction, executed exceptionally well.
Readers of any age can enjoy this book and gain a lot from it.
While reading, I encountered several Indian mythological stories familiar from my childhood, but I never knew the locations mentioned. This book helps us find the connections between the stories and various places in India. It goes further to explain how certain places came to be, backing up the narratives with scientific explanations. It's a brilliant blend of fact and fiction, executed exceptionally well.
Readers of any age can enjoy this book and gain a lot from it.
July 31, 2025
Loved every story. Knew some of them before, and was also interesting to find the links to geography.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews