Mahabharata: How it All Began

Description

The rivalry between the Pandavas and the Kauravas, royal cousins fighting for the throne at Hastinapura, will end in a mighty battle, but what is it that makes such a conflict inevitable? Is it the eldest Kaurava brother's envy of his cousins' exceptional military skills? Is it the eldest Pandava's belief that he is the rightful heir to the throne? Or are elements beyond their control deciding the path each will take? In the first of this exciting three-part story, meet the fascinating characters who play such important roles in escalating the tension between the two families.

VEDA VYASA (dates unknown, probably around the 8th century BCE) is a central and revered figure in most Hindu traditions. He is the author of the Mahabharata, as well as a character in it. K.R. RAJI is a professional painter. She studied Fine Arts at the National School of Arts, Manjeri, and has shown her work at many painting exhibitions. She has also participated in artists' camps in Kerala and further afield. One of the best translators in India, PREMA JAYAKUMAR quit her job with a top bank in India to work on translations full time. Her latest translation, Wind from the Hills, was shortlisted for the Crossword Award 2008 and longlisted for the Golden Quill Award. Her translation of the famous Malayalam book Yakshi was picked by the BBC for their 'Off the Bookshelf', while her translation of Pandavapuram has inspired a Bengali movie. Apart from translations, she writes for periodicals and newspapers. Prema is also a Sanskrit scholar, with a passion for the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.

"Mahabharata: How It all Began retold by Prema Jayakumar and Illustrated by K.R.Raji is an excellent introduction for those not familiar with the ancient original version. This retelling of the epic story of the beginnings of everything we know is the very simple explanation our civilization, the Fourth of Creation, With the array of Indian deities, this book explains and introduces the characters in memorable ways which are good for children or adults who enjoy the epic stories and want more understanding of culture and beliefs of India. I highly recommend this book for all ages. This is the first of the three-part series, and you'll meet the brothers who rival each other over inheritance and skills. In all these stories human traits in the characters reveal what is in us all."--Bonnie Neely "Real Travel Adventures"