Mythological stories have always held a special place in the hearts of young and old alike. Ranging from short and simple folktales to great epics such as the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, India is home to myriad stories that exemplify the glory of the rich culture and heritage.
Even to this day, these stories evoke interest and kindle the reading spirits in the young minds. It is essential to provide a strong foundation of profound knowledge in children in a manner that is playful and entertaining so as to make reading a fun-filled experience.
There are many notable Indian writers who have written mythological stories for the younger generation. Here are a few such writers.
Roopa Pai
A die-hard fan of history and winner of Children’s Book Trust Award for Science Writing, Roopa Pai is a writer and a journalist who has written for numerous well-known publications covering a vast array of genres and topics. Apart from various non-fictions for adults, she has also authored two books for ‘Children for Change’ series by UNICEF.
The Gita: For Children by Roopa Pai
With simple, but thought-provoking way of explaining the nuances of one of the greatest conversations in Hindu mythology, The Gita: For Children by well-known children’s writer, Roopa Pai is an entertaining read for all ages. The book is filled with fun trivia and has a unique way of retelling of knowledge-sharing between Krishna and Arjuna, leaves an after-thought amongst young readers.
Taranaut series
Known as India’s first fantasy-adventure series in English for children, it deals with the adventurous journeys of three kids in a universe called Mithya, comprising of eight worlds. Myriad references are taken from Indian mythology, classics and popular culture, modern history and society that make reading this series an enjoyable and enchanting experience. The series include,
- The Quest for the Shyn Emeralds
- The Riddle of the Lustr Sapphires
- The Secret of the Sparkl Amethysts
- The Race for the Glo Rubies
- The Mystery of the Syntilla Silvers
- The Key to the Shimr Citrines
- The Search for the Glytr Turquoises
- The Magic of the Dazl Corals
Devdutt Pattanaik
India’s most popular mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik is a well-known name when it comes to demystifying the intricacies of mythology, be it Indian or global. Having studied medicine, Devdutt Pattanaik is a leadership consultant apart from being an author of over 30 books and 600 articles on mythology.
His books are filled with illustrations and matrices that aim to make the concepts of mythology look seemingly easy to understand by readers of all age groups. Very few know that he has also authored series of books called ‘Fun in Devlok’ for children that not only aim at making mythology simple for them, but also an enjoyable experience. The illustrations are by Vishal Tandon.
Amongst the seven books from the series, the most popular ones are listed below. The remaining books include,
- Kama V/s Yama
- Gauri and the Talking Cow
Shiva plays Dumb Charades
Lord Shiva joins five children in a game of Dumb Charades where he narrates various interesting stories with the help of objects he carries. The children enjoy his company and learn a great deal about him and many other gods.
Saraswathi’s Secret River
In the quest to find a missing river, a principal of a popular school joins Goddess Saraswathi to find the reason for the river to vanish. The journey through this book filled with wonderful illustrations lets young minds answer as well as discover numerous questions and thought-provoking concepts.
Indra Finds Happiness
A sad little boy Harsha is blown away to Indra’s abode by the clouds. The boy is surprised to find the great king of gods unhappy too. Harsha is enchanted by the divine things he sees in heaven. But, when Indra tries to steal a divine cow, Vasistha proffers him with a secret to stay happy.
An Identity Card for Krishna
When Krishna is denied a chance to fly in an aeroplane, he is taken to Guwahati where Lata-Kumari tells the story of the importance of flags for gods. How important is an identity card? Did Krishna get his own card and did he finally fly? The answers are here to discover in this book.
Fun in Devlok: Omnibus
This is a compilation of all the six remaining books from the Fun in Devlok series that brings out questions and answers, discoveries and learning through young characters, Gods and goddesses for children. The illustrations add much beauty to an enticing learning experience.
Anu Kumar
Felicitated by the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association and The Little Magazine for her stories, Anu Kumar is a popular children’s author who has authored numerous books for kids and adults alike. Much acclaimed are The Adventures of Atisa, a wonderful combination of mythology, history and fiction, and a nine-book series called ‘Mythquest’ that features various animals from mythology.
The series includes,
- Uchchaishravas: The Divine Flying Horse
- Mahishasura: The Buffalo Demon
- Airavata: Elephant of the Clouds
- Narasimha: The Great Protector
- Sarama and Sarameya: The Heavenly Hounds
- Mahabali: The Generous Asura
- Banasura: The Thousand-Armed Asura, along with,
Jatayu: Saviour from the Skies
The epitome of loyalty, righteousness and Dharma, Jatayu was the great king of birds. This book recounts the battles he fought and his rule in the skies. The book speaks of magical lands where animals talk and miracles take place and the fate of the world that depends on all the above.
Nandi: The Divine Gatekeeper
Embellished with beautiful, monochromatic illustrations of the divine bull, this book narrates the brave heroics of the most trusted aide of Lord Shiva, right from the time Nandi followed him and fought myriad battles, protecting his Master and His family.
Jambavan: The Immortal Bear King
Blessed with mighty strength and a timeless wisdom, Jambavan was the greatest of the bears to have appeared in different yugas to serve Lord Vishnu who incarnated in various avatars. This book is dedicated to the heroics of Jambavan, the most popular one being that of leading the Vanara army in search of Sita during the Ramayana.
Sheshanaga: The Endless Snake
Narrating the myriad transformations of the magnificent serpent on which Lord Vishnu rests, this book features the traits which make him divine and unique. From the time when he protected the Lord who took birth as Krishna to supporting the underworld on his many hoods, Sheshanaga’s story is mythical and an enticing read.
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