Mythology
By Ranjith Radhakrishnan
In the author’s note at the end of the second book, Ranjith highlights his approach to writing about Parashurama after the feedback he received on the first book. At the outset he clarifies that he wanted to avoid writing Parashurama as a mere mortal who later came to be considered as an avatara. Taking creative liberties, which he is upfront in calling out,
Retold by Lopamudra Maitra
What is a reader to make of these stories set (innocently) side-by-side? Is the Vedic/Puranic Aditi, who birthed Indra and thirty-three other gods, like Trishala, the mother of the Jain Tirthankara Mahavira? Is Lal Dedh like Surdas? How do we think about Amir Khusro’s devotion to his human pir in comparison to these bhaktas and their obsession with God? Myths
By Kala Krishnan
The storytelling is expansive and both the parts of the trilogy are replete with stories, not just popular tales of Murugan’s birth, his leaving Kailash to Pazhani in anger after losing the competition for the Fruit of Wisdom, the war with Surapadman and his victory and his marriage to Theivanai, but stories of how everything emerged from a dark, endless Vast to begin with;