What Makes Them Fantastic
Sharad Raghavan
FANTASTIC CREATURES IN MYTHOLOGY Bulbul Sharma Puffin Books, 2021, 106 pp., 250.00
April 2022, volume 46, No 4

Children nowadays are exposed to a wide variety of mythological stories from around the world, and so have become quite familiar with the creatures studding these stories. Whether it is the poisonous basilisk from the Harry Potter stories, the manticore and cyclops from the Percy Jackson books and movies, or dragons from any number of books and movies, children have abundant access to stories about western mythological beasts.

There is, however, a difference between generic, nameless beasts and particular individual creatures that have played a key part in their respective mythological stories. It is here that Indian mythology stands out. Throughout the Mahabharata, Ramayana and the various Puranas, there are tales of creatures that have made a lasting impact, creatures with names, personalities, and unique origins that have added colour, depth and a new sense of morality to Hindu mythology.

Despite this, books on the creatures in Indian mythology are few and far between, and fewer still are aimed at children. In other words, there is no real Indian counterpart to JK Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them or the various compiled notes and stories JRR Tolkien wrote about the creatures in his legendarium.

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