Hindu Dharma has many great holy scriptures in the form of Upanishads, Vedas, and Puranas that talk about stories and folks where gods either interacted directly or in impersonal forms.
But it’s said that there are only four Vedas and around eighteen Puranas, and Ramayana and Mahabharata makes up for the fifth Veda. Is this real or assumptive? Well, this classic book ‘Essence of the Fifth Veda’ by Gaurang Damani looks into the same matter.
So often epic sagas like Ramayana and Mahabharata are considered mythological creations, however, it’s not. Ramayana and Mahabharata are history and Puranas, clubbing them together makes it a Fifth Veda.
‘Essence of the Fifth Veda’ by Gaurang Damani tries to re-iterate that whatever happened in Ramayana and Mahabharata is real, not mythological. The book points out to many current locations in the Indian subcontinent where battle took place or great events conspired.
The book does not forget to eulogize Lord Krishna who was common in both epic sagas. In Ramayana, he was reincarnated as Rama, and in Mahabharata we all know about him. The book posits that many people, demigods, asuras, danavas, and rakshasas were reborn during the Mahabharata time.
In the book, each chapter is full of insights and great knowledge. If someone has read the school-level or basic versions of Ramayana and Mahabharata, many episodes must have eluded them. For instance in Ramayana, the Suryavanshi King Dashratha was cursed to die in absence of his son. But who gave that curse? Parents of Sharavan Kumar, who was accidently killed by the king in a forest.
Similarly, Jara was reborn post Mahabharata; he accidently killed the Lord Krishna…but he was entitled for that during Ramayana he got a boon for that from no one but Lord Rama. All events were connected. This book provides that window of common connectivity. Though its expanse is great and one needs to have possessed basic knowledge of Hindu Puranas and other scriptures.
From main to auxiliary characters that participated in Ramayana and Mahabharata, this book has a mention of all. It highlights those issues, difficulties, hardship, and secrets that are commonly not available. Do you know Arjuna lost his power to celestial weapons as soon as Lord Krishna ascended to the heaven? Do you know reconciliation was created for all the dead soldiers from Mahabharata? Was Sita real in the captivity of Ravana in Lanka? Who are Suryavanshis and Chandravanshis kings and what makes them different?
The more you read and make notes, the deeper you get into it, because the brilliance and expanse of this book is highly applaudable.
Interested in knowing the deep details about the Fifth Veda that is a combination of Ramayana and Mahabharata, there is no better book as of now. Even if you got a hunch of great knowledge about Hindu Dharma through re-tellings, this is your opportunity to explore with stats and facts that don’t mislead.
The author Gaurang Damani sounds well-read of scriptures and before penning down this, he must have done tremendous research. His superb and simple narration takes the book to a height of insurmountable heights.
Can’t wait much, buy your paperback copy online.
ibooksta 