It is a popular belief that the Ramayana is idealistic, while the Mahabharata is realistic. Yet these two epics have identical building blocks, identical themes, and identical history.In this ground-breaking book, Devdutt Pattanaik, India' s most popular mythologist, explores the similarities and dissimilarities between the two epics in a ' playful analysis' accompanied by his signature illustrations. Whether it is the family structure, forest exile, or war, the comparison between the two epics proves a startling point- the Mahabharata is in fact a reaction to the events in the Ramayana.Ideas in this book are distributed over 56 chapters. In temple ritual, Vishnu is offered 8 different meals daily, different on all seven days of the week- 56 dishes in all. May each chapter serve as a mouth-watering offering to the Vishnu within you.
