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Indian mythology is a blend of love, wars, respect, and righteousness. Since the very beginning, our lives have been guided by the characters from our mythology. Indians wish to be as dutiful as Lord Ram and as clever as Lord Krishna.
They are not only an integral part of our identities but also representative of our culture. The tales we grew up listening to have formed the stories modern writers write today. Our media is guided by the lessons our mythology teaches us.
The rich stories of our mythology have given a chance for Indian writers to delve deep into the characters and form stories of their own.
Some writers chose to interpret their version of a famous story, while some took a character out of them and wove their story. Here are some of the best mythology books to read that will draw you in and capture your heart.
Our Top Picks Best Indian mythology books :
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Top 15 Best Indian Mythology Books
1. The Ramayana
The Ramayana is one of the greatest hindu mythology books written in Sanskrit.
Ramayana, written by Valmiki, has been one of the driving forces of Hindu culture for a long time. Amongst all the translations of the epic.
This one is the most sold. Author C. Rajagopalachari translated it into English while retaining the beauty and authenticity of the original work.
Ram, the dutiful son, follows his father’s wishes and inevitably fulfils his destiny of destroying evil.
A story filled with duty, respect, the triumph of good over evil, love, and war, Ramayana has fascinated Indians and foreigners alike.
The entire epic of Ramayana has been divided into 7 books and translated into several Indian and international languages. You can find the book summary here.
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2. The Mahabharata
If the retelling and fantasy versions created from the Mahabharata attract you, chances are you will fall in love with the original Mahabharata.
Mahabharata is one of the great epics written originally in Sanskrit.
It primarily talks about the strife between two lines of cousins, Kauravas, and Pandavas, that led to the greatest war in Indian mythology in Kurukshetra.
The epic concerns itself with innumerable characters and the philosophies and truths of life, including the holy book of Hindus, Bhagavad Gita.
This version of Mahabharata was translated by Krishna Dharma and has been translated into multiple Indian and international languages.
It is also available in audiobook format. The Mahabharata is perfect for someone looking for a tale of war, dharma-adharma, love, family, and betrayal.
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3. The Pandava Series
Looking for something to engross your children in a fantasy world inspired by the distinct Indian culture? books on hindu mythology
The Pandava Series by Roshani Choksi, akin to Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan, is one of the best books on hindu mythology for taking them on a heroic and adventurous journey.
After making the mistake of lighting a cursed lamp 12-year-old Aru Shah.
She has to find the reincarnations of the five Pandava brothers from Mahabharata and cross the dead land to save her family and friends.
The series contains 5 books and is suitable for readers between 8-12 years. However, readers of all ages can appreciate it.
The book is available in more than two dozen languages and audio formats. You can find the book summary and review here.
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4. Arjuna: Saga of a Pandava Warrior-Prince
Written by Anuja Chandramouli,
Arjuna: Saga of a Pandava Warrior-Prince tells the story of one of the fascinating characters in Mahabharata.
The story of Mahabharata unfolds from the eyes of the best archer ever to exist in this retelling of Mahabharata.
We tend to see the characters in mythology as perfect creatures. Despite being Lord Indra’s son, Arjuna was a human.
In this book, Chandramouli has explored the flaws and human side of all the Pandava brothers, especially Arjuna.
She has also highlighted the endearing friendship between Arjuna and Krishna, which made Arjuna what he was, and his similarity with his eldest brother, Karna.
The book is available in English, Hindi, Gujarati, Bengali, and Marathi languages.
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5. The Shiva Trilogy
Talking about the best Indian Mythology books without including The Shiva Trilogy is impossible.
The Shiva Trilogy follows the life of the warrior Shiva in a time when gods did not exist.
When Shiva migrates from Tibet to Meluha, he is thrust into his destiny of saving Meluha from trouble and becoming the God we know today.
Amish Tripathi’s love for Indian mythology is apparent in the trilogy. His version of Shiva is a human with emotions and shortcomings.
A distinct part of this series is the gender equality that exists in Meluha. It has been translated into more than 19 languages and is also available in the audiobook version.
All the books by Amish Tripathi have sold more than 5 million copies. You can find the book summary here.
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6. Lanka’s Princess
Most of us know Surpanakha as the vengeful woman who became the catalyst for Sita’s kidnapping and ultimately, the war that took Ravan’s life.
Kavita Kane, who shows the world from marginalized people's views, wrote Lanka’s Princess to describe the life of Surpanakha.
This book tells you about a once beautiful girl named Meenakshi and her transformation to the Surpanakha, who led to the destruction of Lanka.
Lanka’s Princess is a tale filled with love, tragedy, vengeance, and power struggle against the backdrop of one of the most significant wars fought to destroy evil.
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7. Asura: Tale of the Vanquished
We know the character of Ravana as the evil who kidnapped Sita and harmed innocent people.
However, no one is born evil. The circumstances turn a person into good or bad. Ravana was the saviour of his empire and protector of his people.
Anand Neelakantan has shed light on the story of Ravana in this book.The book depicts the transformation of Ravana.
From a young, innocent boy with dreams of saving his people to the one who brought about the destruction of his people and himself.
The book has been translated into several languages, such as Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, and Indonesian Bahasa, and is also available in audiobook format
Over half a million copies of the book have been sold. You can find the book summary here.
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8. The Palace of Illusions
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni showed us the world from the view of the women in Mahabharata.
All the strong, courageous women who made sacrifices and yet never called themselves a hero.
Banerjee’s version of Draupadi is more than just a catalyst to the greatest war of Dharma.
She is, first and foremost, her person and has an unexplored depth.
Banerjee has explored Draupadi’s relationship with her five husbands, her tumultuous equation with her mother-in-law, her friendship with Krishna, and her secrets that no one is privy to.
No amount of praise is enough for this feminist retelling of Mahabharata. The Palace of Illusions has been translated into more than 29 languages and is available in audiobook format. You can find the book summary
here.
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9. My Gita
At the beginning of the war of Mahabharata, Krishna, on seeing the hesitation on the face of Arjuna
He froze the time and gave him lessons we know as Bhagavad Gita today.
The Bhagavad Gita is beautiful and contains teachings that can make a person’s life more worthy.
However, it is also hard to understand. Devdutt Pattanaik’s My Gita is based on his interpretation of the lessons of Gita.
He made the teachings simple and relatable for modern readers while maintaining their true essence.
It has been translated into several Indian and international languages and is also available in audiobook format. You can find the book summary here.
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10. Ram Chandra Series
Another popular fantasy series by Amish Tripathi, Ram Chandra, is a reimagining of the war between Ram and Ravan.
The first book of the series shows a weakened Ayodhya and Ram as the ostracized prince who wants to clear his name and save his land.
The second book of the series is the story of Sita as a courageous and strong-willed woman.
The third book of the series tells the story of Raavan and how he becomes the king who destroys everything in his path.
It is also the last part of the series. All the books of Amish Tripathi have sold over 5 million copies and have been translated into more than 19 languages. The series is also available in audiobook format.
You can find the summary of the series here.
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11. The Liberation of Sita
The Liberation of Sita is the journey of Sita after Ram abandons her.
It is the tale of her freedom from the family that held her back from becoming a self-independent woman.
The Volga has traced Sita’s life during captivity in Lanka, her struggles as a mother, and her marriage.
She took the time to show the world from the perspective of women in Ramayana.
From Ahalya, wife of Gautam Rishi, to Surpanakha, Volga explored the lives of all the women characters after the death of Ravana.
Originally written in Telugu, the book is also available in several languages, such as English, Odia, and Malayalam. You can find the summary of the series here.
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12. Dharmyoddha Kalki
A book about Kalki, the tenth avatar of Lord Vishnu, who was born to cleanse the evil in the world.
Kalki lived a sheltered life in his small village until Kali’s sister decided to destroy his village, and his father was killed.
Kali is the great evil Kalki has to fight to fulfil his destiny. The book is the first part of the series, and yet, it is not slow or merely a filler.
The plot is fast-paced, and character development is to the point. Kevin Missal, the book's author, wrote this book at 22.
The book is available in both Hindi and English languages. Find the summary of the book here. It is perfect for adventure and fantasy lovers.
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13. Andha Yug
Now we have list no 12 best books on indian mythology.
Written by Dharamveer Bharati in 1953, Andha Yug is a play written in five acts.
It is set on the last day of the great war Mahabharata and explores the aftermath and the devastation it has caused.
It gives the morbid reality of the final act of revenge.
By Ashwatthama and the destruction of human life done in the name of eliminating adharma.
Bharati used the story of the greatest war in Indian mythology to expose the cruel and devastating consequences of war.
He used the play to express his anti-war sentiments. Originally written in Hindi, the play was translated into English. Find the summary of the book here.
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14. The Pregnant King
A fact that makes Mahabharata an epic is that it has innumerable characters.
All the characters have their own stories outlined by Vyasa. The Pregnant King is the tale of one such character.
While the story primarily revolves around Yuvanashva, a king who gives birth to a son, it also includes similar characters such as Shivalati.
A woman who cannot be the king, and Shikhandi, a woman who becomes a father.
Devdutt Pattanaik took the characters from the great epic whose identities and sexual orientation are fluid and explore their stories and struggles.
It is a must-read book for all those looking to understand the situation of queer people in Indian mythology.
The book is available in English and audiobook format. Find the summary and review of the book here.
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15. Sitayana
There is no shortage of retellings of Ramayana. However, Amit Majmudar’s Sitayana is unique in the way he has told the narrative.
Written from the perspectives of Sita, Hanuman, Lakshman, and other familiar yet unknown characters.
The book is a refreshing take on the age-old story of Ramayana.
Majmudar’s writing is gripping, and the flow doesn’t break despite the frequent change in narrators.
The Sita in this book knows her strength and acknowledges them. She is strong-willed and resists her abduction with all her might.
Sitayana is a short and captivating version of Valmiki’s Ramayana. It is available in English and audiobook format.
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CONCLUSION
Indian Mythology is more than just stories. They are a way of living, a work of philosophy, and tales of morality.
When in doubt, you can find the answers to your moral and ethical dilemmas in the verses of the Gita.
The original versions of Ramayana and Mahabharata might be challenging to understand, but these books are their perfect recreations.
Some are stories from a fresh perspective, while some have taken the characters from original versions and made their own stories.
It is not possible to combine all the exceptional works of mythology in one blog, but we have tried our best to list the best of them.
You don’t need to be of a specific religion to read and understand the beauty of these books. You need to have a love for reading and Indian culture.
These hindu mythology books are suitable even for people who do not know anything about Indian mythology.
Frequently-Asked Questions(FAQs)
Q1. Which Indian mythology is best?
Both The Ramayana and The Mahabharata are epics containing the story of the triumph of good over evil, dharma over adharma. It is hard to decide which one is the best.
If you prefer the stories of a dutiful son who defeats evil, Ramayana might be the best.
However, if you prefer a story of a great war and the circumstances that led to it, Mahabharata might be for you.
Q2. What Hindu mythology should I read first?
If you are a stranger to Hindu mythology, you should start with The Ramayana. While The Mahabharata is also an epic, it is much longer and has more characters than Ramayana.
Ramayana is relatively simple and a good way of introducing Hindu mythology to your mind.
Q3. Who are Nagas in Indian mythology?
Nagas are half-humans, half-serpent beings in Indian mythology. Brahma created them and sent them to live in ‘pataal lok’ or netherworld.
They are strong and can be good or bad. The most famous nagas are Shesha, who supports Vishnu, and Takshaka, who kills Pariskhsit, the grandson of Arjun, in The Mahabharata.
Q4. How many books are there in Indian mythology?
There are several different types of texts available in Indian mythology.
There are 18 Mukhya and 18 Upa Purana, regional pieces, Upanishads, and Vedic literature, including epics.
If we talk about books based on these texts, there are countless retellings and reimaginings written by modern authors.
Q5. Which are the Top 10 Best Indian mythology books ?
Here is the complete list for Best Indian mythology books :
- The Ramayana
- The Mahabharata
- Arjuna : Saga Of a Pandava Warrior Prince
- The Shiva Trilogy
- Lanka's Princes
- Asura : Tale of the Vanquished
- My Gita
- The Palace Of Illusions
- Sitayana
- Dharmyoddha kalki
