This World Yoga Day, HarperCollins India is delighted to publish
YOGA
MYTHOLOGY
64 ASANAS AND THEIR STORIES
by
Devdutt Pattanaik
With Matthew Rulli
About the book
The popular names of many yogic asanas – from Virbhadra-asana and Hanuman-asana to Matsyendra-asana, Kurma-asana and Ananta-asana – are based on characters and personages from Indian mythology. Who were these mythological characters, what were their stories, and how are they connected to yogic postures?
Devdutt Pattanaik’s newest book Yoga Mythology (co-written with international yoga practitioner Matthew Rulli) retells the fascinating tales from Hindu, Buddhist and Jain lore that lie behind the yogic asanas the world knows so well; in the process he draws attention to an Indic worldview based on the concepts of eternity, rebirth, liberation and empathy that has nurtured yoga for thousands of years.
‘Millions of people practice yoga around the world, but very few are aware of the mythology behind the asanas: the stories, symbols and rituals that shaped the worldview where yoga was nurtured for over 3000 years. My new book (with Matthew Rulli) hopes to fill this gap. The tone of Yoga Mythology is playful rather than pedantic, involving not just still yogis but also sensuous yoginis; it presents a truth, not the truth.’ – Devdutt Pattanaik
‘On World Yoga Day, we at HarperCollins are thrilled to be able to bring to readers everywhere the latest book by renowned mythologist and writer Devdutt Pattanaik. Yoga Mythology, which Devdutt has co-written with yoga practitioner Matthew Rulli, tells the wonderful mythological stories that lie behind the yoga asanas many of us are familiar with, and elaborates on an Indian philosophical worldview that lies at the root of yoga. I believe that Yoga Mythology is the very first book of its kind; it makes for fascinating reading, and I know it will be of interest to many readers both in India and abroad.’ – Udayan Mitra, Publisher – Literary, HarperCollins India
About the authors
Devdutt Pattanaik, renowned mythologist from India, author of over 50 books and 1000 columns on the subject and a TED speaker, has written and illustrated this book. He structures it in a way that makes the subject accessible to an international audience.
Matthew Rulli, former Marine and an experienced registered yoga teacher (E-RYT 500) from the USA, who has been studying Sanskrit and Eastern philosophy for over a decade, felt the need for such a book amongst yoga enthusiasts and initiated this project by contacting Devdutt Pattanaik in 2017.
Over the next two years, he listed asanas and served as the model, photographer and commentator for the 64 postures finally selected for this book.
ON PRE-ORDER NOW
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2WEqH2E
Surreal yet gritty, violent yet poetic – such is the world of Chandan Pandey’s fiction.…
From books on financial frauds to a graphic novel based in Gaza, Mitali Mukherjee reading…
Mitali Mukherjee's chilling and unputdownable new book Crypto Crimes traces the murky underbelly of the…
Hey there readers! For today’s blog we have brought you a collection of finance and…
Hi readers! In this week’s blog we have some Young Adult recommendations perfect for teens.…
is proud to announce the release of THE BLACK ORPHAN Inspired by true events,…