Small Is Beautiful (English, Paperback, Schumacher E F)

Vishnu: An Introduction is a presentation of the tales and philosophies related to the Vaishnava faith, and has been written by India’s favorite writer on Hindu mythology, Devdutt Pattanaik.

Summary Of The Book

Vishnu: An Introduction tells the stories and beliefs related to Vishnu, the Preserver or Protector. The book traces the history of the various Vaishnavite movements across the country, the ancient tales and beliefs about Vishnu, and the significance of worshipping Vishnu.
The author narrates the stories of Vishnu, including his ten important avatars. Besides the stories of Rama and Krishna, he also introduces the readers to lesser known incarnations of Vishnu like Hayagriva and Prithu. He discusses the traditions and beliefs associated with the Vaishnavas, and the importance and meaning of the Vaishnavite symbols.

The book can help the devotees form a personal relationship with the Lord like shravanam or hearing his stories, sevanam or service, and smaranam or the chanting of his names. The book also explains the various festivals held in honor of Vishnu. It provides a map marking the most important temples dedicated to Vishnu, and a reference section for further reading.

Vishnu: An Introduction has been written to provide a concise introduction to Vaishnava philosophy. It clearly explains the significance of the traditions, symbols and customs associated with the worship of Vishnu, in addition to retelling the stories of His Incarnations.

Though many might know the main stories, the explanations of the deeper meanings of the customs and the stories of the lesser known avatars of Vishnu are sure to intrigue readers. The book also includes more than 200 illustrations.

About Devdutt Pattanaik

Devdutt Pattanaik is a popular writer of books based on and about Hindu mythology.

Other books by this author are Lakshmi, The Goddess of Wealth and Fortune: An Introduction, Myth = Mithya: A Handbook of Hindu Mythology, 7 Secrets of Shiva, The Book of Ram, The Goddess in India: The Five Faces of the Eternal Feminine, and Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata.

Devdutt Pattanaik, a graduate of Grant Medical College in Mumbai, worked for 14 years in the healthcare industry. He then turned to providing leadership consultancy based on lessons from Hindu mythology. He has also become an extremely popular author of books that tell ancient tales from Hindu scriptures for a new generation of readers. He is also a physician, story consultant and a leadership consultant.