Pictorial
amalgamation of Mythology, Psychology,Science and Humanities in Dr. Vineet
Aggarwal's Vishwamitra: The Man who dared to Challenge the Gods!
According to
Plato's theory of Mimesis, "Art is twice removed from reality." We
are a piece of art in the hands of creator... In his created world of Moh, Maya
and Mithya! Vishwamitra, the book begins with Brahma’s awakening of his own
consciousness, as he comes to realize that he is the replica of Vishnu, who is
considered to be the real truth. As he is the creator of Humanity and all the
other living things breathing in the Universe, we the Humans are twice removed
from Lord Vishnu, or our Creator, live a life of Illusion as we think ourselves
to be a greater part of the Universe are fools to believe so. The discovery in
our cosmology and Universe everyday only affirms the fact that is brought to
limelight in the book by Yamdagni, Vishwamitra’s brother:
“… this universe
is but one out of billions of such universes, each with Brahma of its own, and
even these but exist but for a single breath of Shri Maha Vishnu! Still we wage
wars and hoard our possessions as though they will last us forever…as if we are
going to last forever….”
I have found the
book interesting as I notice the writer’s maturity of presenting the pictorial
presentation of words in his first book, and find his hard labour and love for
the words in the sheer amalgamation of the four streams together: Mythology,
Psychology, Science and Humanity. When you trace the outline of the story, you
see a Mythological hero, who undergoes a pattern of Monomyth propounded by the
famous mythologist and postmodern theorist, Joseph Campbell himself through:
Separation, Initiation and Return. The journey of the self-discovery of the
hero, who undergoes through different trials and tribulation, only to return
back to the common man to bestow the boons of his enlightenment; that one is
nothing short of the power which lies within him, and has to be traced in the
inner recesses of his sub-conscious mind through the art of meditation by
controlling his senses around him, which brings inner peace and spiritual
awakening in him. The pictorial presentation and its gripping story, keeps you
hooked throughout the narration. It’s interesting to note the scientific
approach of the writer while he explains the different way of gestation and
piezoelectric term, come alive through the sheer use of words. Even the
Chapters are replaced with the Adhyaye in the story; to give the essence of the
time Vsihwamitra belonged to, an aspect which doesn’t breaks the regular flow
of thought in the reader, engrossing us into deeper state of meditation, with
Vishwamitra himself. The story is also appealing as far as senses are
concerned. It makes you aware of all the six senses that a man possess. The
story takes you to different levels from Plato’s theory of Mimesis to
Mythological story, where you yourself feel like a Royalite, as a part of the
story. As the story unfolds it takes you into the deeper realms of your own
psyche, where you feel angered, shattered, yet not willing to give up as mortal
human being, who possesses the inner strength of being Brahmanad because you
yourself are a part of that creation and no less. And, when you are guided by
The Guardians of Angels, in cruising one’s own destiny, you never feel lost.
Every time we fail in our attempts, it only makes us realize us of our inner
strength and the relationship between Vasishth and Vishwamitra, speaks of that
guidance which is the turning point in the story. The teacher shows the path,
yet does not walk it for himself, is best told and understood in the story. It
even gives you a tour through the Universe, for which if you want you can refer
to his blog Decode Hindu Mythology, in which he speaks of the Cosmology and
Yugas according to Mythology, with a scientific approach of a contemporary writer.
The most extra-ordinary thing about the book is the presentation of man-woman
relationship, especially the love story of Vishwamitra and Menaka. What I found
in the book is that a man may marry for the sake of social obligation, yet he
remains lustful, obliging to his carnal desire and yet undergoes a feeling of
incompleteness throughout. While, a woman may carry the feeling of being most
beautiful, yet feels incomplete and alone in the company of her flatterers.
And, when Vishwamitra and Menaka come together as man and woman, they feel
complete sense of oneness with each other. Yet, when truth comes to the
forefront, the unexpected reaction of the protagonist leaves both of them
shattered.
If you are just
reading it for pleasure sake, still there is much to read about it. A natural
story teller, with simplistic style punctuated with life ironies, idiomatic
phrases, metaphors, similes are all pearls in Natural stream. It’s a gripping
story of the mythological hero named Vishwamitra, who in his pursuit of
self-discovery undergoes different trials and tribulation as a Kshatriya to
attain the title of being a higher ascetic. It’s also the story of us, the
common man, who when one starts believing in his inner strength can become the
master of his own destiny. Nothing in this life is easy. And, in order to
attain the higher realms of success the path is always full of struggles and
learning, and the recognition of one’s own inner strength is the true essence
of the story. It’s not just another Hindu mythological story, for me as a
reader it’s a story of the hero who believes in his inner strength and never
gives up on his inner strength or ability. Men lost in mundane world will find
some of the solutions and answer to their confusions in this book... mythological
as a physical attribute, yet contemporary in temperament!
