Customer Reviews

Ganesha Goes to Lunch: Classics from Mystic India (Mandala Classics)

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Ganesha Goes to Lunch by Kamla K. Kapur is a collection of twenty four stories drawn from the oral tradition of mythical tales in India. The stories are retold in contemporary language, and maintain the essential structure and characteristics of the folklores. Kamla's choice of stories ranges from tales about why Ganesha has elephant's trunk, to the marriage of Shiv-Parvati to the creation of Brahma and universe. The story of the friendship of Sudama and Krishna is retold as is the tale of Vishwamitra-Vashisht rivalry.

The Bharatiya (Indian) tradition thrives on stories passed on from generation to generation. Each generation adds its own experience to knowledge and reinterprets the understanding passed to them. The Hindu myths by their very nature don't have absolutes. They represent Gods or men trapped in their vices, roused or limited by their virtues, acting in response to the demands that existence as humans on earth demands from us. The attempt is to create examples as prototypes to deal with contradictions and complexities that daily strife, be it in war, peace, family matters, need, greed, valor, and amorous desires lead us to. This had lead to several epics about avataars or incarnations, and as humans Gods lead exemplary lives, faulting at times, and suffering for them. In Kamla's collection, the gems from the boundless sea of folklore are picked, polished and repackaged to lure Western audiences as well as those Indian readers who have learned most from English education and English Literature.

The book has a number of pictures and illustrations, which allow a non-Indian reader to visualize the God or character in question. We Indians grow up with these tales, and somehow we imbibe their lessons into our being without realizing when or how. The modern age has brought a slew of stories and media into our household, and in these times, it is easy to be overwhelmed by the shallow characterizations and sensationalist serials. The demands of materialistic modern life, makes it even more important for us to connect to the spiritual wisdom of centuries, the philosophy both rich and humbling is present in highly entertaining form in these stories. Kamla Kapur's effort is commendable in both the spirit and the style of execution.

While most of these stories can be read out to children, a few characterizations are little more sensual than I would have hoped for. The discussion about Shiva and Shakti, the male and female powers, is done quite boldly, whereas my encounters with these stories as a child were in an understatement, and in euphemisms. Perhaps the retelling must respond to the contemporary world, where the Victorian writing, the euphemisms are considered trite and cliched. The tale from Ramayana, incorrectly mentions that Hanuman brought Sanjivini (or the hill with that herb on it) for reviving Ram (I am certain that it was needed for Laxman). Aside from these quips, most of the stories are brief and well written, and will form a good reading for people of all ages.

Myths by their very nature appeal to the heroic, and the virtuous elements of our being. Kamla's rendition ensures that the heroic and mystic elements are distilled into a reader's consciousness. The simplicity of language, the delightful imagery, the translation as if of whole oral tradition of myths into this eclectic collection speaks volumes about Kamla's craftsmanship and reverence for these tales. While the tales are derived from Hindu myths, the structure, the impact, the ideals, the virtues they inspire transcend time, space and religion. I enjoyed these, and so I hope you will too.

Ms. Kapur has done a fantastic job collecting and re-telling these tales from classic India. Her writing is beautiful and engaging and magnificently profound. I recently got this book and read a tale or two each day on my commute to and from work, and while I thoroughly enjoy Ms. Kapur's writing I really enjoy the reflection afterwards on the meanings of the tales and what they mean to my life within this universe. As with all of the very best writing, it engages the soul long after reading it.

The stories are... well its fun enough to read.

The translations aren't perfect, there are many small discrepancies, but it adds up. Most of the stories are tiny and irrelevant. The book starts out more interesting, and then wanes into less and less relevant and compelling stories.

I started out excited to read it, but by the end found myself disapointed over and over by short story after short story... some had a moral and lesson in it, some one had to search and create the moral from a story half told. Most of what is covered doesn't account for a large portion of wisdom in the Ramayana or the Mahabharata, in the sections that cover these parts... while it's unreasonable to expect a short story to account for such large stories, they should at least hold some of the values in them.

I was disappointed... it was interesting to read, for a while, and the book is attractive, but I wouldn't recommend buying it.

Ganesha Goes to Lunch is a grand mix-up of Gods and mortals... all doing the best they can considering the limitations (and non-limitations) of their realities. The treat is that we are afforded a front row seat and, while enjoying ourselves all the while, suddenly discover that teachings of profound wisdom have somehow been assimilated.

A wonderful and imaginative journey with the power to inform, inspire and - ultimately transform the reader. Thank you, Kamla Kapur for the (wild elephant) ride!

A friend recommended this book as an introduction to Hinduism and I absolutely love it! Each chapter is a different story, and it's very informative about the Hindu Gods. There are so many morals and the author has a beautiful style of writing. Definitely recommend!

I love reading this book. I'm reading it for the second time now and I'm loving it just as much as the first time. When I close the book at night after reading a story or two, I go to sleep with a smile on my face and a happy feeling in my heart. I really, really love this book! Thanks!

To find a lasting happiness, I have examined the human condition in all its aspects. I found this pleasant, yet powerfully profound book to be in the pantheon of the thousands of volumes that I have been blessed to read. I was daunted in my investigation of Hindu thought by the immensity of it's cosmology. This charming book took me by the hand, as a child would, and led me to the family table to partake of the feast. Enjoy.
M Preston

This book is absolutely beautiful. She re-tells the stories that I have always wanted to hear about. The stories of the Indian culture are fascinating and she tells tem beautifully. As soon as I picked up this book, I had to finish it. What else is there to say other than if you have little kids or nephew and nieces, it's a great book to give them to read.

Ganesha Goes To Lunch is such a beautifully written piece of work that captures the lush and mystical world of ancient India through it's classic tales of the Gods and Goddesses of Hindu religion. Having studied many of the various stories and texts from India I found Ms Kapur's retelling of these tales to be full of life and immediacy, wisdom and magic, and easily accessible for anyone either beginning to learn about eastern cultures or those that know the stories and just want to revisit them in a new and fresh way.

Her writing is clear and fragrant as fresh jasmine growing along the Ganges on a spring morning. Highly Recommend!!

DJ Martin - Mission Enlightenment Foundation

I loved this book. So wonderfully written. Albeit the author took some liberties with the stories, I think the idea of the book is very well executed. I loved reading about Shiva and Ganesha and Vishnu and Parvati as if they were people who lived just down the street. So much of Hindu lore is very difficult to digest, but the author does a great job of delivering the myths and the moral point of each story very very well. Well done.