5 must read novels based on Indian Mythology

If Netflix adapts Mahabharata, it will be 100 times popular than Game of Thorns




Indian mythology is the oldest and the most diverse mythology in the world. Indian mythology does not often have a consistent, monolithic structure. The same myth typically appears in various versions and can be represented differently across socio-religious traditions. Many of these legends evolve across these texts, where the character names change or the story is embellished with greater details.

Leaving the religious and historical aspects aside, Indian mythology has a huge number of stories that are not only very much intriguing but also contain deep philosophical ideas inside.

Here are the top 5 fictions based on Indian mythology that I have enjoyed the most and would like to recommend.


1. The Shiva Trilogy by Amish Tripathi

The most talked-about Shiva mythological fiction is the Shiva Trilogy. It is known for its storytelling and lucid writing. The way it brings fiction into Shiva’s story and weaves such an engaging narrative is commendable.

In The Immortals of Meluha, the Tibetan immigrant, Shiva is the only hope of the Chandravanshi’s against evil.

The Secret of Nagas shows Shiva as the God, the destroyer of evil, now set to find the door of the Nagas with vengeance in his mind but nothing is what it seems to be.

The third in the series, The Oath of the Vayuputras, is the final showdown between the destroyer of evil and his enemy who is feared by all!


2. The Pregnant King by Devdutt Pattanaik

It follows the story of Yuvanashva, a childless king, who accidentally drinks the magic potion meant to make his queens pregnant. It is set in the backdrop of the Mahabharata and makes references to characters and incidents in the Kurukshetra as well as the Ramayana.


3. The Mahabharata Murders by Arnab Roy

One by one, the Pandavas fall. Duryodhana claims to be reborn. In modern-day Calcutta. A beautiful model. He cuts her open. His DRAUPADI. He hammers surgical needles into his SAHADEVA. The head of NAKULA he severs. Will Detectives Ruksana Ahmed and Siddhanth Singh be able to keep him from his ARJUN, BHEEMA, and YUDHISTHIRA? Or will Duryodhana finally win?

Referencing the mythological events, the thriller and suspense keep the reader at the edge of his seat all through the book. A must-read for all thriller lovers.


4. The Krishna Key by Ashwin Sanghi

A blend of thriller and mythology. It is the story of a boy who believes that he is the Blue God, the avatar of Vishnu known as Krishna. A historian seeks that invaluable possession of Krishna, by delving deep into the remains of Dwarka, in a temple in Vrindavan which was destroyed by King Aurangzeb. One of the finest books in Indian mythology retellings, The Krishna Key makes for a compelling read, replete with twists and turns.


5. The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banarjee

With vivid dialogues of the women in The Palace of Illusions, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni establishes herself as a splendid storyteller. Her work serves as a feminist retelling of the Mahabharata through the eyes of Panchali or Draupadi, a layered character who acted as the catalyst that launched the war for Dharma. Divakaruni follows the narrative style of 'story within a story, an element from the Mahabharata to narrate the incidents leading up to the Great War. Strong women, though opposites in nature, make up the characters in this book.

Thank you !!

Happy reading !!

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