A look at faith in all its hues
Inderdeep Thapar

The Book Of Durga, The Book of Muhammad, The Book of Nanak
by Nilima Chitgopekar ,Mehru Jaffer and Navtej Sarna, respectively. Penguin. Pages 129, 147 and 149, respectively. Rs 195 each.

IN The Book of Durga the author traces the legend of Goddess Durga down different ages, from the Vedic period, to the epic age and the Puranas and subsequent epochs. The book is remarkable for its continuity, especially as the esoteric Goddess Durga, also known as Mahishasuramardini, or the slayer of the buffalo demon, Mahishasura has been studied at metaphorical, historical as well as spiritual levels. The word Durga has been traced to the Vedic times where it existed in a neuter or masculine form. Its evolution into a Goddess representing the forces of creation and destruction and then into a cult over a period of time, has been well traced. An elaborate treatment is accorded to the worship of the Devi. The legend of the destruction of Mahishasur represents the annihilation of the vices and egos of the devotee by the Devi. Historically, the killing of the demon may be looked upon as the victory of a tribe who were the worshippers of a female Goddess over a tribe which revered the buffalo. It is a well-researched book.

The Book of Muhammad is an important one in the present turbulent times when Islam has been equated with terror. The author tells history in a unique manner, almost as if he is narrating a story. Topics such as who was Muhammad, to which tribe he belonged, what were the circumstances which made him what he was, have been dealt with well. The author has also analysed how Mecca emerged as a powerful city. The author has attributed the spiritual temperament of the Prophet to the sadness experienced by Muhammad. Born in penury and orphaned at the age of six, Muhammad was a deeply spiritual person who earned respect for his negotiating abilities amongst the fierce, bloodthirsty tribes of Arabia. At 25, he married Khadija, his senior by 15 years, and a widow. He attained the divine at the age of 40 during one of his annual retreats to Mount Hira where he used to meditate. The struggle by Muhammad to make his faith acceptable to the primitive tribes has been explained in detail. The author has given a short history of the Islamic religious literature. The Prophet’s revelations are contained in the Holy Koran, his discourses in Haddis and his life story in the Sira. The five pillars of the Islamic faith are Tawhid (oneness with God), Namaz (prayers five times a day), Zakat (charity), Roza (the month of fasting) and Haj (pilgrimage to Kaaba). However, it is the central message of Islam which the author has deciphered so effortlessly. Islam exhorts all people to be good human beings and says the greatest jehad is to conquer the self. The book traces the evolution of Islam spanning several centuries. It becomes judgmental towards the end as it evaluates Islam today. A fascinating, comprehensible, highly recommended read.

The Book of Nanak is a simple, uncomplicated, non-controversial story of Guru Nanak right from his birth to his passing away. The author has banked largely upon Janamsakhis as sources with a passing reference to Nanak’s hymns. However, the treatment of the sources lacks a critical approach and the book reads more like a translation of the legends associated with Guru Nanak. It is successful in making the message of Guru Nanak clear through short stories comparable to the parables in the Bible. The story of Nanak began in Talwandi Sabo where he was born in a Khatri caste to Mehta Kalyandas and Tripta. Nanak was a difficult son who refused to be worldly wise despite being an earning member of the household. After the revelation in Sultanpur and his first utterance after it, "There is no Hindu or Mussulman", Guru Nanak travelled all over India, and also in Sri Lanka , Baghdad, Mecca and Medina, dressed as a Faqir whose identity as a Hindu or a Muslim could not be gauged. The author deals with the travels of Guru Nanak extensively without getting into the controversy of historical authenticity. One gets a glimpse of the development of Nanak’s faith from its embryonic stage at Kartarpur where he finally settled down after his journeys. The teachings of Nanak have been summarised towards the end in a clear manner. However, the author could have studied Nanak in the context of Bhakti and Sufi movements. A short description of how the nascent faith became a full-fledged religion would have given the book a feeling of completion. It leaves much to be desired.

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