Satyarth Nayak on his new book 'Mahagatha' -written by Nitisha Gurjar (BA English Hons.)

The writer of Sridevi’s biopic, Satyarth Nayak talks about his new book ‘Mahagatha’.

 

Satyarth Nayak, a screenwriter, and author best known for penning Sridevi's autobiography, just published a new book titled "Mahagatha" that investigates the Puranas' world and their applicability to the present. The 18 Maha-Puranas (major Puranas) and 18 Upa-Puranas (minor Puranas) make up the Puranas, a collection of prehistoric Indian writings. Nayak worked on this book for five years, demonstrating his intense interest in the subject.

 

Nayak said when asked about his research methodology, "Since I cannot understand Sanskrit, I went through all those Puranas that have been translated into English. I was fortunate to have access to many, and using them to do my research became its main focus. Unexpectedly, I never felt like I was doing boring work while exploring this universe. I delighted in every new story I learned and learned something from every connection I made. At the conclusion of this procedure, I had gathered over 300 stories, which I then reduced to 100 using three criteria: the interest level of the story, the significant characters involved, and whether it was an underappreciated tale deserving of a broader audience.

 

Nayak's choice to write about the Puranas was influenced by his intense curiosity about these fables from antiquity . He was enthralled by tales of monarchs, sages, demons, and gods as a child and felt obliged to tell them in his own words. The main goal of “Mahagatha” was to gather both well-known and lesser-known stories from the Puranas in order to produce a book that contains the top 100 mythological stories.

 

When asked where he got the idea for the book, Nayak said, “Mythology has always fascinated me. This is a universe that makes you feel in awe and appeals to your inner child. But it also enlightens us, helping us grow into better people and adults. When I was a child, I can still clearly remember my grandfather telling me Puranic stories, and I think that my desire to learn more about this world of stories is what motivated me to pursue this project.

 

“Mahagatha” was created with consideration for the state of the world. According to Nayak, bthe Puranas are full of knowledge that is still relevant today . For instance, the Puranas’ descriptions of Karma and Karmaphal—the effects of one’s actions—align with Newtonian physics and provide important new perspectives on the universe. The Puranas also address issues of gender equality and raise awareness for the LGBTQ+ community. They encourage the amplification of various views, which is particularly important in the present when certain people try to impose a single Hindu narrative across the nation. Additionally, there is no separation between humans and gods in the Puranas’ depiction of the cosmos. Both are governed by the same laws, and the deities are just as liable for their wrongdoings as mortals are.

 

The 'Mahagatha' by Satyarth Nayak is a link between conventional wisdom and contemporary sensibilities. Nayak gives readers the chance to examine the breadth of Indian mythology and its continuing relevance by revisiting the Puranic stories and placing them in a modern setting. He wants to inspire wonder, foster personal development, and promote inclusivity in society with this book.