''Deepak Chopra's India Authentic'' is a series of one-shot comic books from

Virgin Comics Liquid Comics is an Indian comic book publishing company, founded in 2006 as Virgin Comics LLC, which produces stories (many of which are Indian-culture related) for an international audience. The company was founded by Sir Richard Branson and hi ...

which re-tell the iconic myths and legends of

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

for a global audience. The series has been created by

Deepak Chopra Deepak Chopra (; ; born October 22, 1946) is an Indian-American author, New Age, new age guru, and alternative medicine advocate. A prominent figure in the New Age movement, his books and videos have made him one of the best-known and wealthi ...

(with

Saurav Mohapatra Saurav Mohapatra is a filmmaker and writer based out of San Francisco, California, USA. Work His comic book work includes the ''Devi'' (#11 onwards), ''The Sadhu'' : " The Silent Ones" and Deepak Chopra's '' India Authentic'' from Virgin Comic ...

),India Authentic vol 1. TPB Cover Image on amazon.com
/ref> who also presents the foreword for each issue. The first five issues were collected as the 'Book of Shiva'. The next will likely be collected as a 'Book of Vishnu'.

Credits

The series is the creation of Deepak Chopra and is written by

. This features art by many of Virgin Comics' artists like Abhishek Singh ( Ramayan 3392 A.D.), Satish Tayade (

Kama Sutra The ''Kama Sutra'' (; , , ; ) is an ancient Indian Hindu Sanskrit text on sexuality, eroticism and emotional fulfillment. Attributed to Vātsyāyana, the ''Kamasutra'' is neither exclusively nor predominantly a sex manual on sex positions ...

) and others.

Plot summary

Issue #1: Ganesha

The first issue recounts the story of the birth of

Ganesha Ganesha or Ganesh (, , ), also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most worshipped Deva (Hinduism), deities in the Hindu deities, Hindu pantheon and is the Supreme God in the Ganapatya sect. His depictions ...

, son of

Shiva Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh and Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the God in Hinduism, Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions w ...

, who gave up his life for a promise made to his mother, Uma.

Issue #2: Kali

The second issue recounts the story of the awakening of

Kali Kali (; , ), also called Kalika, is a major goddess in Hinduism, primarily associated with time, death and destruction. Kali is also connected with transcendental knowledge and is the first of the ten Mahavidyas, a group of goddesses who p ...

, an unstoppable destroyer, who was summoned by the gods to battle a demonic army.

Issue #3: Indra

The third issue recounts the story of the battle between

Indra Indra (; ) is the Hindu god of weather, considered the king of the Deva (Hinduism), Devas and Svarga in Hinduism. He is associated with the sky, lightning, weather, thunder, storms, rains, river flows, and war. volumes Indra is the m ...

, king of the heavens, and the serpent demon

Vritra Vritra (, , ) is a danava in Hinduism. He serves as the personification of drought, and is an adversary of the king of the devas, Indra. As a danava, he belongs to the race of the asuras. Vritra is also known in the Vedas as Ahi ( ). He appe ...

Issue #4: Uma

The fourth issue recounts the story of Uma and her quest to win the heart of

Issue #5: Shiva

This issue tells the story of

, the destroyer, and the churning of the primordial ocean.

Issue #6: Vishnu (Narasimha Avatara)

This issue tells the story of

Narasimha Narasimha (, , or , ), is the fourth avatara of the Hindu god Vishnu in the Satya Yuga. He incarnated as a part-lion, part-man and killed Hiranyakashipu, ended religious persecution and calamity on earth, and restored dharma. Narasimha has th ...

, the fourth incarnation of

Vishnu Vishnu (; , , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism, and the god of preservation ( ...

, who defended the people of Earth against a demon overlord.

Issue #7: Yama

This issue tells the story of

Yama Yama (), also known as Kāla and Dharmarāja, is the Hindu god of death and justice, responsible for the dispensation of law and punishment of sinners in his abode, Naraka. He is often identified with Dharmadeva, the personification of ''Dharm ...

, the lord of death, who rules over the underworld

Naraka Naraka () is the realm of hell in Indian religions. According to schools of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism, ''Naraka'' is a place of torment. The word ''Neraka'' (modification of ''Naraka'') in Indonesian language, Indonesian and Malaysian langu ...

Issue #8: Garuda

This issue tells the story of

Garuda Garuda (; ; Vedic Sanskrit: , ) is a Hindu deity who is primarily depicted as the mount (''vahana'') of the Hindu god Vishnu. This divine creature is mentioned in the Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain faiths. Garuda is also the half-brother of the D ...

, the mighty

Eagle Eagle is the common name for the golden eagle, bald eagle, and other birds of prey in the family of the Accipitridae. Eagles belong to several groups of Genus, genera, some of which are closely related. True eagles comprise the genus ''Aquila ( ...

-headed god, the Avian warrior.

Issue #9: Kartikkeya

This issue tells the story of Kartikkeya, also called

Murugan Kartikeya (/ kɑɾt̪ɪkejə/; ), also known as Skanda ( /skən̪d̪ə/), Subrahmanya (/ sʊbɾəɦməɲjə/, /ɕʊ-/), Shanmukha ( /ɕɑnmʊkʰə/) and Murugan (/ mʊɾʊgən/), is the Hindu god of war. He is generally described as the ...

, the son of

and

Uma Uma may refer to: Religion * Uma (goddess), a Hindu goddess also known as Parvati or Gauri People * Uma (given name), including a list of people with the name * Uma (actress) (Uma Shankari, fl from 2000), Indian actress Nature * ''Uma'' (liza ...

Issue #10: Parshuram

This issue tells the story of

Parashurama Parashurama (), also referred to as Rama Jamadagnya, Rama Bhargava and Virarama, is the sixth avatar among the Dashavatara of the preserver god Vishnu in Hinduism. Hindu tradition holds him to be the destroyer of the evil on Earth. According t ...

Bhargava, and his vendetta against the kings.

Issue #11: Hanuman

from the pages of

Ramayana The ''Ramayana'' (; ), also known as ''Valmiki Ramayana'', as traditionally attributed to Valmiki, is a smriti text (also described as a Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epic) from ancient India, one of the two important epics ...

, the story of the mighty warrior

Hanuman Hanuman (; , ), also known as Maruti, Bajrangabali, and Anjaneya, is a deity in Hinduism, revered as a divine ''vanara'', and a devoted companion of the deity Rama. Central to the ''Ramayana'', Hanuman is celebrated for his unwavering devotio ...

Issue #12: Andhaka

Issue #13: Lakshmi

Issue #14: Saraswati

Issue #15: Krishna

Issue #16: The Saffron Princess

Created by: Deepak Chopra Written by: Yogesh Chandekar Art & Cover by: Virgin Studios When Prince Gulfaam rescues a huge, feral black panther, little does he know that he's on the brink of an unseen world where animals talk and a forgotten kingdom lies hidden deep in the woods. And it is here that fate will bring him face to face with the love of his life - the fabled 'Saffron Princess'. But what is love without a little peril? Ror the Saffron Princess has fallen prey to the evil schemes of a seasoned crook. And it is now up to Prince Gulfaam and his feline friend to foil the diabolical plan.

Critical reception

The reception for this series has been generally positiv

Collected Editions

There are currently two volumes of collected editions available as Trade paperback (comics), trade paperbacks. * India Authentic Vol 1 : Book of Shiva (Collecting issues #1-5) * India Authentic Vol 2 (Collecting issues #6-10)

References

External links

ComicCrique.com's review of INDIA AUTHENTIC #1-3

Full summary of the first three issues

India Authentic #1 / Ganesha Review at ComicPants.com

India Authentic #1 Review at ComixFan.com

India Authentic #1 / Ganesha Digital Edition at Virgin Comics

Saurav Mohapatra's website

Deepak Chopra's website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Authentic, India Comics by Saurav Mohapatra Hinduism in popular culture Hindu mythology in popular culture Yama in popular culture Hanuman in popular culture Krishna in popular culture

Credits

Plot summary

Issue #1: Ganesha

Issue #2: Kali

Issue #3: Indra

Issue #4: Uma

Issue #5: Shiva

Issue #6: Vishnu (Narasimha Avatara)

Issue #7: Yama

Issue #8: Garuda

Issue #9: Kartikkeya

Issue #10: Parshuram

Issue #11: Hanuman

Issue #12: Andhaka

Issue #13: Lakshmi

Issue #14: Saraswati

Issue #15: Krishna

Issue #16: The Saffron Princess

Critical reception

Collected Editions

See also

References

External links