Ebook: The Vedas and Upanishads for children

Three thousand years ago, deep inside the forests of India, a great 'thought revolution' was brewing.

In those forest labs, the brightest thinker–philosophers contemplated the universe, reflected on ancient texts called the Vedas and came up with startling insights into questions we still don't have final answers to, like:

* What is the universe made of?

* How do I know I'm looking at a tree when I see one?

* Who am I? My body, my mind, my intelligence, my emotions, or none of the above?

And where did they put those explosive findings?

In a sprawling body of goosebumpy and fascinating oral literature called the Upanishads! Intimidated? Don't be! For this joyful, fun guide to some of India's longest-lasting secular wisdoms, reinterpreted for first-time explorers by Roopa Pai, is guaranteed to keep you turning the pages.

Pai undertakes the onerous task of decoding for young readers some of the oldest, and most significant, of Hindu scriptures: the Vedas - and the Upanishads, which are embedded in the Vedas. This is a significant challenge, considering that these scriptures contain complex philosophical themes and concepts. Pai takes on the challenge in splendid fashion, masterfully combining scholarly research with deep experience of writing for young people. The result is a book that not only provides a high level understanding of these scriptures, but also introduces the reader to many of the key tenets of Vedanta philosophy.

Pai’s writing style is easy and conversational, and her language, contemporary. Consequently, the book never feels dull or heavy and will likely strike an instant chord with readers of all ages. Further, Pai weaves in many interesting stories, facts and pop-culture references which make the text fun.

This is a wonderful introduction to the Vedas and Upanishads for young readers and their parents. It is easily one of the most accessible books on this somewhat esoteric subject. One of the “must read” books of 2019!