Ashtavakra is one of the most renowned philosophers to have made a mark in the world of philosophy. The Ashtavakra Geeta is one of the renowned treatises that expounds the sage Ashtavakra’s views on philosophy. The teachings of Ashtavakra are more suited for a non-fiction book. Author Ashraf Karayath has attempted something challenging.
He has taken up the story of Ashtavakra, his interactions with Janaka, and created a fiction novel around it. The fiction novel is a blend of politics, philosophy, and brings before you some of the renowned characters from the Ramayana.
The book commences with a terrifying scene that will definitely leave you startled. The author has created the perfect foundation through the opening to take the story forward. The story of Janaka, his relationship with his brother, and the deep love he has for Sita are all well brought out in this novel .
The story then introduces Ashtavakra and his quest to find his father. Then a fictional and racy story takes over. There is a plot on where someone from inside the Mithila palace is involved with the enemies of the country. The king plans to conduct a swayamwara for his daughter and there are forces at work to stop the swayamwara.
This fictional part of the novel is well presented. The suspense element is handled well and leaves you wondering what is going to happen next. In between this comes the Janaka-Ashtavakra dialog. The dialog happens over a period of time and presents many aspects of philosophy and spirituality.
A topic like philosophy is quite heavy for a fictional novel. You may wonder if it will not be a misfit here. But full marks to the author for blending the philosophy well into the story. I am not very keen on philosophy and was apprehensive how the story would turn out to be. But the philosophy is presented in a very practical way that anyone can understand.
The story moves towards a gripping climax. When the book features characters from the Ramayana, you would want to know if Rama does make an appearance. To know how the story ends, you need to read “Janaka and Ashtavakra” by Ashraf Karayath. The author is a business professional who stays in Dubai. He is experience in management philosophy, which explains his interest in Ashtavakra.
The book is published by Rupa Publications. Interestingly, the book is divided into four sections – Mithya, Samsara, Sankalpa, and Maya. The concluding section dwells on Maya and attempts to answer the key question of whether everything is Maya. The core question of the novel reminds you of the key Advaita concept of ‘Brahma Satyam Jagat Mityam’.
This is an interesting book that belongs to the Puranic literature, fiction, and philosophy genres. It is a bold and unique attempt to blend philosophy with fiction that deserves to be appreciated.