Indian Mythology, Retold
Updated 2026-07-20 · 10 books
India's epics get retold in every generation, and this shelf gathers the modern versions worth reading. We lead with Devdutt Pattanaik's accessible Jaya and Namita Gokhale's The Book of Shiva, then add novels that hand the story to overlooked figures like Mandodari and Vishwamitra. A perfect entry point to the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
- 1
Jaya
Devdutt Pattanaik
Read this if you want the best entry point: Devdutt Pattanaik's Jaya, an illustrated retelling of the Mahabharata.
MahābharataIndian mythology - 2
The book of Shiva
Namita Gokhale
Read this if you want Shiva made approachable: Namita Gokhale's The Book of Shiva.
Siva (Hindu deity) - 3
In search of Sita
Malashri Lal, Namita Gokhale
Read this if you want the Ramayana's heroine reconsidered: In Search of Sita, edited by Malashri Lal and Namita Gokhale.
Indic literatureSītā (Hindu deity) in literatureHistory and criticism - 4
Mandodari
Manini J. Anandani
Read this if you want the epic from the other side: Mandodari retells the Ramayana through Ravana's queen.
English literatureFictionHindu mythology - 5
Vishwamitra
Vineet Aggarwal
Read this if you want a sage's story as fiction: Vineet Aggarwal's Vishwamitra.
Viśvāmitra (Hindu mythology)Fiction - 6
Govinda
Krishna Udayasankar
Read this if you like mythology as historical fiction: Krishna Udayasankar's Govinda, first of the Aryavarta Chronicles.
- 7
Many Ramayanas, Many Lessons Anand Neelakantan
Also by the Author
Read this if you want the many faces of one epic: Anand Neelakantan on the diverse traditions of the Ramayana.
Non-fictionMythology - 8
Shiva
Nityanand Charan Das
Read this if you want a fresh take on Shiva: Nityanand Charan Das explores the hidden side of the master of the universe.
- 9
Teachings from the Ramayana on Family and Life
Shantanu Gupta
Read this if you want life lessons from the epic: Shantanu Gupta's Teachings from the Ramayana on family and life.
Religion - 10
Betaal Pachisi Roots of India Series Mario Coelho Illustrated by Pratik Bhide
Mario Coelho
Read this if you want a classic tale collection retold: the Vikram-Betaal stories given a poetic, illustrated treatment.
Fiction
At a glance
| # | Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jaya | Devdutt Pattanaik |
| 2 | The book of Shiva | Namita Gokhale |
| 3 | In search of Sita | Malashri Lal, Namita Gokhale |
| 4 | Mandodari | Manini J. Anandani |
| 5 | Vishwamitra | Vineet Aggarwal |
| 6 | Govinda | Krishna Udayasankar |
| 7 | Many Ramayanas, Many Lessons Anand Neelakantan | Also by the Author |
| 8 | Shiva | Nityanand Charan Das |
| 9 | Teachings from the Ramayana on Family and Life | Shantanu Gupta |
| 10 | Betaal Pachisi Roots of India Series Mario Coelho Illustrated by Pratik Bhide | Mario Coelho |
Frequently asked
What is the best modern retelling of the Mahabharata?
Devdutt Pattanaik's Jaya is a popular illustrated retelling of the Mahabharata that is accessible to newcomers, while Krishna Udayasankar's Govinda reimagines the epic as historical fiction.
Are there retellings told from women's or minor characters' points of view?
Yes. Mandodari centres Ravana's queen, In Search of Sita revisits the Ramayana's heroine, and several titles here retell the epics from the vantage of figures usually kept at the margins.
Prefer a plain-text version of this list? You can find one here.