‘The Adornment of Gods’: Latest book by Devdutt Pattanaik reveals fascinating mysteries behind alluring objects
Opening the minds of readers to amazing craftsmanship etched into small objects, the charming book tells a tale of the jewels treasured in Jaipur’s Amrapali museum, their symbolism and lore that the objects evoked.
We need some sort of embodiments to comprehend the sacred — a pot, spoon, tray or platter, a plaque or a piece of jewellery to perceive the mystery and power of the divine.
As all the natural elements from life- the earth, sky, wind, water, fire, sun and moon are made sacred through sacraments and expressed in the form of thrones, shrines, flags, flasks and lamps, scholar and mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik transcends the form and function of these adornments from the beautiful collection of Jaipur-based Amrapali museum’s collection to assess the meanings embedded in each of them.
He narrates stories of 50 antiques from the collection of Rajesh Ajmera and Rajiv Arora who sought Pattanaik to tell the story of the jewels in their collection after observing his deliberations on myths and legends at Amrapali Museum. Each of these objects is a small but significant part of our history, its motifs and materials offering a unique perspective on our cultural heritage.
Though the book covers a vast narrative, the intricate workmanship is the essence of every item from the collection, with several dating back to the 18th century. While silver, at times paired with copper, dominates the items that are discussed in the book, some objects are in gold too.
