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Brahma Dreaming: Legends from Hindu Mythology
See the Hindu gods and goddesses as they have never been seen before! Brahma Dreaming is master storyteller John Jackson's latest collaboration with the acclaimed artist, Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini. Jackson's intriguing versions of the tales of the Hindus' great gods are graced by Terrazzini's brilliantly reimagined illustrations of the deities, each a masterpiece of detail and drama, reminiscent of Dulac and Rackham, and the glorious 'Golden Age.'
These are the tales of the Trimurti - the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - and Brahma Dreaming is divided into three sections representing their continuous forces of creation, preservation and destruction. The work begins with Lord Brahma dreaming the universe into being and from there unfolds an enthralling collection of interconnected tales that span the entire spectrum of human experience, dark illusions and earthly temptations.
Here are brave princes, divine divas and demon kings, family feuds and epic battles, burning loves and lies, tragic deaths and glorious rebirths. There are tales about dancing elephants, peacock warriors and monkey armies, all retold by Jackson with great character, warmth and wit. Terrazzini has been inspired to create what she describes as the best work of her career in Brahma Dreaming with over fifty exquisite fonts and illustrations hand-drawn in black ink.
These are the tales of the Trimurti - the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - and Brahma Dreaming is divided into three sections representing their continuous forces of creation, preservation and destruction. The work begins with Lord Brahma dreaming the universe into being and from there unfolds an enthralling collection of interconnected tales that span the entire spectrum of human experience, dark illusions and earthly temptations.
Here are brave princes, divine divas and demon kings, family feuds and epic battles, burning loves and lies, tragic deaths and glorious rebirths. There are tales about dancing elephants, peacock warriors and monkey armies, all retold by Jackson with great character, warmth and wit. Terrazzini has been inspired to create what she describes as the best work of her career in Brahma Dreaming with over fifty exquisite fonts and illustrations hand-drawn in black ink.
161 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 29, 2013
8 people are currently reading
165 people want to read
About the author
John Jackson
22 books6 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
JJ was born in 1929 in rural Devon. In 1931 he and his younger brother moved with their parents - who were ‘flat broke’, out of work and in poor health – to a rented cottage in Lyme Regis on Dorset’s Jurassic coast.
The family survived on what they could grow and rear on a small allotment and what they could catch in the sea. For cash they took in lodgers. They were not the only family in difficulty. JJ was shocked to discover that the playmates next door were not available on Tuesdays because Tuesday was the family washday. Their parents could only afford one set of clothes for them.
By 1935, the family had progressed from ‘lodgers’ to ‘guests’,- in a small private hotel. That enterprise, backed by a local entrepreneur, was not a bonanza for the entrepreneur but generated sufficient resource for the family to leave the West Country in 1937 and look for work in the London area.
JJ’s father found a job as a salesman of chemicals used in the making of perfumery some six months before JJ’s brother was killed in a road accident.
That death had a traumatic effect on the stability of the family but the man responsible for it offered, by way of compensation, to pay for JJ, who had only been taught at home, to be educated privately at boarding schools until the age of 18. The last of these was The King’s School, Canterbury and from there JJ went on to study law at Queens’ College, Cambridge with the benefit of a scholarship awarded by the University supplemented by a grant from the Ministry of Education.
JJ's Career
JJ left Cambridge with a law degree in 1952, took a job with the British branch of Philips, the Dutch electronics company and in 1953 took a further Cambridge law degree and qualified as a barrister.
JJ stayed with British Philips full time for 29 years, joining its board in 1966 and leaving it in 1981 to start a new career as a self employed consultant. In that role he joined the boards of a number of companies, both public and private in different industries, becoming chairman of many of them.
In 1981 he organised the rescue of the popular history magazine History Today. That experience intensified his interest in small businesses, particularly those in difficulty, and cemented his belief in the importance of personal freedoms and the dangers in pressures to conform.
In 1992 he became the first non-solicitor chairman of the law firm Mishcon de Reya, a position he holds today.
JJ's Campaigning Work
In the 1990’s he helped to create the Countryside Alliance which, under his chairmanship, campaigned vigorously for liberty and livelihood in the countryside. During that period also, he chaired a working party of employers, trade unionists, academics and journalists studying the impact of new technologies, particularly web based technologies, on the work place. Their report was published in 1996 by the Fabian Society as ‘Changing Work’.
At that time he also became a trustee of One World Action, a charity which campaigns and works for the rights of women, particularly in developing countries.
In 2001 he became one of the first directors of the global web based publication openDemocracy.
In 2011 he founded JJ Books.
JJ was born in 1929 in rural Devon. In 1931 he and his younger brother moved with their parents - who were ‘flat broke’, out of work and in poor health – to a rented cottage in Lyme Regis on Dorset’s Jurassic coast.
The family survived on what they could grow and rear on a small allotment and what they could catch in the sea. For cash they took in lodgers. They were not the only family in difficulty. JJ was shocked to discover that the playmates next door were not available on Tuesdays because Tuesday was the family washday. Their parents could only afford one set of clothes for them.
By 1935, the family had progressed from ‘lodgers’ to ‘guests’,- in a small private hotel. That enterprise, backed by a local entrepreneur, was not a bonanza for the entrepreneur but generated sufficient resource for the family to leave the West Country in 1937 and look for work in the London area.
JJ’s father found a job as a salesman of chemicals used in the making of perfumery some six months before JJ’s brother was killed in a road accident.
That death had a traumatic effect on the stability of the family but the man responsible for it offered, by way of compensation, to pay for JJ, who had only been taught at home, to be educated privately at boarding schools until the age of 18. The last of these was The King’s School, Canterbury and from there JJ went on to study law at Queens’ College, Cambridge with the benefit of a scholarship awarded by the University supplemented by a grant from the Ministry of Education.
JJ's Career
JJ left Cambridge with a law degree in 1952, took a job with the British branch of Philips, the Dutch electronics company and in 1953 took a further Cambridge law degree and qualified as a barrister.
JJ stayed with British Philips full time for 29 years, joining its board in 1966 and leaving it in 1981 to start a new career as a self employed consultant. In that role he joined the boards of a number of companies, both public and private in different industries, becoming chairman of many of them.
In 1981 he organised the rescue of the popular history magazine History Today. That experience intensified his interest in small businesses, particularly those in difficulty, and cemented his belief in the importance of personal freedoms and the dangers in pressures to conform.
In 1992 he became the first non-solicitor chairman of the law firm Mishcon de Reya, a position he holds today.
JJ's Campaigning Work
In the 1990’s he helped to create the Countryside Alliance which, under his chairmanship, campaigned vigorously for liberty and livelihood in the countryside. During that period also, he chaired a working party of employers, trade unionists, academics and journalists studying the impact of new technologies, particularly web based technologies, on the work place. Their report was published in 1996 by the Fabian Society as ‘Changing Work’.
At that time he also became a trustee of One World Action, a charity which campaigns and works for the rights of women, particularly in developing countries.
In 2001 he became one of the first directors of the global web based publication openDemocracy.
In 2011 he founded JJ Books.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 17, 2018
Excellent!
Here are some of the most famous stories from the Hindu tradition rendered, with power and grace, into the English language. As an added bonus, beautiful artwork gives this book the feeling of a modern classic.
All at once, beautiful and horrible and instructive and inspiring, this book is worth reading and rereading.
Here are some of the most famous stories from the Hindu tradition rendered, with power and grace, into the English language. As an added bonus, beautiful artwork gives this book the feeling of a modern classic.
All at once, beautiful and horrible and instructive and inspiring, this book is worth reading and rereading.
April 16, 2014
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy.
Published by: JJ Books.
Brahma Dreaming” is master storyteller John Jackson s latest collaboration with the acclaimed artist, Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini.John s intriguing versions of the tales of the Hindus great gods are graced by Daniela s brilliantly reimagined illustrations of the deities, each a masterpiece of detail and drama.
First of all, this really is a beautiful looking and feeling book – aesthetically speaking it is a wonder and I am extremely happy to have it in my ever growing book collection – it is one I will return to a great deal I imagine to enjoy the wonderful illustrations and, indeed, some of the stories within it. Large hardback with a ribbon bookmarker, absolutely perfect.
I went into this with no expectations at all, I had no idea what to expect considering I had no prior knowledge beyond the extremely peripheral of Hindu Mythology. Not a book I would have immediately put on my reading list it has to be said, and that would have been a shame.
It was VERY easy to immerse myself in these tales and alongside the absolutely stunning illustrations (they stole the show if I’m honest) I found myself dipping in and out of this one alongside all my usual reads and considered it a treat each and every single time. The stories are broken down, after the three Gods Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Each one a little gem and a fabulous way to get a feel for the culture and stunning mythology surrounding each one, yet told in the authors own way and with his own particular twist.
I’ll talk a little more about the illustrations for a moment – such creativity and so elaborate that you will find something new every time you go back – and a perfect accessory to the stories being told, bringing each and every one to life. Fantastic.
Overall I would say this would be a perfect present for someone interested in the subject matter OR someone who appreciates the fine art and absolute grace of an appealing and handsome looking book.
If you fancy this one, get the proper book. Not the Kindle version. That would be my advice for any avid reader or book collector.
Published by: JJ Books.
Brahma Dreaming” is master storyteller John Jackson s latest collaboration with the acclaimed artist, Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini.John s intriguing versions of the tales of the Hindus great gods are graced by Daniela s brilliantly reimagined illustrations of the deities, each a masterpiece of detail and drama.
First of all, this really is a beautiful looking and feeling book – aesthetically speaking it is a wonder and I am extremely happy to have it in my ever growing book collection – it is one I will return to a great deal I imagine to enjoy the wonderful illustrations and, indeed, some of the stories within it. Large hardback with a ribbon bookmarker, absolutely perfect.
I went into this with no expectations at all, I had no idea what to expect considering I had no prior knowledge beyond the extremely peripheral of Hindu Mythology. Not a book I would have immediately put on my reading list it has to be said, and that would have been a shame.
It was VERY easy to immerse myself in these tales and alongside the absolutely stunning illustrations (they stole the show if I’m honest) I found myself dipping in and out of this one alongside all my usual reads and considered it a treat each and every single time. The stories are broken down, after the three Gods Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Each one a little gem and a fabulous way to get a feel for the culture and stunning mythology surrounding each one, yet told in the authors own way and with his own particular twist.
I’ll talk a little more about the illustrations for a moment – such creativity and so elaborate that you will find something new every time you go back – and a perfect accessory to the stories being told, bringing each and every one to life. Fantastic.
Overall I would say this would be a perfect present for someone interested in the subject matter OR someone who appreciates the fine art and absolute grace of an appealing and handsome looking book.
If you fancy this one, get the proper book. Not the Kindle version. That would be my advice for any avid reader or book collector.
February 10, 2014
Click for full review
Hindu mythology is a vast subject; multi-coloured, multi-layered, and very complex. With 330 million Gods and incarnations, it is like an unsolvable maze, an incalculable equation. The three principal Gods of Hindus are Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, together known as Trimurti; Brahma – the creator, Vishnu – the preserver, and Shiva – the destroyer. Together, they keep the cycle of life moving.
Hindu mythology is a vast subject; multi-coloured, multi-layered, and very complex. With 330 million Gods and incarnations, it is like an unsolvable maze, an incalculable equation. The three principal Gods of Hindus are Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, together known as Trimurti; Brahma – the creator, Vishnu – the preserver, and Shiva – the destroyer. Together, they keep the cycle of life moving.
April 13, 2021
One reason I like to listen to audiobooks that include a lot of names and places not in English is because hearing the narrator pronounce them makes it easier to follow. This time it was the reverse - I knew a lot of the deities in these stories, and hearing the narrator butcher the pronunciations was just aggravating. I understand that the English have a long history of with India, but come on! Who wants to hear the imperialist when there are plenty of perfectly good folks out there who speak both English and Hindi who could pay better service to these names.
Jackson attempted to organize the stories in this book based under which of the three creator gods was most likely to be involved: Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu, but there are so many gods and so many stories that even though it was organized, it didn't feel organized. Something more chronological, or more hierarchical would have helped. Anything that would have helped differentiate the major gods (aside from the big three) from the lesser gods would have helped - if I'm going to learn 50 deities, chances are not all 50 are created equal.
Having just finished reading a book on Norse mythology, I'm comparing the two constantly right now. I feel like I'm back in college. The desire for wisdom seems to be a running theme in both cultures, although fear of embarrassment seems much more prevalent in Indian mythology (if the Norse feared embarrassment, all their stories would be very short: Something happened and it was Loki's fault or Loki made it worse). The women in these stories appeared much more confined in their everyday life: bound to obey and do nothing but pay attention to their husbands or fathers, but had a lot more freedom to choose their husbands. Conversely, no one seems to relate sex to childbearing... the gods seem to have a million different ways to impregnate a woman, but few involve intercourse. Resources in ancient India must have been very abundant for all the many children every character eventually had.
Jackson attempted to organize the stories in this book based under which of the three creator gods was most likely to be involved: Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu, but there are so many gods and so many stories that even though it was organized, it didn't feel organized. Something more chronological, or more hierarchical would have helped. Anything that would have helped differentiate the major gods (aside from the big three) from the lesser gods would have helped - if I'm going to learn 50 deities, chances are not all 50 are created equal.
Having just finished reading a book on Norse mythology, I'm comparing the two constantly right now. I feel like I'm back in college. The desire for wisdom seems to be a running theme in both cultures, although fear of embarrassment seems much more prevalent in Indian mythology (if the Norse feared embarrassment, all their stories would be very short: Something happened and it was Loki's fault or Loki made it worse). The women in these stories appeared much more confined in their everyday life: bound to obey and do nothing but pay attention to their husbands or fathers, but had a lot more freedom to choose their husbands. Conversely, no one seems to relate sex to childbearing... the gods seem to have a million different ways to impregnate a woman, but few involve intercourse. Resources in ancient India must have been very abundant for all the many children every character eventually had.
August 31, 2018
The Bottom Line:
A charming read that introduces readers to Hinduism and the many epics that are its building blocks.
My take:
Brahma Dreaming can be considered an introduction to Hindu mythology. The subject is very vast and covered in parts by numerous books. Brahma Dreaming brings all of them together to share a brief look at the epics of Hinduism.
The book is extremely charming, especially the first chapter. It is written in a simple, straightforward, yet soft manner. Each chapter tells a different story in a continuing arc, and chapters are often interconnected. The illustrations are really good and really add to the book and the reading experience.
In essence, Brahma Dreaming is like the teaser of stories on which Hinduism has been built. It’s that brief a glimpse into the vastness of those stories. It gives a good introduction to the more well-known entities and tales on which a lot of Hindu children have grown up. But it doesn’t really delve into the lessons and morals that those epics are meant to showcase.
Personally, I’ve not read the detailed versions of those stories. I’ve read some abridged versions, and heard more through general discussion. So, I already knew a bit of the stories in Brahma Dreaming; but quite a bit was new and interesting too. Even in the cases where the stories differed from those that I knew in certain aspects, the retelling was intriguing.
Whether you’re absolutely new to the stories, or whether you’ve heard of them before, Brahma Dreaming (with its charming style and beautiful illustrations) evokes enough interest to make you want to explore the subject further.
I’d recommend Brahma Dreaming to:
- people who enjoy reading mythology
- those who want to know more about Hindu mythology
- anyone who enjoys a bit of fantasy
Read more of my reviews on https://rishikaspeaks.wordpress.com/
A charming read that introduces readers to Hinduism and the many epics that are its building blocks.
My take:
Brahma Dreaming can be considered an introduction to Hindu mythology. The subject is very vast and covered in parts by numerous books. Brahma Dreaming brings all of them together to share a brief look at the epics of Hinduism.
The book is extremely charming, especially the first chapter. It is written in a simple, straightforward, yet soft manner. Each chapter tells a different story in a continuing arc, and chapters are often interconnected. The illustrations are really good and really add to the book and the reading experience.
In essence, Brahma Dreaming is like the teaser of stories on which Hinduism has been built. It’s that brief a glimpse into the vastness of those stories. It gives a good introduction to the more well-known entities and tales on which a lot of Hindu children have grown up. But it doesn’t really delve into the lessons and morals that those epics are meant to showcase.
Personally, I’ve not read the detailed versions of those stories. I’ve read some abridged versions, and heard more through general discussion. So, I already knew a bit of the stories in Brahma Dreaming; but quite a bit was new and interesting too. Even in the cases where the stories differed from those that I knew in certain aspects, the retelling was intriguing.
Whether you’re absolutely new to the stories, or whether you’ve heard of them before, Brahma Dreaming (with its charming style and beautiful illustrations) evokes enough interest to make you want to explore the subject further.
I’d recommend Brahma Dreaming to:
- people who enjoy reading mythology
- those who want to know more about Hindu mythology
- anyone who enjoys a bit of fantasy
Read more of my reviews on https://rishikaspeaks.wordpress.com/
March 25, 2017
Wonderfully accessible and beautifully performed rendition of the classic Hindu stories of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.
February 7, 2019
I loved this book, so easy to read and such wonderful stories. Definitely something to read again and again.
October 21, 2022
A reasonable overview of some of the Hindu myths. As a Hindu myself, the stories were a little clipped and missed a lot of the nuances.
February 21, 2018
The book, even considering its size, does not do justice to the depths and intricacies of Hindu mythological stories. For a reader looking for a brief introduction to the same, this book might serve as a good starting point. But again, unto itself, the book feels incomplete.
February 4, 2014
Until I read Brahma Dreaming I had next to no understanding of this rich area of mythology. I have always enjoyed Greek mythology, which I studied at school. My son, currently doing the same, prompted me to see what else is out there. I picked this book, as it tells the stories rather than delve into the philological roots of Hindu mythology, which is not what I want in my reading matter. I like to be drawn into the world where the characters exist, which this book does very well.
This is a fantastic book, which gave me a good understanding of a subject that I had very little prior knowledge of.
Brahma Dreaming is very well written and is pretty un-put down-able. I read it in a couple of days the first time, but I'm reading it again, this time out loud to my children, who are enjoying it as much as I did.
The tales are recounted very well by John Jackson, and they are brilliantly complimented by the beautiful illustrations by Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini. The drawings are in black and white, which gives a depth and detail that is not possible in coloured illustrations. I understand that Jackson and Terrazzini worked on a previous book 'Tales for Great Grandchildren', which is next on my list.
Buy this book, you won't be sorry.
This is a fantastic book, which gave me a good understanding of a subject that I had very little prior knowledge of.
Brahma Dreaming is very well written and is pretty un-put down-able. I read it in a couple of days the first time, but I'm reading it again, this time out loud to my children, who are enjoying it as much as I did.
The tales are recounted very well by John Jackson, and they are brilliantly complimented by the beautiful illustrations by Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini. The drawings are in black and white, which gives a depth and detail that is not possible in coloured illustrations. I understand that Jackson and Terrazzini worked on a previous book 'Tales for Great Grandchildren', which is next on my list.
Buy this book, you won't be sorry.
April 4, 2014
"Brahma Dreaming" is a collection of myths mostly from the great epics that form the basis of Hindu philosophy. John Jackson demonstrates a real gift for storytelling in these stories some of which are better known than others, like Rama and Sita, for example, which I read at school. There is humour too as the gods and goddesses fall in love and wage their wars and show themselves to be not that different from us.
But it's the illustrations that steal the show. They are absolutely astonishing. The gods are shown completely differently to the way they are usually depicted in Indian sculptures and paintings. Here they appear in the style of European fairy tales, in black and white drawings which are so elaborate that they require several viewings to appreciate their incredible detail.
The book itself is a work of art with a fully illustrated cloth cover, elaborate endpapers and a ribbon book marker, which reminds me of the gift books I was given as a child. I would recommend 'Brahma Dreaming' to anyone looking for an excellent introduction to Hindu mythology but this is one book that you should read for the sheer pleasure of it.
But it's the illustrations that steal the show. They are absolutely astonishing. The gods are shown completely differently to the way they are usually depicted in Indian sculptures and paintings. Here they appear in the style of European fairy tales, in black and white drawings which are so elaborate that they require several viewings to appreciate their incredible detail.
The book itself is a work of art with a fully illustrated cloth cover, elaborate endpapers and a ribbon book marker, which reminds me of the gift books I was given as a child. I would recommend 'Brahma Dreaming' to anyone looking for an excellent introduction to Hindu mythology but this is one book that you should read for the sheer pleasure of it.
January 6, 2014
Brahma is known to be as the creator of this universe as per hindu mythology and now imagine him dreaming about various things. That is what Brahma Dreaming is all about. The author John Jackson writes: “This book is dedicated to all those who enjoy the beliefs and dreams of their fellow beings.” and this is what this book is all about. Anyone and everyone can read this book and the delightful illustrations by Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini are just brilliant. These illustrations bring life to the book and I personally was mesmerised by them.
The book is divided into three sections—“Tales of Creation”, “Tales of Destruction” and “Tales of Preservation”. It begins with an introduction to the Trimurti, the three pillars of Hinduism: Brahma (the Creator), Vishnu (the Preserver), and Shiva (the Destroyer). The author has written about them using his own imagination and this is what works for the book. It is a new and fresh take on the fables and the harmony between with the illustrations and the story made reading this book an experience in itself.
The book is divided into three sections—“Tales of Creation”, “Tales of Destruction” and “Tales of Preservation”. It begins with an introduction to the Trimurti, the three pillars of Hinduism: Brahma (the Creator), Vishnu (the Preserver), and Shiva (the Destroyer). The author has written about them using his own imagination and this is what works for the book. It is a new and fresh take on the fables and the harmony between with the illustrations and the story made reading this book an experience in itself.
April 6, 2014
I don't think I have used the word "splendid" to describe a book on this site yet: this book deserves the title. This is gorgeous, perfect for a special gift, with sumptuous paper and a bright orange ribbon, delightful, magical, intense illustrations and inking, and stories that are timeless and told just right: amusing, enlightening, thoughtful, and traditional, with enough detail to satisfy but not so much that it slows down the pace of the book as a whole. A beautiful volume that both adults and children will treasure, this is a fantastic coffee-table book that visitors will actually read, and one I relished. A wonderful addition to any library. Very highly recommended. Oh, and I won this book on Goodreads as a giveaway, and I was absolutely delighted to receive it! What a prize!
December 15, 2013
beautiful written! beautiful illustrated! I won this book on Goodreads Thank you.
May 17, 2015
I wish that this book, like many books about Indian myth, religion, and history was not written and interpreted by an old white dude.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews