Aundrea Domonique Demic

In the West, Hinduism is a religion that everyone has heard of but one that few non-practitioners truly understand. Today it is widely regarded as one of the world’s great religions and considered the indigenous religion of India, with practices and beliefs stretching back thousands of years. Sri Krishna, believed to be the eighth incarnation of Vishnu, is without question one of the most popular and instantly recognizable deities within the Hindu pantheon, which encompasses hundreds of Puranic divine beings.

Srimad Bhagavatam, "The Beautiful Science of God", is a systematic revelation of the Supreme. In this fifth canto we learn of God’s greatness, how his supreme will keeps everything in perfect order. We first meet the powerful King Priyavrata, who rose to the heavens like a second sun to dissipate the darkness of night and create the divisions of Bhumandala. Then comes his son Agnidhra, who weds the celestial beauty Purvachitti and begets on her nine sons, who each become a lord of one of the provinces of Jambudvipa, the great earthly island on which we reside.

The series Brilliant as the Sun aims to make this sublime work accessible to any listener by presenting it in the style of a modern novel. Adhering closely to the original text, it brings out the deep meaning of Srimad Bhagavatam and helps the listener easily follow its flow. In this fourth volume, we hear about the appearance of Vishnu’s stupendous boar incarnation, Lord Varaha, who rescues the earth from the demon Hiranyaksha. We also meet the great sage Kardama, who marries Devahuti, daughter of the earth’s emperor Manu.

This unique edition of the timeless epic is designed to be accessible for listeners without any prior experience of Hinduism. Not simply a translation of the original, Viljoen has simplified and restated the Gita’s complex ideas, so that a first-time listener can fully appreciate the scope and beauty of this magnificent Indian classic. Written in concise, modern language, the retelling vividly captures the power and depth of the original work.