Sanshray Padhy Talks About His Book “Jagannath”

About the Author:

Born in Bhubaneswar, July 21, 2010, and raised in Hyderabad, Sanshray Padhy is a lover of science, art, music, dance – and like any true Odia, good food! Surrounded by the divine chantings of Bhagavad Gita since even before birth, his formation of a deep bond with Lord Jagannath from his unborn state, and love for his roots led him to explore and share the rich, yet often overlooked, spiritual heritage of Odisha’s Jagannath Cult.

Exclusive interview with the author

Q: What Inspired You To Write This Book?

A: I always keep talking about Lord Jagannath to most teachers and friends, and one asked casually, “where can I find a collection of Jagannath stories?” That’s when it clicked me, and inspired me to write this anthology.

Q: What Does The Title Mean?

A: The title, Jagannath: The Eternal Beloved, symbolizes that all kinds of material love is temporary, maximum extending to one lifetime – but Jagannath’s love will be engraved in us in every lifetime, even the gaps between each lifetime. Jagannath will always remain our eternal beloved, above all our worldly beloveds.

Q: Was The Character Inspired By A Real Person?

A: Of course! Lord Jagannath is a real person, except that he’s not a person. He is the universe. He is inside every one of us. He is Everywhere. This is the ultimate reality, which inspired me to write Him down as a character.

Q: Where Do You Get Your Information Or Ideas For Your Books?

A: It comes for various sources. For this book for example, the ideas came from my literary knowledge, and the information came from the stories my parents, my grandparents, and priests. Just to recheck, I scoured through many puranas. This book is mostly based on Skand Purana, and a little on Lakshmi Purana.

Q: What, In Your Opinion, Are The Most Important Elements Of Good Writing?

A: In my view, good writing isn’t just about spelling and grammar – it’s about sentence flow and paragraph structure. A consistent style of narration, with room for improvisation, keeps the reader connected. And when open-ended points in the beginning slowly find meaning and closure all along the story, it lets the reader connect the dots – and keeps them captivated.

Q: How Important Is Research To You When Writing A Book?

A: Research is what I give one of the topmost priority, because I like to have my facts straight to avoid controversies, and be honest and confident with the content of my book.

This book is published by OrangeBooks Publication. All rights are reserved with the author & the publisher.