A Grain of Sand ~ Narendra Murty 30 of 25

 

A Grain of Sand : Decoding Images, Rituals and Myt by Narendra Murty is again borrowed courtesy @CochinBookClub and @Harish. It is the tendency of human mind to remain enamoured by the symbols instead of breaking free from them. 

This has been beautifully expressed by Sankara in this manner:

O Lord! Pardon my three sins. I have in contemplation clothed Thee in form. Thee that art formless; I have in praise described Thee; who are ineffable; and in visiting temples, I have often ignored Thy Omnipresence. 

Santana Dharma, though it uses symbols profusely - in its images, in its Rituals and mythology - also urges us to go beyond them so that we obtain that heavenly Amrita to the Divine experience. 

When we try to show a lost/invisible object to a seeker, we guide them through the known path/route. So are the objects used to explain a child in his journey. To cling to it even after ages is mere folly.

This book reminded me of one Achan had got years before titled 'Hindukal Areyendathu'. 

Thanks, Gratitude and Salutation to Sri Aurobindi,  Narendra Murthy, Cochin Book Club and Harish.

Here’s a quick chapter‑wise breakdown of A Grain of Sand based on its structure and known themes (plus the six‑section hint from the publisher):

Section A: Invitation to Symbolism

Chapter 1 introduces the language of sacred symbols—why the veil needs decoding and how image, ritual, and myth form one cohesive symbolic tapestry  .

Section B: Images & Iconography

Chapters 2–3 explore key deity figures:

Nataraja: circle of flames, cosmic dance, Shiva as universal rhythm.

Kali: garland of heads, symbolism of destruction-renewal, her posture and attributes  

Section C: Ritual Practices

Chapters 4–5 decode typical rituals:

Pradakshina (circumambulation): the spiritual geometry of walking around the divine.

Aarti, Visarjan, Yajna: how fire, offering, and immersion carry deeper metaphysical intentions  .

Section D: Mythology as Internal Map

Chapters 6–7 reframe classic myths:

Samudra Manthan, Devas and Asuras, Pandava/Kaurava dilemmas: not just stories, but mirrors to inner transformation and cosmic balance  .

Section E: Upanishadic & Vedic Foundations

Chapters 8–9 connect rituals and images to Om, Agni, Surya, and teachings from the Upanishads and Rig Veda—showing how ancient Sanskritic thought underpins visible forms  .

Section F: Metaphysical Integration

Chapters 10–11 weave it all together:

How symbols across image, ritual, myth and scripture form an integrated path of self-realization.

Reading reality as divine narrative, and reclaiming spiritual depth in everyday worship  

It’s a progressive journey—from seeing (images) to doing (rituals), to knowing (myths & scriptures), to ultimately being (symbolic integration). Each chapter layers new meaning as you move through the sections.