Avishi by Saiswaroopa Iyer

 

Long before the times of Draupadi and Sita

Immortalised in the hymns of the Rig Veda

But largely forgotten to the memory of India

Is the Warrior Queen with an iron leg, Vishpala

 The reason i like to read mythological fiction is that it gives me a chance to know of the stories that are not popular and hence are not narrated or passed to our generations. Even if the stories are fictionalized or mixed with other tales from that time / era , it is still another addition to my knowledge of stories of the ancient India. 

Avishi is story of the girl , destined for great things in her  life and so is rescued by foresight of great Maharishi Vahini who silently guards and guides everyone onto their paths.  After the death of her father , Avishi is brought up in the ashram of Naimisha , the learning center and center of dharma in the enchanted forest. There she becomes a warrior and when time comes , she sets out to fulfill her destiny and her duty to the kingdom where she was born. she was after all, to be the queen. What is most remarkable part of this narrative is how the author has added other aspect of the life of those times. I would not want to give spoilers or mention some of the research areas but be assured that you will learn a lot about the evolution of society and knowledge while reading this book. 

The references mentioned in the end  of the book are an indication how well thought and crafted this book is. Apart from telling the story of Avishi , it is a book that has some important lessons to offer in terms of leadership and keeping a community close. Much thought was given to the conversations and the strategic part of the story.

And now to the flaws , i totally disliked the story arc of Avishi's mate Satya in the middle of the book. Also , his character , though him being a genius with herbs was not much likeable. Plus the climax was a little stretched out and after reading the book , you would expect better fight scene. That scene looked unreal to me , unlike the rest of the story.

But this is just me having high expectation from the author perhaps ;) 

My rating : 4/5

Palace of Assassins by Aditya Iyengar

As Ashwatthama, the lone survivor of the Kaurava camp, slowly regains consciousness, he realizes, to his horror, that he has been condemned to a life of immortality and leprosy by Krishna, the mastermind behind his opponents’ victory. Burning with hatred for the Pandavas for killing his friend Duryodhana, and stricken
with anger at his own fate, he vows to seek revenge.

When he hears of an infallible gemstone that promises to restore his mortality and cure his leprosy – and allows him to exact vengeance – he is determined to go to any length to acquire it. But he finds himself facing an impossible choice, for his quest could result in the death of the woman he loves.

I had read and reviews Aditya's first book The thirteenth day and I had mentioned that this guy has a knack of spinning very realistic accounts from the mythologies. He has done the same with Ashwatthama this time. The book starts from the day after the war has ended  , the curse placed has taken effect and Ashwatthama lies alone in the desert to deal with his immortality and leprosy. What begins from here is a purely fictional yet quite interesting story of his revenge , love and the a lot of realizations of the aftermath of choices. By all accounts this one is a fast , engaging read with almost no flaws. As a lover of thriller / adventure I relished this one and it was rarely that I felt  I am reading a mythology book. 

Aditya's writing is taut , the story has good pace and twists and the characters well sketched. There is no moment that the story feels dull. I quite enjoyed the monologues that go on in Ashwatthama's head about his past and present , with a certain voice of sarcasm and wit thrown in. It is the kind of story and writing i expected from Aditya based on his first book. 

But this is totally fictional tale that has some refernece from Mahabharata makes it a little hard to love. If one expects the real , researched tale of Ashwatthama, one might be disappointed. If you treat it as just another fictional book , then the lead character needs a bit more flesh. At the end of the book , I had more sympathies with Ashwatthama but could not fully cheer for his victory either.

My Rating : 3.5/5

Buy the book here

#BookReview: The Curse of Bhrama by Jagmohan Bhanver

Curse of Bhrama is an intelligent story that culminates with birth of Lord Krishna. For gods to be born on earth , one needs an opponent worthy enough. Kansa proves to be an unusual choice but then, destiny and other's cunning motives have wrecked many a souls from countless ages.

I liked the way the author has decided to paint Lord Shiva, Vishnu and Bhramma. So i kind of beleive that most evil men have been hurt or wronged in some way that tipped them over the edge. It is no excuse for the evilness but sometimes just a cause. The author has tried to use the same line of thought as he creates the Dark Lord ( would have preferred a different term coz this reminds only of HP! ) who was once the star pupil of Bhramma. The same person when cursed to the deepest of hell now decides to take his revenge on Bhramma, destroying anything that comes in between.

The writitng is engaging, descriptions detailed enough to give the reader a visualistic experience. Some of the characters and their back stories are used well to keep the story uniformly paced and even add more drama to it. The situations suit the men and times of India those many centuries back and I could not find much reason to look for flaws.

Definitely looking forward to the next book.

My rating : 4/5

The Rigveda Code by Rashmi Chendvankar

A female central character , mahabharat references and the tale about political changes in Ancient India .. inspired or purely fictional , one can not ever stop wondering or assuming the origins of change in society or the laws as we see it today.

The Rigveda Code is a tale of characters so well defined and developed throughout that none shadows the other. The story inspired from a true news clipping does not steer away from its plot anytime. It describes the references and the implications weaving the story into them.

Rikshavi , the princess of Vrij is given archery lessons by her mother and renowned gurus , each expecting and believing in her extraordinary destiny to shape the political structure of India while avoiding another war which benefits none. It is not just her strength as a warrior that makes her unique but also her wisdom and the heart that is at always curious to find ways to be just and kind to all. She knows her place in the society and the kingdom and yet she does not acceot that changes can not be made within limited resources. Krishna's Chakra as a weapon to kill or to guide , that lart of the story was much intriguing too.

I loved the writing and the flow of the book. Not a single misplaced emotion or incident ; no easy way out of the situations we see Rikshavi and her family go through and always keeping a sensible eye on details and loopholes. Rashmi made me break my one month spell of not reading with this quick yet worthy read.

My rating 4/5

Finders,Keepers by Sapan

Two men are murdered in settings which speak volumes of involvement of some sacred cynicism. A psycho-killer on the loose? Or is this the beginning of something much more grave and dangerous? This is the tale of how Deputy Director, I.B., Shoumik Haldar and celebrated author Ishan Vajpayee exercise their tools of conventional and unconventional deduction to solve the puzzles thrown across by the enemy. Intertwined intensely with the opulent mythological tales and specimens attributing to the rich cultural heritage of this country, the story depicts the resurgence of a dormant historical sect, which attacks the very foundations of one of the most powerful and secret organizations of all times. Spread across the entire Indian subcontinent, read the mystery as it unravels with the duo travelling from one corner to another searching for the signs.

Nimue Says : First thing , such huge book and such research ! Phew !! *Takes a bow*

There is something very sexy about huge fat books and specially ones that you get hooked to immediately. (+ 2 )

So yeah , I started this book on a very good note and expected it to be same till the end. I faced the very first and the biggest glitch in the book pretty soon. And that is abrupt transition of scenes without any indication. Whether it was indenting issue or formatting could have been better , the thing is if one person is opening the door , I do not expect to find the scene moved to other end of the country which of course I shall not realize unless different characters are mentioned. So directly -1 for this. Once you get used to this ( means now you are extra cautious when a new para begins ) , the book and the plot and the execution of the same will blow you ! 

I learned so much about Hindu culture and mythological stories in this one book , not to forget different conspiracies and their ripples in the history that I am both glad and amazed with all the information , the relations and the inferences that the author deduced. The amount of efforts spent in gathering the stories and to make them a part of the flowing plot is so evident in the book that I am much impressed with the author. 

Having said that , I felt the end was a little too dragged though the execution was flawless. A little too overwhelming by the end but very intelligent book.

My Rating : 4/5



"This book review is a part of The Readers Cosmos Book Review Program and Blog Tours.  To get free books log on to thereaderscosmos.blogspot.com" 

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The One Who Stood Against Shiva, and other stories — Siddhesh Kabe

Mythology is a genre I’m very fond of. I’ve told it many times before, that I’ve grown up devouring tales from Indian mythology, so it holds a special place in my heart. So when a book comes asking questions like “What did Bhisma had to say about Krishna before the Mahabharata war?”, “Why did Shiva get defeated by hands of a child?” and “Do you know what the snake mother had to teach before the Gods were born?”, it definitely intrigues me, because I know the answer partly, if not completely.

“The One Who Stood Against Shiva, and other stories” brings six stories into focus. The first of the six deals with Bhishma and his words before the war. The story would make those familiar with the Mahabharata turn their heads. The second story deals with the Ramayana and corruption in the kingdom of Lanka, and the wisdom of Vibhishana. The third story is “The Story of the Goose” which was one I didn’t know. I won’t tell what it is about, in case you don’t know it either. The fourth story brings the birth of Lord Ganesha into focus. That’s one I knew and loved reading. The fifth story is the story of Kadru and Vinata. This again turned out in a way contrary to what I have read before. The last story is another that I didn’t know of, and as such, won’t discuss here.

What I love in this small book is the mythology. Tales that are familiar, yet have a bit of mystery to it. What I wish was that there was more to these tales. It starts to build up the fun for that mythology lover in me, and then it just ends. It needs more magic, more substance. It left me with a feeling of “there, yet not there yet”.

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Book Title: The One Who Stood Against Shiva, and other stories
Author: Siddhesh Kabe
Genre: Mythology
ASIN: B00HLPNCAM
Price: INR 51

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#BookReview : Seven Secret of the Goddess by Devdutt Pattanaik

Within infinite myths lies the Eternal Truth?
Who sees it all?
Varuna has but a thousand eyes
Indra, a hundred
And I, only two.

Since I started reading preface /Author's note of the books , This is the quote that I admire the most.This is a humble opening to all books by Devdutta and it eloquently sums how every myth must be treated in all fairness. That is in terms of many truths or many versions. Devdutta Pattanaik is one author whose books I await eagerly. Thejourney that started with "the Pregnant King" is perhaps my initiation into reading mythology and acknowledging the fact that it is a definitive factor that shapes us and the society in general.

Seven Secret Of the Goddess starts with the differences between goddess and Goddess , devi and Devi. The subtlety yet the significance of the differences set the tone of the book for me. It prepares one to be concious and aware during the reading else one might miss something. The book is divided into seven sections - Gaia (the Greek Goddess of creation), Kali, Gauri, Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati and Vitthai (A female form of Lord Krishna). The first section talks of mother of Gods and how in each religion / mythology , the female domination turned into trading first and then into male domination and ownership as we see today. It nowhere says the merits of one over another but presents the truth as it is, leading the reader to question the way we treat women today.

Many of hindu readers are already aware of some of the Devi forms from the frequently read "Durga Stuti" so it was quite relatable and interesting to know of other versions and stories popular in different parts and communities of the country.From the wild and powerful Kali to the domesticated and docile Gauri, the book covers all moods of the devi and the women in general emphasizing that since long, all variations of devi have been present and worshipped by human. All the forms are as important as the Devi from who they emerge.

Another reason that I love this book (and others by Devdutt) is for the mention of source for all the tales. Even in this book, all the scriptures from which the stories have been picked are mentioned so that any reader with further interest can refer them any time. Linking the stories not just across geographical boundaries but also across cultures in different centuries has been done flawlessly.

Every page of the book has the images / artforms depicting the stories and hence is so easy to relate with the text. The images are from all over the country and some from old texts and paintings , each with captions making it really engaging read for anyone.

My rating : 5/5

This is a book that can be and should be read by every one interested in mythology or history or society.

You can buy the book from flipkart

Also try the flipkart e book version of the book here

Marvels & Mysteries of the Mahabharata by Abhijit Basu

Some books are written to tell stories and some are written to heighten tales. Abhijit Basu’s Marvels & Mysteries of the Mahabharata is of the latter category. The sub title ‘Probing the Folds of India’s Epochal Tragedy’ sums the intent of the book clearly.

From the first chapter itself you get a sense of the amount of toil and effort Basu has put in the research. This instantly builds your confidence in him, his facts and theories. He has gone beyond and discussed the fascinating epic in reference with the Greek and Roman mythologies. He explores various shades of the characters of Mahabharata. Basu can expose you to the characters in ways like never before. The way he discusses Vyas, Vidur, Krishna, Yudhisthira and all other characters is fascinating.

I personally am quite a fan and truster of Mahabharata. When Basu credited the epic and gave explanations I smiled. When he questioned and raised doubts I gave it a thought as well. This is the same effect it will have on you. A believer or a non-believer it is food for thought for both.

A friendly warning, this book is meant for readers who are familiar with the epic of Mahabharata. Debutants to the epic can read it but might not be able to extract the maximum from this. It is definitely not a light read as it is full of perspectives, fact and incidents. What really is of help is the Glossary, Names & Places and Supplementary Notes chapters.

 Rating: 4/5

Arjuna - Saga of a Pandava Warrior-Prince

Author: Anuja Chandramouli
ISBN-13: 9789381576397
Binding: Paperback
Publishers: Leadstart publications
Copy source: Publishers
Pages: 364
RATING: 2.5/5

Times are bad. Children no longer obey their parents, and everyone is writing a book. ~ Cicero M Tullius

If Cicero was to say this today, he'd have modified that last bit to ...and everyone's writing a book about the Mahabharata. After Ashok Banker, Devdutt Pattanaik and Amish Tripathi, India seems to be mass producing contemporary Indian English authors of mythology. Can’t blame them, really. Our epics are so rich and endless in their inspiration that any wannabe author without an original story turns to them for a reinterpretation, a retelling.

The Mahabharata, in particular, with its myriad characters, is a favourite and stories from the points of view of individual characters are flooding the market. It probably started when Prem Panicker translated Vasudevan Nair's Randaamoozham, a retelling of the Mahabharata by Bheema. Panicker’s book was called Bhimsen. Next was The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, which came out in 2008. The last couple of years have seen books like, Mrityunjaya (a story about Karna) by Shivaji Savant, Women of the Mahabharata by Chaturvedi Badrinath and more recently, even Karna’s Wife, the outcaste’s queen by Kavita Kane! There may be many others I’m not aware of, but one of this genre recently landed on my table for a review.

Arjuna – Saga of a Pandava Warrior-Prince by Anuja Chandramouli tells the story of the Mahabharata from the perspective of the most illustrious of the Pandavas. While the book focuses on the important milestones of Arjuna's story, especially his 12-year exile, the story is essentially that of the inexorably connected Pandava brothers. Either it is impossible to separate the five, or the author hasn't done a good job with the single perspective. Because I've not read any of the books mentioned above yet, I do not know how they compare. But if an author decides to pick one character, as a reader, I would expect a more fleshed out one than what Chandramouli has presented here.

The language is also simple to a fault. Its plainness doesn't make the book easy to read; instead it makes it dull. For a tale as amazing as the Mahabharata, it is sad if one doesn't feel like reading more than a few pages at once. For me as a reader, the language neither induced great visuals, nor was there any music in it. I remained impassive to the protagonist and the plot right through the book. The author fails to make Arjuna memorable for me any more than he already is. But the book will serve as a good refresher for anyone looking to brush up their Mahabharata trivia.

While this book was a little bit of a disappointment, I welcome this wave of Indian English books on our greatest epic. The Mahabharata belongs to everyone and its rich lessons ought to stay with us. It is only with such books that the newer generations will take interest in and take forward this fantastic legacy. I certainly look forward to reading many more from this genre of books.

'The Krishna Key' by Ashwin Sanghi.

Title : "The Krishna Key"

Author : Ashwin Sanghi

Genre : Mythology, Indian Fiction, Thriller.

Price : Rs.250 (Westland Book Publications, Paperback)

Back Cover

"Five thousand years ago, there came to earth a magical being called Krishna, who brought about innumerable miracles for the good of mankind. Humanity despaired of its fate if the Blue God were to die but reassured that he would return in a fresh avatar when needed in the eventual Dark Age - the Kaliyug. In modern times, a poor little rich boy grows up believing that he is that final avatar. Only, he is a serial killer."

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For someone who hasn’t read a lot about and of Indian mythology, this book was not only a really interesting read but also an eye opener!

The extremely beautiful way the author Ashwin Sanghi has merged the past with the present, the way he has woven the whole story around something that had happened, at least on paper, is just enthralling! I particularly liked the starting paragraphs of each new chapter. The writing is simple, lucid, to the point and even though there is a lot of drama, it is interesting, not over the top.

This book sucks you in, it pulls you. You don’t want to put it down, or take breaks. You want to just sit in a chair and finish it RIGHT NOW! I loved loved LOVED the sharp twist it took. I hated it, but loved it at the same time.

“Priya had the habit of playing the devil’s advocate in order to analyse a point, even if she was in agreement with the hypothesis”  (Pages 11&12)

This is me. :D I do this a lot at times. Not because I want to trouble somebody or like it’s said, don’t believe or agree with the hypothesis, but I like to take the side which is, well not being taken up by someone else to put it simply!

The whole land reclamation concept that has been explained through pages 67 to 70, left me fascinated. Whether you believe it or choose not to, it still is amazing. Undeniably.

“The word omniscience means infinite knowledge. It starts with the sound of Om or Aum. The word omnipotent which means a person who has infinite powers also starts with Om.  The word “omnivorous” which implies the ability to absorb everything also has Om as the starting point. The word “omen” implying a predictive sign of a future event, also has Om in it. A trusted intermediary between parties, with the authority to award a verdict, is called an “ombudsman” – once again we have Om. Om is an expression of divinity and authority and that’s the reason why Aum is to be found even in the Christian Amen and the Islamic Amin.” (pages 161&162)

I knew Amen/Amin are similar but I never thought about it from the omnipotent/omnivorous angle. So I enjoyed reading this paragraph in particular!

The only mistake I found was the spelling error on page 95, of Mahatma Gandhi.

I met this aged uncle on the bus, who was about to get off but saw me reading this book and started talking about how fascinating it was! I was pleasantly surprised, half the bus was staring at the two of us. :P
Till the time we reached his stop, we were gushing about the twist and the facts and everything! 

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Final Verdict : 3.7/5

The book is an excellent, engrossing read. The author has done tons, and that I literally mean tons, of research, there are 11 pages of just research acknowledgements. But why I loved this book is it does not tell you history, or just throw facts in your face, it is a story.  I am so tempted to leak out some things, I'm barely containing myself! And it's only 3.7 because in my opinion, maybe since I am not used to reading such books, I found the start a little dull and slow.
On the whole, it was really engaging, thoroughly and well researched and made me sigh when it ended.
But in my opinion, the build up was far more intense than the actual climax.

The Valmiki Syndrome by Ashok Banker

Author: Ashok Banker

Publisher: Random House, India

ISBN: 978-8-184-00141-9

Binding: Paperback

Pages: 278

Genre: Self-help

Rating: 2.5/5

I have to begin with my admission of having a hate-love (more hate than love) relationship with this author. Despite my ordeal with his Ramayana series, which is also something I’m currently reading, I chose to read The Valmiki Syndrome. Why? Partly, because I was ensnared by the title, and partly, because Random House asked me to review it. And at the end of the book, my perception of the author remains the same. However, the book wasn’t as bad as some other ‘preachy’ ones I’ve read; mostly because it uses mini stories to prove the point. Ashok Banker extols the value, and demonstrates the ancient technique of, katha (storytelling) as a way of gaining insight, knowledge and subsequently, wisdom in this book.

The book talks about The Valmiki Syndrome – the common human conundrum of trying to find the work-life balance. I’m not sure if a concept like this existed, or has been conjured up by the author. I think it is the latter. While using Sage Valmiki’s story as an example was okay, calling the whole problem of work-life balance ‘The Valmiki Syndrome’ was stretching it. The book could easily have been called something like ‘The Work-Life Question’, ‘The Urban Dilemma’ or something else that sounds self-help-ey. But Banker’s love of Ramayana and a clever marketing ploy may have prompted this title. There is a resurgence of interest in Indian mythology in the current generation, and like it tricked me to pick up the book, it will many others.

As I’ve mentioned above, the book has three mini stories about three very different lives. There is an extremely ambitious Suhasini; there is Sara, who rebels to find success in a field not approved of by her family; and there is the dreaded dacoit Ratnakaran, who kills and steals to make a living. The consequences of their chosen paths are very different – Suhasini, on a career overdrive, loses her husband and children; Sara succeeds on her path despite the initial estrangement from her family and goes on to get the best of both worlds; and Ratnakaran realizes, with the help of Rishi Narada, that his family does not really support his means, and goes on to mend his ways by treading the spiritual path.

Through the stories, the author tries to encourage the reader to ask oneself three fundamental questions about identity and life. Who am I? Who do I wish to be? How do I become that person? Once a person mulls upon and is able to answer these questions, he is able to find his life path. He is able to prioritise, act upon, and change his life situation for the better. These are pertinent philosophical questions and I liked the book for them. The author is able to demonstrate simply and easily their importance. The packaging of this ancient wisdom is clever.

My only misgiving, as with all of Banker’s books, is his style of writing. I find it boring, especially in parts where it is Banker speaking. As long as he has his story voice on, where the characters talk, he is tolerable. But when his own opinions come across, he begins to sound ‘bleh’. It’s like ‘I’m not preaching, but do this…’, ‘I’m not being a guru, but do that…’. Yeah, okay, Mister Banker, you’re not trying to preach, but you are. Don’t.

the forest of stories (MBA#1) by Ashok Banker

The Forest of Stories, Book One in Ashok Banker's long-awaited 'MBA' Series, takes us deep into the haunted jungle of Naimishavan. Here, at the ashram of Kulapati Shaunaka, a dustry traveller arrives with sad tidings: Maharishi Krishna Dweipayana Vyasa has passed on. Yet the great collator of the Vedas has left behind a fabulous legacy, the epic narrative poem called Maha Bharata. At the urging of the ashramites, the traveller Suta begins to recite the great composition, starting with the incredible creation myths and tales of god and giants, snake-mothers and gargantuan eagles. And as the night wears on and the tale grows darker, he senses the presence of countless ghostly beings in the shadows beyond the flickering oil-lamps, the restless souls of the many millions butchered in the climactic war that ended the great tale itself, gathering now to hear the epic saga that led eventually to their destruction and the decimation of the Kuru Bharata race

My interest in Mahabharata as a source of stories , wisdom and a sketch of society at any time began with reading 'Palace of Illusion" . A bit of the side events and tales were covered in "the Pregnant King' . and thus began a search for more books on Mahabharata. I had heard and read here too a lot about Banker's Ramayan series so when I saw this book at a friend's place , I could not resist borrowing. 

I had always wondered , why Mahabharata came to happen ? Most religious tales have a straight forward plot ans limited characters. This epic though is completely opposite or say different from any thing I ever heard of. And Banker proves it all the more here. From the very birth of any one remotely appearing or related to the tale has been mentioned and always with an interesting life history of him/her. Its amusing how even the dead or their words pave way to the future - this war of right and wrong. 

There is so much of magic woven in each tale - a moral , a beginning of the end , an end of some other story. Curses are boons in disguise , Devas take different forms and means to help mother earth , the asuras trying to have amrit , meditations and prayers to fulfill desires ,   promises to protect and help , tales of betrayal and love , of mothers and son , of heaven and hell , of trapped souls , of means of salvation , of places and importance , of lost , of preserved history. This book is no fiction my dear friends. Its a beautifully penned research work by Banker.

the narration is fast , the stories enchanting and the feeling so great to be reading of our rich mythology. This book makes you relish the very human - like traits of every one written about. The story-teller in the book has d destiny to narrate this epic to both living and dead alike. Ashok Banker looks like that story teller. He has woven the tapestry of our lives living off the older one. Of a war that marked the beginning of kalayug . Of friends and foes . of discipline , restraint and punishments.


you would not have heard many of these stories, and if you have , are you really sure why or how of it ?

Its time we discovered our roots

Enter the chakravyuh of the tales and hope they deliver you peace and pleasure both.

:)


Rating : 5/5

Other details :

ISBN:  9381626375
ISBN-13:  9789381626375  ,  978-9381626375
Binding: Paperback
Number of Pages: 376
Price : 220

PS : E books are available on Ashok banker's site for next part too. Or on amazon kindle.