Book Category: Featured Books

This work examines the antiquity of image worship in India. Its main focus is the Bhagavata religion that evolved around Vasudeva Krishna of the Vrishni clan. At Mathura, several noteworthy archaeological finds dated to the early Common Era were recovered from the site of Katra Keshavadeva.

In the medieval period, Katra Keshavadeva was subjected to repeated devastation, beginning with that by Mahmud Ghaznavi in 1071 CE. However, within a century a temple dedicated to Vishnu was built at Katra Keshavadeva. Thereafter, the story of destruction followed by construction was repeated over and over again.

In the early 17th century, the Keshavadeva temple was rebuilt by Bir Singh Deo Bundela. In 1670, the Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb ordered its destruction. An Idgah was built at the site. Later developments at Katra Keshavadeva were recorded in the judicial records of colonial India. In 1815, Katra Keshavadeva was sold by auction to Raja Patnimal of Banaras.

On 8th February 1944, the heirs of Raja Patnimal sold Katra Keshavadeva to Seth Jugal Kishore Birla, who created a trust for the construction of a temple for Shree Krishna. In a surprising development, on 12th October 1968, approximately two bighas of Katra Keshavadeva were handed over to Trust Masjid Idgah.

Many documents pertaining to events at Katra Keshavadeva after 1815 are perhaps being presented to the general reader for the first time. The documents attest to the dogged Hindu commitment to the site.
Meenakshi Jain is a historian interested in cultural and religious developments in ancient and medieval India. Her recent publications include Flight of Deities and Rebirth of Temples(2019); The Battle for Rama: Case of the Temple at Ayodhya (2017); Sati: Evangelicals, Baptist Missionaries, and the Changing Colonial Discourse (2016); and Rama and Ayodhya (2013).
In 2020, she was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India.

Spaceship, 150 feet wide and 300 feet long, is constructed and sent out to space with a man and woman on it. It is set out to reach Proxima Centauri, a galaxy that lies 4.6 light years away from Earth. Are the vows taken on Earth and the rules that apply to the residence of the planet valid when one goes away from the gravitational field from the Sun? – this is among the many philosophical questions that bother the characters in the novel. In this book, India’s foremost novelist S. L. Bhyappa examines human nature and fundamental values in dimensions hitherto unseen. The characters and situations come alive and leave a deep impact on the minds of the reader, thanks to the creative genius of the author. Yaana: The Voyage is a translation of S. L. Bhyappa’s bestselling Kannada novel and has been rendered into English by Arjun Bharadwaj, a literary aficionado and writer.

Long before the times of Draupadi and SitaImmortalised in the hymns of the Rig VedaBut forgotten to the memory of IndiaWas the warrior queen with an iron leg, Vishpala.Brought up in the pristine forest school of Naimisha, Avishi reaches the republic of Ashtagani in search of her destiny. When Khela, the oppressive king of the neighbouring Vrishabhavati, begins to overwhelm and invade Ashtagani, Avishi rises to protect her settlement but at a high cost.Separated from her love, her settlement broken, with a brutal injury needing an amputation of her leg, what can Avishi do to save herself?Will her disability let her continue to be the warrior that she was?Can she fight Khela and save everything dear to her?

This book is a commentary on the 1944 book Panchasher Manwantar by Syama Prasad Mookerjee, a political stalwart of the time. In his book, Syama Prasad argues that the famine of 1943-44 that is said to have caused the death and displacement of three million people, tearing apart Bengal’s social and economic fabric, was a man-made disaster. The acute food shortage was deliberately created by the Churchill government to punish a rebellious, militant Bengal. The colonial government adopted a ‘scorched-earth’ policy, burned the boats that carried grain, promulgated an anti-hoarding act that prevented farmers and householders from keeping even small buffer stocks, while hoarding by private lobbies was allowed resulting in huge cost rise. This policy was actively supported by the communal practices of the local Muslim League government. Translator Sudip Kar Purkayastha believes this to be a deliberately crafted and ruthlessly implemented policy that resulted in a GENOCIDE of Bengalis and notes that its perpetrators have not yet been called to account.

The story of Rama has been a part of our lives for ever and will probably continue to be so…. But most of us are unaware that the story has as many variations as there are versions. In the author’s own words Valmiki’s Ramayana has taken several ‘incarnations’ due to the efforts of many great writers who wanted to bring the story to their own people in their own language. In his book, Professor AA Manavalan, an eminent scholar in the field of comparative literature, has painstakingly made an intensive and analytical study of the Rama story in 48 languages including the folk tradition. Professor Manavalan’s main focus is on how the receiving language’s rendering could make a greater impact than the original in the popular imagination of the people. Ramayana - A Comparative Study of Ramakathas, an English rendition of Ramakaathaiyum Ramayanangalum, presented by CT Indra and Prema Jagannathan, captures the thematic purpose of Prof AA Manavalan’s Tamil original and creates a forum ‘to discuss whether Ramayana is an ethical text or an ideological text’.

If India looks forward to its 75th year of Independence, it is also looking at 75 years of the country’s partition. Perhaps the biggest human tragedy of the twentieth century, it was marked by unparalleled violence that was suppressed by interested parties for their own political and ideological reasons. In the analysis of the real factors that led to Partition lies the lesson to protect India’s unity and integrity, as exemplified by the relentless but unsuccessful attempt by Veer Savarkar to prevent the birth of Pakistan.

Arguably the greatest symbol of India’s national integration, Savarkar’s warnings on the threats to India’s security have come true in the past seven decades. Veer Savarkar: The Man Who Could Have Prevented Partition uncovers Savarkar, the thinker and the father of India’s national security who has shown the best possible pathway towards one nation that rises above religious, caste and regional feelings. It also proves the falsity of charges levelled against Savarkar from time to time and exposes the motives behind them. It reveals, for the first time, the manner in which the Narendra Modi-led government has implemented Savarkar’s national security and diplomatic vision.

BRILLIANTLY ARGUED, HARD-HITTING AND WISE, THIS BOOK IS AN ESSENTIAL TREATISE FOR OUR TIMES.?The fact that a great Hindu civilisation existed, and continues to exist, is not in doubt. It is marked by great antiquity, substantial?even unprecedented?refinements, audacity of thought, and achievements both in the spiritual and secular realms. This does not mean it is unblemished, and objectivity demands that the blemishes too must be taken into account. Nor does it mean that it evolved in an insular silo or untouched by outside influences. On the contrary. And yet, this intermingling has not diluted or erased its essential identity as a verifiable civilisation. Unlike many other great civilisations of the past, the Hindu civilisation has not become a historical relic, an antiquary of the past, but has survived as an unbroken continuum to the present.?It is important to know more about this civilisation, most of all for Hindus themselves. The civilisation faces a rather unfortunate paradox. On the one hand, it is notable for its resilience and continuity, and its spillover into every aspect of a Hindu?s life; and, on the other, Hindus themselves show little real curiosity or interest in knowing more about it. This indifference is a matter of concern, not least because, if Hindus do not know about their own civilisational legacy, their authenticity as Hindus?based on knowledge?is stunted and reduced to ritualistic tokenism.? ?from the Introduction

'Deftly recreates the world of the Gupta Empire ... widely regarded as the golden period of classical India' - Sanjeev Sanyal461 CE.Skanda Gupta, the grandson of the great emperor Chandragupta Vikramaditya, is at the helm of the still-mighty Gupta Empire. Brave, noble and a living legend, the emperor is fighting hard to save his legacy from wave after wave of invasion, intrigue and insurrection. The borders are restive; the palace is swirling with conspiracies; and the Huns are back.Into this cauldron steps Rohini - an enigmatic half-Hun runaway. She is a riddle Skanda cannot crack. Might she be an assassin, or a spy? Or has she come to the court with an agenda all her own? As ambition crosses swords with affection, Skanda and Rohini must learn a painful lesson: as in war, so in love, victory always comes at a price.The second book in the Gupta Empire Trilogy, The Poisoned Heart is a saga of tragic love, treachery and hard-won battles in the inner reaches of a once-mighty empire.

'Deftly recreates the world of the Gupta Empire ... widely regarded as the golden period of classical India' - Sanjeev Sanyal373 CE. In the thick forests of Malwa, a mysterious stranger gallops into combat to rescue a young courtesan, Darshini. His name is Deva and he is the younger son of Emperor Samudragupta. That chance encounter that Darshini has, with Deva and with his two friends, the loyal general Saba Virasena and the great poet Kalidas, forges a bond that lasts a lifetime. In time, from a dispossessed prince, Deva goes on to become one of the greatest monarchs in ancient India, Chandragupta Vikramaditya. But the quest for glory comes with a blood price. For as Chandragupta the emperor sets aside his personal priorities to build a destiny for himself, his one-time friends become his harshest critics...A sabre-rattling tale of love, revenge, friendship and ambition, The King Within is a remarkable novel about the power of passion and the passion for power, and the difficult choices a man must make.'A wonderfully crafted, engrossing tale that takes us back in time' - Bibek Debroy

An empire that stretches from coast to coast is not enough for the son of Chandragupta. All he desires: to conquer the untamable oceans beyond.338 CE. A young ruler defeats the Naga kings of the north before claiming Kanchi in a powerful attack none had anticipated.It is his latest conquest that brings him closer to the ocean he seeks to control - and to Angai: a young woman unlike any he has ever known. Sharp-witted, with an even sharper tongue, she has the conqueror's ear ... and his heart. With her by his side, he prepares to do what even his father could not have dreamed of. To ensure the world would never forget the name Samudragupta.The final book in the enthralling Gupta Empire trilogy, The Ocean's Own tells the story of a king who dared to take his sword to the seas.

Harness the power of yoga to transform your life.

Yoga was created as a science for liberation, but in modern times it is used by many to improve physical and mental health, helping us become more productive at work, more caring in relationships, more responsible contributors to society, and better inhabitants of this planet. How does yoga accomplish all that?

Believe it or not, the answers lie in how the human body and mind function. Eddie Stern’s One Simple Thing explains from both a yogic and a scientific perspective how the human nervous system is wired. It describes the mechanics taking place beneath the surface of our bodies and shows how we can consciously use yogic practices to direct and change our lives in positive ways.

Drawing on modern neuroscience, ancient wisdom, and decades of practice and teaching, Eddie Stern reveals how what we do – from diet to chanting, from postures to meditation, from ethical practices to breathing techniques – affects who we become, and how a steady routine of activities and attitudes can transform our bodies, our brain functions, our emotions, and our experience of life.

An ambitious book that engages with a region and people who have defined the subcontinent for over five millennia.

The great war of right versus wrong was fought here. It was from this land that Lord Krishna’s wisdom—the universal truth—spread across the globe. It is the cradle of the ancient Indus-Saraswati civilization, with the sacred river Saraswati, glorified in the Rig Veda, flowing in its full might across the plains and onward.

Kings and emperors used this place to expand and consolidate their empires. The East India Company, and later the British Crown, played their games here, manipulating and managing their colonial affairs. The much-ridiculed ‘Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram’ political epithet originated here. This land gave the nation a number of stalwarts of the Independence movement. And, it became the address for a cocktail of regional and national political manoeuvrings, impacting national politics in major ways.

In his debut book, Land of the Gods: The Story of Haryana, Arjun Singh Kadian takes the readers through a fascinating journey of Haryana which offers new insights and delightful nuggets.

The meaning of Karma stands distorted by centuries of misplaced fictionalization. Karma remains a disquieting enigma to the few who refuse to accept compromised notions. This book is for them.

If to live rightly is to act rightly, what then is right action? This has tormented us since ages. The scriptures answer this, but without stooping from their cryptic heights. Nor do they advise how their ancient words apply to the present. Acharya Prashant's work provides the missing link. He imparts clarity, leaving nothing to conjecture or belief.

The book demolishes the myths surrounding action and decision by bringing to focus the actor, rather than action. When we ask, 'What to do?', the book handholds us into 'Who is the doer? What does he want from the deed?' This shift provides the solutions, and finally the dissolution of the question.

Acharya Prashant demolishes ubiquitous beliefs and outdated notions to reveal some simple truths. If you can challenge the tyrannies of tradition and greet the naked truth, you will love this book.

Set against a backdrop of nine decades of sweeping cultural change, Being Ram Dass shares this modern day luminary's journey from psychologist to renegade Harvard psychedelics researcher to beloved spiritual icon.

Perhaps no other teacher has sparked the fires of as many spiritual seekers in the West as Ram Dass. If you've ever embraced the phrase "be here now," practiced meditation or yoga, tried psychedelics, or supported anyone in a hospice, prison, or homeless center―then the story of Ram Dass is also part of your story.

From his birth in 1931 to his luminous later years, Ram Dass saw his life as just one incarnation of many. This memoir puts us in the passenger seat with the one time Harvard psychologist and lifelong risk-taker Richard Alpert, who loved to take friends on wild rides on his Harley and test nearly every boundary―inner or outer―that came his way.

Here, Ram Dass shares his life's odyssey in intimate detail: how he struggled with issues of self-identity and sexuality in his youth, pioneered psychedelic research, and opened the doorways to Eastern spiritual practices. In 1967 he trekked to India and met his guru, Neem Karoli Baba. He returned as a yogi and psychologist whose perspective changed millions.

Populated by a cast of luminaries ranging from Timothy Leary to Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, Allen Ginsberg to Sharon Salzberg, Aldous Huxley to Alan Watts―this intimate memoir chronicles Ram Dass's experience of the cultural and spiritual transformations that resonate with us to this day, a journey from the mind to the heart, from the ego to the soul.

Before, after, and along these waypoints, readers will encounter many other adventures and revelations―each ringing with the potential to awaken the universal, loving divine that links this beloved teacher to all of us.

Sarasvati, the feminine force worshipped as the goddess of learning, is a household name, yet we barely know much about the goddess. She is known as a lost river and seen as a singular goddess, never as part of a couple, such as Shiva-Parvati or Lakshmi-Narayan. In Sarasvati's Gift, Kavita Kane brings to light Sarasvati's story-the goddess of art, music and knowledge-told in the voices of nameless celestials, powerful gods and lesser mortals. The book explores her relationship with her Creator, Brahma, and their unusual marriage-a union of fiercely independent minds and the most non-conforming, unconventional of the Triumvirate couples. As these peripheral figures and silent catalysts take centre stage, we get a glimpse of an extraordinary woman and her remarkable story, obscured and buried under myths and legends.