Book Review :Hindu Rites and Rituals By KV Singh

 Do you know why we chant Shanti three times whether we are doing Puja or Aarti?  Or how Gayatri Mantra effective in our life? Do you know how much Tulsi Plant is important in every household? Why are pregnant women not allowed to touch knives or any metallic object during the eclipse? Or what's the science behind Shiv Ratri? Why do many people offer water to Sun early in the morning?

With many such questions and the science behind them, this book is for all those who feel Hindu rites and rituals are sheer superstitions. Also for people like me who blindly follow few religious practices because our parents have followed them not even asking the logic or science behind it.

This book is divided into sections like  

God, Goddess, and Nature

Important  Hindu Dates

Rituals: Puja and Yagnas

Temple Rituals

Tradition

 And Miscellaneous.

Though written in easy language and contents full of tempting questions, this book still didn't live up to my expectation as I  wanted more scientific reasoning or logic behind the rituals and rites we observe.  The reasoning provided was quite vague. Also, there is no mention of the sources used for such an explanation.

For example, there is a part where the author talks about Makar Sankranti a change in the position of the Sun.  I agree there are planetary changes that take place in that period, but mentioning about human souls who die after this day can soar higher up into the upper region of the cosmos because air becomes lighter due to heat did not satisfy my scientific curiosity behind it. 

With that, I must also honestly conclude that I did enjoy the book, as many questions cleared my curious soul.  For further in-depth reasoning, I looked for the answer on Google/ Quora when needed. But one thing which struck me reading this book is that every single ritual and rites followed in Hinduism, whether you are doing Shivratri or using paan supari during puja e has a huge scientific reason behind it and it does give a result when followed properly. 

In the Footsteps of Rama

 

Vikrant Pande and Neelesh Kulkarni’s In the footstep of Rama, which is retracing the route of Ram’s journey during his years in exile kept me on my feet this entire week. I was mesmerized by reading this book. A very unique travelogue, an armchair traveler like me wanted for a long time, someone to pen down and retrace the places following the entire Ramayana (original). Often while reading Ramayana,  I always tried to relocate, the places on Google but failed miserable. This book is something I will treasure because all the facts, local folklore, and speaking with locals who lived in those areas, are well documented here by the authors.

The journey starts from Ayodhya (Ram lalla 's birthplace) – Chitrakoot –Kiskindha - Srilanka and many more.

The book is full of local folklore which is somehow connected to the Valmiki Ramayan 

The language is easy for anyone to enjoy this travelogue and you will not get tired or bored anywhere. Each places the author went, consists of folklores which will make you believe more in this Epic, with that I will also say the local priest and the storytellers did earn well from the authors! :)

One thing I wish it had was pictures, I really craved pictures throughout the book. I wanted to see the crow-shaped rock in Chitrakoot, or the Ashram in Dandaka Forest where all the Rakshyas use to live, the magnetic temple near Lonar Crater where the Guru of all the Rakshyas use to perform his work, the original house of Tulsidas, the Spahatik Shila near the bank of Mandakini t many many more.

The journey was not easy, but the authors' hard work and the detailed experience shared here, deserve praise.

5 stars straight away!

Book Review |The Ramayan Secret: by Anurag Chandra

Pages:215

Publisher: Om Books International

As we know, both Ramayana and Mahabharata speaks of Dharma, the human potential. Ramayana is bit more focused on rules. Balancing the law perfectly. This book Ramayana secrets focuses exactly on this/ balancing the inner and outer earth for peace to prevail., but with a whole new perspective.

The secret script of the earth;s well being went in to wrong hand which is Ravana. His  villainous act was destroying the peace, and for this the Kingdom of Pataal Bhoomi gives Ram the task to get the script back .

·         Language is easy

·         The book starts with 2 flowchart showing the family tree of Ram and Ravan, which makes it easier to follow the story.

·         The plot though is something very new to many reader , but  somehow at the end  make you realise why Ram is said to be embodiment of Dharma and why he was choose for the script.

·         What surprised me was, their are few instances where the entire story was changed. The Yagna performed for  the childless queens were not what we came heard for years, 

      Sita was portrayed here as Ravana's daughter who was left in the royal garden abandoned.

·         The author talks about Shanta , which reader like me, was surprised to know Dashartha had a daughter and was adopted by Rompada. Here in the book, she had a role in Ram's birth

·         Overall  its the  entire Ramayana creatively written keeping the original plot in mind ,I enjoyed the flair of writing ,presenting a whole new meaning ( secret) behind Ramayana.

The book ends with Kalki  wiping off the fear from his army men,but telling this story which I believe is connected to the author's next book which points out a war which will end the human race.

3.5/5

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Book Review |The Siva Purana Retold - By Ramesh Menon

"The goddess once asked Siva," Lord how are bhaktas liberate in Kali Yug, when the world is enveloped in sin, when the people have turned away from vedic rites when danger is always imminent, when the land is perverted by alien cultures and custom,when the scared order of guru and Shisya has disappeared?Siva said, " when ancient rituals are not available to them the five syllabled mantra purifies the people of the Kali Yug, AUM NAMAH SHIVAYAH protects those of the evil age that turn to me:though they are sinner , perverted in mind and body, in thoughts word and deed! Devi, it is my sacred promise to the world that through my mantra the fallen shall rise and be free from their sin.Uma, those who subsist on air and water emaciate themselves with austerities, do not reach me  But those that worship me with simple mantra do.AUM NAMAH Sivaayah is the seed of all the living .The mantra is the mulavidya , the sacred root.It is my own heart."

Among all the writers of Indian Mythology Ramesh Menon is one of my favorite. His translation of Puranas have made me admire his writing style. Not many people know him ,but if you come across his books do give it a try. It is also for the people who wants to learn about Indian mythology in genuine way, little easy.

Puranas have been  preached orally by rishis , and never been written down. It was  through the great Saint Vyasa who have imparted his knowlege .The charecters in Purans are cosmic ,We can dismiss it as  fantasies, as the old version have described.

The author have taken liberty in this book to  change the style a little bit but kept the original form  and flavour intact.  It has been translated from Sanskrit to English in a very easy way so that very one gets the knowledge of our Puranas.

The book has been presented in to various stories  of Lord Shiva. The time he was formed , Sati Parvati, Rudra form, the twelve jyotirlinga and its importance and henceforth.

This is one book which I do re read , as the stories provide a clear view of the things we do unknowingly.

Older people go for a holy bath to cleanse their sin,but we donot know the details of it.

The Rudraksha  worn by many , what is it and how it is related to Rudra or Shiva.

All this and much more we find in this book in form of stories.

The ebook is available free on Kindle unlimited ( Amazon)

Book Review |The Palace Of Illusions By Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Mahabharata  is probably one of the greatest epic written in Hindu Scripture, beside Ramayana. Written in the 6000BCE and 5000BCE  it was the time when lives of men and gods intersected.
Vyasa was the composer this great epic.
The story lies the fierce rivalry between the brothers ( Kuru Dynasty).
This book  The Palace Of Illusion is written from Draupadi's Point of View. It is Draupadi the Princess of Panchal telling the entire story from her birth to the Palace she lived and henceforth the great war.
During her childhood she was raise by her Dai Ma. Her father was too busy to care about her daughter. Her only beloved was Krishna her friend and her brother.Like any other women of today  the author has beautifully captured Draupadi's turmoil life.  In the patriarchal society she was determined not to lower her self worth and  remain silent. Also the Saas-Bahu dual ( her conflict with mother -in law) is something worth reading.
It is a story of a women, which is relatable to our modern age

What I didnt like about the book is that because it is shown from a particular person's perspective, which I dont think justify the entire Mahabharat.

Review- My Affair With Radha By Kunal Desai

Author: Kunal Desai
No of Pages: 197
Amazon Link:My Affair With Radha
Publisher:  Notion Press.

Being  a crazy Indian mythology lover I was thrilled to receive this giveaway. But the first thing which came to my mind was  - How genuine are the information provided in the book?

Can I rely on them because I dont enjoy reading made up stories. Well  this book has won my heart. Truly  if you  leaf through sacred books like Mahabharata,  Bhagavat Gita  or even Harivansh , you will not find any information on Radha.  Definitely it is very surprising , as  we  worship Radha Krishna together, we don't have much information about her.  Well this book has simplified unknown facts about Radha from Brhamvaivrat Puran  Garg Samhita , Geet Govinda and henceforth. So if you have prior knowlege about our mythology this book will be easy to understand as you can fill in the missing link.

The book talks about time, when the supreme power created the universe. How Radha was born ,also the other god and goddess. Their incarnation on earth,  Radha's dominating behavior on Krishna, Krishna's departure from Vrindavan toward Mathura, the hundred years of separation and many more finely tuned details.

The book has beautifully put up the separation of Radha Krishna. The pain of  realising that you have lost the one you love forever.

• Some words were difficult to understand
• If you have some prior knowledge on Krishna's life story , then this will be an easy read
• There were few places which I didn't understand.
• The book is in form of a conversation with Krishna.
• Overall this book is a definite re-read for me.

Ratings:4/5

If you are interested to know about Radha Rani's birth place 
click on my travel  blog : Barsana

Book Review |Chronicles of Kali- The secret Book of Asuras

Chronicles of Kali- The secret Book of Asuras

Author: Prithviraj Banerjee

Publisher:Vishwakarma Publications

No of Pages: 239

Available at Amazon:Buy the book

A little bit from the Mythology:

Goddess Kali  in Hindu religion represents the awakening  of the inner force  that destroy evil. She is also known as Shakti. In our ancient scripture the demon Raktabeej ( the blood seed) was given a boon  that his blood fell on ground would create more of such demon with increase strength.  It was only kali who  solved the vexing problem  by drinking up all the blood before it fell on the ground.  

A bit about the story:

The story starts off with the protagonist Kali,who was found by master Vyaas  floating on a raft in Ganga. Kali had supernatural power of being able to interact with nature. She was destined to do something big once for the human race,to save them and their thought process from the Asuras who have the secret to create disharmony. 

How will Kali find Asura in this modern age and save the human race? What secret has been written in the book of Asuras and where to find them?

My Views:

What fascinated me in the first place was the eye catchy brightly coloured illustration on the cover by the author himself.

The author has beautifully compared Asuras with human thought process.

The chapters are full of short mythological tales which make the story more interesting and fun to read making it more relatable to the modern age.

The characters have been developed  with much thoughts and research.

Being a mythology lover every chapter made me stick to the book till the end.

A very very thoughtful topic combined with  entertainment from Los Angeles to the Ghats of Benaras.

I recommend this book to everyone.

A book that reveals the secrets of human thoughts and how one can defeat them.

Rating: 5/5

Thank you Vandanachoudhury maam for this review copy.