Readomania recommends some interesting books to read this festival season.
1. When Gods Came Calling by Piyusha Vir: A collection of mythological short stories about the genesis of most of our Gods and Goddesses. This book will help you understand our deities a little better and connect with them like never before. While faith has always been the fallback for humanity in times of crisis, the question is: Do the gods listen? If so, in what form do they appear and how do they resolve conflicts? What do our traditional stories have to say about the gods?
When Gods Came Calling is a retelling of stories based on Hindu mythology, that relooks at experiences and learnings about gods and their lives.
2. Devis & Divas by Tripti Sharan: Celebrate the season of the power of the Devi with the eternal stories of Parvati, Sita, Ahalya and Radha, albeit with a modern twist.
Sita, Parvati, Ahalya and Radha have fought extraordinary battles to live ordinary lives. One day they meet over lunch and bare their souls to each other. What unfolds is their intriguing journey, their tryst with destiny. The secret longings, their unfulfilled cravings, the joys and pain, their loss and what they eventually gained. It’s their perspective, it’s their voice.
A woman’s struggle is timeless and endless. They change names, wear different garbs but the context remains the same. Each one of them is a revelation and a celebration of a power that can be dented but never broken, a power that comes from being a woman.
3. Ancient & Lost Temples of Kashmir by Avanti Sopory: As we celebrate the festivals and bask in the power of the Mother Goddess, let us also learn about the magnificent heritage of Kashmiri Hindu temples—the ones that are lost; the ones that remain.
Kashmir is not only the beauteous ‘heaven on earth’; it is also a victim of vandalism at the hands of intolerant fundamentalists. Innumerable holy caves, springs, shrines, and temples dotted the crown of India, most of which have been destroyed by plunderers or relegated to neglected oblivion by the majority.
Through in-depth research, Sopory has attempted to set straight generations of misrepresented historical facts about Kashmir. She has brought forth the ancient and lost cultural and spiritual wealth of Kashmir that has over the centuries faced multiple attacks.
Ancient & Lost Temples of Kashmir chronicles the legacy of Kashmir’s cultural heritage through its temples and raises a fervent plea for preservation.
4. Trihayani by Rupande Mehta: It is the season to celebrate the Goddess—the epitome of Stree Shakti. Read about another icon of female power—Draupadi—in this powerful tale.
Could a woman married to the greatest warriors of all time just be an ordinary queen? Who was the real Draupadi?
The battle of Kurukshetra is over. The Pandavas reign peacefully over Hastinapur but all is not well with Draupadi. Leaving the palace, in search of answers, Draupadi meets Mahadev who brings to her the ultimate truth of her being.
Drawing deeply from Indian mythology across the yugas, Trihayani is a story of Draupadi unlike anything you have heard before! With vivid descriptions and unprecedented portrayals of characters, Trihayani is a befitting end to the true protagonist of the epic Mahabharata: Maharani Draupadi.
5. The Daivya Sutras by Mona Verma: Stories from the Puranas to entertain you as well as make you understand our beliefs and heritage better.
When it comes to mythology, storytelling is perhaps the most powerful way that human beings understand their cultural bearings. Puranas have fascinating tales of the Trinity, valour of the warriors, the ethereal beauty of the goddesses, love and longing of the nymphs, and penance of the sages. Thus, the Puranas have an enchanting story for everyone!
The Daivya Sutras will make you lose yourself in this world of surreal imagination and magic.
6. Kings, Saviours & Scoundrels—Timeless Tales from Katha Sarita Sagara by Anupama Jain: It is the festive season; make your little ones savour stories from a treasure trove of a bygone era called Katha Sarita Sagara, recounted for today’s generation.
Meet the valiant warriors with great kindness. Emulate the intrepid souls who found answers to vexing questions by thinking out of the box. Salute the brave kings who trod on the righteous path. Laugh with the quirky villagers who are full of beans. Savour the heart-tugging friendships between the unlikely souls or the courage of the creatures that would not give up despite everything. Perceive the villainous deceit by the trusted.
Rooted in the traditional storytelling of Indian legends, heroes, mythical beings, and their splendid adventures, these sagas embody honour, kinship, bravery, treachery, caprice and stoicism.
These are Eternal Tales of India, Retold for the world
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