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Sita
The chariot stopped far from the city in the middle of the forest. Sita alighted, eager to walk amongst the trees. The charioteer, Lakshman, remained seated. Sensing he had something to say, Sita paused. Lakshman finally spoke, eyes to the ground, Your husband, my elder brother, Ram, king of Ayodhya, wants you to know that the streets are full of gossip. Your reputation is in question. The rules are clear on this: a kings wife should be above all doubt. The scion of the Raghu clan therefore has ordered you to stay away from his person and his palace and his city. You are free to go wherever else you please. But you may not reveal to anyone you were once Rams queen. Sita watched Lakshmans nostrils flare. She felt his embarrassment and his rage. She wanted to reach out and reassure him, but she restrained herself. You feel your Ram has abandoned his Sita, dont you? she asked gently. But he has not. He cannot. He is God; he abandons no one. And I am Goddess; I cannot be abandoned by anyone. A mystified Lakshman returned to Ayodhya, while Sita smiled in the forest and unbound her hair. It is significant that the only character in Hindu mythology, a king at that, to be given the title of ekam-patni-vrata, devoted to a single wife, is associated with the most unjust act of abandoning her in the forest to protect family reputation. This seems a deliberate souring of an uplifting narrative. Rams refusal to remarry to produce a royal heir adds to the complexity. The intention seems to be to provoke thought on notions of fidelity, property and self-image. And so the mythologist and illustrator Devdutt Pattanaik retells the Ramayana, drawing attention to the many oral, visual and written retellings composed in different times, in different places, by different poets, each one trying to solve the puzzle in its own unique way. This book approaches Ram by speculating on Sita: her childhood with her father, Janaka, who hosted sages mentioned in the Upanishads; her stay in the forest with her husband, who had to be a celibate ascetic while she was in the prime of her youth; her interactions with the women of Lanka, recipes she exchanged, emotions they shared; her connection with the earth, her mother, and with the trees, her sisters; her role as the Goddess, the untamed Kali as well as the demure Gauri, in transforming the stoic prince of Ayodhya into God.
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How To Know God
Deepak Chopra, the celebrated author, presents a groundbreaking exploration of the ways human beings experience God in his magnum opus How To Know God: The Soul's Journey Into The Mystery Of Mysteries. This book helps the reader embark on the path to enlightenment. Chopra believes that God is the highest instinct that one needs to be aware of to know one’s true self. The book lists down the seven ways in which human beings can experience God. It is a scientific approach to spirituality and proposes that the human mind is hardwired to know God. He explains the seven natural reactions of the human nervous system that correspond to levels of divine experience. He elucidates how these are not shaped by any one religion or faith, but by the brain's requirement to get into terms with the infinite and chaotic universe and explore its meaning. Deepak Chopra takes the reader through a step-by-step procedure to achieve this, from the first stage to the seventh stage. When the human brain gives a 'fight or flight' response to God, it is the initial stage of experiencing God. At this stage, the mind experiences God as a powerful parent. It is the last stage in which the brain can experience God as a sacred presence and a pure being. At this level, one attains a true and life-altering spiritual understanding. Chopra claims that human beings have access to all the seven stages at all times. How To Know God: The Soul's Journey Into The Mystery Of Mysteries gives an insight into the longing of the human mind to connect with God. And by taking readers through these steps, Chopra explores telepathy, religious ecstasy, mysticism, multiple personalities, genius and clairvoyance. He draws his inspiration from different religions, psychology, physics and neurology. Chopra believes that God is not a thing or a person, but a process. In this book, he teaches how that process can be completed and ensures that everyone can engage in this process. About Deepak Chopra
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Draupadi In High Heels
Born into a well-known business family, Deeya is a high-flying, spoilt, rich girl who owns an elite fashion store. Her parents want her to get married and hold a swayamvar of sorts for her to select a husband. And she has a dilemma to go with the extremely attractive, intriguing Karan or the dashing and outgoing Arjun! She is determined to make the best decision when she finds that her life resembles that of Draupadi from the Mahabharata, in more ways than one. Will she be able to find her own path in life? or will she flounder? Funny and romantic, Draupadi in High Heels explores the power of ones choice and how deeply its affects life! About the Auhtor Aditi Kotwal is an ardent book lover and travel enthusiast. Her fascination with legends and mythology began at an early age and she also has a secret penchant for romance novels. This book is her attempt at reconciling the two.
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The Black Country
When members of a prominent family disappear from a coal-mining village - and a human eyeball is discovered in a bird's nest - the local constable sends for help from Scotland Yard's new Murder Squad. Inspector Walter Day and Sergeant Nevil Hammersmith respond, but they have no idea what they're about to get into. The villagers have intense, intertwined histories. Everybody bears a secret. Superstitions abound. And the village itself is slowly sinking into the mines beneath it. Not even the arrival of forensics pioneer Dr. Bernard Kingsley seems to help. In fact, the more the three of them investigate, the more they realize they may never be allowed to leave. . . . From The Yard author Alex Grecian comes The Black Country- a horrifying journey into the darkest backwoods of Victorian Britain. The Black Country is guaranteed to appeal to fans of recent Ripper TV dramas (BBC's Ripper Street, ITV's Whitechapel) as well as Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes films. Praise for Alex Grecian: 'Will keep you riveted from page one' Jeffrey Deaver 'Outstanding. If Charles Dickens isn't somewhere clapping his hands for this, Wilkie Collins surely is.' The New York Times Book Review Alex Grecian has worked for an ad agency on accounts for Harley-Davidson, Cub Foods, and The Great American Smokeout, before returning to writing fiction full time and raising his son. Alex is the author of the long-running and critically acclaimed comic book series Proof, and he lives in Topeka, Kansas, with his wife and son. The Yard is his first novel.
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The Girl from Nongrim Hills
Bok, a guitar player with a Shillong band, has a lot on his mind. His elder brother Kitdor has lost 50 lakh rupees on a trip to Nagaland to purchase arms for a group of militants. Kitdor is given a week to repay the money and the only person he can turn to is his laid-back younger brother. Bok is helpless until a chance encounter with a beautiful woman provides him with a desperate solution. But fate cant be cheated and soon the hapless musician is tangled in her web of lies. He must outmanoeuvre her and the trail of politicians, militants and cops she leaves in her wake and find the 50 lakhs in time if he is to save his brother. Dark, atmospheric and utterly gripping, The Girl from Nongrim Hills is a superb thriller and a great Shillong novel. About the Author Ankush Saikia was born in Tezpur, Assam in 1975. He grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, Assam and Shillong, Meghalaya. He has worked for India Today magazine, Sage Publications and Dorling Kindersley. He was shortlisted for the fourth Outlook/Picador-India non-fiction writing award (2005) and is the author of two books: Jet City Woman (2007) and Spotting Veron and Other Stories (2011). He is currently based in Shillong, Meghalaya and Tezpur, Assam.
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Threat Vector
Jack Ryan moves back into the Oval Office and is immediately faced with an international threat. Chinese President Wei Zhen Lin has been forced to agree with the expansionist policies of his General, and they have declared the South China Sea a protectorate and planned an invasion of Taiwan. The stakes are dangerously high as the Ryan administration attempts to thwart Chinese ambitions, facing missiles and cyber attack. Jack Ryan, Jr. may just be the wild card that his father needs. One problem: someone knows about the intelligence agency, and may be about to blow their cover sky high.
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The Ramayana
For centuries, Indians have held Rama to be the perfect man: unfailingly noble, utterly poised, fearless and strong, wise, compassionate and free from anger, a just ruler and an implacable foe of all wrongdoers. Countless others worship Rama as an avatar, a human incarnation of Lord Vishnu born to vanquish the forces of evil and establish a kingdom of perfect justice and harmony upon the earth. The Ramayana, one of lndia's greatest epics, lovingly unfolds the story of Rama's life. Ever since its original composition in Sanskrit by Vaimiki, possibly over 3,000 years ago, it has grown to be an all-pervasive and hugely-loved part of Indian life and ethos. Millions read it, re-read it, and revere it as a scripture. It is the perennially favourite bedtime story for children. And each autumn, Rama's victory over the mighty demon-king Ravana is celebrated through plays and dance-dramas in cities, towns and villages across the land. There is much festivity: crackers are exploded, sweets distributed and all houses are lit up in tribute to Rama.
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Sachin: Tribute To A Legend
A century of international centuries has catapulted Sachin Tendulkar from a prodigy to a phenomenon. Sachin - Tribute to a legend from The Hindu takes you on a nostalgic trip to relive his greatest sporting moments. Comprising rare news articles, interviews, statistics, pictures and much more from the archives of The Hindu and Sportstar, this book vividly recounts the batting maestro's many memorable centuries, less-remembered masterpieces and even the anonymous ground-out hundreds. A dedication to his countless fans from The Hindu, this collector's item was graciously released by the Little Master himself on his birthday, the 24th of April, 2012.
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Sycamore Row
For almost a quarter of a century, John Grisham's A Time to Kill has captivated readers with its raw exploration of race, retribution and justice. Now, its hero, Jake Brigance, returns to the courtroom in a dramatic showdown as Ford County again confronts its tortured history. Filled with the intrigue, suspense and plot twists that are the hallmarks of the world's favorite storyteller, Sycamore Row is the thrilling story of the elusive search for justice in a small American town.
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Dump Your Hang Ups
This book will help you understand why you behave the way you do. By following the 12 tried and true steps outlined in the book, you can begin a life long journey towards mental peace, optimistic outlook and great relationships.
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Don't Tempt Me
Lynette Baillon's twin, Lysette, died in an accident. Or so Lynette believed until, at a seductive masked ball in Paris, sexy stranger Simon Quinn mistakes her for her sister Lysette. And Simon, who planned to hand notorious assassin Lysette Rousseau over to the French, finds his plans confounded.