Bangalore Diaries

  For time immemorial, stories and anecdotes from life have been a very powerful medium to share tenets of philosophy with the wider audience. There’s something magical in listening to stories, more so events from someone’s life. This book is a collection of stories narrated by Shyam about his experiences and lessons learnt from his Aai (Mother). The events revolve around their lives, childhood and the various challenges faced by the family over the course of time. These stories act as medium to impart age old Vedic, Upanishadic wisdom through metaphors embedded in each of the stories. The stories are very simple life experiences which leave a lasting impression on Shyam who shares it with his friends in Ashram after the evening prayers. These stories revolve around simplistic virtues like not stealing, focus on being a good human as compared to a great person to a more deep involved nuanced commentary on the social fabric of the society of the yore encompassing subjects like untou...

  Brilliant !!! Absolutely breathtakingly Brilliant !!! Written as fiction, the author creates the period in the imagination of the reader seamlessly as we witness a prophecy turn into a divinity. The transition from the world of Rama to Mahavidya is so enchanting and beautifully written, one is transported to a ringside seat of the unfolding events. The imagination is very rich and detailed to ensure that the reader has an exquisite experience, but is not overwhelmed by the details beyond a point. The book is interspersed with gems of philosophy and wisdom as part of the narrative. For example, in a simple  where Rama observes his mother, the concept of emptying one’s mind & trusting one’s instincts is emphasised so beautifully. The discussion between Rama and his father cum preceptor Jamadagni exploring the meaning of fires is yet another masterclass in Dharma and its unique nuances. What is very heartening is the liberal and extensive usage of Indic words like Nimisha,...

  Detailed review published by The Commune magazine

    During the launch of the book, Vid. B. N. Shashikiran spoke eloquently about the intricacies of this work, which was widely appreciated by the audience. The preface written by the authors, who are stalwarts in the field, is a perfect introduction to the riches of the book. Explaining the origins of Sanatana dharma to the word Hindu to the foundational texts of our dharma, the authors give a glimpse of the immense research and effort that went into distilling the age old wisdom into this amazing “ready reference for daily life” book. While reading about the anubandha-catustaya and the role of Guru, I couldn’t help, but imagine Dr. Ganesh as the guru and Sri Hari Ravikumar as the commentator imparting this knowledge to the wider audience. The authors have thought about the various groups of readers and provide something for each one of them i.e. from beginners to advanced readers. One clear standout feature is found in acknowledgements (something that was announced during bo...