Top picks – Vakils Publication

GANESHA

designing — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 11:40:35 +0000

Among the many Gods worshipped in India, Ganesha has a pride of place – as the Lord of Beginnings, the Remover of Obstacles, the endearing elephant-headed deity. But was Ganesha always our beloved God? How then did He weave his way into a country’s affections? Moving effortlessly between legend and history, parables and archaeology, the book sheds light on the rise of a God. With Profusely illustrated photographs and attractive line-drawings, this book speaks as effectively through visual as it does through words.
Ganesha is today the most popular and loved of the gods of the Hindu pantheon. Nothing auspicious takes place without invoking his name. Was this always so? If not, how did he rise into prominence? These and so many more questions have exercised the minds of those interested in Hindu religion and philosophy.

SHIVA

designing — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 11:32:52 +0000

The book is an attempt at demystifying one of the chief deities in the Hindu triumvirate, Shiva, the Transformer. As Gangadhara, the carrier of the Ganges, as Pashupati, the Lord of cattle, as Bhairav, the Spirit of austere penance, the book delves into the many identities of a paradoxical Godhead. This book takes the reader on a journey through Shaivite philosophy, history, folklore, ritual and myth. It attempts to understand the meaning of Shiva worship in our time, by exploring various pictorial images of Shiva iconography. Written in a simple narrative style and interspersed with stories, the book reaches out to young and old alike. The highlights include lucid explanations and a pictorial key to numerous symbols associated with Shaivite rituals and festival practices, a map of India showing important Shiva temples including the twelve jyotirlingas, a list of 108 sacred names of Shiva with their meanings, a bibliography for those interested in learning more, and over 150 illustrations of which many are in colour.

KRISHNA

designing — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 11:30:37 +0000

The book, Krishna, A Joyous Celebration of the Divine, is a loving tribute to the Blue God. Beginning with his tumultuous birth in a prison cell, it travels through his numerous journeys, uncovering his enchanting personality through story and song. It weaves anecdotes and myths, legends and folklore, from sources like the Bhagavata Purana, the Harivamsa and the Mahabharata, to piece together, the awe-inspiring picture of Vishnu’s avatara (manifestation) the alluring One, Krishna.
The book is a celebration of Krishna, in many ways. It pays tribute to the long and unbroken tradition of Krishna paintings, from the exquisite miniatures of north India to the extravagant Tanjore paintings of the south, enlivening each page with their spiritual euphoria. The book goes further, bringing a selection from the rich cornucopia of bhakti (devotional) poetry – verses of singers and saints, poets and philosophers. Written in lucid and lyrical language, one idea emerges through the book with clarity – Krishna is relevant, more relevant today, than even when he first walked the earth as man.

VISHNU

designing — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 11:28:03 +0000

Vishnu: An Introduction attempts to highlight the many aspects of the Preserver of the cosmos. As the sustainer of the elements, the Lord of ten principal avatars, and a Being with a thousand names – Rama, Krishna, Varaha, Narasimha, Narayana – Vishnu is an enigma, and an intellectual challenge. The book then untangles the bulk of this Godhead’s philosophy. Through a narrative that is eminently simple, and images that compliment the text, the book guides the reader through Vaishnava belief, history, folklore and myth.

This is an attempt to understand the meaning of Vishnu worship in our time. The author has tried to reach out to young and old alike, retelling familiar legends of Rama and Krishna as well as unfamiliar ones like those of Vishnu’s consort and son.

HANUMAN CHALISA

designing — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 11:27:06 +0000

To truly know the significance of Hanuman Chalisa one needs only hear the words of Neem Karoli Baba, one of the most mystical voices of the 20th century. “Every line of the Hanuman Chalisa,” he said, “is a mahamantra (a great chant).” Certainly, Goswami Tulsidas’ Hanuman Chalisa is filled with lofty, spiritual thought, giving us glimpses of Hanuman the devotee but also his ultimate transformation into Hanuman the deity.
This book, Hanuman Chalisa, a Bhakta’s Quest for the Divine is a perceptive commentary on these oft-recited verses. It is unique for a variety of reasons. It underlines the deep, philosophical foundation of this text, as also the life lessons that Hanuman’s character unfolds for us, making Hanuman Chalisa as relevant today as when it was first written. The book is significant also because it uses story-telling as a means to comprehend Tulsi’s words, through a cornucopia of tales from The Ramayana, The Mahabharata, The Puranas, folklore, oral traditions, magazine articles and even anecdotes from supplicants.

DR. R. K. ANAND’S GUIDE TO CHILD CARE

designing — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 11:18:06 +0000

Dr. Anand’s handbook offers a definitive guide to the Indian parent on pregnancy and child-rearing from infancy to adolescence. Authored by one of India’s foremost pediatricians and an internationally renowned authority on breastfeeding, the volume combines the knowledge of traditional Indian childrearing practices with the latest medical developments in child care. Along with chapters on “immunization”, “learning and schooling” and “diet for adolescents”, a range of guest articles make the book exhaustive and invaluable.

ZERO to TWO : Baby & You

designing — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 11:17:18 +0000

Dr. Balsekar’s handbook is for modern parents, who want to do the best for their baby in an intelligent and informed manner. The information is up-to-date and scientific but presented in a concise and practical manner.

The theme of the book is to empower parents to promote their baby’s physical and mental health and optimize growth and development.

ONE DAY AT A TIME

designing — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 11:15:00 +0000

“One day at a Time” adds perspective to the task of navigating life’s daily challenges. Vivek’s reflections elucidate topics ranging from love and listening, to compassion, regret, stress, anger and resilience. Each reflection is short, simply written, and enriched with examples and anecdotes. The collection enables us to accept the ups and downs of life. As Vivek says, once you internalise the ‘circle of life’ you can thrive in every situation- and lead a joyful life filled with love and laughter instead of merely surviving problems or striving to overcome them. This book is a great companion when we need a perspective, a wonderful gift to share with friends and has also served as a powerful training tool for inter-personal and leadership development.

DEVI’S EMERALD

designing — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 11:12:18 +0000

Devi’s Emerald is about the lives of all those who have witnessed and experienced the love and grace of Maa Mookambika Devi and Swamiji. Spending time with Swamiji and His innumerable devotees, the author, with his inimitable simple style about the outstanding miracles, a loving sage and the Universal Mother. Ruzbeh has written about the experiences at the temple through his eyes and has beautifully detailed his initiation and interaction into Swamiji’s world.

ATMA – SIDDHI

designing — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 06:28:37 +0000

Atma Siddhi (In Search of the Soul) is a 142, verse philosophical poem, a dialogue between the master and the pupil, on the subject of the soul and its journey through this world of material manifestations. Written in lyrical and lucid Gujarati, by the great Jain saint, Srimad Rajchandraji, it is as relevant today, as when it was first written more than a hundred years ago. A contemporary of Gandhiji, Srimadji was considered by the Mahatma to be his spiritual mentor. Attaining enlightenment at an unbelievably young age of 32 years, Srimadji, remains, even today, one of those iconic spiritual teachers, who balanced, with ease and grace, the life of a householder with that of a sage.
The book focuses on the relationship between the guru and his disciple, the qualities that earmark a true guru as also the qualities of a genuine pupil. Our translation of this outstanding work, not only gives the reader the verses in Hindi and English but also explains the essence of each verse. Each verse is further highlighted with the help of a story drawn from eclectic origins, as varied as Buddhist and Sufi, Christian and Zen.

The book, thus, is an interpretation that underscores the validity of Srimadji’s work, for young and old, the spiritually and not so spiritually inclined, in a manner that is interesting as well as insightful.