Prince Jivaka


Book Description

In the kingdom of Hemangada, a treacherous minister named Kattiyangaran, decides to usurp the throne, and kill the entire royal family. Queen Vijaya escapes the slaughter. In a dark cremation ground, unhappy and alone, she gives birth to a child and puts his father's royal ring upon his finger. The child grows up to be Prince Jivaka. Jivaka has many adventures but the core of the book becomes apparent in the end when a weary Jivaka decides to renounce his kingdom and become a Jain monk.




The rainbow prince


Book Description

The beautiful and spoilt Princess Rupanjali is determined to marry only the Rainbow Prince. When she hears that he is trapped in the body of a red parrot she orders that every bird in the kingdom be trapped and caged. When her maid Nilanjana protests at her cruelty, Rupanjali has her thrown into the cage too. When the new king ignores his old friend the shepherd, he wakes up the next morning with billions of needles poking his skin. Removing one makes two more grow back. As he lies in agony, his queen must find a way of helping him. In these two folk-tales from Bengal, arrogance is always punished – even in a prince or princess.




The Bible of Tibet


Book Description

First Published in 2005. This is the first collection translated and edited of the most significant scripture from the Buddhist literature of South Asia. It was on the basis of this collection that the English-speaking reader became acquainted with the 'Bible of Tibet'. This collection still represents the most complete collection of Buddhist teachings and is indis­pensable to the study of that subject.




The Bible of Tibet


Book Description

This is the first translated and edited collection of the most significant scripture from the Buddhist literature of South Asia. It was on the basis of this collection that the English speaking reader became acquainted with the 'Bible of Tibet'. This collection still represents the most complete collection of Buddhist teachings and remains indispensable today.




The pandava princes


Book Description

Wise Yudhishthira, strong Bheema, skilful Arjuna, brave Nakula and Sahadeva – five exceptionally talented brothers whose youthful exuberance made their Kaurava cousins very jealous. Things only got worse when Duryodhana found that everyone wanted Yudhishthira as king. It was their courage and skill that helped the Pandava princes survive several murderous plots. And as a bonus, they won themselves wonderful wives!




The Lost Prince


Book Description

Prince Kshemankara was a kind and generous person. His younger brother, Papankara, was more suspicious by nature.Kshemankara decided to take a fleet of ships and search for riches in other lands. Papankara went along with him. During a storm their ship capsized. Kshemankara managed to get his unconscious brother to the shore, before he too collapsed. Many months later, Papankara returned home alone and was made king. What could have happened to Kshemankara? Originally of Indian origin, the tale travelled with Buddhist monks to monastries in Tibet. It was found by European travellers in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and translated into English.




Gandhari


Book Description

A hundred sons, the sages say, are a hundred blessings. Gandhari's hundred Kaurava sons, however, were more of a curse. Did they become evil by some divine plan or was it because she was proudly blind to their faults? Helpless as they heaped dishonour on the family, she was furious with Lord Krishna for abetting in her son's eventual slaughter. Unfortunately, her grief was overpowering, and threatened to wreak further havoc...




Jahangir


Book Description

It is tough to be a famous junior, and more so when the senior happens to be Akbar, the Mughal-e-Azam. This was the tragedy of Jahangir. It was a personal tragedy in which neither Anarkali not Noor Jahan had any role, though popular stories associate these two women, more than anyone else with Jahangir. Jahangir's love for his father was deep and his admiration vast. The events described in this book are based on the memoirs of Akbar and Jahangir and other historical records.




Agastya


Book Description

He outwitted the Vindhya mountain when, in its pride, it tried to obstruct the natural path of the sun. He drank all the waters of the ocean to expose the wicked Kalkeyas, who hid there after challenging the Gods to battle. Agastya is the most well-known among the Saptarshi. His stories are found not just in the Vedas but are scattered through the Brahmanas and the Puranas as well. These stories are known not only in India but are also a part of S.E. Asian mythology.




Sahasramalla


Book Description

Sahasramalla steals from everyone. But when he tricks the King himself, Sahasramalla realises that there is no longer anyone left to rob and wonders what to do next. Near by, a monk named Vasudda is speaking. Vasudda's words make Sahasramalla realise how many people he has cheated and betrayed. Taken from the Vardhamana-desana, a Jain classic, the story of Sahasramalla is told with compassion. Even a thief is given the option to repent and make up for his crimes.