In a flash, Krishna took out the Sudarshana Chakra from its holder near his waist and threw it at Shishupala. The Chakra took his head off and returned back to Krishna. Krishna Yogeshvara, the second volume in the Lord Krishna Trilogy, seamlessly weaves a mystical, awe-inspiring narrative of the leela of Krishna through the least explored aspect of his life-the years in between the killing of Kamsa and the start of the great war of Mahabharata. Krishna's favourite cousin, Uddhava, through his pristine narration, connects the episodes of how Krishna employs him to reconcile with Radha, leading to Krishna's growing-up years as a student and a warrior yogi. The book traces the evolution of Krishna from a precocious adolescent to a person fully in control of his consciousness-someone who is capable of offering the best solution using the stratagem of sama, dama, danda, bheda to every situation in accordance with Dharma. Krishna's understanding of Dharma is of the highest order, and his understanding transcends to that of the highest yogi. That is why he is revered as the Yogeshvara-one who fulfils Patanjali's definition of a yogi. The book explores the deep recesses of the minds of the various characters and how they interact with Krishna. The author intertwines the narrative of traditional Krishna stories with a touch of realism, using the technique of Uddhava's narration with his own. As the two paths converge, the villains and antagonists of the great epic also come to the fore and are vanquished strategically by Krishna's brilliance. Kutil Dharma, so brutal earlier, transmogrifies into a subtle but more devastating form; yet, he cannot escape the sharp eye of Krishna. The book ends with the Kaurava and the Pandava armies arrayed against each other, with Arjuna refusing to fight, setting the stage for the recital of Bhagavad Gita.

A never-before action packed retelling of Lord Krishna's life, Krishna Gopeshvara is the first in a trilogy that narrates the early life events of Lord Krishna from the time of Kamsa's capture of the Mathura throne to his killing by his nephew-as was foretold by the tyrant king's own priest. Styled as a historical fiction, Krishna and Kamsa are portrayed as men pursuing their narratives according to their understanding of the world around them. What entails is a clash of two narratives-the dharmic one symbolized by Krishna and the other a totalitarian and despotic narrative epitomized by Kamsa. The only assumption that has been made is that Krishna was a highly gifted young man. In the story of the battle between an uncle he must kill to survive lies embedded the truth of a nation gone rogue and a critique of the social, cultural and religious circumstances of Mathura, Magadha, Kashi, and other leading power centres of Aryavarta-which holds relevance even in our times-thus setting the stage for the great epic of Mahabharata. The careful portrayal of the other kings and princes of the Mahabharata era shows how often flaws in character can lead to devastating consequences, affecting, sometimes, the nation as a whole. Thus, human psychology is laid bare, including the inherent limitations of man. Weaving a riveting account of the life of the Lord, the political intrigues, discussions on dharma and debates on the position of women in the society, Krishna Gopeshvara is a perfect portrayal of the Vedic era with a deep resonance to the times we live in.

This eighth and final volume of Astadala Yogamala Brings the reader to the culmination of the entire project. The author has guided us carefully through the maze and intricacies of an apparently unsurmountable subject that is the terrain of yoga knowledge. He has shone rays of light into every conceivable aspect of yoga sadhana, elucidating this difficult subject succinctly and with lucidity. Guruji (Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar) calls and encourages us to climb to the apex of the subject so that the reader may see for themselves its vastness, its purity and its brilliance.

This book traces the history of India’s struggle for freedom from circa 1915 to present day. Salient events from the 17th to 19th century are included to provide context to later events. The account narrated here is evidence-based, covering the four decades after M. K. Gandhi’s return from Africa. This is a historical narrative based on the facts and events that happened, backed by public domain records. These are further corroborated by Gandhi’s speeches, articles and letters written to the British authorities, with the ultimate aim of demystifying Gandhi’s Mahatmaship. The book highlights the series of missed opportunities and poor decisions made by the Indian leadership (primarily Gandhi and Nehru) during the course of independence and thereafter. These events and decisions have already affected the four generations of people. While there were several noteworthy freedom fighters who tried to steer things in more opportune directions, they were stymied by Gandhi’s authoritarian stance and his often-obstinate stand on social, economic, and political developments. This book looks critically at the decisions Gandhi made and their impact on modern-day India. Divided in seven sections, the first four sections discuss Gandhi’s leadership and his actions during the freedom struggle; the fifth section gives a detailed analysis of the 60 years of post-independence Congress regimes, during which Nehru and his dynasty’s policies destroyed the five pillars of democracy. Finally, the epilogue suggests a road map for the way forward.

Commentary on 'The Bhagavad Geeta' by Swami Mukundananda

"Published by the Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery on the occasion of the exhibition Yoga: The Art of Transformation, October 19, 2013 - January 26, 2014. Organized by the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, the exhibition travels to the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, February 22-May 18, 2014, and the Cleveland Museum of Art, June 22-September 7, 2014."

A new translation of the great spiritual classic. Widely hailed as the single most important text to emerge from India, the Bhagavad Gita has inspired countless readers—sages, students, yogis, and seekers. A part of the great Hindu classic, the Mahābhārata, this text is presented as a dialogue between the skillful warrior Arjuna and the god Krishna, as Arjuna faces a crisis about dharma and prepares for a great battle with no defenses other than Krishna’s divine guidance. Dr. Ravindra’s fresh prose translation stands out from the many other versions by presenting the Bhagavad Gita as a call to action. It is at heart a universal guide to navigating the battle of life required of each and every one of us. The Bhagavad Gita: A Guide to Navigating the Battle of Life, from which this book derives, contains commentary from the translator, along with a selected bibliography and index. This book is part of the Shambhala Pocket Library series. The Shambhala Pocket Library is a collection of short, portable teachings from notable figures across religious traditions and classic texts. The covers in this series are rendered by Colorado artist Robert Spellman. The books in this collection distill the wisdom and heart of the work Shambhala Publications has published over 50 years into a compact format that is collectible, reader-friendly, and applicable to everyday life.