Ancient Vedic India was a land where knowledge and wisdom were revered as the greatest wealth. There intellectual Brahmins, sagely Rishis, and equipoised Munis were honored for their incomparable knowledge. At a time when writing was not well developed, Smriti or memory was the main medium by which knowledge was recorded before transmitting it through Vak or the spoken word from a preceptor Guru to his disciples Shishyas. Mantras or hymns composed in ancient Sanskrit were used to remember complex knowledge along with Katha or thought-provoking tales. These tales besides being entertaining were also enlightening and promoted deeper Vichara or contemplation. In this first volume of Rishis Tales, U. Mahesh Prabhu presents 21 such stories translated from the ancient Sanskrit. Tales that continue to inspire millions of people towards the true understanding of Self, wisdom, peace, and prosperity.

In this book Mahesh Prabhu presents Vedic stories in their core essence, relaying and focusing their deeper meaning, not interfering with it or reducing it to alien and superficial concepts. His stories are short, poignant, and diverse, with multiple levels of meaning, like parables, conundrums, paradoxes and axioms (sutras). He has drawn these stories from many traditional sources in Sanskrit literature and reworked them in a concise and invocative manner. They feature the names and stories of famous sages, kings, places and the peoples of old India. Such exalted figures as King Bhartrihari or the Vedantic sage Ashtavakra visit these pages and come to life again through them.

Ancient Vedic India was a land where knowledge and wisdom were revered as the greatest wealth. There intellectual Brahmins, sagely Rishis, and equipoised Munis were honored for their incomparable knowledge. At a time when writing was not well developed, Smriti or memory was the main medium by which knowledge was recorded before transmitting it through Vak or the spoken word from a preceptor Guru to his disciples Shishyas. Mantras or hymns composed in ancient Sanskrit were used to remember complex knowledge along with Katha or thought-provoking tales. These tales besides being entertaining were also enlightening and promoted deeper Vichara or contemplation. In this first volume of Rishis Tales, U. Mahesh Prabhu presents 21 such stories translated from the ancient Sanskrit. Tales that continue to inspire millions of people towards the true understanding of Self, wisdom, peace, and prosperity.

“Seldom make fun about the future of any person; irrespective of present condition. Never underestimate the power of time; it turns even a worthless coal into a priceless diamond. ” “Speak the truth in such a way that it should be fair. Never speak that assumed truth, unfairly. Never speak untruth, even though it might be pleasant. This is the path of perennial Dharma.” “One must never place excessive faith on one’s Dhana (Wealth), Jana (People) and Yauvana (Youthfulness) for these three are the most transient in our lives – there today, gone tomorrow.” “Pursuing happiness is but the nature of every creature. But there is no happiness without Dharma. Therefore, pursue Dharma.” "Wealth cannot give happiness by itself. One has to understand that it is always a means, never an end. By recognizing wealth as an end, it becomes a source of misery. Wealth is temporary and unsteady. It moves from one to another. Greed drives people without knowledge of wealth to destruction. Therefore, knowledge and wisdom are crucial in earning, retaining and dissipating wealth, righteously." Kautilya a.k.a. Chanakya

Kootaneeti, the Vedic Art of Strategic Living, is a nearly lost Vedic art and science for leaders originally designed to promote the right use of power. For centuries, its teachings helped build sagely empires and create social wellbeing, prosperity and lasting peace. Kootaneeti focuses on how to use the intellect to convert difficulties into strengths by understanding the workings of the human mind. Its teachings can be utilized in adverse situations where the wrong use of power as well as resources prevail and new opportunities remain unrecognized. Both individuals and institutions can benefit from learning the fundamentals of Kootaneeti to neutralize opposition and develop new strategies by special insights and astute efforts. In an age of social, economic, and political uncertainty, Kootaneeti is a useful tool to prepare leaders to address the new challenges involved and achieve their objectives in a sustainable manner. U. Mahesh Prabhu is a seasoned media, management and political consultant who has been researching this subject for over a decade in Vedic texts and teaching it worldwide, along with Dr David Frawley, an internationally renowned and honoured Acharya of Vedic knowledge on many levels. The book presents the ancient secrets of Kootaneeti in a subtle and simple way with practical insights, stories, and parables. The book will not only entertain and educate but will also enlighten you.

About the Book: Questions: · Can we infer the chronology of our country from our literature while applying a scientific filter to discard the myths? · Is it possible to chronicle the kings, rishis, people’s lives, their scientific progress, and literary creations, “as-it-happened”? · Is it achievable to present this information in an engaging manner that captivates individuals from high school students to retired educators? Answer: Yes. This book chronologically organizes the Rishis, kings, literary evolution, people's lives, and scientific progress based on Sanskrit and Tamil literature. Through rigorous reconciliation, it aims to eliminate myths, confusions, interpolations, and exaggerations. The aim is to offer a clear, logical and captivating narrative, enriched with pictures. The chronology includes the ancient Rishis such as Bhrugu, Atri, Vaśishtha, Viśvāmitra, Paraśurāma, Bhāradvāja, Dīrgatamas, Agastya, Krishna Dvaipāyana, and more. Additionally, it accurately positions renowned kings like Purūravas, Yayāti, Śibi, Hariśchandra, Bhagīratha, Bharata, Raghu, Rāma, Kurū, Krishna, Yudhishthira, and others in their respective timelines. Top of Form Furthermore, this period encompasses significant events including the rendering of the Vedic mantras by the Rishis, the Aryan clan split towards Iran resulting in the formation of the Zōrōastrians, the atrocities and defeat of the Haihaya clan, fusion of Nāgās and other native tribes into the Vedic religion, Āryan colonization of South India, and the Bharata battle at Kurukshetra.