One hundred years after Ashoka’s brutal conquest, Kalinga stirs once more. The Mahameghavahanas, a dynasty forged in fire, have not only broken free from the chains of foreign oppression but have ignited a renaissance of culture and patriotism. The brave and wise king Mahameghavahana Kharavela is determined to restore Kalinga to its former glory and reclaim the sacred Jina idol, which was torn from his people’s grasp by Magadha’s greedy hands. Yet, as the embers of rebirth glow bright, darkness lurks in every corner. King Kharavela finds himself trapped in a deadly game of chess. Palace intrigue shifts through the halls, while rival factions sharpen their knives in the shadows. Beyond the borders, hungry eyes watch and wait. Within, traitors weave their treacherous webs. Into this viper’s nest steps an enigma. Rudravarman—warrior, sage and master of a thousand arts. But his antecedents are mysterious and his objectives unclear. Who is this man who appeared from nowhere to stand at the king’s right hand? What demons drive him? Is he the kingdom’s salvation . . . or the architect of its final downfall? Prepare to be transported to a world of epic ambition, breathtaking betrayal and long-buried truths. A meticulously researched historical thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat as it unravels a mystery set against the backdrop of India’s tumultuous first century BCE.

This book is an exploration and interpretation of the diverse symbols and images that represent the sacred presence of God in the Book of Psalms. These images of sacred spaces and objects represent diverse conceptions of “the sanctuary” or sacred spaces, objects and texts that mediate God’s presence and bridge the gap between the ineffable nature of God as transcendent and beyond human comprehension and as immanently and intimately present in human experience. I explore the multivalent ways in which images of sacred spaces and objects facilitate prayer and contemplation. This book represents a valuable contribution to the study of Psalms and biblical theology, spirituality and prayer.