“It is an almost impossible task to know, to understand the REAL Ramakrishna. The Paramhansa was gracious enough to expose his REAL Self to some who deserved…” (Quotes from one of Sri Sri Ramakrishna’s closest devotees) The author, who is, at present, the only unparalleled scholar in the domain of Ramakrishna-related literature, has looked at the Avatar—as if, using all available measurement tools. A very special feature of the present work of the author is ‘My Thoughts on the Father’s Day’ where the author establishes, most logically and rationally, that most biological parents have limitations in making us understand the meaning and purpose of birth and life on this planet. We do need Spiritual Parents to guide us through. The author has most strongly felt that Ramakrishna is his Spiritual Father. Those who have never been exposed to the REAL Ramakrishna are likely to think him ‘mad’ being a witness to his diverse sports (leela). The author has used his meticulous researching skill to bring to light the REAL Ramakrishna and the manifold facets of his super-extraordinary personality many of which have remained undiscovered by even the most well-known Ramakrishna scholars—both Indian and foreign. The author, through the most innovative seven chapters of the book has concluded that the REAL Ramakrishna is not mad; it is those who think and call him ‘mad’ are mad.

This is the extraordinary true tale of a middle-class, gay American's path to encounters with the Great Mystery that is God/dess/Self. The way to the Great Unknown was intricately intertwined with his humanity with all its foibles, and with human relationships. Therefore this story has to include those relationships, revealing ultimately how a one's personal identity and relationships become vehicles for enlightenment. This inspiring account of struggle, travel to exotic lands, suffering, and transcendence holds out hope for anyone who has ever felt outcaste, broken, or unworthy, demonstrating for our modern times that enlightenment lies within reach of us all.

This Combo Collection (Set of 3 Books) includes All-time Bestseller Books. This anthology contains: The Life and Times of Ramakrishna Parmahamsa The Life and Times of Gautam Buddha The Life and Times of Swami Vivekananda

Scholar Jeffrey J. Kripal explores the life and teachings of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, a 19th-century Bengali saint who played a major role in the creation of modern Hinduism. The work is now marked by both critical acclaim and cross-cultural controversy. In a substantial new Preface to this second edition, Kripal answers his critics and addresses the controversy.

Same-Sex Love in India presents a stunning array of writings on same-sex love from over 2000 years of Indian literature. Translated from more than a dozen languages and drawn from Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, and modern fictional traditions, these writings testify to the presence of same-sex love in various forms since ancient times, without overt persecution. This collection defies both stereotypes of Indian culture and Foucault's definition of homosexuality as a nineteenth-century invention, uncovering instead complex discourses of Indian homosexuality, rich metaphorical traditions to represent it, and the use of names and terms as early as medieval times to distinguish same-sex from cross-sex love. An eminent group of scholars have translated these writings for the first time or have re-translated well-known texts to correctly make evident previously underplayed homoerotic content. Selections range from religious books, legal and erotic treatises, story cycles, medieval histories and biographies, modern novels, short stories, letters, memoirs, plays and poems. From the Rigveda to Vikram Seth, this anthology will become a staple in courses on gender and queer studies, Asian studies, and world literature.

A new emperor, old enemies, a fight for an enduring empire... The newly coronated Emperor Krishna Deva Raya leads his steadfast armies on a mission to capture impregnable fortresses and avenge his father's gruesome death. As the flags of Vijayanagara soar high under its glorious ruler, the fortuitous news of the birth of an heir to the throne bathes the city in joy and prosperity like never before. The people of the Samrajya worship Krishna Deva Raya like a god, and with the kingdom finally at peace, Krishna turns his focus inward. But deep in the underbelly of the palace, a seditious undertaking is afoot, while at the city's borders disbanded enemy kingdoms are uniting under a vengeful Shahi sultan determined to usurp Krishna's throne. Will Krishna, the statesman, prove to be as proficient as Krishna, the soldier? As his inner coterie of advisers stands divided at every turn, will Krishna be able to secure the future of his empire? The second novel in the series, Krishna Deva Raya: The Crown of Vijayanagara is a riveting exposition of war strategy, games of power and the politics of the royal court - a chronicle of one man's transformation into a god-king.

The story of Sri Ramakrishna, one of the most beloved Hindu spiritual leaders. "All religions are true. The important thing is to reach the roof. You can reach it by stone stairs or by wooden stairs or by bamboo steps or by a rope. One should not think, ‘My religion alone is the right path and other religions are false.’ I had to practice each religion for a time – Hinduism, Islam, Christianity. Infinite are the paths and infinite are opinions." - Sri Ramakrishna. In Thakur - Sri Ramakrishna: A Biography, Rajiv Mehrotra explores the ‘challenge and the riddle’ presented by the great mystic who, more than a century after his death, continues to dominate secular Hindu consciousness. Sri Ramakrishna brought a new vitality not only to the practices, rituals and symbols of the Hindu heritage but also the celebration of divinity in diverse forms, and reinforced the underlying possibility of a real harmony between all religions. It is this vision that makes him one of the great religious teachers of all time and so profoundly relevant today. This illuminating and intimate biography is most reader-friendly and comprehensive, revealing this boundless power and magnetism of Sri Ramakrishna, as well as the Order that was inspired by his spiritual quest. Mehrotra’s narrative gift is remarkably precise and richly evocative, integrating all details of an aspect into a visual and verbal complex of significance. This is a book for all those who want to know more about Sri Ramakrishna, as well as for anyone looking for a brilliant read.