Book Review: Somnath and Chitralekha

1) Somnath:  This novel is based on the story of Somnath temple of Gujrat and it's intrusion and raid by Mahmud of Ghazni. Somnath was very famous and prosperous temple. It had enormous amount of gold, precious stones and many more valuable things. It is told that the treasure of this temple was more than combined wealth of many kings of India. 

Mahmud Ghazni invaded India 18 times and somnath was his last invasion to India. Mahmud's aim for invasion to India was not only wealth or prosperity but also domination of Hindu religion and demolition of their temples and spread muslim religion. The story starts from Mahmud 's invasion to Indian border and his entire campaign to Somnath till his return to Ghazni.

The story is written so nicely and neatly and all facts and current scenario is bound in such a flow that you will enjoy the whole novels. Novel not only explain the prosperity of somnath or preparation of defense attack by Rajputs but also tells how brave Mamud Ghanzi was. There were a number of peer and fakir, who were sent to India by him years before and to make good relation with Indian kings and make his incoming without opposition free. He applied all the tricks like sympathy, religion, obligation and even force.

Writer also discussed the reason why Rajput on that time could not stop him. What were the drawbacks in their strategies against Mahmud. He explain if Rajput would had been united on that time no intruder could put step in India but their internal disputes and unnecessary extra lavish living style that they could not effort to leave, gave chance to this kind of attacks to India.

It is very good novel and should be read by every Indian and those who are interested to know about Indian historical greatness and importance of temple. 

2) Chitralekha: This novel is written by Bhagwati Charan Verma, who is one of my favorite novelist. Chitralekha is a novel based in the times of Chandragupta Maurya. It discuss about 'sin and virtue' or I should say It define 'sin and virtue'. 

The story starts with a discussion between two scholar Shwetank and Vishaldev, who were discussing and want to learn what is right and what is wrong or what is sin and virtue. Their Guru sent them to two different persons in the same city. One goes to a saint named yogi Kumargiri, who claimed that he has left all the pleasure of life and he is above all the happiness and sorrow, all the desire of life. While another scholar went to Bijgupta, who is wealthy and minister of Chandragupta Maurya and enjoying all the pleasure of life and he has lover named Chitralekha. Chitralekha is beautiful and the great dancer of her time. Kings were ready to die for her one smile.But at the same time she is true by his heart and religious.

Both stayed there for one year and after one year both defined the sin and virtue in totally different manner. Which is sin in one's eye, was virtue in another 's opinion. During the time, Shwetank finds that Kumargiri is doing so many wrong things. And Vishaldev sees that even though Bijgupta enjoys all the pleasure of life but inside by heart he is logical ,generous and true scholar. Final pupils master guru Ratnambar explained them that there is no sin and no virtue in this world. It is the circumstances which define the both. That's why based on situation, even the person who enjoys all the luxury of life can be a great sage and a big yogi may behave as an ordinary people and attracts towards pleasure of world.

This novels has many places and many lines which will force you to think hours. You will think that what Chitralekha said that 's right but Bijgupta was also logical. There were many paragraphs you will enjoying alot. This novel is word by word contemporary to present world. I will say the story is equally valid for all time of human philosophy.

I will just say this three novels Vyam Raksham , Somnath and Chitralekha are the top three novels of my life.

Happy Thinking Naturally..........

Book Review: Vayam Rakshamah

I apologize first for my absentee for such a long time. I was kind of busy in my new life and life style. As now I am PhD Scholar and spending much of time of my life in my small laboratory and playing with PC. But around  one month before I started back reading novels and believe me, when I read novels, I feel I am alive....... peace comes in my mind. Eagerness to read the book at earliest is always there but I feel myself very contempt and satisfied.

Although this time there is a small change in book that I have chosen. As you know I am an Indian and my mother tongue is Hindi. When I started reading novels around 10-12 years back, I started with Hindi novels. I read many authors on that time like Munshi Premchand , Bhagwati Charan Verma, Amrita Pritam  and many more.Then I shifted to English novels. Again after long time I read some hindi novels. And believe me, I considered these novels as the best novels I ever read . So here are the review of one of these books.

I also apologize that due to scarcity of time, I am writing review of vayam rakshamah only but according to me reviews of three books are pending for my blog. Actually I am already reading another novel and I am fully involved in that world and could not resist to write reviews of these novels. So, I assure you that you wil receive other two reviews very soon.

Vayam Rakshamah:
This novel is my all time favorite novel. It is written by Acharya Chatursen Shastri. I felt that this book is novel cum documentary of Hindu and Hindutava. Acharya Chatursen Shastri was scholar of Sanskrit. He is Ayurvedacharya in Ayurveda and Shastri in Sanskrit . He had read all Puranas, and Upanishads of  Hindu religion.

The novels starts with the story of Ravana. In this novel Ravana is not a villain while he is a hero. The novels explains the real moto of Ravana's life. What he wants to do. How he has become, so powerful. What is his background. What is his culture. Why he has abducted Sita. It explains many mythological beliefs like does really Hanuman flys or Why Ravana could not marry Sita or how Lakshmana killed Meghnad etc.

In between it also explain about all the Dev, Danav ,Ashur, Barmha and their power and behavior. It describe  with proper logic and facts. According to it, all are kings. It tells you how they ruled, what are the roles of Rishies like Narad, Viswamitra etc. So starting from the first king to till Ravana and after that Rama and their life after Lanka victory, this novel has explained very well.

I will say every person of India and those who want learn hindu culture and hindutav should read this novel. Do not think that , it is another version of Ramayana.  Your perception will change completely about mythological people and culture after reading this book.

Following lines explains the real moto of Ravan.
"रावण, भगवन शिव से कहता है:

'हम रक्षा करते हैं। यही हमारी रक्ष-संस्कृति है। आप देवाधिदेव हैं। आप देखते ही हैं कि आर्यों ने आदित्यों से पृथक् होकर भारतखण्ड में आर्यावर्त बना लिया है। वे निरन्तर आर्यजनों को बहिष्कृत कर दक्षिणारण्य में भेजते रहते हैं। दक्षिणारण्य में इन बहिष्कृत वेद-विहीनव्रात्यों के अनेक जनपद स्थापित हो गये हैं। फिर भारतीय सागर के दक्षिण तट पर अनगिनत द्वीप-समूह हैं, जहां सब आर्य, अनार्य, आगत, समागत, देव, यक्ष, पितर, नाग, दैत्य, दानव, असुर परस्पर वैवाहिक सम्बन्ध करके रहते हैं। फिर भी सबकी संस्कृति भिन्न है, परन्तु हमारा सभी का एक ही नृवंश है और हम सब परस्पर दायाद बान्धव हैं। मैं चाहता हूं कि मेरी रक्ष-संस्कृति में सभी का समावेश हो, सभी की रक्षा हो। इसी से मैंने वेद् का नया संस्करण किया है और उसमें मैंने सभी दैत्यों-दानवों की रीति-परम्पराओं को भी समावेशित किया है, जिससे हमारा सारा ही नृवंश एक वर्ग और एक संस्कृति के अन्तर्गत वृद्घिगत हो। आप देखते हैं कि गत एक सौ वर्षों में तेरह देवासुर-संग्राम हो चुके, जिनमें इन बस दायाद् बान्धवों ने परस्पर लड़कर अपना ही रक्त बहाया। विष्णु ने दैत्यों से कितने छल किए। देवगण अब भी अनीति करते हैं। काश्यप सागर-तट की सारी दैत्यभूमि आदित्यों ने छलद्घबल से छीनी है। अब सुन रहा हूं कि देवराट् इन्द्र चौदहवें देवासुर-संग्राम की योजना बना रहा है। ये सब संघर्ष तथा युद्घ तभी रोके जा सकते हैं, जब सारा नृवंश एक संस्कृति के अधीन हो इसीलिये मैंने अपनी वह रक्ष-संस्कृति प्रतिष्ठित की है।'"

Another interesting fact about Vayam Raksham is the Indian Coast Guard's motto is वयम रक्षामः (Vayam Rakshamah), which translates from Sanskrit as We Protect.

Happy Thinking Naturally..........