Author: Anant Pai
Publisher: India Book House
Year: 1972
Language: English
Pages: 130
ISBN/UPC (if available): N/A
Description
Vol 17: Abhimanyu - Abhimanyu's father was the great Arjuna. His mother, Subhadra, was the sister of Lord Krishna. In spite of being overshadowed by such powerful personalities, Abhimanyu had no difficulty in finding his rightful place among the greatest of his time.
Vol 18. Arjuna was as devoted to Krishna as Hanuman was to Rama. The first story in this book, which is based on a folktale popular in South India, is about the encounter between Arjuna and Hanuman both of whom come to realise that Rama and Krishna are one and the same.
Arjuna was trained by Drona, the master of archery, and he acquired powerful weapons by propitiating the gods. But the weapon that made him invincible was his mighty bow, Gandiva, which he obtained from Agni.
Arjuna and his cousin, Krishna, were inseparable, and it was to Krishna that he always turned for guidance. In the battle of Kurukshetra, Krishna acted as Arjuna's charioteer.
There ware, however occasions when Arjuna became vain and boastful. The third story in this book shows how Krishna gently, but firmly, corrected Arjuna on such occasions.
Vol. 19a: Rana Kumbha-Maharana Kumbha was not only a great sovereign and military commander but also a great scholar and musicologist. He wrote commentaries on the Gita-Govinda by Jayadeva and composed works like the 'Chandi Shataka' and 'Sangeet Ratnakar'.
Among the galaxy of Rajput soverigns Maharana Kumbha occupies a pre-eminent position. His natural abilties and achievements place him in the forefront of the great rulers not only of Mewar, but of the whole of India. The material for this book has been drawn from the famous book on the life of Kumbha by Harbilas Sarda.
Vol 20a: Tales of Shiva - Shiva is the third deity in the Hindu triad. He ought to be the most terrible one because he presides over destruction, whereas Brahma and Vishnu are associated with creation and preservation respectively. Yet Shiva is as much loved by mortals as Vishnu is. He inspires fear in the hearts of the wicked; love and affection in the hearts of the pious.
Hindu mythology sometimes attributes all the three acts of creation, preservation and destruction to Shiva. In the Maheshamurti at Elephanta, all these aspects are combined.
The confrontation between Shiva and Arjuna is one of the many dramatic episodes in the Mahabharata. To the warrior-devotee Arjuna, Shiva appears, most appropriately, as a warrior, a Kirata. The Lord takes pleasure in battling with His devotee before rewarding him.
The story of Shiva appearing as a fisherman is told in the Tamil classic, the Tiruvachagam. The story of Markandeya attaining immortaility by the grace of Lord Shiva is taken from the Skanda Purana.