Seven beautifully illustrated traditional stories that immerse the reader in the ancient culture of India as well as impart important life lessons
- Shares classic tales from India, including stories drawn from the
Mahabharata, the
Ramayana, and the
Puranas, translated by the authors
- Illustrated throughout with glowing full-color paintings in traditional Indian style prepared according to the traditional Hindu canon
With this full-color illustrated collection of classic tales from India, you will learn about the playful, loyal, strong, loving, and wise gods, goddesses, and heroes of India. You will discover how the deity Ganesh, the remover of obstacles, got his elephant head, how the goddess Parvati won the heart of the great god Shiva, and how the goddess Ganga came to Earth from Heaven in the form of the holy Ganges River. You will discover how Krishna's childhood as superhero and mischievous boy prepared him to fulfill his destiny as an avatar of the god Vishnu. In two tales drawn from the
Ramayana, you will learn about prince Ram and his victory over the ten-headed demon king Ravana and how the monkey-god Hanuman moved a medicine mountain to save Ram's brother. In two stories from the famous epic the
Mahabharata, you will discover how Karna became the greatest archer in the world to help good triumph over evil and how Arjuna compassionately fought his own cousins to bring peace to the kingdom of Hastinapur.
The glowing illustrations, executed in transparent watercolors and tempera paints, are done in a centuries-old method traditional to India. Richly detailed, they bring to life the colorful cast of characters--humans, gods, and demons alike--and allow the reader to become immersed in the mystical world of ancient India.
Johari, Harish: - Harish Johari (1934-1999) was a distinguished North Indian author, Tantric scholar, poet, musician, composer, artist, and gemologist who held degrees in philosophy and literature and made it his life's work to introduce the culture of his homeland to the West.
Here is a hot link to a web site dedicated to Harish Johari's work that was set up by his students. http: //www.sanatansociety.com/artists_authors/aa_harish_johari.htm
Johari, Sandeep: - Sandeep Johari was raised by his uncle Harish Johari, who taught him classical Indian painting. He is the creative director in a graphic design studio in New Delhi, India.
Sperling, Vatsala: - Vatsala Sperling, Ph.D., fluent in a number of Indian languages and Sanskrit, learned these traditional stories at her mother's feet and enjoys introducing them to children of the Western world. Before marrying and moving to the United States, she was the chief of Clinical Microbiological Services at the largest children's hospital in India. The author of Classic Tales from India, she lives in Vermont with her husband and son.
Weltevrede, Nona: - Nona Weltevrede got in touch with Indian culture at a young age by watching his father and his mentor, Harish Johari, paint. A graduate of the Dutch Academy of Art and Design, St. Joost, he lives in Buren, Holland.
Weltevrede, Pieter: - Pieter Weltevrede (1955-2024) began his artistic studies with Harish Johari in 1977 and also studied with Shri Chandra Bal. He lived in the Netherlands with his wife and two children and traveled to India annually.
