The Mistress of Spices

After reading the novel 'The Mistress of Spices' by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni I decided to watch movie as well. In most of the cases where movies are based on novels the novels are far better than the movie. Same is in this case. The main attraction of movie is Aishwarya Rai who looks very pretty in sarees. The rest is just fine in the movie.
The author has explained Indian spices and their power amazingly. The description, use and power of spices are well researched. The creative and poetic style of writer keeps me absorbed in novel throughout its length. I must read for those who are interested to know about Indian spices.

No change yet different!

When I visited the society where I used to live earlier near about four years back, my neighbors comments surprised me.
"You have changed so much." Mrs. 'S' said.
"Your face has changed but your laugh is same loud and pleasing to ears." Mrs. 'F' said.
"I will not be able to recognize you if I haven't seen your photo on Facebook." Mrs. 'X' said.
"You are looking very pretty." Mrs. 'K' said.
I thought, "My face haven't changed much though they are experiencing the difference just because of my hairstyle; earlier I used to make plait and now I left my hair loose."

A bunch of flowers

Dear readers these beautiful flowers of Amaltas are for you. I thankyou for reading my posts, liking them and commenting on them. While I was busy with the publishing of my book I missed and forget to tell you that I had written more than 600 posts on my blog. This is my 616th post. I write because dear readers, you are my inspiration, you are my motivation and you are my strength. You made me successful and popular. Thanks for being a part of my blog.

Review of 'Shattered Dreams'

 I have never read a book based on Lord Ram’s life so interesting! Ramayana – The Game of Life is written by Shubha Vilas. ‘Shattered Dreams’ is the second part of this series. The first part is ‘Rise of the Sun Prince’.

‘Shattered Dreams’ is based on Ayodhya Kand and Aranya Kand. It tells that the age old saga has immediate relevance to today’s modern day life. It has uncountable wisdom gems in it which the author discovers making it’s writings more interesting, simple and lucid. Some of the points which I like are as follows:-

1. Unity without loyalty to a common goal is like cement without water to seal bricks.
2. The simplest joys of nature cannot be replaced by the complex creations of man.
3. Clouds receive salty water from ocean and return sweet water as rain. A cow eats grass and returns sweet milk. A coconut tree drinks water and returns nectar. What one receives is a debt that can be absolved by paying through selfless service.
4. Desires are like waves in an ocean. If one hits the shores, rest assured, another is on its way. Spiritual practice transforms one from ceaseless ocean of desires to the still lake of self-satisfaction.
5. When your actions boomerang as reactions, rather than wondering who threw it at you, you should wonder when you threw it.
6. Just like a river does not differentiate between two banks, a pure mind does not differentiate between what is the self’s and what is not; like the river, it is so absorbed in others’ welfare that it finds no time for self-absorption.
7. When the aim of life changes from pleasing the ego to pleasing God, it changes from egocentric to god-centric.
8. A good leader prudently stops an overdose of anger from entering his system like a healthy man consciously avoids overeating.
9. Forgiveness is the fragrance that the sandalwood tree leaves on an axe that cuts it, the stone that grinds it and in the smoke that burns it.
10. One should focus on devotion to duty rather than hankering for appreciation of result.
11. Prayer is not about approaching God for temporary solutions but approaching Him with a permanent commitment.
12. Many have the fortune of knowing what is right, but few have the guts of doing what is right.
13. Lifestyle is not so much about habits as much as it is about mindsets. Imitating habits is easy, but emulating mindsets is difficult.
14. A hero is not one who tries to surpass others, but one who strives to solve the knots in others’ lives at the cost of personal sacrifices.

This book unravels practical facts that go with every age. It tells people to adopt Ramayana in their lives. The author himself is a spiritual seeker and a motivational speaker. He teaches to apply teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, the Ramayana and other dharmic traditions in dealing with modern day life situations.

Name in print

"Thanks for reading the manuscript of 'Japa Meditation - The Easiest Way To Calm The Mind'. Thanks a lot for suggesting humorous anecdotes here and there which makes it very interesting. As a gesture of thanks I added your name in 'Acknowledgements' of my book." I said and handed a copy of the book to Mrs. 'K'.
Flipping through the pages of book, she checked her name and said, "I am seeing my name in print for the second time. First time it was on my wedding card. I do not know why you gave my name in your book. But any ways Thanks, yaar!"

Japa Meditation is available online

Dear Readers,
You can buy my book 'Japa Meditation - The Easiest Way To Calm The Mind' at amazon.in. Grab ur copy now. 
http://www.amazon.in/Japa-Meditation-Easiest-Calm-Mind/dp/9385077163/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424652245&sr=8-1&keywords=japa+meditation+chandrika+shubham

Release of my third book

Today my third book 'Japa Meditation - The Easiest Way To Calm The Mind' was released by Mr. Sanjeev Kataria, owner of S. K. Kataria and Sons and Mr. Madan, National Sales Head, S. Chand Group in Delhi World Book Fair 2015. On this occasion Dr. Rajeev Jain, owner of Vayu Publications and Dr. Devashish Saini, owner of Ross Clinics were also present.