Published by Chandra Publications, LLC

Tales from Indian Epics
H.R. Chandrasekhar
chandra@missouri.edu

Copyright © 2001
H.R. Chandrasekhar
All Rights Reserved
ISBN 0-9711223-0-X
306 pages, 29 Stories
21 Illustrations, 4 Color Plates

Jacket Design:
Chandrasekhars
Front Jacket: Wedding of Shiva and Parvati
Back Jacket: Ardhanarishvara
(Elephanta Caves, Mumbai, India)

This book includes timeless classics such as the legends of Shakuntala, Damayanti, Savithri, Bhagiratha, Harischandra, Urvashi and Devayani; rare treats such as the tales of Astika, Jadabharata
and Madalasa; abridged versions of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata; and stories from the Bhagawata Purana.

Line Drawings:Pramila Viswanath

Excerpts:
"Valmiki had been mulling over in his mind a great epic. It was an extraordinary tale of love, courage, sacrifice and adventure. The characters were larger than life and epitomized the virtues he cherished. Even the villains were grand, though they had fallen from the path of righteousness. The story had to be told in poetry. He was sure of it. But the choice of meter was still a mystery. How should he begin this great work? What should the opening lines be?"
-Valmiki

"A swan that had wandered into his garden from the palace gardens of Vidarbha had been the messenger. Nala and Damayanti had traded messages with each other in notes tied to the claws of the bird. They had shared their likes and dislikes, hobbies and songs. They had begun to love one another, never having met, yet with a feeling that they had known each other for ages."
- Nala and Damayanti

"Shiva was lulled by the beauty of spring and his mind wandered a little. As he opened his eyes, he saw Gauri with an offering of a rosary of lotus seeds. Her beauty and devotion captured his heart. His firmness was shaken like the agitation of the sea at moonrise. He instantly fell in love with her. He was about to accept the rosary when he suddenly noticed the mischievous Kama, gleefully watching. Shiva's embarrassment turned into anger. His third eye opened momentarily. A flame of cosmic fire shot from it instantly consuming Kama and turning him into a heap of ashes."
- Shiva and Parvati

These excerpts are just a taste of the 29 classic tales included in this exciting book.The essence of major works such as the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, stories from the Puranas such as the Bhagawata, and plays by luminaries such as Kalidasa have been adapted for the modern reader. Preserving the underlying spirit of each story, the author has provided a window into ancient Indian life and culture. Thought provoking and entertaining, Tales from Indian Epics is a delight for readers of all ages and backgrounds.

The Author:
Dr. H.R. Chandrasekhar (Chandra) was born and raised in a remote village in south India at the dawn of Independence. After graduating from high school, the highest level of education the village could offer, he moved to Bangalore where he obtained a Bachelors degree in Science from National College. After an M.Sc. from the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur, he received a Ph.D. in Physics from Purdue University at West Lafayette, Indiana. His next stop was the Max-Planck Institute for Condensed Matter Research in Stuttgart, Germany. During this two year stint, he met his future wife Meera. They returned to the United States in 1978 to join the faculty of the Physics Department at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri, where he is currently a Professor, Chair of the Physics Department, and Director of Graduate Studies.
Chandra was a recipient of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellowship and a consultant to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Drs. Meera and Chandra have three daughters - Tara, Rajni and Indu. Dr. Chandra was profoundly influenced by the great epics of India during his early childhood years. As a parent, he has shared them with his children by adapting the stories to fit their new world, yet keeping the essentials intact. This book is the culmination of that endeavor.