Wisdom's Blossoms: Tales of the Saints of India [Paperback]

Doug Glener (Author), Sarat Komaragiri (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 12, 2002

Here is a timeless collection of traditional stories that recount the personal spiritual journeys and true acts of selflessness by saints from various religious traditions indigenous to India, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Sufism. The authors present a diverse selection of these inspirational tales—about both men and women saints, from a variety of time periods, and from all over India—and make them relevant for a modern audience. The stories reveal that, despite their perceived differences, the same spiritual principles underlie all the great religious traditions.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Glener and Komaragiri present 26 tales of Indian saints, martyrs and other figures of religious inspiration. Affiliated with the transnational Hindu movement known as the Self-Realization Fellowship, both authors have selected broadly appealing stories that include varieties of Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Sikh and Jain heroes and heroines. The authors admit that they have scripted traditional stories for dramatic and didactic effect, underscoring the universal values within each tradition. Each tale fits neatly within a short-story model that reads like a fable, culminating in a moral or inspirational insight, and followed by a lovely drawing of an Indian devotional figure. "Tegh Bahadur Helps his Hindu Brothers" describes how the ninth Sikh guru chose death over forcible conversion to Islam, and how his brave beheading at the hands of Aurangzeb inspires "all of India with the courage to resist evil." Bahadur's martyrdom is no less saintly than that depicted in the Jain tale, "The Wedding Feast that Never Was," the story of Prince Arishtanemi's abandonment of his bride and kingdom for the sake of the creatures that were to be slaughtered for the wedding rite. Throughout, themes of nonviolence and individual renunciation underlie the stories. The advantage of this presentation is its accessibility and coherence of style. Yet each story, written in much the same voice, loses something of the great variety of Indian religious traditions, in which tales of saints are sung, chanted, and recounted in many colorful and cacophonous voices.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Boston-based Glener and Komaragiri, both members of the Self-Realization Fellowship, have produced an intriguing array of retellings of famous or instructive stories from Indian tradition, dealing with Hindu, Buddhist, and Sufi traditions. Between the stories there are short entries on Indian monuments and deities. While the manner of storytelling is occasionally stilted, many of these tales are not well known in the West and they should be a welcome addition to many libraries.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala (November 12, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 157062884X
• ISBN-13: 978-1570628849
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.4 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,016,326 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cool book!!, November 12, 2002

By 

"kvv15" (MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wisdom's Blossoms: Tales of the Saints of India (Paperback)

I got the book recently when a friend sent me a mail about it. I thought: who wants to read stories about saints and wonder-workers! But I am glad I started reading it!

I read the stories a few a day. They were very inspiring and thought-provoking! The guys in the stories are not some magical people with halos around their heads. They have their feet planted firmly on the ground. The way the authors have dealt with the psychological and emotional aspects of the characters makes it very pleasurable reading. You are drawn into the narrative.

Take Mira Bai's story for instance. I saw the lady saint in a completely different light after reading the story. She is not just an ecstatic singer, but a woman who stood by her convictions despite enormous political, social, economical turmoil around her.

Very relevant reading for the times that we are in! And enjoyable too! In my opinion, short stories with strong themes rock!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GOoD One, November 19, 2002

By 

pssp (NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wisdom's Blossoms: Tales of the Saints of India (Paperback)

Very great book on Indian Saints!! It reminded me of my childhood days sitting in the lap of my father and listening to the stories about great Indian devotees and dreaming about to become one like them.

In this book the story about Nandanar is just my hot (heart) favorite. Authors really must have had deep conviction and experienced the feelings of Nandanar on their own. Otherwise it would have been impossible to put them into sentences and make the readers also feel the same warmth.

This book is an indispensable compilation of the stories about great saints that have delighted and inspired generations in India. Turn to any story and you are sure to find one that will soothe your soul and open your mind.

I am glad I came across these Wisdom's Blossoms!!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring and Encouraging, January 3, 2003

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"murthyk" (MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wisdom's Blossoms: Tales of the Saints of India (Paperback)

Great book! This book is an elegant way of explaining the 26 divine qualities of a well-balanced individual. In this book, these qualities are explained through the stories of great people, who demonstrated these qualities in their own lives. Authors did a great job in bringing forth the true interpretation of these qualities. For example, the story "The Weaver, The Fakir, and The Pig", brings out the deeper meaning of "cleanness", not the commonly interpreted meaning that is concerned with external cleanness.
These stories are inspiring and encourage the reader to follow the good principles of life. A must read for adults and kids.