Renowned archaeologist Sudhir Arya dies mysteriously the night before Diwali. His grandson, Vivaan, comes to his hometown to perform the last rites. Here, he gets a phone call that sets him off on a puzzling journey as he discovers thousand-year-old secrets and shocking facts about his identity.
1026 CE, PRABHAS KSHETRA
Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi has attacked the first jyotirlinga of Lord Somnath. Did he seek the temple’s treasures? Or was he looking for a Puranic heirloom of Sanatan Dharma, the mystery of which has been buried under layers of time?
470 CE, ARAB LAND
Yogi Matsyendranath awakens the kundalini energy of his army through the ritual of Aatma Jaagran as it takes on terrifying, evil entities tasked with protecting the greatest mystery of the Kaliyuga.
SATYUGA, ARYAVARTA
Through yagnas, bloody sacrifices and mantras prohibited in the Vedas, Devi Anishtatri, the goddess of malevolence, is invoked. She appears in her most ferocious form and grants a boon so potent it could change the fate of the universe.
What is the link between Aryavarta, Arab Land and Prabhas Kshetra?
What is the vicious boon that threatens to change the fate of the cosmos?
The ultimate battle of Kaliyuga is about to begin . . .
PLEASE When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
Writer Columnist | Actor | Engineer Author of 'Black Box' and 'Scientific Dharma'. Also series Maha-Asur Series. Featured books named Mrityunjay and Naag-paash.
Recommending a highly captivating Indian Mystery thriller that is packed with gripping narration of a storyline that is expanded on four timelines. I am still in awe of this book.
It's fast paced, extremely interesting plotting ready to unveil a treasure hunt theme. If you love reading mythological mysteries, fantasy and riddles, this is your pick.
With a thrilling storyline this book tells us a lot about stories from Purana. Puranic Satya Yuga, 470 CE, 1026 CE, and present day, four timelines simultaneously gravitated readers and took breathtaking turns that are strategically placed, never letting you put down the book.
When Vivan's grandfather died a night before Diwali little did he know it would turn out to be an expedition towards a major historical event. A call from Arab makes him baffled, the girl knows how Vivan's grandfather died and there's a secret that needs to unfold to know why Vivan's Baba dies. They meet with Vivan and they fly to Arab to uncover some shocking truths. The truths are jaw-dropping, taking us back to Satya Yuga and unblock riddles that serve as a path to divine objects.
A thriller plotline is laced with Timeless Wisdom which makes this book highly atmospheric and the Sanskrit slokas, mantras, the riddle makes this book a notch high.
An excellent evocative experience for mystery lovers. 336 pages of breathtaking journey, I must say this is the first Indian mythological mystery novel that I enjoyed so much. Just grab this book if you love mystery, mythology and chilling thrill. This is undoubtedly one of the best books of this year. The Sanskrit mantras are the cherry on the cake.
નહોતું ધાર્યું કે માતૃભાષામાં આટલી જોરદાર, ધનધનાટ ભાગતી, ડગલે ને પગલે ટવીસ્ટ લેતી, માયથોલોજીકલ થ્રિલર વાંચવા મળશે ! મારી હંમેશથી ફેવરિટ જોનર. પણ કાયમ લાગતું, કે યાર.. હજુ વધુ રૂટ્સ માં જાય તો મજા પડી જાય. અને લો, પરખ ભટ્ટ અને રાજ જાવિયા, અહીં એવી કહાનીમાં લઈ ગયાં કે સનાતન ધર્મના મૂળિયા થી લઈ વર્તમાન સુધી ફેલાયેલી, એક જાયન્ટ કેનવાસ વાળી દુનિયામાં, દિલધડક દ્રશ્યો અને રહસ્યો સાથેની નવલકથા રચાઈ.
સ્ટોરીલાઈન તો હું કહીશ જ નહિ. પણ જે રીતે પાના દર પાના, વાર્તા - તંત એકબીજા સાથે જોડાય છે, તમે વિસ્ફારિત આંખોથી અને આતુર આંગળીઓથી એક એક પાનું પલટાવતા જાઓ છો અને છેલ્લા પાને આવીને પણ એમ લાગે છે કે કાશ, પાંચે પાંચ પુસ્તકો એકસાથે હાથ માં આવી જાય.
લખાણ શૈલી, રસાળ. કાબિલે તારીફ રીસર્ચ, ક્યાંય અતિશયોક્તિ કે પ્રોપગંડા નહીં, અને ડગલે ને પગલે ગુસબમ્પસ આપતા, મહાદેવના શ્લોકો. ખરેખર કદી ન જોઈ હોય એવી સિરીઝ બનવા જઈ રહી છે મહા-અસુર શ્રેણી.
(ના, હું સરખામણી નહિ કરું આ જોનર નાં વર્તમાન ભારતીય લેખકો સાથે. મારા મતે આ સિરીઝ એમનાથી પણ વધું ' ભારતીય ' છે.)
"મૃત્યુંજય"- મૃત જીવાત્માનો અજેય રાગ મહા-અસુર શ્રેણી ભાગ -1
આ પુસ્તક વિશે ટૂંકમાં એટલું જ કહીશ કે, એક એક પાનું ઇતિહાસના રહસ્યોથી નીતરતું, જે ઇતિહાસના પન્નાઓથી પણ ક્યાંક અજાણ, દેવી અને આસુરી શક્તિઓની અકલ્પિત કથા, ઈન્દ્રની કૂટનીતિઓથી શરૂ થયેલું મહાયુદ્ધ જે કળિયુગમાં કેટકેટલા પરિણામો લાવવાનું હતું, શ્રીકૃષ્ણનું જન્મો-જન્માંતર અવતાર લેવા બંધાવું, મેહમુદ ગઝનવીનો સાચો ઉદ્દેશ સોમનાથને લુટવું કે કોઈ બીજા કાર્ય માટે આવવું?, સોમનાથના ઉત્ખનન અને તેની સાથે સંકળાયેલ,અજાણી,અવનવી અને રહસ્યમય બાબતો, દુબઈ અને ભારતના વર્ષો જૂના સંબંધો, અને સૌથી મહત્વનું દરેક બાબત ક્યાંક ને ક્યાંક ભગવાન શિવ સાથે સંકળાયેલ.
મુખ્ય પાત્રો તરીકે વિવાન આર્ય,સુધીર આર્ય,રિયા, આલોક ચૌધરી, ફૈઝા અને સૌથી રહસ્યમય પાત્ર એટલે વસીમ ખાન જે છેલ્લે એક એવું સત્ય બહાર પાડે જેથી રૂંવાટા ઉભા થઈ જાય.અત્યાર સુધીમાં મે વાંચેલ એવી નવલિકા જે કલાકોના કલાકો સુધી તમને એક જગ્યા પર બેસવા મજબૂર કરી દે.જે રીતે લેખકે સતયુગ અને કળિયુગ જે અલગ અલગ કમાનમાંથી નીકળેલા તીરની માફક હોઈ પણ જેનું લક્ષ્ય એક જ હોઈ તેમ ક્યાંક ને ક્યાંક બંને વચ્ચેનો સંબંધ રજૂ કર્યો છે... જે જાણવા માટે તેના પન્ના ઉથલાવવા જ પડે.!
લેખક પરખ ભટ્ટ અને રાજ જાવિયા એ જે રીતે એક એક બાબતને એટલી ઉંડાણપૂર્વક અભ્યાસ કરીને લખી છે કે વાંચતા જ કલ્પનાના દરિયામાં ઉતરી જવાય. ઇતિહાસ પ્રેમીઓ માટે એક અદ્ભુત કથાયોગ એટલે "મૃત્યુંજય" .
આ પુસ્તકમાંથી એક બાબત એ પણ શીખવા જેવી છે કે અગાઉ થઈ ગયેલ બધા યુગોમાં રાવણ, હિરણ્યકશિપુ, કંશ, કે મહિષાસુર એ બધા પૃથ્વી પર આસુરી શક્તિ કેહવાય પણ કળિયુગમાં જે આસુરી શક્તિ છે એ એમનાથી પણ વધુ શક્તિશાળી છે જે બાહ્યરૂપે નહિ પરંતુ મનુષ્યના મગજમાં રેહતા ઈર્ષા, દ્વેષ, ક્રોધ, લોભ, મોહ, માય છે. મહા-અસુર શ્રેણીના બીજા ભાગ "નાગપાશ" ની રાહ સાથે...
One of the finest book series I have ever read. The author duo has in-depth knowledge and have done a thorough research for the book and it's clearly visible in the entire read. Anxiously waiting for the next part...
The authors have wonderfully woven mythology, history and geography to weave this storyline. While the book is primarily fictional, based on mythology, the authors have also added in equal parts of thrill and intrigue that keep you hooked to the book. The elements in the book have been very well researched and the idea to incorporate the stories across the ages into this seamlessly has been executed very well. The authors have also incorporated various historical elements into the narrative that give it a very relatable feel while you read the book. Coming to the storyline, the story moves across 4 timelines to set the premise as well as introduce the characters and the motives behind their actions. The transitions have been clearly defined, which helps the reader keep pace with the events and also understand the relationships that the authors want you to keep in mind. What I loved about the book was that even till the last page, the surprises do not end and you are presented with revelations right till the point where the book ends. There are several surprise elements in the book that make you marvel at the storytelling skills of the authors. While the book is based on the Hindu Mythology, the authors have translated the Sanskrit shlokas which can help the global audience understand the book as well. Another aspect of the book that stood out for me was how the authors took each element of the mythology and created a detailed storyline around it. Be it Anant Sheshnaag or Lord Krishna, due respect and time has been given to include them in the narrative. The climax of this book was extremely interesting and if this is just the beginning, then I am more than ready for the next books in the series to see how the authors unravel the identities of the remaining characters.
Coming to the development of the characters, I truly loved how Parakh and Raj developed the character of Faiza, Vivaan and Riya. Another character that deserves a mention is that of Wasim. The layering that the authors did for his character and the way the unveiling happens with a red herring in the middle was quite wonderful. While I want to talk more about Wasim’s character, but to write more would be giving out spoilers, but that is one aspect of the book that will astound you. Shukracharya as a part of the story has been well written into the plot, and I am sure he would be playing even more important role in the further books.
Looking for a mesmerizing Indian mystery thriller packed with gripping narration & an expansive storyline across four different timelines, then "Mrityunjay: Book I in The Maha Series" by Parakh Bhatt & Raj Javiya is your go-to book. What an amazing book- these were my first thoughts as I started reading it. The book has left in me awe of its fast-pace with such an intricately woven plot that seamlessly combined mythological mysteries, fantasy and thrilling riddles. The book starts with Vivan Arya whose life takes a dramatic turn after his grandfather's mysterious death. Vivan Arya is our modern day protagonist. Riya and Alok are my favourite characters who have always gave the vivid ideas to solve mystery. Then, there is Wasim Khan whose character add layers of intrigue and depth and is the surprise element. Faiza's character was always non trustworthy for me. It kept me guessing till the end.
What I liked:
* Great concept of Multi-timeline narrative. The ways authors have navigated between different eras is masterful. Each transition is smooth which ensured readers remain engaged without confusion.
* Mythological Depth: With addition of Sanskrit shlokas and mantras, the book has got a place in my heart not just in my shelf. References to stories from Puranas, the references of asuras and deities with unique abilities and backstories drive the plot forward.
* Timeless Wisdom: The book delves in themes of Mythology and Modernity, Good vs Evil and Destiny and Free Will. With the parallel storylines the book is also engaging modern readers and conveying that the fate is also destiny shaped by the choices we make in life.
Once you pick up this book, you can finish it in one sitting. Such smooth writing and amazing storytelling. Mrityunjay will captivate you, it is a book for fans of mythology, fantasy & mystery keeping you on the edge of your seat. I am so glad that this is one of my top picks of the year.
This mythological thriller is a beautiful, plausible blend of history and religion. The primary story focuses is however the quintessential good vs evil, here the Deva s vs the Asuras, starting with Indra s actions hurting and enraging the Asuras tremendously The story travels through various epochs, be it Satyajit Aryavarta, 470 CE Arab; in 1026 CE with an exploration of Mahmud of Ghazni’s plunder of Somnath; and the focus of present time where Vivaan Arya, a business tycoon, unravels the conspiracies of his grandfathers death alongwith deep cosmic cycles of the Mahaupadhays of the ages! There is a deep history and mystery to Sudhir ARYA s death and it all comes down to the search of Mrit Sanjeevani, clans trying to protect it and clans trying to gain it. A cycle of revenge wanted! . The character development is very strong here, while Vivaan Arya, the protagonist is seen fighting the different situations, Riya stays loyal to him, Alok Chaudhary, Faiza, and of course the suspenseful character of Wasim Khan, with the other priests giving strong support. Sudhir Arya dying in mysterious circumstances organizes the events of the novel into a chronological succession. . The way many ideas,stories and myths of Sanatan Dharma is related with history and presented, it simplified and connected many things very entertainingly. The authors have done a great job in researching and applying details to the SHLOKAS. Mrityunjay was a great read for me. Being filled with interesting narratives, multiple plot interconnections and running subplots, as well as well developed characters, its a mark in the mythological genres of today. . My thoughts are not as cohesive as the book was in its presentation of the events merging ages past to the present but it's been a great read hands down!
I picked this book because of its title, cover and high ratings. After finishing it, I am unsure if I am overanalyzing, but I could not digest the way history was altered in the name of fiction. I will just point out what I remember and leave the rest.
1.Daityas were never entirely innocent, as mentioned in the beginning. There was always a conflict between Devas and Daityas, but it was the Daityas who often created havoc. "Due to our karma, the Daityas have always been considered better than the Devas. Do you want to wreck the good work that we have put in all our lives?" This statement makes it seem like the Daityas were morally superior and never did any wrong.
2.Sati? I have never heard or read about Asura women committing sati after their husbands' deaths. "The women dressed in bright-red saris moved silently towards their funeral pyres. The painful shrieks of innocent children, whose mothers were moving to embrace the fire, sliced his heart into a million pieces."
3.Wrong portrayal of Shukracharya – He was the Daitya guru, but not evil. He is Shukra, one of the Navagrahas, so why does the author suggest that he told invaders like Ghaznavi to attack Bharat and destroy temples? He was a devotee, so why would he ask anyone to destroy Mahadev’s temple? This seems like an attempt to shift the blame from the real reasons behind these invasions.
4.Ashwatthama and a bomb blast? He was made to bomb a museum? That made no sense.
5.The romance between Vivan and Riya felt forced, and I cringed at the way it was written.
If I compare it with other books in the same genre, especially Ashwin Sanghi’s, the thriller and suspense in this book felt weak. I might have rated it higher if the history and Amravati stories had not been altered so much, along with the portrayal of Shukracharya and Ashwatthama. I understand it is fiction, but it’s just not for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
In present-day Bharat, the mysterious death of renowned archaeologist Sudhir Arya sets off a chain of events that intertwine with ancient secrets spanning centuries. As his grandson, Vivaan grapples with the loss and performs the last rites, a phone call propels him into a puzzling journey of discovery. Meanwhile, in 1026 CE, Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi’s attack on the revered Somnath Temple raises questions about his true motives. In 470 CE, Yogi Matsyendranath awakens powerful forces through the ritual of Aatma Jaagran, while in Satyuga, the goddess of malevolence, Devi Anishtatri, grants a boon with the potential to alter the universe’s fate. As the threads of time converge, the link between Aryavarta, Arab Land, and Prabhas Kshetra becomes clearer, heralding the dawn of an epic battle that will shape the destiny of Kaliyuga.
Didn’t anticipate getting to peruse such a strong, lavishly moving, turning, fanciful spine chiller. One thing to gain from this book is that Ravana, Hiranyakashipu, Kansha, and Mahishasura were all wicked powers on earth in all the past yugas, yet the devilish power in Kaliyuga is more remarkable than that which isn’t outside yet the desire that lives in the human brain. , disdain, outrage, avarice, captivation, love.
This book is a strong novel that constrains you to complete it sooner than you begin perusing. In this book of 500 pages, not a solitary person is superfluous and not a solitary subplot is pointless. This is perhaps the best book on Indian Folklore that I have perused lately. I enthusiastically suggest the book!
A compelling mythological fiction that delves into the timeless battle between good and evil, weaving together four timelines to create a rich and intricate narrative. The concept of exploring the protagonist's life in present time while revealing connections to the past eras adds a mysterious and intriguing element to the story.
The link between Aryavart, Arab land, and Prabhas Kshetra suggests a complex interplay between different cultures, lands, and time periods, hinting at a deeper connection that shapes the events unfolding in the protagonist's life. The back-and-forth narrative across these timezones creates a dynamic and engaging reading experience, allowing readers to piece together the puzzle of how the past influences the present.
As the mystery slowly unravels, with twists, drama, and thrills, it's clear that "Mrityunjay" is a gripping and suspenseful read that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The blend of mythological elements with fiction, combined with a suspenseful storytelling style, is sure to captivate those who enjoy this genre, making it a must-read for fans of mythological fiction.
It's an intriguing and multi-layered story that promises to keep readers hooked from beginning to end.
હાલનાં સમયમાં ગુજરાતી ભાષામાં પણ આવી કૃતિ આવી શકે એવું લાગતું નહોતું, યુવા લેખકોએ આ રસદાર મોર્ડન માયથોલોજી થ્રિલર પુસ્તક લાવીને ગુજરાતી સાહિત્યમાં આ જોનરને જીવંત રાખવાનું કાર્ય કર્યું છે. ઇતિહાસ, વિજ્ઞાન, ધર્મ આ ત્રણેયને સાથે લઈને નવલકથા સર્જવી અને તેને સરળતાથી વાંચકો માણી શકે તેવું અદભુત કાર્ય ખરેખર સરાહનીય છે.
સામાન્ય રીતે એક નવલકથામાં સળંગ એક કરતા વધુ કાળકર્મ આવે ત્યારે વાંચક સહેજ કંટાળો અનુભવે પણ અહીંયા વાર્તાનો પ્લોટ અને સ્ટોરીટેલિંગ એટલું જબરદસ્ત રહ્યું કે ક્યાંય કંટાળો ન આવે. કેટલાય રહસ્યો, રહસ્યમયી પાત્રોની આવ જા વચ્ચે કથા ચાલુ રહે. પાંચસો પાનાંના આ પુસ્તકમાં એક પણ પાત્ર બિનજરૂરી નહીં કે એક પણ સબ પ્લોટ બિનજરૂરી નહિ. વાંચન ચાલું કરતાં વહેલાંમાં વહેલી તકે પૂર્ણ કરવાં મજબુર કરે તેવી દરમદાર નવલકથા.
"Mrityunjay" is an enthralling tale of devas and rakshasas, jumping between three timelines—Satyuga, the present day, and 1400 BCE.
The story revolves around Vivan, who is devastated by the untimely death—or possible murder—of his grandfather. As the savior of Kalyuga, Vivan is a constant target of the negative forces that lurk in the present world.
While the story may seem simplistic at first, as the pages turn and the plot unfolds, it transforms into a web of betrayal, deceit, and bloodshed.
I loved the way the story was written in a simplistic manner. Despite the presence of numerous characters, each one was well-described and memorable.
The last few pages, filled with exciting tales from our epics and their connection to the main plot, made the story even more engaging.
Overall, I’d say it’s an action-packed story—though slightly dragged in some places—but ultimately a decent read.
This is the first time I am reading the content in my mother tongue (I am proud of my mother tongue) like Ashwin Sanghi and Dan Brown used to write in English. The best mythological thriller I have ever read in Gujarati. The knowledge and research regarding this book, both writers gave a justice to it and very well penned. Can't put down the book till the end with so much twists and turns. Already started to read second book. ખુબ ખુબ અભિનંદન પરખભાઈ અને રાજભાઈ. આમને આમ જ આવુ સાહિત્ય પીરસતા રહો તેવી મહાદેવ ને પ્રાર્થના
Absolutely gripping and thrilling novel with an amazing job done in blending Pauranic, history and fiction. The plotline of the story is such that it is difficult to describe it without giving out spoilers. I found the climax of the story a bit abrupt and hurried so I am looking forward to how the upcoming part will turn out. This book was originally written in Gujarati. If you can read Gujarati, go for it.
The plot is great. Maybe if this were movie, it would be a good one-time watch for all the mystery and mysticism lovers. However, as someone who is somewhat informed about the concepts that have been used in this book, the mystic elements seem to lack a certain maturity. It could've been well thought and layered. The plot had potential but the writing and the conceptualization could use some maturing of nuances.
Interesting story but quite confusing. Even until the end I couldn't understand why the Asuras had to be defeated when they were the ones who were wronged. And what was the importance of acquiring the treasure was ( surely the importance should be preventing it from getting into the wrong hands rather than acquiring it itself). It was a good attempt at a mythological fantasy but I have read better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This is an absolute delight to read! The storytelling is powerful and engaging, bringing mythology to life in a refreshing way. I got to learn so many interesting facts about our rich heritage, and the vivid descriptions make you feel as if you’re walking alongside the characters in their journey. A must-read for anyone who enjoys mythology with an imaginative twist. Currently on to Book 2 - Bhairavi.. and eagerly awaiting next in the series
First half of the book you find plots you feel it's kind of a drag and the writing style seems very basic ... but the second half of the book is well paced and you don't fell like leaving the book down ... the story line and the suspense created is totally worth it .. would have given 4 starts but writing should have been a little better ...
This is the best book I’ve read this year. There is so much information in this book, and same goes to the characters but all the characters are well connected and nicely written. Not only that the story is interesting and gripping.
No amount of praise is enough for this amazing book. I can’t wait for the next part.
I have not been able to read the Gujarati version of the book but have been able to read the English version and it's after a lot of time that I have completed reading a whole book in such a span of time, I am grateful to the parakh bhai and co-author raj bhai, I don't have more words just that I am waiting for second part of maha asura series, Har Har Mahadev! Shambho Shankar!
Mrityunjay is a gripping mythological thriller that transports readers to a different era while maintaining the momentum of a modern plot. The authors have clearly done extensive research, atmosphere is rich with Vedic themes, mantras, and mystical elements. Though the beginning is slightly slow, the story picks up pace and becomes truly engaging.Apt for anyone likes reading mythological stories
One of the best Gujarati novels. There is lots of connection between history and the present world. Once you start to read, there is always curiosity about what will happen next and you can't stop reading it. Must read every one.
Really a well researched book .. hooking as well. Anybody interested in mythology will like it. However , being a translated version I think a bit more editing was needed in some places ...