The Magicians of Mazda

Bharat Series

by Ashwin Sanghi

YATHA AHU VAIRYO ATHA RATUSH ASHAT CHIT HACHA VANGHEUSH...

AS THE MASTER, SO IS THE JUDGE TO BE CHOSEN IN ACCORD WITH TRUTH.

A fleet of boats dock at the port of Sanjan in Gujarat in 720 CE. They carry eighteen thousand frightened souls fleeing the cruelty of Iran's Umayyad Caliphate. Chanting Sanskrit-like prayers, the high priest consecrates a sacred fire to thank their god, Ahura Mazda, leading them to a new home and hope. He uses a mysterious substance to spark the flame, but few know of its miraculous properties or provenance.

Centuries later, Parsi scientist Jim Dastoor is abducted from his Seattle laboratory and whisked away to Tehran. The Ayatollah believes Jim is the key to uncovering the ancient relic known as the Athravan Star and his men will do anything to possess it, even murder.

From the ancient ruins of Persepolis to the Taliban camps of Afghanistan, from the womb of an Udvada fire temple to the icy mountains of Kashmir, from the dreadful coffin cells of Tehran to the deathly calm of Diu's Tower of Silence, Jim and his historian wife, Linda, are sucked into a terrifying chase across vividly changing landscapes.

Deftly navigating between time and geography, The Magicians of Mazda travels backwards, through the epochs of Islamic jihad, Macedonian revenge, Achaemenid glory, messianic birth, Aryan schism-to the Vedic fount from where it began.

This is Ashwin Sanghi's most gripping and provocative novel yet.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Thriller, Mythology, Indian Literature, India, Fantasy

492 pages, Paperback

First published May 21, 2022

About the author

Ashwin Sanghi—entrepreneur by day, novelist by night—has all the usual qualifications of an Indian businessman. Schooling at the Cathedral & John Connon School, a B.A. (Economics) from St. Xavier’s College, and an M.B.A. (Finance) from the Yale School of Management. Besides being a businessman, Ashwin manages a parallel career as writer of fiction. Ashwin’s first novel, ‘The Rozabal Line’ was originally self-published in 2007 under his anagram-pseudonym—Shawn Haigins. The book was subsequently published by Westland in 2008 and 2010 in India under his own name and went on to become a national bestseller. ‘Chanakya’s Chant’ is his second novel in the historical-fiction genre. The book has remained on AC Nielsen’s India Bookscan Top-10 for all of 2011. It won the ‘2010 Crossword-Vodafone Popular Choice Award’ in September 2011. UTV has purchased the movie rights to the book and a film based upon the story is expected soon. Dr. Shashi Tharoor released the novel in Mumbai calling it an “enthralling, delightfully-interesting and gripping read with historical research that is impressive.” The Hindustan Times has called it “a cracker of a page-turner.” Ashwin is currently working on his third novel, as yet untitled, that explores business strategies in ancient India. Ashwin is also working towards a Ph.D. in Creative Writing from Bangor University in Wales. Ashwin lives in Mumbai with his wife, Anushika, and his eight-year old son, Raghuvir.

Reviews

[Vikas Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Magicians of Mazda by Ashwin Sanghi

Francis Bacon famously said "some books are to be tasted others to be swallowed and some few to be chewed and digested.". What he meant was that very few exceptional books in the world deserve undivided attention and love of its readers. The latest block buster from Ashwin Sanghi is one such book!

One reading of the book was not enough. I had to read it four times to fully chew and digest. Even after that I have bookmarked a few pages to revisit them again. The Rockstar of Indian Publishing, Ashwin Sanghi has an extraordinary talent for bringing fact, mythology and fiction together and then backing it up with solid research and fast paced plot. This time his choice of Zoroastrian religion as the central theme is amazing. There are hardly any books that would give the history and contribution of this fast-dwindling community in such an interesting manner. Few in this country would be aware of the intense prosecution and the hardships faced by this community as they escaped and tried to settle down in a foreign land. In that sense Ashwin has not only paid homage to this community but has also ensured that their history is shared with one and all. I am sure the no of tourists to Navsari, Diu and Udvada would have increased manifold after publication of this novel.

It is quite an engaging thriller that deserves to be read again and again for it has lessons for the current generation too. After all history repeats itself if we don’t learn from it!

[Ashish Iyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real page turner. Once you start reading the book is unputdownable. I wonder how the author has retrieved the history and facts that must be time consuming. I love the way how story was moving back and forth. This story is mixed with history, myth, philosophy, religions, conspiracy and geopolitics. There are many things about the Zoroastrian-Hindu connect that we are unaware of. He has done an exhaustive research on ancient Iran, the Parsis, the Vedic and the hard work shows. The ancient connections between Zoroastrianism and Vedic philosophy are jaw-dropping. Go for it. Plus you will get tons of information about Persia and Zoroastrianism. It is quite fast-paced but I feel there are some chapters that are too lengthy. Maybe the author added those for the readers to get a deeper understanding of the religion. All the research he did can be found at the back of the book.

[Veda · Rating 5 out of 5]

---1 Jul 2022 Edit ---
Is Justice J. B. Pardiwala here? I would like to recommend this book to him. Even better if the author, can send him a copy of the book.

I definitely didn't expect him to blame Nupur Sharma for the murder of Kanhaiyalal by radical Islamists, especially since he is a descendant of those Parsis who fled Iran to escape Islamic persecution and found a safe haven in India.

If this edit makes you uncomfortable, please unfollow/unlike/whatever.

--- Original Note -----

Oh Lord! 🤯
The blurb mentions this book as Ashwin Sanghi's most gripping and provocative novel yet.
This is my first book of his, so while I can't compare this one with the rest, I can definitely attest to the gripping and provocative part.

Parts of this book reminded me of Aavarana. The emotions I felt while reading those parts were similar to what I went through while reading that book.

Ashwin Sanghi didn't whitewash about the Islamic persecution of Zoroastrians. Considering how there's a popular and accepted discourse about how Islamic persecution of other faiths and civilizations needs to be ignored or brushed under the carpet or even worse be falsified, I wonder about the acceptance of this book by a few sections of society.

I enjoyed reading this one. Very well researched. My only gripe with the book is that there is a lot to take in. So much happening 😅 and then there is all that information about Zoroastrianism's history. Also, I could have done without that epilogue :|

Was debating about whether giving it a 4 or a 5, when I pondered about how much effort must have gone into the research, and then remembered a tweet by the author about how he walked for a couple of hours from his house to Siddhivinayak temple to seek blessings of Ganesha for his book; so gave it a 5 considering it all 😬🤟🏾

[Khalid Abdul-Mumin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast paced, relentless thriller.

Read: September 21st, 2022

1st edit: 12112022
Ashwin Sanghi mixes Geography, History and Mythology in a breathless modern day suspense of a plot in Magicians of Mazda.

Very nice and well researched. Recommended for readers looking for a light but well written, intelligent, fast and suspenseful read tackling Zoroastrianism. Looking forward to reading more from him.

[Bandita · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Ashwin Sanghi and it did not disappoint. I really had an enjoyable time reading it. Now I know why he is called the Dan Brown of India. This book was fast paced and filled with adventure and hard to put down.

I could feel that the author has researched well about the historical facts and I got to learn many new things from this book. I want to applaud at the author’s capability to form a connection between ancient iconography and vedic philosophy and history and medical sciences together. He did a fantastic job creating a web of interconnected events.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. It was fast paced, suspenseful and had me on the edge of my seat. I’d definitely recommend this book.

[Gaurav Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

“True wisdom lies in knowing that one knows nothing”

This book is a roller-coaster ride of action, adventure, treachery, and suspense that holds your attention from the first page to the last. It takes you to different parts of the world and the time periods but at the same time ensures that you are not lost in the plethora of information or the twist and turns of the tale. The story is the right mix of religion, history, politics, and theology which compels you to turn the next page even though you are overwhelmed by the sheer thrill of the narrative.

The story revolves around Jim Dastoor who is in possession of a secret that was passed on to him from several generations before him. He is a scientist who is very near to discover a wonder drug that could help the mankind from almost all the diseases. He is abducted and taken away first to Portland by the owner of a pharmaceutical company, who wanted to lay his hands on the formulation. With the turn of events, he is further moved to Iran. His wife Linda his closest friend Dan reaches Iran to rescue him. After this starts an adventurous life-saving journey from Tehran, Afghanistan, and finally to India. Parallelly there is another narrative going on regarding the Zoroastrians who left Iran, to escape religious persecution by Muslims. Cecil (Jim’s grandmother) narrates the history of the Zoroastrians along with Dastoor family. Linda (Jim’s wife), a historian par excellence, traces the roots of Zoroastrians to India and tries to establish a common ground between Zoroastrians and Hindus.

The best thing about the book is the breakneck pace with which the story moves. There is not a single dull moment in the book. It keeps you hooked from start to finish and it is in a true sense a page-turner. The right mix of science, spirituality, and philosophy makes it a valued read. The book has 120 chapters along with the prologue and the epilogue. The language of the book is lucid. Although a disclaimer about the fictional nature of the book has been given at the start of the book but you may find many references which are true. Author has also given the list of books, research papers, news articles, blog articles, and online references that he used to create the narrative at the end of the book. How much of the book is fact and how much is fiction is for the reader to decide. I personally found many things in the book which are true. The only thing that I feel is a little weak in the book is the ending which I found to be unconvincing and abrupt. Overall, it is one of the best works of the author.

I would recommend the book to all who are fond of thrillers. If you have liked Ashwin Sanghi’s earlier books then you should definitely go for this one.

Thanks to Indica books, for sending me this book as a part of the Thousand Reviewers Club.

[Ganesh V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes one picks a book & some other times, a book picks you. More often than not, some of the impulsive picks turn out to be enriching gems. This book is one such edge-of-seat thriller, yet is thoroughly enriching about history & culture.

The book opens in the standard fast-paced style with events woven to invoke the mystery & create a sense of suspense around the characters in the book. Jim Dastoor and his wife Linda’s life turns topsy turvy one morning and the race picks up between the abductors & the “thing” they are after.

Soon, the reader is exposed to a detailed history of Parsis in India & their role in building Mumbai through Industries. While the story picks up and traverses various parts of the planet, the history of Parsis starting from Zarathustra is detailed in the form of a flashback. The research is quite extensive and detailed, with some interesting anecdotes sprinkled in between.

I was particularly thrilled to observe that the author has drawn parallels with the tenets of the Parsi religion, its derivatives & parallels with Hinduism. The history of Parsis takes a bloody turn around 8th century and the author hasn’t minced words. History has been captured dispassionately. One can’t help but have a sense of deja vu - Quite reminiscent of another master piece - S. L. Bhyrappa’s Aavarana.

The revelation of ancient history transforming the key character could very well sound with many in the modern day. Understanding the culture and history of the eras gone by, the challenges faced under various regimes & the extremes that went into preserving the ancient knowledge and wisdom should be understood and assimilated by one and all.

Just when one feels that the story would take a familiar turn, we are now exposed to an explosion of information with tons of evidence from linguistics, drawing parallels / interconnections between the Zoroastrian and Rig Vedic cultures. The chase culminates at the cradle of the beginning for Zoroastrians, with a revelation that is considered as path breaking.

Fast paced, laced with twists and turns, this Dan Brownesque thriller searching for a different holy grail is a captivating read. It is definitely difficult to separate fact and fiction, but the author has done a great job by providing references at the end of the book.

I would recommend reading this, at least from historical perspective, for I did learn a lot from this (I did cross check some of the points also).

Rating wise, I would have preferred 4.5 stars for the complex long read, but for the research references, I am going with a 5

[Partha Sadhukhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before I started reading this book sent to me by the Indic Book Club, I started reading its online reviews. It is my habit to read the negative reviews about a book and give more importance to those and to check if those are really true. I was astonished to see that many people who claimed to be Ashwin Sanghi fans were disappointed and wrote negative reviews. I was sceptical too, but the book gave me completely different perspective. Let me explain how -

The negative reviewers said, this fiction by Ashwin Sanghi is too preachy in nature. But after finishing the book I never felt that. In fact the accusation of Ashwin repeating many aspects, especially Islamization of Iran or History of Iran or similarities of Hinduism and Zoroastrianism was so out of place and boring and people have rated this masterpiece low. This is really surprising and I felt these reviewers simply wanted to rate him low through some agenda.

I felt that the bites on History and philosophy was so much value adding to this book that majority of us who are unaware of it, won't get the story until they get to the root of the problem and hence was necessary. Also, the history part of the story is put in italics so that the readers may chose to ignore or skip those sections. But those are the parts that I felt is most valuable in this book and that is why this book is a collectors' delight.

Let me confess that I was never a fan of Ashwin. I read only another book of his and that's it. But this book is surely very well written. Some people have questioned Aswin's political agenda, I found one reader questioning his writing ability. I am really shocked and dumbfounded by these reviews.

The book is not only very informative and well written, this also brings us a tightly woven suspense that will hook the readers until the end. Yes, readers are also given a choice to ignore/skip sections that consisted of historical events and more background information. The level of research he had done to pen down this art is really amazing. Can't be given any other rating but 5*

[Neha Bansal · Rating 5 out of 5]

#bookreview
Ashwin Sanghi's "the magicians of Mazda"

Loved it. Encyclopedic knowledge on Zoroastrianism. A good thriller, it assuaged our desire to see India as the cradle of more civilizations than an old school historian would give credit for. It may be considered yet another attempt to indianise everything good by connecting it to the "golden age" of ancient India. It may be frowned upon by many who might see the theories given in the book about Zoroaster's kashmiri origin as nothing but another gimmick to make ancient India look resplendent before the advent of Islam. However, I must congratulate the author for the sheer volume of reading he must have undertaken to bring about this amazing book. No wonder he is called the "Dan Brown of India". While as a student of history who understands the politics of historiography I can see the attempt of the author to make the book to be the part of nationalist Indian history re-writing project, I couldn't help but marvel at this gargantuan effort of sheer myth making/history writing. Debates apart, the book left me replete with a glow that comes with a good read.

[Siddhant Agarwal · Rating 5 out of 5]

True to Ashwin’s style of writing, the book has multiple events unfolding at multiple locations that come together to bring the story to a close in a surprising manner. The storytelling keeps you turning the pages, and as you feel that things are finally settling down, something changes again and you are forced to move on rather than place a bookmark. The book is well researched and I loved the fact that he takes his time to set things up, be it the conflict or the solution. Another thing that I loved about the story is that things unfold in pieces, rather than a long discourse towards the end. The concept that he explores in the story is something that is quite unique, but as you read the story, you realise that the probability of the existence of the idea is not that fantastic, and such is the level of detail to which the things are explained. As a master storyteller, there is nothing written or mentioned by chance, and each and everything that is a part of the narrative has a reason for being there. What interested me in this story is that as a reader, you start guessing how the story would turn out, and while I am happy I could guess a very small part of the story, I was in awe of the very last unveiling in the climax, one that has an excellent message as well.

Coming to the characters, as a storyteller, Ashwin’s characters emerge over a period of time, and rather than show all his cards at once, the element of mystery is what makes his characters unique. As the plot moves, the characters’ true colors are revealed, and more often than not, the characters inhabiting the story would surprise you, more times than you can guess. I liked how Jim is the primary character, yet the spotlight is not much on him as it is on the culture and history of the Zoroastrians. Another interesting aspect of the characters in the story is that the connections between them which seem generic at first, start making sense as you continue with the story.

The book might look like a bulky read (450+ pages) but the gripping nature of the story will make it seem that it is almost half that. I would highly recommend the book to anyone who loves to read a well written mythological fiction.

[Gaurav Nandrajog 'Gary' · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my 3rd book by Ashwin Sanghi and I believe it's the best he has written to date. The book contains abundant information smartly placed along the length of the book. I had to dig deep and Google quite a bit to get the truth and facts straight. The historical bits seem to be consistent with what is available on the internet. Ashwin has expertly woven a fictional story around it. Some key indicators and clues are repeated and rephrased a few times but I think that was necessary as its a long story but that kept me engaged like a movie.

Just FYI, the book revolves around an Indian Parsi man and history of Zoroastrianism.

Long story short, one of the best mythological fiction books I've ever read.

[Kan Bhalla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ashwin Sanghi does it again. It was a rollercoaster ride in the disguise of a historical-theological fiction set in diverse lands like the US, Iran, Afghanistan, India & Pakistan. Focuses on the history of Zoroastrianism and how it connects India with Persia.

[Adarsh ಆದರ್ಶ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It is fashionable these days to ignore history in order to preserve the peace between faiths” says Cecile character in the book.

I had seen many twitter arguments on Parsis having same cultural similarities between Hindus. Of course some arguments doesn’t hold any validity. But after reading this fine piece of work by Ashwin Sanghi would like to know other work’s regarding the history of Parsis. Even this being my first read of Ashwin’s I enjoyed every bit of it.

Hindus,Zoroastrians and Yazidi all have crossed paths with most peaceful of religion only Hindus who put up a brave fight for centuries only to be dissected into two due to Dhimmitude that still exists.

Storyline: Parsis just like any other Pagans were thrown out of their motherland in
700 CE after the most brutal Islamic conquests first started and were made homeless somehow they reached the shores of Bharat which will become their home for the rest of their lives. Centuries later the story starts with the Parsi scientist and his quest to use the ancient relic for curative studies which his ancestors have been preserving for centuries after they left Iran. Story goes back and forth between centuries of history from early days of Persia when Parsis thrived to their arrival in India after they were thrown out and their life in the colonial period author mentions the 1857 uprising the opium wars and simultaneously Parsis had a great influence on British with their business models only helping their people living their lives but Hindus suffering the colonial oppression & fast forward to Taliban stricken Afghanistan geo political ups and downs and multinational forces that are behind to have their share of the relic. It’s arguably best Fictional novel I have read this year.
Will wish to read his other works too!
A recommendable read for Historical Fiction readers.

[prem · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Be happy in this moment. This moment is your life".

It was just when I was craving a semi-fiction escape after my exams, I received this magnificent book. Having read The Krishna Key where the moment I started taking an interest in any character, their death took place; I was anticipating the end of the story for Jim Dastoor every time something unexpected happened. The speech at the beginning stands guilty for pushing me deep into that narrative.

The way Mr Sanghi weaved the family history of Jim Dastoor requires special appreciation. As a reader, I would love to read more about the Dastoor Universe. Whenever Linda or Jim Dastoor narrated the glorious history of the Parsis; hailing from the steel city of Tatas, I could feel the depth in those words. Each member of his family and Baba Malik need a special book with different chapters dedicated to them.

The protagonist of this story is the Sindhu-Saraswati Vedic Civilization. The Out of India theory is narrated well by Linda whose appetite for history seems next only to the Professor Ravi Mohan Saini of St. Stephen's College.

I shared this book with my younger brother and a friend and they hold the same opinion as I do. The book starts slow. Somewhere around the 100th page, the story starts gaining its usual pace and the readers wouldn't be able to take a break. The moment the readers think that they understand a particular situation, the twist and turns make them wonder if they really understood it.

Filled with the flavours of a spy thriller, history, myths, travel, and politics; and garnished with the escape zone of fiction, this book is highly recommended to all sorts of readers.

[Harsh Agrawal]

The Magicians of Mazda (Bharat Series #7)
Author: Ashwin Sanghi
Genre: Thriller
Published by @harpercollinsin
MRP: Rs. 450/-

“ ‘It is fashionable these days to ignore history in order to preserve the peace between faiths,’ she said. ‘And I am all for peace and interfaith understanding. But that process must start with recognising what happened, not whitewashing it. Forced conversions did happen; destruction of Zoroastrian places of worship did happen. Redeployment of fire temples as mosques did happen. Identification of Zoroastrians as polluted beings, najis, did happen. Transformation of Zoroastrians into beggars by snatching away inheritance rights did happen. The burning of Zoroastrian scriptures did happen. Compulsory humiliation of those paying jizya did happen.’ She ran out of breath.”

It’s been a while since the last Ashwin Sanghi book. The Vault of Vishnu, the previous book in the Bharat series, released in early 2020. All the books in this series so far (apart from the first one, the Rozabal Line) have been based on the Hindu/Indian mythologies. This book is about the Zoroastrians, better known as the Parsi’s, fused with several different topics. A lot of knowledge about the Zoroastrians, their origin, their faith, their exodus, the extreme tortures they faced, the magical properties are discussed. The author wants the reader to consider a 100% of the book as a work of fiction, even though most of the work is very well researched and fact based but some points are tweaked to suit the plots narrative. The author point being that the books in the Bharat series should act as a starting point and the reader should then read further about the topics, and all the references and citations are provided at the end of the book for the same purpose, even the ones that contradict the plot.

Jamshed or “Jim” Dastoor is the founder of the Gemini Cellular Research Center (GCRC). They have made a brilliant discovery that can possibly cure any illness in the world, the Hamzaa Dura. As much as Jim tries to keep Hamzaa Dura a secret, word reaches some very dangerous people that include CEO’s of pharmaceutical conglomerates who feel threatened, the Iranian Supreme Leader, the Ayatollah among others, who believe it to be the Atharvan Star (an object of magical properties that Zarathustra passed down among different family generations) . In an exciting chase that follows Jim , his wife Linda and others through the US, Iran , Afghanistan and India, you’ll learn about several different things about the Zoroastrians among different things.

As compared to his previous works, this one is less thrill and more philosophy, which works for me and I’m not complaining. Don’t get me wrong there’s plenty a thrill here, just that the ratio is a little different in this one. The juxta positioning between the plight of the Zoroastrians and those of the Kashmiri pandits is uncanny and undeniable. Both by the Islamic extremists. The book also discusses some of the problematic sections of the faith though, like not allowing, in fact completely resisting others from joining their faith. My favorite part of the book though without a doubt was reading about the similarities between both the Sanatan Dharma and the Zoroastrians. All our texts are more identical than we think.
If this will be your first book fom Sanghi and just want to read a fast-paced thriller, you might get bored at first between the chase and the narrative voice of Jim Dastoor. But if you have his earlier works, you know what you are in for. This book is worth reading because it will enrich the reader with the history and philosophy of a great community on the verge of extinction but that deserves to live long for the sake of humanity. It is an absorbing thriller that has lessons for the current generation too. For, history repeats itself if we don’t learn from it.

[Tanmay Sutradhar · Rating 5 out of 5]

The plot is definitely excellent, but the book is to be honored and loved for the factual presentation and the history which is not known to many of us. Absolutely loved the book and the representation of history through the fictional plot.

[Komal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly gripping.

[Ritu · Rating 5 out of 5]

The thrilling and well-crafted tale of history, religion, and adventure is sprinkled with some geopolitics. The book is erudite, covering a somewhat unconventional part not only of Zoroastrian history but also of many others.

One of the characters in this book has a PhD in "History of Religion," and what a ride she takes us on! I was truly fascinated by the analogies and interconnectedness of the religions, and how almost all existing religions have borrowed, if not copied, bits and pieces from Hinduism. The book references several sources like the Rigveda and various travelogues to support this.

Also, this book is the closest I have come to knowing so much about the Zoroastrians, both Indian and Iranian. I kept taking a moment to appreciate how much research Ashwin Sanghi, the writer, has actually done before writing this book.

PS: For some reason, I referred to this book today and realized I forgot to rate this masterpiece when I read it last year. :D
And this was an obvious 5 star for me!

[Chitra Iyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Started a little slow for my liking but it picked up the pace and the climax was, as usual, extraordinary! Enjoyed absorbing so much information about Indians, Parsis, and Iran. Adventurous and full of excitement, this book is one of the top books I have read this year so far!

Must read.

[Payal Sachdeva · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author and I must say it was mind blowing . This book was a roller coaster ride between two parallel narratives ; past( history, mythology, theology) and contemporary ( action , thriller , mystery and fiction ) .The protagonist is Jim Dastoor, an Indian and a Parsi, residing in US, and a scientist who has been abducted by an Iranian leader, Ayotollah, in quest of getting hold of an ancient relic , Atravan star, which he believes is with Jim .
The story keeps the reader on One’s edge .My knowledge was very limited on the history and culture of Parsis and Zoroastrianism but this book was too insightful and incisive . What I loved the most about this book is that Ashwin painstakingly did vast research on the centuries old religion , narrated the story of Parsis eloping Iran fearing the Islamic persecution and settled in Khorasan , then Diu and on the coasts of Gujarat. How brilliantly he connected the dots and explaining the similarities between Avesta and Rig Vedas , explaining how all religions are interconnected and Zoroastrian philosophies ; value of trinity , good thoughts , good words , and good deeds ; the importance of Dakhmas; consecrating Iranshah , Atash Behram and fire temples .
This book left an indelible mark in my heart and it whetted my appetite to read his more books . A brilliant suspenseful tale and the end was soul satisfying. Time and again , while reading this book , the narration reminded me of Dan Brown’s book
“ The Da Vinci Code “ ,an equally brilliant book .

[Adithya · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘For complete healing, you need both—substance and spirit—Hamzaa Dura and Ahura Mazda.’

Yet another classic! Taking us through different channels of theology, terrains of history via mythology. Pushing you to edge of the seat with characters behind the relic of the past.

Unputdownable to say the least. The influence of pharmaceuticals on the author - thanks to pandemic, is evident. The recent America fleeing from graveyard of empires is also part of the plot! Etymology and anagrams at play,adds flavour to the story.

Zoroastrianism, is the crux of the tale. Vedic influence on Parsi culture and inspiration of latter on other Abrahamic religions makes you difficult to disagree. Line seperating fact from fiction is very thin.

Intelligence agencies like R&AW,ISI, Mossad,CIA and MSS add up to the thrill. Babylonian, Arabic, Mesapotomian and Persian history runs in parallel, woven into as conversation of characters.

Painstaking research with even intricate details makes the work exemplary. Once your favourite is Ashwin Sanghi, always he is. Must read!

[Kunal Thakkar · Rating 4 out of 5]

New addition to the widely popular Bharat series by Ashwin Sanghi is The Magicians of Mazda, yet another provocative, honest and gripping novel which takes you on a big roller coaster ride of myth and politics and religion and the mafia the good men the bad men and this universe or even multiple, which Ashwin has created in this almost 500 pages of his work.

Ashwin has balanced the thrilling fiction and his deep research of topics ranging in faith of Parsi people, their persecution by Islamic forces back in their homeland, Vedic philosophy, knowledge about the cultures of multiple continents, if not countries, by navigating between various threads or layers or plots that are going to keep you hooked (all caps) throughout this book. The language is so simple and the book is so pacey, Mr Sanghi has truly done justice to the genre.

I'd still rate it 4.5/5 for how effortlessly the author has crafted this book. Must read for everyone who is into mythological thrillers or even just thrillers in general.

[Addy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ashwin Sanghi's latest outing emphatically reaffirms his numero uno position amongst India's mythological-historical fiction authors. It may just be his finest book till date, though I still find 'THE ROZABAL LINE'(his first book) as the absolute gold standard.

I have to admit, my knowledge about Zoroastrian history was extremely limited, which made this read even more insightful and fascinating. In fact, one of the parallel narratives(historical-mythological) was completely conversational while the other narrative(contemporary) was action packed. All the characters were given ample time, motives and background stories. The prologue and epilogue were ingenious and satisfying as well.

This book is an absolute treat for all admirers of history, mythology, linguistics, geography and action-adventure. While many such attempts have been made earlier, they end being messy. Thankfully, this is one of the finest exceptions. Go read it now!

5/5

[Niyati Pamnani · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always Ashwin sanghi is a magician
He draws u into the world of mythology and science so week mixed together that you can barely tell the difference
He make su travel with his characters of Jim and Linda into their world their struggles
Gives you perspective
Amazing read.!

[Varunkumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intertwined with the story of birth, flourishing, persecution and survival of zoroastrianism, along with how this ancient faith is linked and related to Hinduism of India, this fictional work provides a riveting read.

As the protagonist in the book, a Parsi, tries to find a universal cure for all diseases from the last secrets of his religion, everyone from leading Pharma companies to dictatorial regimes to clandestine organisations are out, either to thwart him or to capture him. As he traverses these mazes, he makes discoveries that surprises him.

[Vishal Jha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The correct blend of History, Mythology and Thriller, this new novel in the Bharat series by Ashwin Sanghi has it all.

There is a lot to learn, and lot to enjoy the thrill of the story.

A really entertaining read for me.

[Karthik Pariki · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s an excellent read and you get what you are expecting from Ashwin Sanghi! A true gem in connecting dots and bringing out the best of past and present.

[Priyanka (ReadwithBanner ) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical fictions are the most enticing as one can travel in the past and experience a new world altogether.

Ashwin Sanghi, has touched many topics and done justice to them none of them were half touched or left for speculations. This book was like a well of water to the curious thristy soul.
I didn't only travel multiple countries or cities but the time zones also from Alexander to India's independence.

Linearity was drawn between the religions which provides the crucial message - irrespective of faiths we all believe in same high power with different names. However, this book was much more than the religious tropes.

One can read by putting heart and mind in it and also one can just enjoy the plot twists and travel across geo and time. Right amount of amalgamation of science and religion.

I have read all the books in the Bharat Series, this was by far was the best and most amazing. One can read this as a standalone book too.

Highly recommended to the people who loves: Thrillers, Historical Fiction.

Jim Dastoor, a scientist who is working on a medicine which can cure any and every disease. With this cure he doesn't want to earn money and fame, all he wants to serve the humanity. However, some miscreants doesn't want him to deliver this agenda to the globe all of them has their ulterior motives in terms of monetary benefits, being a global leader, restoration of faith and sometimes just malice.

My favourite character is Linda here she is more than Jim's wife, she is a woman with immense strength and bravery. Quick on her toes, knowledge vast as the sea.

[Kirti · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is good, fast paced and full of tension. I wanted to cut one mark for repetitions which can be very annoying at times but then the book compensates it with the Parsi narrative. I mean Parsis have always been depicted as the caricaturish 'bawas' everywhere and here is a book that brings to light their roots, customs and so much history. So plus one there.

This book has an overtly political tone but then history should not be white washed how disturbing it might be.

[Sangita · Rating 4 out of 5]

The latest addition to the Bharat Series by Ashwin Sanghi is a rollercoaster ride as his story spans generations, geographies, religions and time space detailing the travails and flight of a group of Zoroastrians from their homeland in present-day Iran, to Sanjan in Gujarat in 720 CE. This group, commonly referred to as Parsis, with time, moved to other parts of India, mainly Bombay, and adopted India as their home.
The original families comprising this group who fled to India, carried with them various secrets which got handed through generations for safe-keeping. One such secret is contained in a box which had been passed over to Jamshed Dastoor. Now settled in USA, Jamshed is now a leading scientist and researcher and he is on the verge of making a ground-breaking discovery in the field of medicine on basis of the contents of the box. Jim's wife, Linda gets abducted first. And later through her, Jim gets abducted. It seems that everybody is after the secret box that Jim has with him.

From the ancient ruins of Persepolis to the Taliban camps of Afghanistan, from the womb of an Udvada fire temple to the icy mountains of Kashmir, from the dreadful coffin cells of Tehran to the deathly calm of Diu's Tower of Silence, Jim and his historian wife, Linda, are sucked into a terrifying chase across vividly changing landscapes.

Not providing any spoilers over here, given that this is truly a rollercoaster ride. It also provides us with a good historical background about the Zoroastrians, their religion, the cross cultural references, the devastation caused by Islamic Revolution and the geopolitics that come into play, all through.

An entertaining, engrossing read! The research work that has gone into this book is mind blowing.

My rating - 4/5