The Celestial Souls of Khambetka - An excerpt

                Excerpt from the story titled 'My big boss up there!' in my e-book titled 

                             The Celestial Souls of Khambetka 

      Manoj would remark, “It’s high time you stopped looking at your father’s photo! Now you should be looking at mine!”

     He started keeping an unbearably repulsive, close-up shot of his, in an equally hideous and unimaginative frame, on our bedside table. I had politely declined to frame one of our ‘lovey-dovey’ shots from our honeymoon, as it was something that I didn’t want to be reminded of!

     I just softly told him, “That’s personal Manoj. Let it remain only between the two of us. A private remembrance!” Inwardly, I snidely remarked, “A private joke!”

     Surprisingly, Manoj hadn’t persisted. He had instead, plastered the walls and the cupboards’ doors with huge posters of .....

     They were definitely a ‘better-watch’ than his plain Jane of a wife! Needless to say, there was no love lost between the two of us.

                                                 END OF THE EXCERPT

The copyright of this book is with Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan.

Intrigued? Want to find out what happens next? Immediately purchase a copy and settle down to a cozy reading session, in high spirits!

Plagiarists, BEWARE! You will be prosecuted for Copyright Infringement.

One such case is already on its way....

This intriguing collage has been created by me with the help of Canva.com.
Thanks a lot, Canva!

Dear friends,

What happens when one's wishes are not fulfilled in one’s lifetime?

Read on to experience it in my thrilling e-book titled The Celestial Souls of Khambetka. It is a collection of unusual paranormal stories that will surely capture your imagination!

This book has received a 5 -star rating at www.goodreads.com.
Here's the link:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44653148-the-celestial-souls-of-khambetka#

A Kindle Countdown Deal is on till 7th September, 2025 at www.amazon.com for this e-book. It will be available at a whopping discount, of 41% for just $ 2.99. You could peruse a free preview of the e-book at the website.

 

Here's the link : https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MNM7ZGP

Kindly purchase the e-book, read it and let me have your invaluable feedback. You could even peruse my other 24 books at Amazon. 

Kindly post all your reviews directly at www.amazon.com. 

Happy reading!

Thanks.
Priya

The Celestial Souls of Khambetka - Free the Spirit!

                                                              

Dear friends,

What happens when one's wishes are not fulfilled in one’s lifetime?

Read on to experience it in my thrilling e-book titled The Celestial Souls of Khambetka. It is a collection of unusual paranormal stories that will surely capture your imagination!

This book has received a 5 -star rating at www.goodreads.com.
Here's the link:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44653148-the-celestial-souls-of-khambetka#

A Kindle Countdown Deal is on from 31st August to 7th September, 2025 at www.amazon.com for this e-book. It will be available at a whopping discount, of 41% for just $ 2.99. You could peruse a free preview of the e-book at the website.

 

Here's the link : https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MNM7ZGP

Kindly purchase the e-book, read it and let me have your invaluable feedback. You could even peruse my other 24 books at Amazon. 

Kindly post all your reviews directly at www.amazon.com. 

Happy reading!

Thanks.
Priya

List of other books by the award-winning author,

Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan:

       The Enigma and other stories 3 star rating at Goodreads.com

       The Obsession

       The Mysterious Basement of Summer City (Prize-                                                         winning, debut novel) 5 star rating at Amazon.in

       Wow! Wrong Number

       You Compromise, I Won’t!

       Unconditional Love in Exchange

       Just Not Meant For Marriage!

       The Byline and other stories

       A Good Old Rumor! and other stories 3 star rating at Goodreads.com
 The Trophy Wife 5 star rating at Amazon.in
 Of Siblings and E-Friends 

      Dad's Great, Boys! (ebook only) 

                     (also available at www.draft2digital.com)

      God's Will

      Neha's Quest

S   Ghosts of the Past

     The Unending Nightmare

      My Life, My Way!

      Everyone

      Once again

      The Long-distance Relationship

      When Chikoo Was Very Bitter...   5 star rating at Amazon.in

      Operation Chikoo' 5 star rating at Amazon.in

      Chikoo Saves Chikki

      Shadows in the Dark - 5 star rating at www.amazon.in.

 

 

S All these ebooks and paperbacks have been released worldwide, and are  available at www.amazon.com and Amazon's other marketplaces.

 

My ebooks at other sites:

A Suitor for the Princess (radiantpriyasvision.blogspot.com)

The Love-addict (www.freeditorial.com)

No Mother-in-law, Please! has been serialized at www.wattpad.com. Read it for free and feel free to comment on or like it. 

**********

The Celestial Souls of Khambetka - Free the spirit!

Let's make peace with our souls and free our spirits!

In keeping with this theme, may I suggest that all of us could volunteer for body-donation (dehadaan) or organ donation; the ultimate gift to mankind! 

Let's live on, long after we have gone from this planet...

My husband and I have pledged for dehadaan/organ donation.

The copyright of all the above-mentioned books is with Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan.

Plagiarists, BEWARE! You will be prosecuted for Copyright Infringement.

One such case is already on its way....

If any of the readers would like to enroll for Priya's Vision Academy's Exclusive, Online Creative Writing Course-cum-workshop, do get in touch immediately. Become a professional writer and embark on an exciting and satisfying hobby or career!

Kindly peruse the glowing reviews of this course, written by students; on this blog. 

Blog posts:

Testimonials by students of Priya's Vision Academy - Blog post dated 25th July, 2020

Testimonials/Reviews of the Creative Writing Course-cum-workshop - Priya's Vision Academy - Blog post dated 14th August, 2023

A testimonial by a student of the Online, Creative Writing Course-cum-Workshop conducted by Priya’s Vision Academy - Blog post dated 8th September, 2023

Testimonial of a Student of our Online Creative Writing Course - Priya's Vision Academy - Blog post dated 14th August, 2024

Just call up: Mrs. Priya Swaminathan

Mobile No. 9067138313

Priya's Vision Academy - Makes Your Life Blossom.

 

 

Ashta Vinayak Yatra - Do go for this pilgrimage at least once in your lifetime!

 The Ashta Vinayak Sri Ganesha images are courtesy:

https://mahatourism.in/destination/Ashtavinayak/ashtavinayak.html

                                             A PILGRIMAGE BEYOND COMPARE!

 

Ashta Vinayak Glory

  Our Ashta Vinayak pilgrimage was a 2-day, one night journey. Braving the wintry chill, we set off at 7 a.m. by bus. The first stop was at Morgaon, for darshan of the Lord Mayureshwar, as Lord Ganpati is known here. The idol has the Naga Raja’s hood on its head. It is believed that Lord Brahma had constructed this temple. 

Legend says that Lord Ganesh, as Mayureshwar (Moresh) or the peacock-rider, vanquished the asura Sindhu, after entreaties by all the Gods. 

The temple’s Mughal architecture is distinct. A Nandi sitting in front of the temple’s entrance is unique, as this is found only in front of Lord Shiva’s temples.

We had a plate of hot vegetable pohe and tea for breakfast and then set off for Siddhivinayak darshan at Siddhatek, near Daund. God Vishnu supposedly vanquished the asuras Madhu and Kaitabh after propitiating Lord Ganesha here. This Ganapati has his trunk pointing towards the right, hence is known as Siddhivinayak. Devotees can complete the 5 kms. Pradakshina, only by circumambulating the hill.

When we had earlier visited this temple, we had crossed the swollen Bhima river in a row-boat. But now a bridge over the river has made it possible for the bus to directly reach near the temple and cut down the journey time.

Our co-passengers broke juicy, sour tamarinds from the trees and distributed them. After a delicious buffet lunch at a restaurant there, we proceeded further to Theur.

The Chintamani Ganapati of Theur is believed to relieve all the devotees from their worries. The wooden temple has a small stone fountain inside it. A huge paved courtyard, an enormous bell and a Shiva temple, are the other attractions here. It is believed that the Lord retrieved the precious Chintamani jewel from Guna, for Sage Kapila, here. In return, the Sage garlanded him with the jewel and named him as Chintamani Vinayak.

The last Ganapati darshan for that day was of the huge Ranjangaon Ganapati known as Maha Ganapati. This Ganapati had aided Lord Shiva in fighting the demon Tripurasura. This idol is believed to have 10 hands and 20 trunks. The sun’s rays fall directly on the idol, at a particular time of the day.

The awesome entrance arch of Ranjangaon Temple

Security being strict, none of the pilgrims was allowed to carry anything inside the temple. Hence we visited the temple by turns.

Then we went to Lenyadri, watching the movie “Oh My God” enroute; again had a sumptuous buffet dinner and spent the night at the Lenyadri Ganapati Devasthan Trust’s lodgings. The room was very neat, with clean bed-sheets, pillows and blankets. The attached toilet - cum- bathroom was also spic and span.

Next morning at 5.30 a.m., we had tea and started climbing the steep 283 steps to  Lenyadri, the 3rd century, Buddhist-cave shrine of Girijatmaja Ganapati. The idol is carved on the stone wall of the cave and faces eastward, with its trunk turned to the left, with Lord Shiva and Lord Hanuman on either side. Legend has it that Goddess Parvati created her son Ganapati by bringing a clay idol to life there. Lord Ganapati had supposedly spent his childhood days there.
                                                                                              

The steep climb to the cave-shrine at Lenyadri

We saw the glorious sunrise with a panoramic view of the surroundings from the temple’s precincts. We participated in the 7 a.m. aarti, clicked photos of the 6 stone pillars, with carvings of cows, elephants, etc. and started descending.

A huge horde of monkeys was making its presence felt there. One huge monkey leapt at me and vigorously tugged my carry-bag, denting it. As my husband shooed it off, it retreated reluctantly. A baby monkey clambered on to a man’s back and sat cutely on his head. That man didn’t seem to mind it! We warily descended the hill.

We had a breakfast of piping hot upma and tea at the same restaurant where we had had dinner, shopped for collectibles and resumed our pilgrimage to Ozhar.

The Vighnaharta/Vigneshwara Ganapati of Ozhar relieves one of all the obstacles in one’s life. Lord Ganesha killed a demon named Vighnasur, hence the name. The idol has gems for its eyes, on its forehead and on its navel. Brass statues of His divine consorts Riddhi and Siddhi flank the idol. The temple, with its gold dome, twin deepastambhs (stone pillars for holding oil lamps) and two life-sized, stone-carved, dwarapalas (guards); is awesome.

Behind the temple, was a huge lake. It appeared misty and tranquil. As there wasn’t any time for boating, we started for Mahad.

Mahad, is very far, about 200 kms. from Ozhar. It was a 4- hour journey to this place in Raigad district. En route, we saw fresh sugarcane crop being harvested and ferried for crushing by trucks, tractors and bullock-carts. The cleaner of our bus adeptly pulled some sugar-cane from the passing vehicles and gave them to some passengers (who had strong teeth!).

The magnificent entrance to Ozar temple

We passed by horticulture farms. The farmers were busy in their fields as we feasted our eyes on the lush greenery all around. Nature was kind to this part of the state, it seemed, as abundant water was visible in the water-bodies there.

The serene lake behind Ozar temple

The elongated idol of Varada Vinayak at Mahad is benign and this is the only Ganapati in this yatra that can be touched by the pilgrims. We can personally offer garlands and flowers here. This idol is swayambhu and had emerged from a pond behind the temple.

Then it was time for the last of the Ashta Vinayaks, the Ballaleshwar temple at Pali. This is the only Ashta Vinayak Ganapati named after an ardent devotee of the Lord. The idol in this temple is attired in traditional clothes, as he appeared to Ballal, in the form of a Brahmin. The prasad offered here is besan laddu, instead of the customary modak. The Dhundivinayak Ganapati must be visited before the Ballaleshwar Ganapati, as per tradition.

A refreshing glass of kokam sarbat was served to us instead of tea.Then we returned to Pune at 7.30 p.m.

We had already vowed to return for the pilgrimage at the earliest; as the pilgrimage had satiated our souls.

The copyright of this travelogue and photographs (apart from the first one), are with Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan. 

This travelogue was published in the Sakal Times' Spice edition dated 28th June, 2015.

**********

We wish all those who are celebrating the festival, a very happy 'Ganeshotsav'. May Lord Ganesha bless all with abundant peace, wisdom, prosperity, success, good health and happiness!

Do consider enrolling for any of our online courses and feel the difference in your lives.

Priya's Vision Academy - Makes Your Life Blossom.

Justice-for-self-published-independent-authors-against-plagiarism-of-their-books. Change.org

Ramesh Swaminathan, my husband's petition at Change.org. 

Do sign up and show your support, dear friends. The matter is not yet sub-judice. It's still reportable. Besides, this petition is just to show your support so there's absolutely no need to be scared of anyone or anything. If we collectively don't speak up against such rank injustice, who will? Thanks. 

https://www.change.org/p/justice-for-self-published-independent-authors-against-plagiarism-of-their-books

Justice for self-published, independent authors against plagiarism of their books

The Issue

Plagiarism is the bane of any creative writer who publishes their work online.

Depriving them of the legal rights to their "Fruits of Labor" by denying them due credit and remuneration as well as royalty amounts to utmost cruelty and injustice.

Self-published authors who publish on various online platforms often don't have any means to identify whether and when anyone plagiarizes their work and willfully infringes on their copyright.

I am one such award-winning author of 28 books and scores of published writings of various kinds, whose book titled The Trophy Wife, published on Amazon in 2019, has been willfully plagiarized by the writer-director duo and producers of the Hindi Feature Film titled Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya.

I have been corresponding with the offenders as a precursor to my lawsuit. As expected they deny all my allegations and even try to defame me! They have even deliberately tried to harm the future sales of my books by spoiling my ratings. First my book had a 5 star rating and review, then the offenders gave it a 1 star rating so that it would slide in the rankings and lose sales too. That's like adding insult to injury!

And this was after accessing, reading and liking the story, plagiarizing it and making a film fully based on it and making a fortune of nearly hundred and fifty crores as net profit!

All my work published online is at stake as it is readily accessible to these and other such offenders. A writer seeks praise, acclaim and remuneration/royalty and can do without having to approach the courts for justice, for claiming credit for that which is rightfully and legally theirs.

If the plagiarists get away with the copyright infringement of my book, they can do it with other self-published books of others too. The faith, trust and confidence that self-published authors place on the platforms where they publish could be eroded forever. 

So I request all the people who would like to usher in meaningful change and get justice for self-published, hard-working and honest writers like me, who write with originality and utmost creativity; to submit their signatures in my support. It's now or never!

Priya Ramesh Swaminathan,

Author,

The Trophy Wife,

Paperback - 3rd June, 2019

E-book - 29th September, 2019

Amazon

 

 

 Report a policy violation

Ramesh Swaminathan

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1. Change.org
2. plagiarism
3. Justice for self-published, independent authors against plagiarism of their books

************************************************

Update:

The film has made earnings of around Rs.220.61+ crores from 9th February, 2024 when the film was released, till 20th August, 2025 and I have barely received around Rs.325 as royalty from Amazon, from 3rd June, 2019 when the book was first published on Amazon as a paperback; till date.

Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan

Your feedback is welcome here too, in the comments' section. Thanks in advance.