Inspired by the spirit of story-telling in Bharatiya traditions, where grand-parents would share the many ‘leelas’ of gods and goddesses, this is a book you enjoy as a family unit. It is something you share with your children, nieces, nephews and grand-children and help them connect to their indic roots. The stories gathered in this book have been retold from a vast and living body of written and oral tradition — the puranas, the epics, regional folktales, temple lore, and the versions passed down by grandparents and storytellers across many generations and many parts of India.
Lakshmi Kaul is an Indian British national who has spent her life bringing diasporic communities closer to their cultural roots and identity. She spends her time encouraging the love for nature, books, reading, reconnecting as a community and family through simple story telling and conversation. She curates digital series such as daily wisdom stories, Authors of Bharat re-telling stories from ancient Bharat but relevant to modern living, promoting thus, Indian civilisational systems.
She is the founder of the Jammu and Kashmir Festival and founder of Kashmiri Pandits Cultural Society in the UK. A remarkable former corporate leader, Lakshmi Kaul is the former head of CII (Confederation of Indian Industry) in the United Kingdom (UK) and former senior vice president of Mott MacDonald, she has had a thriving career in public policy, non-profit and corporate world before transitioning into writing and publishing full time. She spends her time living in India and United Kingdom. A devout follower of sanatan dharma, this is her first book.
The illustrations in the book are by a talented young artist, Vaishnavi Sharma.
Advance Praise for Little Divine Ones:
“Through vibrant storytelling and deep cultural context, Little Divine Ones brings ancient wisdom and timeless stories to life for a new generation. A wonderful guide to the richness of Sanatana Dharma." -- Bhasha Sumbli, actor and national award-winning theatre director
“Simplicity can be profound, and that is at the heart of Little Divine Ones. A must-read for every child, but also every parent, it took me back to those innumerable hair-oiling afternoons in the back garden, when my grandmother’s stories enchanted me so completely that I forgot how much I hated having my hair oiled. It is a humbling reminder that we are never simply individuals, but the sum total of our families, our culture and the civilisational wisdom into which we were born.
I have known Lakshmi in her many avatars, but Lakshmi the storyteller is possibly my favourite. I would make this essential bedtime reading, carrying wonder, wisdom and belonging from one generation to the next.” -- Loveena Tandon, broadcast journalist, producer, director and filmmaker
“Little Divine Ones is an exceptional essay into Sanatana Dharma and mythology. Felicitous in its portrayal of the narratives surrounding Hindu gods and goddesses, the book held the reader in me in awe of the majesty of the Hindu faith the essence of which is so brilliantly captured by the obviously erudite author, Lakshmi Kaul. I would heartily commend the book to anybody curious about Sanatana Dharma no matter whether they are uninitiated to the faith or connoisseurs of its high ideals.” -- Usha Raghavan, Bharatnatyam guru and director, Kalasagara UK